New haswell rig

[Mimzy]

Hey guys! This is my first post on Anandtech, but I've been lurking forums for quite a while already. I've decided I needed some help with my new build. Currently I'm using i7 920 @ 4.0 GHz, which is a bit outdated (I want SATA 3 and other new features), so I decided to upgrade to haswell. I think some of my options are a bit overkill at the moment. Also, I don't like CF/SLI, but I might upgrade my GPU to high-end 20nm solution.

Processor: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz - €230
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Windforce 3X OC (I already have this)
Cooler: Thermaltake Water 2.0 Pro - €110
RAM: G.Skill RipJaws-X 16GB 1866Mhz cl9 KIT - 1.50V - €140
Power Supply: Corsair Professional Series HX650 80PLUS Gold 650W - €120
Motherboard: ASUS Z87 Maximus VI Hero - €200
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 500R - €125
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 128GB (I already have this)
Monitor: LED LCD 27" Samsung S27B971D 1440p (I already have this)

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
- Gaming rig. I play a lot of different games (Borderlands2, BF3, SC2, etc.)
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
- Around 900€.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
- Slovenia (Europe).
4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
- http://www.dinokomp.si/konfigurator...=2392&case_id=1367&cool_id=3357&power_id=1175
5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
- I have no preferences.
6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
- GPU, SSD and HDD.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
- I intend to overclock. Currently I'm running i7 920 @ 4.0 GHz.
8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
- 2560x1440.
9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
- In about a week.

 

[Cerb]

If not going SLI/Xfire, just get the Asus Z78-A, unless you use wifi for your PC, and will upgrade your router to an ac one in the very near future (like before 2014 rolls around).

You can probably find good cheaper RAM, too. Much anything past 1600MHz CAS 9 is spending more for very little, to no, gain.

Aside from that, it looks pretty good, for a mid-range upgrade, at least to me, unless there are some good PSU deals where you are, v that Corsair.

 

[mfenn]

Dinokomp's configurator is pretty cool, I like it!

My comments:
- CPU: Good
- GPU: Already have (and good)
- HSF: The Thermalright TS 140 will cool quite well for 50 euro. Certainly enough for a moderate overclock on the i5 4670K (moderate being 4.4 GHz or so)
- RAM: Too expensive for the performance. There is practically no difference between 1600 and 1866 (~1% real world), so you should get the GeIL Black Dragon 16GB kit for 113 euro. Though really, 8GB is plenty for gaming seeing as most games are still 32-bit.
- PSU: I don't think the HX650 is really worth the money when a Seasonic S12II 620W is 86 euro.
- Mobo: As Cerb mentioned, too expensive for your uses. The Z87-C for 126 euro (or Z87-A 134 euro) save you a bunch of money and still get you the features you need.
- Case: Good, but also check out the 400R for 108 euro. They are very similar with main difference being the big side-panel fan on the 500R.
- SSD : Already have (and good)
- Display: Already have (and good)

 

[lehtv]

Agree with mfenn except

PSU: XFX 550W 67€. 28% more for 13% more watts is a poor deal, as the PSU's are of the same quality (both Seasonics under the hood), and the 550W unit is enough for any single GPU rig with an Intel CPU inside

 

[Mimzy]

Thanks for the input guys! I really appreciate it.
This is what I'm probabl going with. PSU is on the expensive side, but as long as it helps me sleep better, I'll buy it. Now I gotta make sure that H100 is compatible with the case and everything. Sockets 1150 and 1155 basically have the same mounting?

Processor: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz - €230
Cooler: Corsair Hydro Series H100 - €94
RAM: G.Skill RipJaws-X 8GB 1600Mhz cl9 - 1.50V - €73
Power Supply: Enermax Platimax 600W - 145€ (you might disagree about this)
Motherboard: ASUS Z87-A - €135
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 500R - €125

EDIT: It really seems closed-loop water coolers are just marketing and since I'm not going through the hassle of custom loop, I'll just go with a good Noctua cooler. My current setup has Noctua U12P-SE and it's working for 4 years already. Not to mention it still has 2 years left of warranty.

 

[Termie]

Yes, the Corsair H100 will work with the Corsair 500R, and it is Haswell-compatible, because Haswell doesn't change the cooler mounting system from the previous generation. But as mentioned above, water cooling is unnecessary.

 

[Mimzy]

I guess I'll go with Noctua-D14. It costs 73€, which seems pretty good for a flagship cooler. No clue if it will fit (it's massive)... or block RAM. I'll do some research and then decide.

EDIT: The cooler seems to be compatible with Asus Z87-A and Ripjaws X RAM. I checked the official Noctua website.
I'm gonna pull trigger in about 10 days. So I'm still up for suggestions.

Again, thanks for the help. You guys seem very knowledgeable.

 

[lehtv]

Power Supply: Enermax Platimax 600W - 145€ (you might disagree about this)

Just because it has high efficiency doesn't mean it's any more reliable. It can definitely mean a bit lower noise level, and less heat output, and lesser electricity bill but that's it. The extra 70€ it costs to buy this over XFX 550W will never be had back due to the better efficiency... you might get back maybe 10€ in a few years.

I stand by the XFX recommendation. While it's only 80+ Bronze, it's basically a Seasonic S12II inside

 

[Mimzy]

Just because it has high efficiency doesn't mean it's any more reliable. It can definitely mean a bit lower noise level, and less heat output, and lesser electricity bill but that's it. The extra 70€ it costs to buy this over XFX 550W will never be had back due to the better efficiency... you might get back maybe 10€ in a few years.

I stand by the XFX recommendation. While it's only 80+ Bronze, it's basically a Seasonic S12II inside

I've always believed higher efficiency requires higher build quality (meaning psu is more reliable). At least this is what I thought. I honestly don't care for ~5% efficiency difference, but I like my PSU reliable. So I will phrase my question like this: Which 500-650W consumer PSU is the most reliable? (regardless of price)

 

[lehtv]

Seasonic G series. They are simply put superb units.

G550: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=323
10/10 in performance

However, G series are more expensive per watt than the equally efficient Super Flower Golden Green units which are also highly regarded. There's little to no difference in reliability between them - both are far within the limits on voltage regulation, ripple and noise set by the ATX standard requirements. All three Golden Green units reviewed by JonnyGuru got 9.5/10 in performance. The same can be said for the lower efficiency S12II based units, e.g. S12II 520W got 9.5/10 in performance: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=185

 

[mfenn]

Agree with mfenn except

PSU: XFX 550W 67€. 28% more for 13% more watts is a poor deal, as the PSU's are of the same quality (both Seasonics under the hood), and the 550W unit is enough for any single GPU rig with an Intel CPU inside

Nice catch, I missed the XFX entirely. OP, the XFX 550W is built on SuperMicro's S12II platform, which has been extremely validated by this point. You're not likely to find a more reliable power supply at any efficiency.