Help First Build - Video Editing / Gaming - Opinions Please

w00dc4ip

Distinguished
Jan 7, 2012
7
0
18,510
Hello,
Looking at putting together a home system to be used primarily for surfing and some gaming (MS Flight / Assassin's Creed 3), but will also occasionally be used for some pretty heavy video editing / processing (Adobe CS and Sony Vegas style). Will also be used for web programming, but that doesn't require much more than any of my 5yo linux laptops can handle, so I don't expect it will affect the components much. Here's what I have, looking for some criticism. Thanks in advance.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/p8Gw

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor $269.99
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100 92.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler $79.99
Motherboard Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard $174.99
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory $74.99
OS/Boot Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk $89.99
Storage Drive: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $69.99
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB Video Card $204.37
Case: Antec Nine Hundred Two V3 ATX Mid Tower Case $69.99
PSU: Corsair Enthusiast 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply $59.99
BDR: Pioneer BDR-206DBKS Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer $94.99
Monitor: Samsung S27B350H 27.0" Monitor $224.99
OS: Microsoft Windows 8 Professional (OEM) (64-bit) $127.28

Total: $1521.55
Timeframe is within the next few days.
 

butremor

Honorable
Oct 23, 2012
1,563
0
12,160
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($93.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 550 Ti 1GB Video Card ($133.62 @ NCIX US)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.97 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($53.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($25.28 @ CompUSA)
Total: $775.38
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-24 04:47 EST-0500)
 

w00dc4ip

Distinguished
Jan 7, 2012
7
0
18,510
Ok, questions as I don't know crap about hardware other than what I've read on this site and others:

Like the idea of the Core i7-3770, good chance I'll go there instead of the 2600 for the additional $20.

Do I not need a CPU cooler?

I've been reading the x79 chipset is a lot better for video editing (and been told to stay away from P77, though this one looks like H77). Only know what I'm reading, so please explain if someone can tell me why one over the other.

The ASRock doesn't support SLI, wouldn't that preclude me from adding a second video card later should I end up doing more video processing? Want to be able to expand and upgrade as necessary to keep up over the next 5 years or so.

Is 8 GB of memory comparable to the quad channel 16 I originally specced? Would the system not utilize all 16? Just looking for an explanation. Also, the mobo only supports up to 32 GB ram total, will that potentially pose a problem in a couple years?

The Storage suggested comes nowhere near the amount I originally had, and I wanted to have OS and major programs on an SSD for speed purposes. Am I missing something?

Video Card, again just looking for more of an explanation.

PSU - need to have room for expansion, will I have any with a 550w PSU.
 

butremor

Honorable
Oct 23, 2012
1,563
0
12,160
cpu comes together with cooler
x79 should be okay
yes, go with 16gb ram
get 750w psu for two videocard in future
ssd is good
fell free to follow my link and add components you want
for gpu if you want go gtx670
 

spaceace1014

Honorable
Aug 2, 2012
38
0
10,540
Much of this build depends on how much gaming and how much video editing you plan to do.

Butremor's build is a very cost conscious gaming build but your original build is superior for video editing owing to the larger hard drive, greater ram, and faster video card which both premeir pro and after affects can take advantage of.

I would avoid windows 8 for now. Its UI is less effective and less intuitive for content creation than 7 and its still got some bizzare bugs. (I keep having to reinstal chrome for one due to sound issues) I have both but I'm making an effort to use 8 on my laptop so that I can answer questions about it.

I would look at getting a dell u2713 ($700) it has roughly twice the resolution of the screen that you posted originally and if you plan to do anything with the adobe RGB colorspace I would plan on getting a Dell u2711 which has a better panel but is more expensive. the extra resolution is helpful for myriad reasons not the least of which is the content that you'll be editing is is 1920x1080 so having 2560x1440 will allow you to work at that full resolution part of the time while still having room for libraries and a timeline. Honestly it would be better if you had 2 or 3 of these.

If any of your work is going to be professional you will need color calibration or you will get a headache after you go back and fourth on color with a client a few times. I suggest an eye1 from x-rite or a Spyder 4.

That should be something of a start.

 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Butremor's build is a very cost conscious gaming build but your original build is superior for video editing owing to the larger hard drive, greater ram, and faster video card which both premeir pro and after affects can take advantage of.

A lot of people don't seem to be able to differentiate between gaming builds and pro builds. That's not necessarily a bad thing because any gaming rig can run professional application but it doesn't work the other way around.

I've been reading the x79 chipset is a lot better for video editing (and been told to stay away from P77, though this one looks like H77). Only know what I'm reading, so please explain if someone can tell me why one over the other.

The extra cores of the 3930k will make the most demanding tasks and large files really easy to work with plus the near unlimited amount of RAM (ok 64GB) will allow you to open and edit large videos with ease.
 

w00dc4ip

Distinguished
Jan 7, 2012
7
0
18,510
Hi g-unit,
I think you commented last time I was getting ready to build, and I decided to hold off but now I'm behind and need to get this thing built. The rig is primarily going to be used for surfing and programming (mostly database and web, nothing too heavy), but will be used for gaming and occasionally video editing/media creation/3d rendering. I don't need it to be built primarily for the video stuff, but when those times come where it's needed, I need that power to be there. Also, I want to be able to upgrade later with more ram, and possibly changing from one video card to two or three utilizing the SLI in a few years, again, only if I have to.

I'm getting a little closer to pressing the "Buy" button, but would like some criticism on the new tweaks:
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qvZu
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qvZu/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qvZu/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($299.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 2GB Video Card ($244.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 850W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($174.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDR-207MBK Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Lite-On SK-1788/BS Wired Standard Keyboard ($14.97 @ Newegg)
Total: $1884.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-01 23:36 EST-0500)