Questions about my first build - which PSU?

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kujen

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This is the first PC I've ever built. I'll be using it for gaming and photoshop. I have bought everything but the PSU, cooler, video card, HDD, and monitor. I'm still unsure about these parts.

The part I'm most unsure of is the PSU. I want it to be cool and quiet, I've heard lots of stories about coil whine. Is that common? I'm looking at the Corsair HX850 as it has a rebate expiring today. Is 850 overkill for my build? I don't plan to SLI, maybe in the future but I doubt it. Is it better to go with higher wattage anyway, would it run cooler? Is it important to get a modular PSU? Any other PSUs I should consider, that are cool and quiet?

I've already bought the case, Antec 1200 V3. I have a bit of buyer's remorse after reading how it can be loud, and that the PSU needs to be put in fan up, as there's no open vent on the bottom. I'm not skilled enough to mod it.I kinda wish I'd bought a Fractal Design R4 but it may be too late. Is there any concern about the PSU being fan up? Will I be able to run it fan down since there is a small clearance, but no vent? Ive read that some do but I'm afraid of it overheating. Will the cables be long enough for this case or do I have to buy an extension?

The monitor looks good for gaming, but I'm not sure if it would be good for photoshop.

Also, the cooler. I am not sure whether to get the NH-D14, the NH-U14S, or something else. I don't plan on overclocking, but I want to have the option.

Hope you guys can help me, thanks. :)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor (Purchased For $248.96)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($73.75 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-PRO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (Purchased For $174.99)
Memory: Kingston XMP Blu Red Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (Purchased For $101.12)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (Purchased For $116.99)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($142.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card ($383.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Antec Twelve Hundred V3 ATX Full Tower Case (Purchased For $137.88)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 850W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Full (32/64-bit) (Purchased For $0.00)
Monitor: QNIX QX2710 Matte 60Hz 27.0" Monitor
Total: $1510.66
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-16 13:13 EST-0500)
 
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brarboy

brarboy

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Fan facing down is my recommendation.
It's better to have the PSU's intake fan pull in cooler outside air than to pull in the pre-warmed case air. PSU's operate more efficiently with cooler air. Also the case's internal air flow doesn't get disrupted.
If you really want to sli in future, i suggest you to increase your watts for psu as 850watts is the minimum psu recommendation for gtx 770 sli. If you really don't want to, just go with 750watts psu, that would be enough for you.
About modular, it gives you clean and organized build but if it doesn't bother you un-used cables lying at the bottom of the case then non-modular will be fine too.
I would recommend ssd to go with samsung 840 pro: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7pd256bw
n what's your budget with LED monitor?
 
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K

kujen

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So is it okay then to have the PSU fan down in the Antec 1200 V3, which doesn't have a cutout below the PSU? I've read there is about 1/4 inch clearance as the PSU sits on little feet. I don't want to have to mod anything as far as cutting a hole in the case, I wouldn't know how. Do you have any recommendations of certain PSU models?

I've already bought the crucial m500 ssd and it's non refundable at newegg unfortunately.

For the monitor, I don't want to spend over $500 really. That $350 price looked great but again, it's important that the monitor be good for gaming as well as photoshop. So accurate colors is important. I like the idea of greater than 1080p resolution. I do have another potential issue though in that my desk is built with a top shelf, I only have about 16 inches of height clearance. I might be able to place it closer to the edge of the desk though, so it's not under the shelf.
 
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brarboy

brarboy

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Sorry i thought it was 1100, my mistake. In 1200 case the psu will be facing top side for sure.
HX is better series in corsair after RM. If you want to decrease your psu watts go with RM 750psu if looking higher HX1000 will be my recommendation.
About monitor, i don't think it has hdmi or display port. If you would be just using dual-dvi. You are good to go :)
 
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K

kujen

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The rebate on the HX850 ends today, soon. So I need help deciding. It's $130 after rebate. Ive also noticed the AX860 is on sale for $140 after rebate. Is that a better choice? Is it any quieter? Are there any other options I should be looking at for a better value?
 
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brarboy

brarboy

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i am not sure about AX860, heard people complaining about coin whine or high pitch noise with that model. So you are better off with HX850, if you are getting rebate on it.
Good luck :)
 
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