New Build: $2k - $3k

coffeeAchiever

Honorable
Mar 3, 2012
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10,510
I'm looking to build a new system. Price limit about 2-3k. The system will be used for:

1. Gaming (of course)
2. Video editing
3. Crunching numbers with Excel / Monte Carlo / Statistical programs

I'll be using spare parts from my last build. The parts that I'll be buying:

Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe
CPU: Core i7-3770K Quad Core
PSU: Corsair 1050W Modular HX1050
RAM: Need recommendation
CPU Heat Sink: Need recommendation
Internal DVD/CD Writer: Need recommendation

The parts that I'll be reusing:

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX690 4096MB GDDR5
Case: Thermaltake Level 10 GT
SSD Drive: Crucial 512 GB m4 2.5-Inch 6Gb/s
SSD Drive: Crucial 512 GB m4 2.5-Inch 6Gb/s
SATA Drive: A bunch of 2TB 7200rpm SATA 6Gb/s drives
Sound Card: ASUS Xonar D2X 7.1
Speakers: Logitech Z906 500W 5.1
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate
Monitor: Dell U3011 30"



A few questions:

1. I'd like to get 32GB of RAM (the max for the board). Any recommendations for the RAM? Buying RAM always confuses me.

2. Any suggestions for a CPU heat sink?

3. Any suggestions for a DVD/CD writer?

4. Any other suggestions that would make this rig more powerful / awesome for video editing and gaming? I assume the CPU and mobo will be sufficient for the number crunching.
 

jacknhut

Distinguished
Sep 26, 2010
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18,810


Get an X79 system with 6 cores i7 3930k if you also have video editting/number crunching on your priority list. Something the like of Asus P9X79V Pro and i7 3930k
 
why the heck would you recommend 2400mhz ram when you know it breaks the intel warranty and that it does nearly nothing to increase your system performance?

here you go.

850w will be more than enough to handle a 690. if you want to do quad SLI (which wont really increase your system performance), it is still capable of doing so

the noctua d14 is probably the cooler of choice given its silence
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/gYOx

 
The HX series from Corsair is great, they all get 10.0 performance ratings from jonnyguru .... except for the 1050 which gets a rather pedestrian 8.5

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=245

If ya want corsair, look at the AX1200

RAM - From an overclocking standpoint, I like the low voltage Corsairs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233199

But that limits you to 16. At 32 GB.....

Mushkin 1.5v CAS 9 DDDR3-1600 Low profile
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226338

Cooler - My Top 3 are the Phanteks, Silver Arrow and the Noctua DH-14..... The Arrow seems quieter to the ear tho they test very close so I use that where that's the priority. The Phanteks 5 year warranty, and performance give it an edge over the others but the Noctua's dang ugliness in the color choices keeps it outta many builds.

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/phanteks_ph_tc14pe_cpu_cooler_review,14.html

Given the colors on ya moBo, thios would seem to be the aesthetic choice at $88
$10 off w/ promo code Phantek0912, ends 9/30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709002

This white one at $80 is cheaper
$10 off w/ promo code Phantek0912, ends 9/30

Fir DVD writing w/ Blue Ray read ability, I use a lotta these:
DVD Writer - $47 - Asus Model BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247


A step up would be an X79 based system.... big gain on the video and number crunching,

Asus Sabertooth $330 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131801
Intel 3960x $570 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116492

The Sabertooth gives ya x16 x16 bandwidth in case ya wanna add another 690

The Dell U3011 will be great for photo editing, but will drag a bit in gaming and video
 


With your budget, and what you will be reusing, you will have no problem building a very good system.
To answer your questions:
1) Yes, 32gb of ram is very helpful for editing, assuming your editing app is 64 bit enabled.
You want documented ram compatibility. If you should ever have a problem, you want supported ram.
Otherwise, you risk a finger pointing battle between the ram and motherboard support sites, claiming "not my problem".
One place to check is your motherboards web site.
Look for the ram QVL list. It lists all of the ram kits that have been tested with that particular motherboard.
Sometimes the QVL list is not updated after the motherboard is released.
For more current info, go to a ram vendor's web site and access their ram selection configurator.
Enter your motherboard, and you will get a list of compatible ram kits.
While today's motherboards are more tolerant of different ram, it makes sense to buy ram that is known to work and is supported.
The current Intel cpu's have an excellent integrated ram controller. It is able to keep the cpu fed with data from any speed ram.

The difference in real application performance or FPS between the fastest and slowest ram is on the order of 1-3%.

Synthetic benchmark differences will be impressive, but are largely irrelevant in the real world.

Fancy heat spreaders are mostly marketing too.

In fact tall heat spreaders are a negative because they can impact some cpu coolers.
Only if you are seeking record level overclocks should you consider faster ram or better latencies.

Read this Anandtech article on memory scaling:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/sandy-bridge-memory-scaling-choosing-the-best-ddr3/1
---------------bottom line------------

DDR3 1600 is the sweet spot considering the marginal cost delta over 1333.

Now as to a specific recommendation, I might look at the g.skil ares kit, like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231559
I leave it to you to find this, or any other candidate kit on a ram or mobo support list for your motherboard.

2) With a great cooling case, there is no need for liquid cooling. I would look first at the Noctua NH-D14. It is a huge cooler that does a very good job, the equal of the packaged liquid coolers. Plus, the noctua fans are very good and quiet.
There are other good coolers out there, like Phanteks and megahalems if noctua is unavailable to you.

3) If you only need a dvd burner, then a simple Samsung unit will be only $20. Asus is good too, but a bit louder.

4) For gaming. plan on at least a modest overclock to 4.3 or so. More is possible, but I don't think there is much return on your efforts.
For productivity, I suggest adding a second identical 30" 2560 x 1600monitor. Yep, that will spend all of your budget, but a second monitor is one of the most useful additions for productivity.
You can expect to game on the primary unit, and use the secondary for e-mail and stationary stuff. In my experience the second monitor has no impact on gaming. Buy the exact same unit if you can. The color characteristics will remain the same as you drag windows from one to another.

I have no problem with the mobo, cpu and psu parts you picked.

The 3770K is as good as it gets for gaming, and the added hyperthreads may be useful for editing.

The motherboard will do the job. It may be a bit more expensive than you need for a single GTX690, but not significantly so.
A stronger graphics configuration than a GTX690 is unlikely to be warranted unless you get into triple monitor gaming.
By then, look for "son of kepler" which should be even stronger.

The psu is much stronger than you need(650w), and even stronger than you would need for sli GTX690(850w).
But, a stronger psu will use only the wattage that is demanded of it. Overprovisioning will let the psu run quieter since it is not under heavy load.