Building my first PC... help/advice please

[Puppies04]

Hi everyone, as the title states i am building my first gaming rig in a few weeks (just saving up the last bit of cash) and had a couple of questions. Please feel free to make any suggestions as to spec changes, this is by no means a static list and has changed several times since i decided i wanted to build my own rather than buying off the shelf.

Anyway, to the list

Case - Antec 600 v2
CPU - I7 2600k
CPU cooler - Corsair H70
Mobo - Asus p8p67 evo (decided on this one because of the pcie slots avaliable, i would like to eventually add another GPU running in SLI and the other boards i looked at wouldnt have been able to run both and the pcie ssd)
GPU - MSI GTX560 TI twin frozer
PSU - Coolermaster RS800 silent pro gold
Ram - 2*4GB corsair vengeance
SSD - 100gb OCZ revodrive pcie *4 sandforce controllers R740mb/s W690mb/s
HDD - 2* 1tb samsung spinpoint
Optical drive - Samsung blueray ROM DVDRW combo

A few questions I have....

1. Am I correct in assuming that the asus p8p67 EVO will allow me to run 2* 560 TI's in SLI AND the PCIE SSD ( I am only buying 1 560 to start with but will be looking to add anther further down the line). This is the product http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-...29-sata-6g-b-s

2. Will I be able to set the 2* 1tb HDD's into a raid configuration for faster data access or do i need to buy anther piece of hardware to enable me to do this.

3. If i can set those 2 HDD's into a raid configuration would i be able to get a 2TB drive to mirror the image split across those drives just incase one ever failed?

Thanks for your time.

 

[LuluTheMonk]

Please answer the questions found in the sticky. It will help us, help you.


PLEASE when you POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.

 

[Puppies04]

Really sorry, noticed the sticky after i posted :S

Ahem...

1. Gaming (crisis, battlefield etc), watching movies, video editing
2. £1500-£2000 including monitor + keyboard
3. England
4. Would prefer Intel and nvidia but could be swayed to AMD
5. All new parts apart from headset and mouse (I have been a bit of a laptop fanboy up until now)
6. Been reading some hardware tests, and a little look around this forum
7. Overclock as high as i feel is acceptable for 24/7
8. 1920*1080 (possibly game on multiple screens but not buying these yet)
9. Building in the next 2-3 weeks
10. Flame away just make it constructive pls

 

[Puppies04]

A couple of extra notes, I have heard a lot of good things about Scan as a hardware vendor so i would prefer if i could pick up all the components from one place. www.scan.co.uk. Also I have converted my spare room into a sort of office/chillout room and am building this pc with all intents of taking some courses in photoshop and video editing, basically some creative stuff so would like to build this system to be able to handle anything i might try my hand at in the future. I am aware that is a bit of a vague description hence the "reasonably" extravagant budget. I know £2000 isnt that over the top but i would be aiming for the £1000 mark if it was purely for gaming.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

If you really want the 2600K then get it, but you would be financially better off going for a 2500K. Me, i'd go for the 2600K.

Crysis is very tough on the GPU, does anyone else think when he goes dual GPU that he should be larger than an 800w PSU - and i'm not too familiar on how well Coolmaster PSUs are..

 

[fffblackmage]

CPU cooler - Corsair H70

This usually isn't worth it, when simple tower heatsinks can do just as good for cheaper.
I recommend the Cooler Master Hyper 212+.

1. Am I correct in assuming that the asus p8p67 EVO will allow me to run 2* 560 TI's in SLI AND the PCIE SSD ( I am only buying 1 560 to start with but will be looking to add anther further down the line). This is the product http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-...29-sata-6g-b-s

I think that's correct. You'll have two 8x slots for the GPUs and a 4x for the SSD.

However, how soon "down the line" are you talking about? If it's a year or two, you're probably just better off just replacing the GTX560 instead.

2. Will I be able to set the 2* 1tb HDD's into a raid configuration for faster data access or do i need to buy anther piece of hardware to enable me to do this.

Get another SSD if you want speed.

3. If i can set those 2 HDD's into a raid configuration would i be able to get a 2TB drive to mirror the image split across those drives just incase one ever failed?

If your data is that important, get a real backup. RAID is not backup.

Crysis is very tough on the GPU, does anyone else think when he goes dual GPU that he should be larger than an 800w PSU - and i'm not too familiar on how well Coolmaster PSUs are..

Not if he's just gonna get two GTX560s.

The RS800 model seems to be a decent unit though.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/arti...nt-Pro-Gold-800-W-Power-Supply-Review/1028/10

 

[Puppies04]

Thanks i will take a look at that CPU cooler.

I would get another SSD but i am on a budget here and was just going to run windows on the OCZ revo and everything else on the 2*1tb in raid 0.

I will look at an external HDD to backup anything important then.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Ahhhh HHAAAAAAAAaaaaaa

Crysis power consumption You are good with the 800w PSU & dual GTX 560s

 

[Puppies04]

Thanks . I did actually see that graph a week or so ago when i was decididng what size power supply to go for. I might even go for a corsair 750HX as it seems to get a lot of good reviews and is slightly more efficient for almost the same price

 

[Anomaly1964]

Should be a nice gaming rig...ENJOY!

 

[mfenn]

Thanks i will take a look at that CPU cooler.

I would get another SSD but i am on a budget here and was just going to run windows on the OCZ revo and everything else on the 2*1tb in raid 0.

I will look at an external HDD to backup anything important then.

Budget and revo drive mentioned in the same post? Does not compute! :awe:

For your use case, the Revo drive honestly does not make sense. You'd be a lot better off doing this:
- Swap the Revo for a 120GB Intel 320 (-£156)
- Swap the Evo for a GA-P67A-UD3 (-£49)
- Swap the Vengeance for normal Corsair (-£15)
- Swap the H70 for a Hyper 212+ (-£55)
- Swap the RS800 for a XFX 650W (-£36)
- Swap the GTX 560 for a GTX 580 (+£179)
- Either pocket the left over £132 or buy yourself another 320.

 

[betasub]

^ Nice rebalancing there, mfenn. Big on graphics & storage while keeping a tight rein on the budget

 

[Puppies04]

Thanks mfenn I will take a look at those parts once I get home (on my phone atm). Off the top of my head though I have a couple of reservations....
1. Ok the revo drive is expensive but it is also a lot faster than that ssd as it has 4 sandforce controllers onboard and I was only planning on putting the OS on it.
2. Is that motherboard a gigabyte model as I really liked the look of the new asus uefi BIOS thing, do other manufacturers have similar software?
3. Doesn't the 650 watt psu and 580 both limit my upgrade path without a new psu and make it expensive to add another card once a single 580 doesn't cut it anymore. Would a single 570 and the 800w supply leave me with better options.
I have no issue spending more cash on this thing 6 months down the line when the fiance let's go of the purse strings to add another gpu and maybe one of those SATA ssd's

just some thoughts please don't feel I am being critical feel free to explain why I'm being noob

 

[Rvenger]

Budget and revo drive mentioned in the same post? Does not compute! :awe:

For your use case, the Revo drive honestly does not make sense. You'd be a lot better off doing this:
- Swap the Revo for a 120GB Intel 320 (-£156)
- Swap the Evo for a GA-P67A-UD3 (-£49)
- Swap the Vengeance for normal Corsair (-£15)
- Swap the H70 for a Hyper 212+ (-£55)
- Swap the RS800 for a XFX 650W (-£36)
- Swap the GTX 560 for a GTX 580 (+£179)
- Either pocket the left over £132 or buy yourself another 320.

I would at least go with the 1600 XMS3 memory because you will be able to run it at 1.5v at the 1333mhz speed.

 

[mfenn]

1. Ok the revo drive is expensive but it is also a lot faster than that ssd as it has 4 sandforce controllers onboard and I was only planning on putting the OS on it.

Sure, it's faster, but it's also a hell of a lot more expensive. In terms of user experience (which is what you're getting by only running the OS), you can get 90% there for 50% of the cost.

2. Is that motherboard a gigabyte model as I really liked the look of the new asus uefi BIOS thing, do other manufacturers have similar software?

Yes, the motherboard is a Gigabyte. All Sandy Bridge motherboards are UEFI under the hood, but Gigabyte decided to stick with the tried and true BIOS interface. That was a good decision IMHO, as the first generation of UEFI interfaces don't really add any functionality.

3. Doesn't the 650 watt psu and 580 both limit my upgrade path without a new psu and make it expensive to add another card once a single 580 doesn't cut it anymore. Would a single 570 and the 800w supply leave me with better options.

No, not really. "Upgrading to SLI" isn't really a good idea because by the time a single GTX 580 is too slow for 1080P, there will be much better bang for the buck single GPUs out there.

just some thoughts please don't feel I am being critical feel free to explain why I'm being noob

No worries, you're asking good questions.

I would at least go with the 1600 XMS3 memory because you will be able to run it at 1.5v at the 1333mhz speed.

The DDR3 1333 XMS3 kit that I linked will also run at 1.5V. Scan's listed voltage is wrong.

 

[Puppies04]

Thanks mfenn you make some very good points there. I will take the revo out of the build and replace with a 'normal' ssd that Intel one seems to have slower read/write speeds than other manufacturers ssd's though I will look at the different options available. I will also change the RAM as you suggested. I think I am going to stick with an 800w psu though just for peace of mind if I ever upgrade and need more power. With the cash i save on the revo and RAM I will upgrade the gpu from a 560 to a 570 as I think the 580 is a little too expensive for the few % speed increase over a 570. Will swap the mobo out for the one you suggested aswell.
Should still have a few pounds spare aswell to buy either another screen or better speakers. Any holes in my logic?

Edit. Spelling

 

[mfenn]

Thanks mfenn you make some very good points there. I will take the revo out of the build and replace with a 'normal' ssd that Intel one seems to have slower read/write speeds than other manufacturers ssd's though I will look at the different options available. I will also change the RAM as you suggested. I think I am going to stick with an 800w psu though just for peace of mind if I ever upgrade and need more power. With the cash i save on the revo and RAM I will upgrade the gpu from a 560 to a 570 as I think the 580 is a little too expensive for the few % speed increase over a 570. Will swap the mobo out for the one you suggested aswell.
Should still have a few pounds spare aswell to buy either another screen or better speakers. Any holes in my logic?

Edit. Spelling

A single 650W is enough electric power for quite a bit of GPU horsepower, so I think the 800W is still overkill. No complaints about the rest of the build though.