Second build

[Delengowski]

So this past July I made my first build, I did pretty much all on my own and got it working with the help of a few on this forum. Unfortantly I am not particularly happy with the build. For my first time I guess I did okay, I did research but I didn't understand everything perfect at the time and there are some bottlenecks in my system for sure. Like for example my ram can be run at 1600, but my mobo only has it at 1333 b/c thats the highest it runs ram at before overclocking. My cpu is weak for my gpu and case and cable management is bad. My main purpose in a new build is to have something I game, movies, some coding, and everyday stuff.

I'll start off with the case,mobo,cpu,and so on

case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131735

cpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103849

ram (16 gigs of it)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144

gpu(currently only going to have one but in the furture over the year, upgrade to two)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102945

psu(my current psu the cable management is horrible, I hate the thing)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171037

HDD( I have a 500g 5200 rpm one also, idk what raid 0,1, or any of that is could I do anything with two different rpm HDDs?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

SSD(purely for boot and programs)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148448

I really just want something, that will last my for years to come and be upgradeable afterwards, something I can build off of and look awesome.

Whats going to left of my current build is

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131646

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103872

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127490

I'm thinking of just selling it all for about $250-350 I'm sure someone will buy it. I mean it wasn't a terrible build, I'm just displeased with it, and I'm sure someone would like it for a budget build. Although all this is going to be happening summer of 2012 so it may or may not.

Now to my other questions

I plan on using my 32 lcd tv as my monitor, as I never watch tv and on the computer at the same time, plus I'll have my macbook pro which I can always use to surf the web.

What I want to do is run the sound from my tv into my computer, and out through my speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836116044

soundcard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271001&Tpk=ht%20striker%207.1

Mainly being over the next year I'm going to slowly add speakers and a subwoofer and make it into a full 7.1 system. Can I run my sound through my computer though, and be able to toggle what sound is going into my speakers my computer or tv? Would there be a way to use my computer mic as a mic for xbox live if I have everything running through my computer? Allowing me to use a headset like turtle beaches except I don't have to pay $200+ for a pair of headphones?

Sorry for the long post thanks

 

[Delengowski]

Or I may just keep my current monitor and use the tv strictly for tv idk, but I would like to know if I can run my tv's sound through my computer and toggle which goes out my speakers


Edit: I should have just went with this stuff the first time around, stupid mistake and I really regret it.

 

[patapat]

It doesn't look like you mentioned a budget you had in mind, but based on the price of your cpu/mobo, you could easily get an i5 2500k and a $150 mobo, like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128512

edit: far and away much better value

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-2500K+%40+3.30GHz

 

[Delengowski]

Sorry I don't really have a budget, but I don't really want to go spending anything crazy over 1500-1700 dollars

Edit: Wow, see this is why I'm glad I posted this finding better stuff already.

 

[steadywaters]

Drop the AMD CPU/Mobo. Go Intel i5-2500K.

This Newegg combo has the CPU with a solid ASRock Gen3 mobo for $380:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.763153

HAF 932 and Crucial m4 128GB SSD looking good.

I don't trust Cooler Master PSUs. Consider Corsair TX750M (modular):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007657%2050001459%20600014023&IsNodeId=1&name=701W%20-%20800W

If you can live without a modular PSU, here is a combo of Corsair TX850 with 16GB Corsair Vengeance LP - $194 after MIR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.761091

Any plans to over clock? Air cooling/watercooling?

 

[Delengowski]

I already have 8 gigs of the ram I listed, and I really do want a modular psu. I think it makes things much neater and just plain old nicer looking. I am interested in overclocking. Idk whats better air or water cooling? I must admit though I'm extremely ignorant to overclocking, I know next to zero about it, but gotta learn sometime

 

[steadywaters]

Air cooling is very capable of taking the i5-2500K to 4.5GHz. However, the tall heatsinks of Corsair memory sticks may pose a clearance issue for some CPU cooler fans (which is why I had suggested low profile ram).

The Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO is the top budget air cooler:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099&Tpk=evo%20hyper%20212

You could move the fan to the pull position to avoid problems with the RAM heatsinks.

Self-contained water loops by Corsair won't be troubled by the RAM but I feel the only one worth purchasing is the H100.

Tigerdirect has it for $95 right now:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=581556

Or, you could make the ambitious jump to true water-cooling...

 

[Delengowski]

How high could I get the i5-2500k with a water cooler? Is it better choice of the two? I mean if it is, I have no problem doing it. Speaking of overclocking, what about my ram and gpu?

 

[steadywaters]

Every unique chip has its own limits. Some owners have pushed it past 5.0Ghz. Some can't get past 4.7Ghz.

Besides, making your CPU work harder will make it age faster. For gaming purposes, 4.0-4.5Ghz is just fine (GPU more important here).

Between self-contained loops and true watercooling, true watercooling wins without a doubt. It is also more expensive, especially if you go on to cool more than just your CPU.

If you are up for it, it would be a great learning experience. But, definitely read up on it and get a good understanding of how it works before jumping in.

The HD 6950 you picked out can be unlocked to perform as a HD 6970. I find no need to mess with the speed on RAM as performance gains are apparently minimal.

 

[Delengowski]

If I want to unlock the 6950 would I need a full self-contained loop? I'm interested in getting the one for my cpu. Would air be good enough for unlocking my gpu?

 

[Delengowski]

Ok, I did my research on watercooling and I'm pretty interested in that. It looks awesome, I'm guessing I'd have to take off one of the fans for the radiator correct? Where exactly would I put the reservoir?

I was liking

http://www.frozenqpcmods.com/lf.php


x2
http://www.xs-pc.com/products/waterblocks/gpu-waterblocks/rasa-gpu/

http://www.xs-pc.com/products/waterblocks/cpu-waterblocks/raystorm-cpu-apu-waterblock-amd/

radiators and tubing I have no idea for yet, but I'm getting on my way.

Also would it better to just crossfire two 6950s or just buy a really expensive card?

You think the psu Corsair TX750M (modular) would be strong enough?

Edit: probably just going to stick with one 6950 for now, but would a 6970 waterblock like this fit on a 6950 instead of buying a universal?

http://www.xs-pc.com/products/waterblocks/gpu-waterblocks/razor-6970/

 

[Delengowski]

Idk if I should get like a single fan put it on the back of the case, or a double and put it on the top. Nor what size tubing and the most important the pump. How much does a full system typically go for btw? The site I'm on isn't listing any prices, but the reservoir alone is 129.99 (although it is custom)


Edit: also decided to switch the case for the blue theme because of MOBO

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119213

 

[Delengowski]

I keep asking these questions, then answering them myself....Ok so the res will go on the outside of my case just have to drill holes. As for the radiator I've seen pictures of people with theirs on the outside of their case also. I may just do that, but my question is many fans should I have on it 2 or 3? 4?