Destroy my build - $3,000 gaming setup

[mfenn]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

Looking back at the Tom's build it seems that it wasn't the RAM that was the issue, but rather the combination of the Asrock Extreme4 mobo and the Noctuna NH-D14 causing the mobo to warp and crack near the mounting points. However, I'm still wondering why there was an issue running the RAM, the 8gb package of the DDR3 1600 Crucial Ballistix Tactical at 1.5v to get the 8-8-8-24 Timing when it is supposed to be able to run at that Timing wiht just 1.35v.

Maybe I missed some detail when reading back over the article?

I went through the article and I couldn't find any reference to the author actually trying 1.35V. He just dialed in XMP Profile 2, which is 8-8-8-24 1.5V on this particular memory.

 

[PCJake]

You see, we agree...in a way.

The OP should certainly review the points you and I made and decide which option is best.

I think he found fault with every single one of your points, and I'm starting to think people just enjoy doing that. It's annoying.

 

[Sleepingforest]

I think he found fault with every single one of your points, and I'm starting to think people just enjoy doing that. It's annoying.

We do love to diagree here. It's an unfortunate fact of life. Lot's of us General Hardware folks have a hard time letting go of a "frugal" mindset when it comes to parts; many of us believe that going past the sweet spot on the price/performance curve is foolish and abhorrable.

It's not that we enjoy it so much as we feel a deep sense of disatisfaction if people don't buy things based on that price/performance curve (which is pretty hypocritical considering a console can do most gaming "okay" for a fraction of the price, but I digress). I certainly get a bad taste in my mouth at the prospect of any build having a Titan instead of, say, a 7970 GHz (more than double the cost for 25-35% improvement does not sit well with me), but I also have to recognize that some people simply want the best and can pay for it.

 

[TY-1]

I went through the article and I couldn't find any reference to the author actually trying 1.35V. He just dialed in XMP Profile 2, which is 8-8-8-24 1.5V on this particular memory.

I wonder why he didn't try it at 1.35v seeing as how that is what the RAM is set for with the 8-8-8-24 timing, at least that is what the profile for it on Newegg says? Unless the link in the article is to the wrong set of RAM.

 

[PCJake]

We do love to diagree here. It's an unfortunate fact of life. Lot's of us General Hardware folks have a hard time letting go of a "frugal" mindset when it comes to parts; many of us believe that going past the sweet spot on the price/performance curve is foolish and abhorrable.

It's not that we enjoy it so much as we feel a deep sense of disatisfaction if people don't buy things based on that price/performance curve (which is pretty hypocritical considering a console can do most gaming "okay" for a fraction of the price, but I digress). I certainly get a bad taste in my mouth at the prospect of any build having a Titan instead of, say, a 7970 GHz (more than double the cost for 25-35% improvement does not sit well with me), but I also have to recognize that some people simply want the best and can pay for it.

Yeah, that all makes sense. People who recognize that know when a debate becomes pointless, and they can end it there, but not everyone has that quality.

 

[Termie]

I think he found fault with every single one of your points, and I'm starting to think people just enjoy doing that. It's annoying.

Honestly, mfenn is incredibly knowledgeable. He's just expressing a different point of view, not a wrong one. There is no one way to put a build together. You've received lots of good advice here that you can choose from.

 

[PCJake]

Honestly, mfenn is incredibly knowledgeable. He's just expressing a different point of view, not a wrong one. There is no one way to put a build together. You've received lots of good advice here that you can choose from.

Yeah, I regret making my previous comment. Even when I disagree with him or anyone else in this thread, their perspective is still useful.

 

[mnewsham]

Yeah, that all makes sense. People who recognize that know when a debate becomes pointless, and they can end it there, but not everyone has that quality.

which is partly why i left the thread more or less, when people start ignoring dead straight facts I just turn away.

 

[crashtech]

After seeing what I have seen in the aftermath of a cheap power supply failure, I don't have any problem when someone wants to overspend a little on a PSU. Also a good PSU can last through multiple builds, unless there is another ATX spec on the horizon of which I'm unaware.

 

[mnewsham]

After seeing what I have seen in the aftermath of a cheap power supply failure, I don't have any problem when someone wants to overspend a little on a PSU. Also a good PSU can last through multiple builds, unless there is another ATX spec on the horizon of which I'm unaware.

Depends how long your builds last, if you have a PSU that is 5-7 years old or older I say go ahead and pick up a new PSU. If less than 5 years old, by all means keep using it.

 

[PCJake]

Depends how long your builds last, if you have a PSU that is 5-7 years old or older I say go ahead and pick up a new PSU. If less than 5 years old, by all means keep using it.

My thoughts exactly. I want to give my TX750W a chance to retire gracefully after using it for five years.

which is partly why i left the thread more or less, when people start ignoring dead straight facts I just turn away.

Oh, I hope you don't think I was ignoring you - I just disagreed with you on the PSU warranty issue, that's all.

 

[crashtech]

I agree with the above sentiments, although I have found a light-duty use for a five year old Antec PSU in my i3-based HTPC. I know the unit in question was fairly lightly used, so I think it's a safe enough choice for a couple more years.

 

[mnewsham]

I agree with the above sentiments, although I have found a light-duty use for a five year old Antec PSU in my i3-based HTPC. I know the unit in question was fairly lightly used, so I think it's a safe enough choice for a couple more years.

Yeah, I can't really talk considering I am using a 520w generic dell unit from 2007-2008.

If you know the PSU's condition and you aren't over loading it, should be fine for at least a few more years.

 

[PCJake]

Update: Ordered the Corsair Obsidian Series 550D! Got it from Amazon for $129.99.

 

[Sleepingforest]

I looked at the OP and see that you're considering a Velociraptor; let me tell you, there is little value there. You can get two 1TB drives for the same price. I gave a quick analysis of the situation back in post 89.

 

[PCJake]

I looked at the OP and see that you're considering a Velociraptor; let me tell you, there is little value there. You can get two 1TB drives for the same price. I gave a quick analysis of the situation back in post 89.

Yes, I recently updated that part of my OP to point out that I'm still considering alternatives. That will probably be one of the last parts I order, so I'll figure it out by then.

 

[PCJake]

Update: Switched back to the SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold PSU on my list. After reading reviews for that and the platinum I was considering, I just get a better feeling about the X650 Gold.

 

[PCJake]

I looked at the OP and see that you're considering a Velociraptor; let me tell you, there is little value there. You can get two 1TB drives for the same price. I gave a quick analysis of the situation back in post 89.

I wanted to make another comment on this. I actually have a Western Digital Black 1.5TB SATA 6.0Gb/s that I haven't used in a year or so - do you think this would perform as well (strictly for FRAPS) as the two Seagate drives in RAID 0?

 

[mnewsham]

I wanted to make another comment on this. I actually have a Western Digital Black 1.5TB SATA 6.0Gb/s that I haven't used in a year or so - do you think this would perform as well (strictly for FRAPS) as the two Seagate drives in RAID 0?

why would it perform as well as two regular drives in RAID 0? they should be much faster than any single drive except maybe a 15k drive, and even then two regular drives should perform better.

 

[crashtech]

Seems like a single Deskstar 7K4000 would be fast enough for FRAPS, they hit 160 MB/s sequential write, which isn't as fast as the new Velociraptor, but is faster than the old 300GB (I think), and it will hold a lot of video...

 

[PCJake]

why would it perform as well as two regular drives in RAID 0? they should be much faster than any single drive except maybe a 15k drive, and even then two regular drives should perform better.

Well, I asked if it would be better for FRAPS. My logic is that sequential write and capacity are really the only factors that need to be considered, and a RAID configuration would be wasteful and pointless.

 

[Sleepingforest]

I wanted to make another comment on this. I actually have a Western Digital Black 1.5TB SATA 6.0Gb/s that I haven't used in a year or so - do you think this would perform as well (strictly for FRAPS) as the two Seagate drives in RAID 0?

Definitely not. WD Blacks are really not much faster than a normal drive; you pay extra for the warranty, not the speed. Additionally, that WD Black is almost certainly 3 500GB or even 6 250GB platters, which is far less dense than the modern 1TB platter Seagates. The lower density means that it will read and write slower than even a lone Seagate, let alone 2 in RAID0.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Update: Switched back to the SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold PSU on my list. After reading reviews for that and the platinum I was considering, I just get a better feeling about the X650 Gold.

I think the regulation is a little bit better on the Gold for the 12v while the ripple suppression is weaker VS the 660w Platinum. It's splitting hairs but it is what it is.

 

[mnewsham]

Well, I asked if it would be better for FRAPS. My logic is that sequential write and capacity are really the only factors that need to be considered, and a RAID configuration would be wasteful and pointless.

Just to show you what RAID 0 scaling looks like in regards to sequential write speeds.

 

[Termie]

Update: Switched back to the SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold PSU on my list. After reading reviews for that and the platinum I was considering, I just get a better feeling about the X650 Gold.

To go with that swanky Corsair 550D you just scored, perhaps you'd like to step up to this Corsair AX850: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139015

I know that flies in the face of many recommendations you've received here (including mine, to an extent), but it happens to be $130AR shipped through today. That makes it only $13 more than the X-650. No huge advantages other than capacity, but I thought I throw it out there in case you're interested, given the price. The Corsair AX line is almost identical to the Seasonic X line - they are both made by Seasonic.