Opinions on build parts

Randir

Honorable
Jun 4, 2013
2
0
10,510
I am looking to build a computer for gaming and 3D graphics design. I currently have two monitors but I am interested in 3+(need two graphics cards?) Please comment on the following parts:
Asus P8Z77-V-Pro Motherboard
I7-3770K 3.5Ghz Microprocessor
16GB(2x8GB) 1866 G.Skill Low Profile Ares RAM
Samsung 840 Pro 256GB SSD
Seagate Barracuda 2TB HDD
Seasonic SS-760XP2 Power Supply
Asus DRW-24B3ST DVD Burner
Thermaltake Overseeer RX-I Case
Gigabyte GV-N770OC-2GD Graphics Card
or
Sapphire 100351SR 7970 OC w/Boost
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
or
Corsair H80i Micro Cooler

Thanks
 
Solution
I7-3770K 3.5Ghz Microprocessor - Perfectly fine, I would suggest looking at Haswell if it is an option though, the stock performance is better and if you are getting the Corsair H80i (which I have in my personal rig and love it), you can overclock it further (performance-wise) than the 3770k.
16GB(2x8GB) 1866 G.Skill Low Profile Ares RAM - Any specific reason you are getting Low Profile? It isn't a problem, but G.Skills Ripjaws X (of which I have 16 GB in my personal system) has some great heat spreaders that allow for better overclocking if you are interested in OCing your RAM. Corsair RAM is also wonderful if you decide you don't want Low Profile and don't want G.Skill.
Samsung 840 Pro 256GB SSD - I have a Samsung 840 250 GB and it...
Depending on your graphics design applications, get the HD 7970 if it supports OpenCL. Otherwise, the GTX 770 is a great choice. As for the cooler, it depends how far you plan to overclock. Up to medium, I would go with the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO. Mid-High, I would go with a Phanteks PH-TC14PE or Noctua NH-D14. Higher than that, I would go with water cooling.
 

xcrossroadsx

Distinguished
Dec 13, 2011
247
1
18,860
I7-3770K 3.5Ghz Microprocessor - Perfectly fine, I would suggest looking at Haswell if it is an option though, the stock performance is better and if you are getting the Corsair H80i (which I have in my personal rig and love it), you can overclock it further (performance-wise) than the 3770k.
16GB(2x8GB) 1866 G.Skill Low Profile Ares RAM - Any specific reason you are getting Low Profile? It isn't a problem, but G.Skills Ripjaws X (of which I have 16 GB in my personal system) has some great heat spreaders that allow for better overclocking if you are interested in OCing your RAM. Corsair RAM is also wonderful if you decide you don't want Low Profile and don't want G.Skill.
Samsung 840 Pro 256GB SSD - I have a Samsung 840 250 GB and it works wonderfully. Have a blast with the pro version, it only gets better.
Seagate Barracuda 2TB HDD - Have one, love it.
Seasonic SS-760XP2 Power Supply - Seasonic and Corsair are my two preferred brands for PSUs.
Asus DRW-24B3ST DVD Burner - Aslong as this is your cheapest option, I agree with it.
Thermaltake Overseeer RX-I Case - Haven't had a chance to build with this case, I personally don't like the style but that's all up to you!
Gigabyte GV-N770OC-2GD Graphics Card - Great card
or
Sapphire 100351SR 7970 OC w/Boost - Also a great card. I prefer the 7970 as I have a 7950 in my build and LOVE it. I have 3 displays set up with a single card, and could have a 4th if I wanted. Just a fair warning, the 7970 requires that you use the onboard mini-DP for driving any monitors beyond 2. If you want to have 4 connected, 2 of those MUST be connected through the DP on the card. If your monitor doesn't support miniDP/DP then you must buy an ACTIVE adapter (they run around $30 each unless you require the dual-link DVI to drive displays larger than 1920x1200 which are $100 each). The 770 you mentioned does not require this, but I prefer AMD's drivers for multi-display.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - Awesome budget cooler.
or
Corsair H80i Micro Cooler - Great closed-loop water cooler. I have one, and I love it. Tip though, the provided fans are a little loud and are only mediocre performers. I personally suggest the Scythe Gentle Typhoon 1800 RPM fans. I have 2 in push-pull (no huge benefit, it's for aesthetics). They are expensive at $20 each, but they are wonderfully quiet and outperform the louder stock fans that come with the H80i.

Hope this helps!
 
Solution

Randir

Honorable
Jun 4, 2013
2
0
10,510
Thanks for the info xcrossroadsx.

I am leery about newly released HW. I was burned back in 2000 new micro came out, I bought the system and within two months they found a bug that reduced the capability to below the 486 level. I would normally wait about 6 months to year to let the bugs work themselves out. Kind of like not buying a car the first year after a major model roll.

I was looking at low profile RAM as I saw many reviews with issues regarding the heat spreaders hitting the uP cooler. If I go with the H80i or H100i it looks like that might not be an issue. I was looking at Corsair and Crucial as well. The G.Skill low profile looked the best of the three low profile. I will revisit with full size heat spreaders.

Yeah I am going back and forth with the graphics card thing. Most of the reviews I have seen seem to give a slight edge to the 770 but most people seem to like Eyefinity better than Surround. Maybe I'll flip a bit coin. Of course with Newegg offering four titles with the 7970 I might just take them up on it. :)

I will look into the alternate fan for the H80i.

Thanks to both of you for the inputs!