Some critique/help with Gaming/Audio Rig

[songoku619]

Hi, I am currently in the process of choosing components for a new build.

Primary Usage: Audio editing/Recording
Secondary: Gaming @ 1360x768 (Decent gaming...Not hardcore)

Please take Note:
1. I will not be gaming at over 720p
2. No overclocking AT ALL
3. The components are chosen with silence in mind (I'll be recording tracks with it in the room)

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 (Perhaps downgrade to 520W?)
Chassis: Fractal Design R3 (Chose it over the CM silencio 550 -Yes/No)
Soundcard: M-Audio Audiophile 2496
Wifi Card: Random

NB. For the GFX Card I won't be going the 6850/560 ti/460GTX route - Yes I know they're better but it's slightly out of my budget and at 720p Res I doubt I'll really need much more.

I need someone to check over the choices vs prices and also if all the components are compatible.

Any suggestions (Performance/Price/Silence) would be much appreciated
Thanks in advance

 

[TheBigTroll]

1: for the ram , go to newegg and buy some gskill ares 1600mhz 2x4gb kit. better ram

2:you wont be needing a graphics card at that kind of resolution

3: get a i5 3470 to get better graphics

4:agility 3 sucks. get something like a crucial m4 128gb instead

5:for the motherboard, id get a msi h77ma-g43. cheaper

6:for the power supply, id get a pc and power cooling mk3 500w. the seasonic m12II 520w is also a great choie

7:for the chasis, id get a fractal define mini since you are using a matx board.

8:i have yet to hear about that sound card but i do recommend the asus essence stx if you are really serious about sound. otherwise, a asus dx 7.1 sound card is also great

if you need even more silence, id get a hyper 212 evo with a corsair sp120 quiet edition fan for the cooler. totally not necessary but very quiet

 

[TheBigTroll]

you can add a sapphire ultimate 7750 if you need graphical performance. its completely passive

 

[g-unit1111]

4:agility 3 sucks. get something like a crucial m4 128gb instead

5:for the motherboard, id get a msi h77ma-g43. cheaper

6:for the power supply, id get a pc and power cooling mk3 500w. the seasonic m12II 520w is also a great choie

Definitely agree with all three of these here. B75 sucks as well - H77 is a far better board to invest in.

 

[songoku619]

1: for the ram , go to newegg and buy some gskill ares 1600mhz 2x4gb kit. better ram

2:you wont be needing a graphics card at that kind of resolution

3: get a i5 3470 to get better graphics

4:agility 3 sucks. get something like a crucial m4 128gb instead

5:for the motherboard, id get a msi h77ma-g43. cheaper

6:for the power supply, id get a pc and power cooling mk3 500w. the seasonic m12II 520w is also a great choie

7:for the chasis, id get a fractal define mini since you are using a matx board.

8:i have yet to hear about that sound card but i do recommend the asus essence stx if you are really serious about sound. otherwise, a asus dx 7.1 sound card is also great

if you need even more silence, id get a hyper 212 evo with a corsair sp120 quiet edition fan for the cooler. totally not necessary but very quiet

Thanks for the reply

1. Does the ram make any real world difference? I've read that it's negligible performance change (Gaming ram = OC capabilities)
2. I don't need a graphics card for running bf3 @ very high settings @ 1360x768?
5. I need space for 2 PCI Devices (Wifi Card + Sound card) and the Gfx card blocks out the extra ports on mATX (Experience with my current PC)
7. Same as above...
8. The sound card is for studio usage (Low latency when direct monitoring with fx)

With regards to the Gfx card suggested I'd still need a bigger board to fit the 2 PCI Devices + Gfx Card

 

[songoku619]

4:agility 3 sucks. get something like a crucial m4 128gb instead

5:for the motherboard, id get a msi h77ma-g43. cheaper

6:for the power supply, id get a pc and power cooling mk3 500w. the seasonic m12II 520w is also a great choie

Definitely agree with all three of these here. B75 sucks as well - H77 is a far better board to invest in.

Apparently from my research the only difference is the usage of a)Intel SRT and b) the H77 has one more SATA 3 port...
a) I don't intend using it b) SSD for boot drive @ SATA 3 and mechanical drives for storage don't benefit at all from SATA 3...So the "sucking" part in the B75 is where exactly...?

Thanks for the response

 

[g-unit1111]

Apparently from my research the only difference is the usage of a)Intel SRT and b) the H77 has one more SATA 3 port...
a) I don't intend using it b) SSD for boot drive @ SATA 3 and mechanical drives for storage don't benefit at all from SATA 3...So the "sucking" part in the B75 is where exactly...?

Thanks for the response

The outdated parallel and serial ports for one thing, not enough USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, minimum RAM expansion, forfeit access to the multiplier for unlocked CPUs, I could go on and on.

 

[TheBigTroll]

Thanks for the reply

1. Does the ram make any real world difference? I've read that it's negligible performance change (Gaming ram = OC capabilities)
2. I don't need a graphics card for running bf3 @ very high settings @ 1360x768?
5. I need space for 2 PCI Devices (Wifi Card + Sound card) and the Gfx card blocks out the extra ports on mATX (Experience with my current PC)
7. Same as above...
8. The sound card is for studio usage (Low latency when direct monitoring with fx)

With regards to the Gfx card suggested I'd still need a bigger board to fit the 2 PCI Devices + Gfx Card

1: i suggested this set since the xms memory might run at 1.65v which is bad for the system
2:anything plays bf3 at that kind of resolution. if you really need a card, just get the 7750 i suggested and it should be able to play bf3 at nice settings
3:sound card is pci-e 1x so it fits. there are always wifi cards that are based off of pci-e 1x. or you can use one of those wifi adaptor usb sticks.
4: the case i suggested is smaller but is the same. its smaller since it only fits matx or smaller boards
5: well then get the essence stx from asus. audiophile sound on pcs. just remember the sound wont be optimized for games though

 

[TheBigTroll]

b75 or any 75 chipset is aimed more at businesses

 

[songoku619]

The outdated parallel and serial ports for one thing, not enough USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, minimum RAM expansion, forfeit access to the multiplier for unlocked CPUs, I could go on and on.

Firstly, the extra ports won't make a difference to me...according to the ASUS website it has 4xUSB 3.0 and 8xUSB 2.0 ports, I'd think that was too much tbh . I won't be OC'ing as stated above so no need to access the multiplier..

The main reason I opted for the B75 board (Asus P8B75V) was because it's the cheapest ATX that has extra slots for my PCI cards to make up for the overlapping Gfx card (mATX boards)

 

[songoku619]

1: i suggested this set since the xms memory might run at 1.65v which is bad for the system
2:anything plays bf3 at that kind of resolution. if you really need a card, just get the 7750 i suggested and it should be able to play bf3 at nice settings
3:sound card is pci-e 1x so it fits. there are always wifi cards that are based off of pci-e 1x. or you can use one of those wifi adaptor usb sticks.
4: the case i suggested is smaller but is the same. its smaller since it only fits matx or smaller boards
5: well then get the essence stx from asus. audiophile sound on pcs. just remember the sound wont be optimized for games though

2. So the 7750 will be able to max out any current games at 720p? - Really leaning towards it coz of the passive cooling thanks for the tip. My only concern is that I could (perhaps) crank out a bit more from the GTX550ti but if the 7750 can max out (nearly) @ 720p then I'll get it instead

 

[TheBigTroll]

i chose a 7750 because they are quieter and use much less power than a 550ti.

it wont be maxing anything out even with a 550ti.

you can upgrade to a double dissipation 7770 from xfx if you want and it will have more performance than both cards

 

[songoku619]

1: i suggested this set since the xms memory might run at 1.65v which is bad for the system
4: the case i suggested is smaller but is the same. its smaller since it only fits matx or smaller boards
5: well then get the essence stx from asus. audiophile sound on pcs. just remember the sound wont be optimized for games though

1. Will ADATA 1600MHz XPG Gaming Series be okay since I live in SA and the G.Skill RAM isn't easily available
4. Case N/A
5. I need RCA I/O so the ASUS Card won't do...

 

[TheBigTroll]

1: what voltage does the ram run at. also, what cas latency.

2: ok then. the r3 will do

3:if you plan to use your audio card, what expansion port type does it use (pci, pci-e, that sort)

 

[songoku619]

1: what voltage does the ram run at. also, what cas latency.


3:if you plan to use your audio card, what expansion port type does it use (pci, pci-e, that sort)

1. Cas - 9; The voltage shows as 1.55V - 1.75V

2. PCI

 

[TheBigTroll]

it needs to run right at 1.5v or else it degrades your memory controller

you cant use the board i provided. try the asus h77-v LE

 

[songoku619]

As far as the RAM goes I also have the Corsair vengeance CL9 1.5v as an option...Maybe that's betteR ?

 

[songoku619]

Another little hiccup I'm facing is that I think I should get another CPU cooler that's quieter than the stock on the i5 3450..Is this necessary considering the lower consumption from the Ivy's ?

 

[songoku619]

Best answer selected by songoku619.

 

[TheBigTroll]

get a hyper 212 evo if you are looking for more silence

for the motherboard, go with h77-v LE

for the ram, you cant really get corsair vengeance as they dont fit under most heatsinks. unless you can get ahold of the low profile stuff

 

[songoku619]

get a hyper 212 evo if you are looking for more silence

for the motherboard, go with h77-v LE

for the ram, you cant really get corsair vengeance as they dont fit under most heatsinks. unless you can get ahold of the low profile stuff

Low profile is available
Thanks alot - think I'm ready to proceed with the purchase

 

[TheBigTroll]

can you list the final specs just to make sure?

 

[songoku619]

Components:

CPU: i5-3450
Cooler: Hyper 212
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LP 1600MHz 1.5v (2x4Gb)
GPU: Sapphire HD7770 (Priced very close to the 7750)
M/B: h77-v LE
Chassis: Fractal R3
PSU: Antec HCG-520W

I was actually thinking, I could leave my PC outside my recording room in which case I could lose the "silent" parts - If it would give me a price+performance boost. Just a thought though

 

[TheBigTroll]

if i were to get that power supply, id get the modular one since the r3 doesnt have a ton of room in the back. or you could just leave it at the bottom of the case

 

[songoku619]

Yip it's the modular thanks alot troll