Critique my new build (no more than £1200).

[Doctor McNinja]

I don't know what to say other than my budget is £1200, I don't need an OS, optical drive or HDD and the make of SSD and PSU aren't really negotiable. Other than that though, I'm open to suggestions. Oh, one last thing. Any alternative GPU's must be of an Nvidia design. I have a 120Hz 3D monitor and I don't want to paint myself into a corner in regards to 3D movies (that'll I'll probably never watch anyway).

CPU - i7 2600K
CPU Cooler - Corsair H100
Motherboard - Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe
GPU - GTX 670 (haven't decided exactly which one just yet)
RAM - 2x4GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz
Storage - Intel 520 120GB Cherryville*
PSU - Cosair AX series... probably 650W
Case - Cooler Master CM690 ii Advanced Black and White**



* If I can get one of those cashback deals, I would stretch my budget to accommodate an 180GB.

** I'm probably just over thinking this but one concern I have regarding the case is the cooling. The B&W version of the case has three fewer fan mounts when compared to it's black counterpart. The missing fans are (or rather aren't) located on the side panels, one behind the motherboard/cpu and two on the other side panel. Would the lack of these fans be a big deal?... I've just read that back and it sounds stupid.

 

[IvanDobskey]

That all looks pretty good mate. I'd go for the Ivybridge version of the CPU though - 3770K.

Also, although the intel SSD's are very good they are also rather pricey. The Crucial M4 is almost as good and a lot cheaper.

 

[the_director]

Be warned about the H100 and grinding noise issues - see Google. It happened to me and I have to go through the expense of sending it to Holland for a replacement. There is a home fix involving a diode and soldering iron but sadly my fan controller started playing up before I could try it.

It is a nice cooler, just bear in mind a few people are having issues. The grinding noise was awful. Also, at full speed it sounds like an hovercraft, unusable really at full such is the noise.

 

[stulid]

The PSU is a bit weak if you decided to go SLI later on, a 750W is better choice.

Make sure the RAM is the low-profile stuff.

 

[Doctor McNinja]

That all looks pretty good mate. I'd go for the Ivybridge version of the CPU though - 3770K.

Also, although the intel SSD's are very good they are also rather pricey. The Crucial M4 is almost as good and a lot cheaper.

I thought about the Ivy Bridge, read numerous reviews, weighed up everything as best as I could but it doesn't really offer anything significantly worth while to me... that and issue relating to overclocking and the 2600k proven track record and established manufacturing (for lack of a better word) method led me to decide to get an i7 2600k. I figure, because it's a known quantity, there'll be less hassle for a novice overclocker such as myself and it'll hold it's own for a while yet.

You're right, Intel's SSD's are on the pricey side but there reputation is second to none.

Be warned about the H100 and grinding noise issues - see Google. It happened to me and I have to go through the expense of sending it to Holland for a replacement. There is a home fix involving a diode and soldering iron but sadly my fan controller started playing up before I could try it.

It is a nice cooler, just bear in mind a few people are having issues. The grinding noise was awful. Also, at full speed it sounds like an hovercraft, unusable really at full such is the noise.

I hadn't heard anything about "grinding" when I was researching, it's a little alarming but you can find a bad point of pretty much anything and from what I can tell, the problem isn't wide spread. Thanks for letting me know though.

The PSU is a bit weak if you decided to go SLI later on, a 750W is better choice.

Make sure the RAM is the low-profile stuff.

That's one of the last decisions I've got to make. I don't want the added expense of a new PSU if I go the SLI route but I doubt I will anytime soon. I've used various PSU calculators and factored in an overclock to 4.5, 25% ageing and additional high performance fans (that I highly doubt I'd need) and the results are usually between 600w and 650w... I had to use the GTX 680 too, seen as though the calculators haven't been updated with the GTX 670 yet.

[EDIT] With a two additional sticks of RAM, a GTX 680 instead of a 670, three additional high performance fans, an overclock to 4.5Ghz at 1.4 volts with 100% TDP, 100% system load and 25% capacitor ageing. I'm still only getting 666w as a recommended PSU. Considering there's a snowballs chance in Arizona of me reaching such power levels and Corsair have a reputation of under rating their PSU's, I think I'm safe in getting an AX650.

As for the RAM, I'll be using a H100 so clearance isn't an issue.



Thanks for the responses everyone, as a reward here's a picture of a puppy attempting to liquid cool a laptop.