Advice/Recommendations on new build

[songoku619]

Hi, I am currently in the process of choosing components for a new PC - Old one got stolen
Could someone please check over this setup and make sure everything fits? (Don't wanna mix apples and oranges)

Primary Usage: Audio Recording/Editing
Secondary: Gaming & Daily Usage

Components:
CPU: Intel i5-3450
RAM: Corsair XMS3 8Gb 1600MHz
GFX: KFA² GeForce GTX 550Ti 1GB
HDD 1: OCZ 60GB Agility 3 Series SSD
HDD 2: Hitachi GST Deskstar 1 TB
MB: Asus P8B75V
PSU: Coolermaster RS-600 Silent Power
Chassis: Coolermaster RC-550 Silencio

Notes:
1. I won't be doing any overclocking whatsoever.
2. I need it to be near silent (Hence the Chassis/PSU Choices) for recording Audio.
3. Screen Resolution will mostly be at 1360x768 when gaming (GFX card)
4. Yes. I am on a slight budget.
5. I live in South Africa so I'll be getting all my components from: http://www.ikonicit.co.za/

Any advice/recommendations would be much appreciated
Thanks

 

[batuchka]

GPU : HD 6850/7770
PSU : Seasonic M12II 520

 

[songoku619]

GPU : HD 6850/7770
PSU : Seasonic M12II 520

Thanks, any specific reason for the PSU choice ?

 

[DavidY]

Mobo: Asus P8H77-V
Video: GTX 560 if possible (nVidia is usually better for photo editing)
PS: PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk3 S600 600 watt or Antec HCG-620 620 watt (both are Seasonics...NOTE: some Seasonics are noisy)

See noise tests here for various PS:

http://uk.hardware.info/reviews/2762/14/megatest-43-psus-from-500-to-700-watt-noise-production-charts

Dave

 

[songoku619]

Mobo: Asus P8H77-V
Video: GTX 560 if possible (nVidia is usually better for photo editing)
PS: PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk3 S600 600 watt or Antec HCG-620 620 watt (both are Seasonics...NOTE: some Seasonics are noisy)

See noise tests here for various PS:

http://uk.hardware.info/reviews/2762/14/megatest-43-psus-from-500-to-700-watt-noise-production-charts

Dave

Thanks Dave the noise test results was just what I was looking for

I considered the GTX 560 but I won't be going past 720p resolution any time soon, and I'm not extremely picky with gaming graphics so imo the GTX 550 ti should more than suffice.

Is there any reason for the suggested motherboard?

Thanks again

 

[DavidY]

H77 is consumer oriented. B75 is business oriented. They are not that much different as shown here:

http://www.cpu-world.com/news_2012/2012041101_Intel_Launches_7-Series_Chipsets.html

You probably could save some more $$ by going with a lesser graphics card like GTS 450...uses 26 more watts than 550 Ti. You could go down to a 500 watt PS....PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk3 S500. Antec HCG-520 should be similar to the HCG-620.

Dave

 

[songoku619]

H77 is consumer oriented. B75 is business oriented. They are not that much different as shown here:

http://www.cpu-world.com/news_2012/2012041101_Intel_Launches_7-Series_Chipsets.html

You probably could save some more $$ by going with a lesser graphics card like GTS 450...uses 26 more watts than 550 Ti. You could go down to a 500 watt PS....PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk3 S500. Antec HCG-520 should be similar to the HCG-620.

Dave

I'll be adding an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 Sound card to the above setup, would it affect the PSU requirement (<500w<)?

As for the motherboard I noticed the H77 is more expensive than the B75...

 

[batuchka]

Thanks, any specific reason for the PSU choice ?

For PSU : Seasonic definitely makes better PSU than Cooler Master and has better track record and i thought only audio editing - refer to Toms most recent review on Open CL/Gl on photo editing software here

Can OpenGL And OpenCL Overhaul Your Photo Editing Experience?
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/photoshop-cs6-gimp-aftershot-pro,3208.html

For gaming both those cards mentioned churn out better frames as well ^^

 

[DavidY]

If you need any of the H77 features...B75 or even Q75 will be fine. Differences shown below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1155

If that M-Audio Audiophile 2496 is similar like a Sound Blaster PCI card, it won't affect the PSU too much...500 watt is fine.

 

[songoku619]

@ Batuchka - I won't be doing any photo editing only audio.

@ DavidY - It seems that the only real differences are the 1vs2 SATA6G ports and Intel SRT.

I'll only be using a SATA6G SSD Drive, the HDD is SATA3G (And in future I doubt I'll be adding SATA6G due to negligible performance over 3G)

As far as Intel SRT, I've never used it before, does it make a big difference? Shouldn't the SSD be quick enough for startup etc.

 

[DavidY]

As far as Intel SRT, I've never used it before, does it make a big difference? Shouldn't the SSD be quick enough for startup etc.

Not familiar with that feature. The main difference for enthusiasts is the overclocking ability on the Z77 boards. If you don't overclock, get another x75/x77 board instead.

Dave

 

[songoku619]

Swapping out the Coolermaster PSU for Antec (Noise testing results). From a budget pov the B75 seems rather enticing

I am sure that no overclocking will be done.

Are there any other suggestions perhaps with other components? Any compatibility issues?

Thanks

 

[songoku619]

Okay so I've done a bit more research and combined it with the above suggestions. Can someone please look over it to make sure it all fits

Components:
CPU: Intel i5-3450
RAM: Corsair XMS3 8Gb 1600MHz
GFX: KFA² GeForce GTX 550Ti 1GB
SSD: OCZ 60GB Agility 3 Series
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm 64mb 1 TB
MB: Asus P8B75V
PSU: Antec HCG-620W
Chassis: Fractal Design R3
Soundcard: M-Audio Audiophile 2496
Wifi Card: Random

Last minute questions:
1. 620W vs 520W?
2. Will it all work together?
3. Anything Else? (Suggestions) - Refer to initial post (Usage/Needs)

Thanks

 

[songoku619]

Best answer selected by songoku619.