Advice on new build i7 desktop

deshg · May 21, 2014

Hi everyone,

I am looking to buy a new desktop for work and wanted to see what you all thought of the specification. I'm having it built for me as right now i have absolutely no time to do anything but work but need a new machine ASAP

(). The proposed components are as follows (i already have a NAS which i use for storage):

Case: ANTECCSONE (with standard fans)
CPU: Intel i7 4770 (with stock cooler)
Mainboard: ASUS Z87-K C2
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB 1600MHz (2 x 8GB)
HDD #1: Samsung 120GB 840 EVO SSD
Optical Drive: DVD-RW 22x
PSU: Corsair CS550M Modular Series
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit

This is most likely overkill for what i need, i do not do any gaming at all but do a lot of Photoshop/Illustrator etc work (hence the large RAM) and sometimes video encoding so powerful CPU/RAM is definitely a bonus (and whilst not essential i will probably keep the PC for quite a while so i figured worth going for the best i can although i'm already above my original budget!).

I am also going for a dual monitor setup but as i'm not doing any gaming and have lots of RAM then i'm working on the principal i can use the DVI and HDMI ports on the motherboard for the dual monitor setup so i don't have to spend the extra money (or get the extra noise) of a separate graphics card.

It would be extremely helpful to hear what you think of this setup and whether there is anything you would change (bearing in mind i ideally don't want to spend any more if at all possible!) Additionally it would be great to hear if you think my dual monitor setup will work without issue using the mobo or whether i will need a separate graphics card? Finally do you think this will be a relatively quiet setup or do i need to replace the case fans/cooler?

Thanks so much everyone,

Dave

dandn0ten · May 21, 2014

First your cpu is not overclocking type so i change mobo and from window 7 to window 8.1 because they have similar price. for quiet pc, i pick fractal case since its price is just a 5 dollars higher than anteccsone. you might need a gpu if youre going for dual monitor so 750ti would be enough as you mentioned that you dont play game. Also psu is changed to better one

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3O8Zr
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3O8Zr/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3O8Zr/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus H87-PLUS ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($105.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1070.14
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-21 06:14 EDT-0400)

deshg · May 21, 2014

dandn0ten :

Thanks for your speedy response dandn0ten. I should have stated that i'm based in the UK and not the US so can't purchase off most of those suppliers unfortunately

The built price for the components i listed above in the UK is £680 which is obviously a bit more than building it myself but not too bad it seems.

So based on your comments i should switch the mobo to the Asus H87-PLUS ATX (what is the difference given i won't be overclocking, is there any other feature variations?) And i should switch the case to Fractal Design Define R4 (probably without window unless it makes a difference as i prefer it to be hidden!) I just chose Win7 because I prefer it to Win8 but that's not a big deal either way.

Do you not think that the mobo will be suitable for dual monitor setup and i will really need a separate GPU given the other specs?

And is the PSU you included better/quieter than the Corsair one i listed?

Thanks so much,

Dave

dandn0ten · May 21, 2014

z87 mobo usually comes with full features for overclockers but you dont really need that anyways. Asus H87-PLUS ATX is capable for dual monitors even without a gpu through dvi and vga port. however you said that you will do Photoshop/Illustrator on this pc so i think you might need a gpu but first let try it without gpu see if there is any issues. i picked that psu because i thought you were from US but guess what? corsair cs version is not that bad, i were trying to pick most efficient and cheap one

Deleted member 1300495 · May 21, 2014

Here would be a good build for your needs. The GPU is better than the 750 ti previously suggested so it will last longer. Also, I doubt that you will overclock so I did a non-K cpu and non-Z mobo.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£203.99 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£70.67 @ CCL Computers)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£109.99 @ Novatech)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (£55.89 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R7 260 1GB DirectCU II Video Card (£89.99 @ Ebuyer)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case (£39.95 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£45.98 @ Dabs)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHDS118-04 DVD/CD Drive (£10.78 @ Scan.co.uk)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) (£72.88 @ Ebuyer)
Total: £700.12
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-21 11:58 BST+0100)

deshg · May 21, 2014

dandn0ten :

Thanks again dandn0ten, you said H87 can do dual monitor with dvi and vga port, just to confirm presumably it can do dual monitor via HDMI and DVI instead of VGA (which is really what i would like)? Looking at the specs i think this is correct but just wanted to check!

Additionally do you think the Fractal Design Define R4 will be a lot quieter than the ANTECCSONE as i'm not sure whether the company i'm using offer the Fractal (although i'll ask)?

And finally i have read that the stock cooler for the CPU is pretty quiet so seems unnecessary to upgrade this to a quieter one unless you disagree?

Thanks so much for your help once again.

deshg · May 21, 2014

Thanks so much for your response mamamia13, do you think the Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case is better and/or quieter than the ANTECCSONE i suggested or the Fractal Design Define R4 that dandn0ten suggested? Additionally do you think i need the extra GPU as i don't ever do any gaming, i just need dual monitor for work purposes (so could possibly use the HDMI/DVI connectors on the mobo)?

Thanks again!

Icaraeus · May 21, 2014

I have the Fractal Define Design R4. It's so quiet. With only 1 fan running inside exc. the CPU and GPU fans it gets amazing temperatures as well. My CPU gets as low as 13 degrees with the stock cooler and reaches 50 degrees on load. My GPU stays in low 20s and reaches mid 60s... all while being inaudible (unless you're OC'ing and something goes wrong in which case the fans go to max and it gets quite loud...but hopefully that should never happen).

Here's an image of my build if you want any idea of how your PC would look like after being built:

http://i.imgur.com/k4RqhN1.jpg

Deleted member 1300495 · May 21, 2014

@deshg, you need a gpu to run monitors so even this one will be enough. Also, it has more VRAM than other GPUs its price so it will be able to add more displays if needed. Also, choose any case you want. I chose Corsair because they are a trusted, reliable brand and their cases are made out of metal and look very sleek. I personally own a Corsair 750D and it is amazing. The 200R does not have a window but it still looks pretty good. Here is an example of a build with a 200R: http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2013/march/carbide-series-200r-sub-$1000-gaming-pc-build

deshg · May 21, 2014

Icaraeus :

Thanks for the confirmation Icaraeus, i will certainly see if the R4 is available through the company i'm using as it looks like a nice case and noise is certainly a big factor!

deshg · May 21, 2014

Thanks for your quick reply mamamia, what i'm finding strange is all the mobos say they support dual monitor setups but if you can't even do this when you're not gaming then in what instance do they actually support it?

deshg · May 21, 2014

Also as a general question to you all, the general consensus seems to be to go for an H87 board instead of Z87-K due to the lack of overclocking requirements. However the price difference between the ASUS ones only seems to be about £10 which is nominal. This being the case isn't it worth getting the Z87-K for the slightly better features?

Thanks,

Dave

Deleted member 1300495 · May 21, 2014

deshg :

Why use the mobo when a cheap gpu has already been suggested. Also, the mobo will support dual monitors but it is not recommended; get the GPU I recommended and you will be on yourway.

Deleted member 1300495 · May 21, 2014

deshg :

Z87 mobos are usually recommended for overclocking. And H87 mobo does not have all the features for maximum overclocking performance. I would save up and maybe get a Z97 mobo as it has many other amazing features.

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