First Time Builder - Couple Questions

[Guest]

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Parts Preferences: I would like to use the Intel® Core™ i7-980X & ASUS P6X58D Premium with a full tower case)

Overclocking: No/Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Yes/Maybe eventually.

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I am a hopeful first time builder and basically I am somewhat worried that I may screw it up. Listed below is the computer I am my planning to build.

I have a couple of questions:

1.) With the computer listed below, would I absolutely need a Liquid cooling system? I have no real foreseeable plan to overclock this computer and from what I know about the HAF 932 case it seems to have a substantial number of fans anyways. I generally worry about attempting to install a Liquid cooling system for fear of improperly sealed tubes leading to spillage etc.

2.) Does something like the Thermal Compound as I believe I understand correctly that is needed to affix the CPU to the motherboard typically come with the actual i7-980X CPU , or is this something I would have to purchase separately?

Any advice or tips is appreciated .
Thanks in advance.


My Computer -

Processor:
Six-Core Intel® Core™ i7-980X 3.33GHz 6.4GT/s QPI 12MB Smart Cache - Extreme Edition (VT)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115223

Motherboard:
ASUS P6X58D Premium - ATX - Intel® X58 Chipset
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131614

Memory:
OCZ Gold 24GB (6 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1333ULV24GS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227631

Case:
COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Black RC-932-KWN3 Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with Side window
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119230

Power Supply:
Corsair HX1000 - Modular - 1000W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007


Hard Drives -

Primary Drive:
WD SiliconEdge Blue SSC-D0128SC-2100 2.5" 128GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820250002

Secondary Drive:
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD6000HLHX 600GB 10000 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136555

GPU:
EVGA 015-P3-1583-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) Black Ops Edition 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130589

CD/DVD Burner:
LG WH10LS30K 10X Blu-ray Burner - LightScribe Support - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136181

Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

 

[banthracis]

1. Liquid cooling is not required for any hardware setup at stock settings. Even if you OC, you need a pretty extreme OC to require liquid cooling.

2. No need for extra thermal compound if you don' t plan on high OC. Paste that comes with cooler is fine.


Fill out the Form in the sticky link in my sig.
Stuff like the purpose of the build and budget are important.

OCZ RAM sucks, don't buy it.

You definitely don't need a 1000w PSU. A 750 is fine. 850 if you want to sli.

That's a horrible SSD. You want something on either an Intel or sandforce controller. That's basically OCZ vertex, agility, phoenix line, or intels x25-m line.

Velociraptor is a waste of money. Stick with a good mainstream drive such as a F3 or 7200.12.

Do you actually need a blue ray burner?

 

[Guest]

Thank you very much for the advice. I have now changed: my primary drive to the Intel X25-M 160GB SSD which from what I understand also includes a drive bay adapter to make it fit in my planned case, the Coolermaster Haf 932. I have also changed my RAM choice now to: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 24GB (6 x 4GB) DDR3 1333 and my Power supply to 850W.

The primary intended usage for this computer is to run the 64 bit DAW software Cubase 5 to record VSTi which uses digital audio samples for its data. Potential latency in triggering these sounds is a general concern factor, so this is why I sought out the higher speed 10,000RPM Velicociraptor rather than any 7,200 RPM drive.

The secondary planned usage for this computer is making and video editing Machinima films. This involves modding & playing PC video games as well as possible related use of some 3d modeling & animation programs like 3DSMAX, Blender, or Maya. More specifically I intend on installing the Unreal Development Toolkit to work on this kinda stuff using that game engine among possible other Game Engine SDK's such as possibly one of the Cryengine's SDK.

I dont really need a blu ray burner, what I would however favor is one with Lightscribe, which as I understand it allows one to print graphics on the disc.


Listed below is my questionnaire result & my revised system list.


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Approximate Purchase Date: this week

Budget Range: $4,000


System Usage from Most to Least Important: DAW Music/Audio Production using VST technolgy, Video Gaming & Modding , Unreal Development Toolkit, CryEngine SDK, Machinima, 3d Modeling & Animation, Video Editing.


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: by brand or type I would like to use the i7-980X with the ASUS P6X58D Premium motherboard.

Overclocking: No/Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe eventually.


Monitor Resolution: bigger the better

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My Computer (revised list)-

Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Processor:
Six-Core Intel® Core™ i7-980X 3.33GHz 6.4GT/s QPI 12MB Smart Cache - Extreme Edition (VT)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115223

Motherboard:
ASUS P6X58D Premium - ATX - Intel® X58 Chipset
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131614

Memory:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 24GB (6 x 4GB) DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231357

Chassis:
Cooler Master HAF 932 - EATX Full Tower - No Power Supply - Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119230

Power Supply:
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

Hard Drives -
Primary Drive:
Intel X25-M SSDSA2MH160G2K5 2.5" 160GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167032


Secondary Drive:
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD6000HLHX 600GB 10000 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136555


GPU:
ZOTAC ZT-50101-10P GeForce GTX 580
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500184


DVD/CD:
ASUS Black SATA 24X Burner with E-Hammer Software LightScribe Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135221


Monitor:
ASUS VE276Q Black 27" 1920X1080 2ms Full HD HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236091


Peripherals-
Keyboard/Mouse:
Microsoft M7A-00001 Black 103 Normal Keys 10 Function Keys Wireless Standard Optical Desktop 700 v2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109045

 

[banthracis]

An asus sabertooth is actually a better buy mobo wise. $190 w/ promo code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665&cm_re=asus_sabertooth-_-13-131-665-_-Product

Latency of any mechanical drive is order of magnitude slower than an SSD. Hence, no need for velociraptors. Just use your SSD as a scratch drive.

XFX 850 BE is a same price PSU after MIR, and much better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207001&Tpk=xfx%20850

GTX 580 is also questionable. Gaming wise, it's ~50% more for ~15% more performance, which isn't exactly stellar.

However, I assume you're going Nvidia for CUDA acceleration. In this case it's nowhere near a worthwhile purchase.
50% more money for 6% more CUDa cores, and 12.5% more GFLOPS it pretty pathetic.

 

[Joseph30]

An asus sabertooth is actually a better buy mobo wise. $190 w/ promo code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665&cm_re=asus_sabertooth-_-13-131-665-_-Product

Latency of any mechanical drive is order of magnitude slower than an SSD. Hence, no need for velociraptors. Just use your SSD as a scratch drive.

XFX 850 BE is a same price PSU after MIR, and much better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207001&Tpk=xfx%20850

GTX 580 is also questionable. Gaming wise, it's ~50% more for ~15% more performance, which isn't exactly stellar.

However, I assume you're going Nvidia for CUDA acceleration. In this case it's nowhere near a worthwhile purchase.
50% more money for 6% more CUDa cores, and 12.5% more GFLOPS it pretty pathetic.

I went with the ASUS P6X58D Premium Motherboard - the i7-980X CPU and a CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W Power Supply and the Patriot Viper II Sector 7 Edition 24GB (6 x 4GB) PV7324G1600ELHK and a 128GB C300 for my OS drive with a VelociRaptor WD6000HLHX 600GB as my secondary drive and a single GeForce GTX 580 GPU.

With the C300 (mine apparently has firmware 0002) -
To the best of my understanding, After POST - then I will update my ASUS Bios from a CDR then I am planning on on setting the Marvell controller to AHCI however not installing the Marvell driver but rather using the Microsoft driver loaded from Windows 7 install- and then first doing a clean install of Windows 7 with the C300 connected to the SATA3 port and then shutting the machine down and switching the C300 to the SATA6 port, again though- using the Microsoft driver with it, and not the Marvell driver - as I hear is buggy. Is that basic plan ok?

Would I also have any potential issues with that amount of 1600 MHZ memory being recongized by the P6X58D? Perhaps even one that could require a different cooler than the one that came with the I7-980X and or possibly a larger power supply than the 850w?

I may only eventually plan on adding a second GTX 580 i SLI mode someday.