Build Questions: Intel 3570k, Radeon 7870, etc

Essej Sniggoc

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Apr 26, 2013
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I just built my new system. I got all of the updates, software, and games installed. I feel like something isn't right though. Here is a very detailed list of my hardware and software.

♠HARDWARE-
▪Case: Corsair Obsidian 350D
▪Case Fans: two intake (push/pull) 120mm fans (one LED) on the CPU cooler at the back, two exhaust 140mm fans (both LED) at the top, and one intake 140mm fan at the front/bottom (blowing towards the GPUs)
▪Mobo: ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Professional-M
▪CPU: Intel 3570K at stock speed
▪CPU Cooler: Corsair H60
▪GPUs: two PowerColor Radeon HD 7870s GHz Edition at stock speeds
▪RAM: 8GB (2 X 4GB) of Corsair Vengeance 1866
▪SSDs: two 60GB Corsair Force Series 3 in RAID 0 (for OS and apps)
▪HDD: 500GB Seagate Backup Plus via USB 3.0 (for games)
▪Optical Drives: 24x DVD RW and a USB 2.0 w/ all-in-one card reader
▪PSU: Thermaltake TR2-600W

♠SOFTWARE-
▪Windows 7 Pro SP1 64 Bit
▪HWMonitor
▪CPU-Z
▪Norton Antivirus
▪Norton Identity Safe
▪DS3 Tool (to use a PS3 controller to play games)
▪GPU-z
▪Steam
▪Origin
▪Uplay
▪Utorrent
▪IOBit Advanced System Care Pro 7
▪AMD Catalyst Control Center Version 13.11
▪AMD Gaming Evolved
▪Dxtory
▪Intel Manageability Engine Firmware Recovery Agent
▪Intel Smart Connect Technology 2.0 64 Bit
▪Intel Control Center
▪Intel HD Graphics Driver
▪Intel Management Engine Components
▪Intel Rapid Storage Technology
Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver
▪OpenCL 1.1 support for Intel Core processor family
▪ASRock's XFastUSB

♠GAMES-
▪COD Ghosts
▪BioShock Infinite
Skyrim
▪Battlefield 4
Crossfire enable FPS-
min: 59
average: 97
max: 123
Crossfire disable FPS-
min: 44
average: 55
max: 62

♠NOTES and QUESTIONS-
▪= note ▫=question

▪I didn't have enough 6 pin PCI-E connectors on my PSU, so I bought two molex-to- 6 pin connectors. These connectors have one 6 pin connector and TWO molex connections.
▫Do both of the molex connections need to be connected to get full power?

▪When crossfire is enabled, I do not get to see the BIOS screen and the display only comes on when the PC is ready to use.
▫Is there any way to fix this?

▪With no overclocking done and under a full load, the CPU reaches 65°C max and the GPUs reach 78°C max with crossfire and 75°C max without crossfire.
▫Are these temps safe for 6 hours of gaming? If not, how do I fix this?

▫Should disable windows aero while gaming on this build?

▪I only have a 600W PSU.
▫Is that enough to get the best performance out of this build?

▪The system crashes enough to make me uncomfortable.
▫Is there anything I should change to fix this?

I really feel like this is the place to get the best help. I just want to get the best performance/quality ratio possible.

ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!










 
Solution

Essej Sniggoc

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Apr 26, 2013
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10,640


so are you saying that 70-75°C is safe and 76-80°C is unsafe for the i5?
 

Essej Sniggoc

Honorable
Apr 26, 2013
84
0
10,640


thanks for the straight forward answer about the cpu. As far as the GPUs go, I took one 7870 out and overclocked the other. I get the same performance and quality (with way lower temps too. I maxed out at 63°C) out of the overclocked 7870. That kinda makes me mad. The other card was basically a waste of money.