New Build set up

[BigBanC]

Hi guys, I just enter the pc gaming world. I joins this forum because it seems highly respected. So here is my story after babysitting my friend computer while he was in vacation I play a little on it and was blown away how awesome it looks vs my ps3(his set up is an i3770k with 2 gtx 680) so that made me sell my ps3 and laptop an build my own gaming pc. Please I need advice my friend is making fun me because I went with the AMD 7970 and an I5 3570k. Here are my specs and I have every thing running but I don't know how to strees test it. Also now am facing a problem where before installing the MOBO drivers my card would output audio and now it won't. I unistalling the realtek ones and still won't work

My components:

1) NZXT Phantom PHAN-001RD Red Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
2) 3 x ASUS VE248Q 24" LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ Speakers
3) 2x TOSHIBA PH3300U-1I72 3TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Retail Kit
4)1 x OCZ Vector Series VTR1-25SAT3-256G 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC
5) G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL10D-16GBXL
6)ASRock Z77 Extreme6 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
5)XFX Double D FX797GTDFC Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support ...
6)CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX850 V2 850W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance ...
7)Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics ...
8)Thermaltake CLW0217 Water 2.0 Extreme/All-In-One Liquid Cooling System


So please let me know how can I test this and if I should return the 7970 for a 680. Also I can buy another GPU but I dont know if it worth it and I been reading that crossfire has compabilitty issue with some games. I haven't OC nothing since I don't know how any way.

 

[SHORYUKEN]

I don't know why he's making fun of you. You have an amazing system.

You can stress test the GPU by using FurMark and you can use Prime95 to test the CPU.

Don't get a 680. Not worth it. Your system is the best price to performance wise.

If you are editing in Adobe related programs, I would suggest an i7 and a 670.

 

[n3cw4rr10r]

Nothing wrong with your build. I feel your pain on the pc graphics vs ps3 as I have both.

From Tom's Hardware Best Graphics: "We really like AMD's Radeon HD 7970 at $400. There's really no reason to pay an extra $75+ for a similar-performing GeForce GTX 680 unless its 55 W-lower thermal ceiling is necessary in your small form factor enclosure. "

 

[n3cw4rr10r]

Looks like there might be a clash between Windows Generic Audio Drivers and the Drivers provided by AsRock. Try their website for the latest drivers or check windows update as it might auto install the audio drivers if it doesnt find any. Worst case you can do a system restore to a time when your audio worked.

 

[BigBanC]

I don't know why he's making fun of you. You have an amazing system.

You can stress test the GPU by using FurMark and you can use Prime95 to test the CPU.

Don't get a 680. Not worth it. Your system is the best price to performance wise.

If you are editing in Adobe related programs, I would suggest an i7 and a 670.

I don't even know he said amd doesn't compare to nvidia I think hes jealous cause I paid 1/3 of is pre-built system. And no I don't use such software just gaming and programing. thanks

 

[BigBanC]

Looks like there might be a clash between Windows Generic Audio Drivers and the Drivers provided by AsRock. Try their website for the latest drivers or check windows update as it might auto install the audio drivers if it doesnt find any. Worst case you can do a system restore to a time when your audio worked.

Yeah is driving me nuts I redowload drivers and see, thanks any way

 

[BigBanC]

Hey guys so I ran prime95 for 30 mins highest temp was 55C om HW monitor not sure if that good. one thing I notice that the thermaltake software would show my temp has 29.8C so the fan on the water cooler never crank up. ran funmark on 1920 by 1080 no aa or msaa not sure what this is. For me it look crappy 38 fps max and 35 fps avg. not sure if this is fine or normal, I was expecting hundreds of fps or close by. Also I have a question about my NZXT case I bought the side led fan it came with two cable a 4 pin fan conector and a 2 pin led power where the heck I connect that 2 pin to turn on my lights. Any way sorry for so many question will be runnig prime95 tonight for 8 to 12 h. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/819/funmarkbenchmark.png/