New build, ~$3.5k

[PsychoPsonic]

After a number of years, it's definitely time for an upgrade. To answer the questions from the sticky:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming, audio/video editing, productivity apps

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
~$3500 USD

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

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
Intel, Asus, Nvidia

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

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

8. What resolution will you be using?
1900x1200

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
This month

Initial parts list:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9nGN

I welcome input on fan setups for the HAF X (also open to an off-the-shelf water solution) and PSUs appropriate for this rig.

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[ShintaiDK]

I would get the 30nm Samsung 1.35V memory. Even if you want to run 2133 speeds its much better suited and you avoid overvolting your IMC to damage your CPU that way.

AND GTX 680 SLI seems abit of a waste in 1920*1200.

 

[yottabit]

Only thing I can think of is depending on how you want to balance gaming vs. audio/video, you might want to downgrade the gfx and upgrade your storage system a little more.

How much space will you need for audio/video editing? Is it possible to fit it into 256 gb or 512? Then you might want to RAID 2 SSDs. Or if you need more space than that, you should at least have a couple striped spinning disks IMO.

Just thinking something like step down to 2x 670 and add another drive of some sort

 

[titan131]

Sli 680's seems like overkill if u r only planning to push one monitor at that res.

 

[Ken g6]

$3500! Egad!

CPU: Good that you didn't get the $1K CPU.

Mobo: There are cheaper boards out there. Like this $250 ASRock. Why that particular board?

RAM: Avoid 1.65V RAM at all costs! Will the heat sinks on this RAM fit with your cooler?

HDD : You could get two of these for a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. 4TB, faster and less costly than the 3TB drive you were looking at. It's not like you're strapped for space in your case, are you?

GPUs: You really have no need for two GTX 680s on one monitor. Are you planning to get two more monitors? Or does your audio/video editing software take advantage of CUDA? On both cards at the same time? Also, a 670 FTW isn't much less powerful than a 680.

PSU: I've seen a similar setup powered with a 750W PSU. 850W wouldn't go wrong. Or here's an OCZ with a nice rebate if you want full modular.

ODD : Why that particular model? Here's a faster one for half the price AP.

 

[ElFenix]

RAM: on sandy bridge type architectures (which includes SB-E) memory speed does not matter. for video editing get 32GB of 1.5V or 1.35V 1333 or 1600 ram for not much more

like 4 of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

That platform is a bust. Great performance but not per dollar vs an 1155.

Get an i5 3570K
2 EVGA 670 FTW - same performance as a 680 at 100$ less while using a 680 PCB.
Seasonic X 650w, or their platinum 860w is fantastic too.

 

[titan131]

That platform is a bust. Great performance but not per dollar vs an 1155.

Get an i5 3570K
2 EVGA 670 FTW - same performance as a 680 at 100$ less while using a 680 PCB.
Seasonic X 650w, or their platinum 860w is fantastic too.

Unless money is no object, I concur that a i5 3570k and Sli 670's is a much better option. The seasonic X psu range is an indulgence for anyone who isn't buying it for its low noise characteristics IMO cuz the XFX range will serve you just as well, they r seasonic made and cheaper.

 

[Ken g6]

RAM: on sandy bridge type architectures (which includes SB-E) memory speed does not matter.

I know that's basically true on the original 1155 SB. I suspect that IB can make better use of 1600MHz RAM, and I think there might be a benefit from even faster RAM on SB-E. But I have no proof either way. Do you?

Edit: For video editing on LGA 1155, with this much money available, at least get the 3770k.

 

[mfenn]

$3500! Egad!

My thoughts exactly.

OP, if you want to spend $3500, then you'd be better off by getting a $1500 30" 2560x1600 monitor and a $2000 PC to drive it. Once you've used a 30", you will never want to go back to "tiny" 24" 1920x1200 screens. Let me know what you think and I'll whip up a build.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

My thoughts exactly.

OP, if you want to spend $3500, then you'd be better off by getting a $1500 30" 2560x1600 monitor and a $2000 PC to drive it. Once you've used a 30", you will never want to go back to "tiny" 24" 1920x1200 screens. Let me know what you think and I'll whip up a build.

Yes!

 

[lehtv]

My thoughts exactly.

OP, if you want to spend $3500, then you'd be better off by getting a $1500 30" 2560x1600 monitor and a $2000 PC to drive it. Once you've used a 30", you will never want to go back to "tiny" 24" 1920x1200 screens. Let me know what you think and I'll whip up a build.

This. For $3500, this is the only reasonable way to go.

 

[ElFenix]

I know that's basically true on the original 1155 SB. I suspect that IB can make better use of 1600MHz RAM, and I think there might be a benefit from even faster RAM on SB-E. But I have no proof either way. Do you?

Edit: For video editing on LGA 1155, with this much money available, at least get the 3770k.

IB isn't really any faster than SB and nearly all of the improvements are on the video side, so unless you're using the video to play games on (not the situation here and not really advisable anyway), it really shouldn't be much different. that said, due to 1600 costing barely more than 1333 you might as well go with it.

and it also stands to reason that with 100% more bandwidth but only 50% more cores, SB-E probably already has all the memory bandwidth it needs.

so, no, no proof (if someone wants to buy me 8GB of 2100 capable ram i'll more than happily test it out), but some fairly sound reasoning, i think.

and even if there is some small but noticeable performance gain to be had, i still think for video *editing* (not just transcoding), more ram is better than faster ram.