Building a New PC

[Unfadingones]

Hi guys, this is my first time building/customizing a PC for myself so I decided to come here to ask for some advice. Basically I'm going to be using this PC for gaming for the next 3/4/5 years, and these are the components I've roughly decided on:

Intel I7 2600k 3.4 GHz processor
ASUS Maximus Extreme Z-Motherboard (8x/16x/16x tri-SLI support)
8GB DDR3 RAM (2x4)
Nvidia GTX 590 GPU
1TB HDD
Coolermaster Silent Pro (1200w)
CPU Fan, Cooling,etc.

Basically I chose the ASUS Mobo to give myself the option of putting more GPUs in future when I have more $, but I've read some opinions on the net about 1155 vs 1366 mobos, and how 1366 can do quad GPU-sli. After reading all the discussions, debate, I'm still pretty confused and can't find an answer to the question below:

My question is which can run games more efficiently, a 1366 mobo with quad-SLI and I7-9xx processor, or a 1155 Mobo with tri-SLI and 2xxxk processor? Is quad-SLI important to performance?

Feel free to advice me on other parts as well, thank you very much!

 

[rozz]

Man your going expensive.. lol.

Start off by saying.. great processor.. good choice..

With past experience with the thought of upgrading in the future with more GPUs.. i too purchased a tri sli board a long time ago.. ,but i never got past 2 GPU.. now i am looking to upgrade everything again (just because i want new processor.. which mean new board, and i might as well upgrade the GPUs)

Chances are, 1 GTX 590 will play any game at max quality and will last you the next 4 years let alone two 590s... so.. just my honest opinion, i would go with a much cheaper, SLI board and not worry about triple or quad SLI..

try getting the sabertooth

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131702

over a $100 less and you can probably put that money towards your second video card.. plus it looks badass.

keep in mind that 1366 and 1155 boards depend on the processor your getting.. the 2600k is a 1155 processor so you dont want to get a 1366 board for that wont fit

 

[fuzzykiss]

Man your going expensive.. lol.

Start off by saying.. great processor.. good choice..

With past experience with the thought of upgrading in the future with more GPUs.. i too purchased a tri sli board a long time ago.. ,but i never got past 2 GPU.. now i am looking to upgrade everything again (just because i want new processor.. which mean new board, and i might as well upgrade the GPUs)

Chances are, 1 GTX 590 will play any game at max quality and will last you the next 4 years let alone two 590s... so.. just my honest opinion, i would go with a much cheaper, SLI board and not worry about triple or quad SLI..

try getting the sabertooth

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131702

over a $100 less and you can probably put that money towards your second video card.. plus it looks badass.

keep in mind that 1366 and 1155 boards depend on the processor your getting.. the 2600k is a 1155 processor so you dont want to get a 1366 board for that wont fit

i agree..the sabertooth IS bad ass!!

 

[casualbuilder]

Yes, sabertooth is what i use for AMD, beast of a board.

For gaming, you dont need an i7 2600k, an i5 2500k is much cheaper, and benches identically for all games. Same OC potential, and same power consumption. i7 is unecessary. Games dont use hyperthreading.

A GTX580 is all you need for any game 1080p. Especially if you are going to upgrade in the 3-5 year mark. Honestly, the GTX590 is way over prices, and overheats. I dont like them.

Silent Pro is CM's flagship psu, but you dont need that much. A simple HX850 will run any GTX card, and even run an SLI setup with GTX580 if you really want. Trust me on this, you dont need 1200W. Second, i sent 2 CM SilentPRO's back for DOA. They use cheap capacitors as a whole (cooler master that is), and i wouldnt buy anything except their HAF series cases and FANS.

I suggest a HAF X for your case, with an extra 200mm fan from cooler master, and either an H100 water cooler, or a Noctua D14 for your CPU cooling. Get Arctic Silver M-5 or Zalman SGT2 Thermal Paste.

 

[Unfadingones]

Hi All,

Thanks for the info, after some research, this is what I've chosen so far:


Intel I7 2600k 3.4 GHz processor
8GB DDR3 RAM (Cosair) (2x4)
Nvidia GTX 590 GPU
1TB HDD (Seagate)
M4 128 GB SSD
Cosair AX 1200W (1200w)
CM HAF-X 942 Casing
Noctua U12 Cooling

I've run into doubts about the Motherboard however,

I initially chose the ASUS Maximus IV Extreme Z, but I was advised not to due to the lack of PCI 3.0/Ivy Bridge support, so I looked at the ASrock boards and this is what I'm stuck between:

Asrock Extreme 7 Gen 3, 2-way SLI at x16/x16, 3-way SLI at x8/x8/x16, 1 PCI 3,0 Slot
Asrock Z68 Fatal1ty Gen3, No info about 2-way/3-way SLI, 2 PCI 3.0 Slots

What experts are saying are that I won't be able to take full advantage of Ivy Bridge with just 1 PCI 3.0 slot..but the Fatal1ty would seem less preferable for gaming performance..

Any advice is welcome, there are no budget constraints and I'll be using this rig for gaming for the next 4/5 years. Probably going to go with 2 GTX 580/590s, but may be running 3 GPUs in future, depending on recommendations on performance..

PLEASE HELP!D:

Thanks for all your patience!

 

[casualbuilder]

I would highly suggest the GTX580 over the GTX590. You can get one for almost half the price, and they run much cooler than the GTX590's. SLI setup with the GTX580's are amazing, and will probably give you a solid 5-7 years of no hiccup gaming.

Again, i strongly advise AGAINST the i7 2600k. While you dont have any budget restraints, its pointless to upgrade to this as the i5 2500k benches are identicle for gaming. If you really want a boost in cpu, and dont care about the money, get an i7 970X. Its a 6-core processor, without the OC potential, but runs with hyperthreading like the 2600k. My bro got his to 4.4GHz, and for a chip that doesnt have a lot of OC potential, id say thats pretty awesome!

Asrock P67 Extreme4 Gen 3 MoBo is a great board, and only $155. I think it would serve you very nicely with an i5 2500k, or the i7 970X i suggested.

 

[FinneousPJ]

What's your resolution?

 

[holyrage]

tri SLI 570 GTX IDK i think the 580 is OP :/ but for rich ppl do anything u want

 

[casualbuilder]

most mobos dont give 2.0 x 16 for 3 PCI-e slots, so its pointless do triple SLI imo. 2-card SLI is best option, or Quad with GTX590's. Again, i would like to have $1500 to spend on my case period, let alone just the gpu's. Dual GTX580's is plenty for anything out there today and in the relatively near future.

 

[Unfadingones]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the great replies.casualbuilder, but if i follow your suggestion (changing to a i7 970x) wouldnt that mean changing the entire mobo? since its a LGA 1366 chip..

As of now I'm still concerned about the future-proofing of my system basically. Is 1 PCIe 3.0 slot enough to take advantage of Ivy Bridge?Or do you need 2?

 

[casualbuilder]

i agree. so from what i said before, i would highly suggest you stick to the i5 2500k, as it benches identically to the i7 2600k for most tests. The only reason i suggested the i7 970x is because of the 2 extra cores and hyper threading. That would be the only reason i would spend more money on a chip when the i5 2500k performs the way it does. I dont see the benefit of anything other than that for what you will be using the pc for.