Another Build (music production, gaming, 1500-2000)

skylynx

Honorable
Oct 20, 2012
4
0
10,510
Hello everyone

I'm planning to buy a PC soon and I've spent some hours putting together some parts online (first build of mine):

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($319.99 @ Amazon Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.05 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LX ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.11 @ DirectCanada)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($107.49 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Canada Computers)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($168.58 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Video Card ($459.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.88 @ Canada Computers)
Case Fan: Cooler Master R4-L2S-122B-GP 39.8 CFM 120mm Fans ($10.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Case Fan: Cooler Master Megaflow 110.0 CFM 200mm Fan ($12.00 @ Vuugo)
Case Fan: Cooler Master Megaflow 110.0 CFM 200mm Fan ($12.00 @ Vuugo)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($64.99 @ Canada Computers)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($55.97 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Full (64-bit) ($104.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $1621.02

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: 1-2 weeks

Budget Range: $1700-2000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: music production, gaming (mostly World of Warcraft)

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments:
My concerns are:

1) CPU - I chose i7-3770K because honestly I didn't mind to spend another $100 (from i5) on it. I'm not really a pro overclocker, but wouldn't mind ability to speed my machine up a bit if I want. I heard that games don't benefit from i7 that much, but some music plugins that I plan to use are heavy on CPU. Is it fine?
2) Video Card – Would GTX 680 be an overkill for WoW on 1920x1080 Ultra? Would 670 be enough maybe? Maybe 660 even? I’ve just spotted this review - http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-670-review,3200-9.html – and it shows that 670 is just tiny amount behind 680 in WoW. This the game I play primarily at the moment and I wish to try in on Ultra. In general I've always had pretty average video on my machines and now I want to try something of good quality. Just don't want to throw my money away.
3) Memory – I’ve spent a lot of time trying to select between DDR1600 and DDR2133. Based on what I’ve read, timings are not that important unless I’m going into heavy overclocking, but if it will bring me some performance I would go for it. I chose DDR1600 for now. Also considered getting 32 GB, but then decided that I can upgrade if needed.
4) Motherboard – was a bit blind choice on my part. Chose it based on socket, Z77 chipset and price. Any advice would be appreciated…
5) SSD – Is Samsung is good brand for SSDs? I selected Intel 160 GB but then found this one for the same price but with more capacity. I wish to have as much actively used software on SSD as possible. And WoW (~25GB).

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading:

I want to build a robust system that is going to serve me for a relatively long time. I'm tired of using a laptop as my home computer. I plan to do some music production (heavy on CPU, RAM, HDD) on my machine. And play some WoW in-between. I've bought monitor on boxing day in advance and I plan to have a separate budget for sound system.

And in general I want to ask for advice if there are any parts on which I could spend a little more and get much more, or spend less on some without any significant performance loss.

Thanks for help
 
Your questions.

1. A 3770k is fine for what your after. I dont know the demands that music applications have on CPU power, so if you think its needed than why not.

2. Very overkill, and the 680 is a poor value against the 670 anyway. I recommend you get a 670, and from a manufacturer other than EVGA. EVGA uses a reference design cooler, which runs hot and loud compared to custom designs like Gigabytes Windorce or MSI's Twin Frozr.

3. 1600Mhz, CL9 1.5v is all you need. Faster memory isn't worth the price, especially with the recent price hike on RAM. 16GB should be all you need, but why not leave yourself an upgrade path. What you'v got down will be fine.

4. Depends what you want to do whether that motherboard will be sufficient or not. Do you have any plans to run SLI later on? Do you feel that you might have more than two SSD's on the rig. DO you have any desire to keep the rig colour coordinated (Blue Mobo, Red fans and case :lol:)?

5. Samsung is a great name when it comes to SSD's, an 840 will be fine.

My comments.

Since this is a music production rig, I'm guessing the rig being quiet is a concern? If it is, I advise you take a look at more silence oriented cases like the Fractal Design R4 and Corsair 550D. They both have sound damping foam on the inside to absorb any sound.

If you want to leave Crossfire/SLI as an option later on, you need a beefier PSU and a different motherboard.

Any plans for a sound card, or are you using an external solution?
 

Kjwinden

Honorable
Feb 9, 2013
415
0
10,860
Your mobo is fine, PSU is fine, 840 pro is better than the 840 if you want the performance.

680 is kickass if that's what you want. Though, I agree that MSI or Gigabyte is better than EVGA.

Case wise, phantom is great and if you really want to get into music I'd recommend some quality sound, noise canceling headphones instead of a silent case. Much more expensive but as I said if your getting into music might as well.
 

skylynx

Honorable
Oct 20, 2012
4
0
10,510



Thanks for reply.

1. CPU is important, yes, as some plugins calculate things really intensively, like Altiverb. So I'm going with the max solution here. (trying to calm down crazy voices chanting 'Haswell, Haswell, Haswell' inside my head)

2. I see, I see. I thought about that, but again figured that better card never hurts. And thanks for pointing out manufacturer, that was another blind choice by me

3. Yeah I figured the same way, and that's why I'm getting 2x8, to be able to add another pair to 32 GB.

4. LOL, i know. But I thought that I'd be able choose the color later. Because this build uses them too - http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/b/AGt and they're blue.

I think I don't need SLI / Crossfire. Gonna edit that out.

For sound card I'm looking at M-Audio interface. One of those: http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=PCIinterfaces
 

skylynx

Honorable
Oct 20, 2012
4
0
10,510


That's why I'm still kinda leaning towards 680, just because I can buy it now, why not buy it. It's the small kid inside me wants to taste the power, even in WoW. On the other hand I'm not going to play new Crysis on it or something, maybe should better spend more money on monitors. Not sure..

I'll still get that corsair, I think. Not too much of a price difference. Headphones are another story which I'll gonna resolve a bit later, my old Sennheiser will serve me a little more.

Notes to myself: check other video manufacturers, and 670, check motherboards with 3-4 Sata 6 GB/s (maybe I want that indeed, although highly unlikely for now)