First Time Building PC - Gaming and Video Editing

[Justinator]

I decided to swing by Micro Center this morning since I had a couple of coupons. Even though everyone seems to think the Level 10 GT Snow Edition is hideous, I kind of like the way it looks and it is otherwise a decent case with features I want, so I decided to get it. With Micro Center's sale price and my coupon, it only came out to about $190 plus tax, so I saved around $100 off the regular price.

Way to stick it to the man! I'm glad you bought this case and weren't influenced by others in making a personal choice in your taste.

Like others said they couldn't say anything bad about the case other than "they didn't like the look of it".

It's on your desk! You should like it and you only! :thumbsup:

Those damn HAF cases are sooooooo... over done. Why be like everybody else. It's good to personalize it and stand out for a change.

Anyways I gotta run... I hear the Case police comming D:

 

[mfenn]

What is the difference between this RAM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231422

and this RAM?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231424

The product page for each does not state that the RAM is compatible with Z68. Will it work okay on a Z68 motherboard? What about with a Bulldozer motherboard?

About $3. Seriously, it's the same thing, one is just labeled as PC10600 and the other is labeled as PC10666 to capture both searches.

Yes it is compatible with Z68. It'll also work fine the an AMD 900 series (BD compatible) mobo.

 

[harmonics]

Thanks for all of the advice so far! It's really helpful. It looks like I'll be saving some money on RAM.

The graphics card I got, the ASUS GTX 570 DirectCU II, is a triple-slot card. Is that going to cause any issues with the card running at full speed (PCI Express x16)?

Also, since it is such a large card, is it possibly going to block the PCI Express slot that I need for my sound card? The motherboards I am currently considering are the ASRock Z68 EXTREME4 GEN3 and the ASUS P8Z68-V PRO.

 

[lehtv]

Is that going to cause any issues with the card running at full speed (PCI Express x16)?

The Asus card has a triple slot cooler. That is, the cooler is so big it needs more than 2 expansion slots of space... obviously that has nothing to do with the PCI-E slot the card is in.

Also, since it is such a large card, is it possibly going to block the PCI Express slot that I need for my sound card? The motherboards I am currently considering are the ASRock Z68 EXTREME4 GEN3 and the ASUS P8Z68-V PRO.

The Asus board is $200, not worth it. The Asrock Extreme4 is a good choice. It will allow you to put the GPU in either of the first two full length PCI-E slots. Both are x16, only that if both are occupied they're x8. So, you should put the sound card into the final (full length, x4) slot if the first slot is occupied by the GPU... or if you put the GPU into the second x16 slot, you should put the sound card above it to the first or second x1 slot. See here, the third image

 

[harmonics]

Thanks! That's exactly what I wanted to know. The Asrock board sounds good. That's the board I'll go with unless I end up switching to Bulldozer.

 

[lehtv]

Hmm.. Last time I looked the Asrock board was at $155. Now it's $185... I may have been looking at the p67 extreme4 instead - let me see if I can find you a z68 board that also has a good pci layout.

Nope... Asus P8Z68-V is the only sub $200 board I can find with a similar layout. $180.

 

[harmonics]

Actually, the board I'm looking at is the Asrock Z68 Extreme4 Gen 3, which is currently selling at Newegg for $190 after rebate.

 

[lehtv]

As I said, I mistook p67 extreme4 for z68 extreme4 when recommending the z68 extreme4. The p67 one was much cheaper, hence my recommendation. Then I realized my mistake and the high price of the z68 extreme4 so I tried to find you a cheaper board with similar expansion slot layout, and I found the P8Z68-V which is a bit cheaper.

 

[mfenn]

As I said, I mistook p67 extreme4 for z68 extreme4 when recommending the z68 extreme4. The p67 one was much cheaper, hence my recommendation. Then I realized my mistake and the high price of the z68 extreme4 so I tried to find you a cheaper board with similar expansion slot layout, and I found the P8Z68-V which is a bit cheaper.

Given the large price difference and the fact that the OP doesn't really need any of Z68's extra features, the P67 Extreme4 isn't actually a bad recommendation.

 

[lehtv]

^ Good point

 

[harmonics]

Would the Quick Sync feature on the Z68 board help with video editing or transcoding?

It also seems like it might be helpful to have access to the IGP in case I ever have issues with my discrete graphics card.

 

[harmonics]

Newegg has a shell shocker deal today on G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL - $34.99. What do you think? That's even cheaper than the value RAM referenced earlier in this thread.

Should I get two sets for my 16GB of RAM or should I wait to see if Bulldozer benefits from faster RAM? I don't mind waiting and spending more if it will affect system performance.

It is my understanding that the heatspreaders on the Ripjaws RAM will not interfere (in terms of clearance) with a CPU Cooler like the Hyper 212+ or the NH-D14 - is that right?

 

[lehtv]

^I would grab the RAM offer. 16GB for just $70 is a sick deal. Ripjaws will fit under 212+ http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1731234

 

[harmonics]

I've read elsewhere that faster memory is beneficial for overclocking the CPU. Is that true? Would I be better off with DDR3 1600 memory if I want to overclock an i7-2600k?

 

[Ken g6]

Faster memory may be better for other CPUs, but not Sandy Bridge. The 2500k or the 2600k will do just fine on DDR3-1333.

 

[harmonics]

I got the deal, so now I'm set for RAM.

 

[mfenn]

Would the Quick Sync feature on the Z68 board help with video editing or transcoding?

It also seems like it might be helpful to have access to the IGP in case I ever have issues with my discrete graphics card.

Quick sync will not help with video editing and it will only help with transcoding for a few select applications that support it. Also, sometimes it is nice to have an IGP available for troubleshooting, but I don't know if it is $30 nice.

 

[harmonics]

I have all of the parts now except for the motherboard and cpu, but I may have run into a bit of a problem. I ended up getting the Noctua NH-D14 cooler. As I mentioned previously, I have the ASUS GTX 570 DirectCU II, which is a triple-slot graphics card, and a sound card. For various reasons, the motherboard I have settled on (but have not purchased yet) is the ASUS P8Z68 Deluxe/Gen3. My concern is that the NH-D14 will block the top PCI-e x1 slot and the graphics card will block the other PCI-e x1 slot, leaving me without a PCI-e x1 slot for the sound card. I know I can install the NH-D14 horizontally (there will be enough clearance for the RAM), but I am still not sure if the top PCI-e slot will be totally clear of the NH-D14. Do any of you know if the NH-D14 will block (partially or completely) the top PCI-e slot on the motherboard?

If I put the video card in the second PCI-e x16 slot, will it run at x16 or x8? Would putting the sound card in the third PCI-e slot (x4) make the video card run at x8 even if it is in the first PCI-e x16 slot?

 

[mfenn]

The answers to your questions are:
- Don't know
- x8
- No, because that x4 slot is coming off the Z68 chipset and not the Sandy Bridge CPU like the two physical x16 slots.

 

[harmonics]

Thanks! I'm glad I don't have to worry about returning the NH-D14. If it covers the first PCI-e slot, I'll just put the sound card in the x4 PCI-e slot.

Now I just have to make a final decision on the motherboard. I was going to get the ASUS board, but I'm still considering ASRock. It just seems like ASRock has pretty bad technical support (e-mail only) compared to ASUS (phone number) if I run into a problem.

 

[mfenn]

Well, based on the experiences of other members, I don't think that ASUS's phone support is that great. Eternal hold times followed by a "sorry, call back later".