Components for first build

Big Boss94 · 31 Dec 2013 at 16:57

Firstly, I've literally just registered to this forum and I apologise if I've posted this in the wrong area, I've been looking all over the site for a simple post option beneath the 'components for a build' thread and I'm not sure if this is one or not.

As mentioned, I'm planning for my first ever build, I was going to buy a maxed out 'Alienware 17' laptop for around £2200 but have decided to build a desktop myself, and would like some advice whether the components I've picked are compatible and ideal for my purpose, or un necessary etc. I'm intending to make a high end gaming desktop, I will not be doing any editing etc, just fast internet browsing, video watching, and obviously, gaming in high settings ideally.

I've watched multiple construction guides, but I found Paul's build guides on 'Newegg TV' the most detailed. I'm on a budget of between £1000-2000, possibly slightly higher. I'm intending on keeping this desktop for a long time, roughly 3-5 years upwards so would like to futureproof myself as much as possible, the components I've picked so far (have not ordered yet) are as follows:

- CPU - Intel Core i7 4770k LGA 1150

- Motherboard - Asus MAXIMUS VI FORMULA Socket 1150

- Memory/RAM - Corsair Vengeance Pro Series Red (16GB DDR3 2400MHz Dual Channel) - (Even though the Asus motherboard can handle 32gb, Im not sure if I will be able to place 32GB of ram on it, if its possible, that's what I will do)

- GPU - EVGA GTX780Ti 3GB Superclocked/ACX Cooling PCI Express Nvidia

- SSD - Plextor 256GB M5 Pro Extreme SATA III Ultraslim 7mm PX-256M5P

- HDD Harddrive - Western Digital 2TB WD2003FZEX Black Hard Drive

- Blu Ray Drive - ASUS Blu-Ray Combo BC-12D2HT/BLK/G/AS 12x BD-R Reader 16x DVDRW 48x CD-R Black Retail Drive OR LG CH12NS30.AUAR10B 12x Blu-ray Reader

- PSU - EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 G2 80+ GOLD 1000W Full Modular Power Supply (I'm not sure whether this is too much wattage and I should drop it down to the 750W/850 mark, or a different kind of PSU altogether)

- Aftermarket Heatsink fan - Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler OR Cooler Master Hyper TX3 EVO CPU Cooler 3 x DC Heat Pipe with 92mm Quiet Fan (I'd rather not go with watercooling simply because I have no idea how to and don't plan on overclocking initially, as I'm only a beginner)

Operating system - Windows 7 or 8 (More than likely 7)

Case - Corsair Obsidian Series 650D Black Mid Tower Case

I intend on purchasing the bulk of this from '************' and apologise for how long winded this post is, and again, if it is in the wrong area. If anyone on this forum has some advice to give me in regard to this potential build, I will be highly greatful and hope to hear from you soon.

Big Boss94 · 1 Jan 2014 at 12:31

Thanks for the responses and welcoming to the forums, i'm very greatful.

Fulax, I havn't purchased a monitor or any of the peripherals yet, e.g mouse and keyboard. And yes, ideally I would like to have a blu ray player included within my build.

I've been looking around and researching other components and have altered my build slighltly, heres where I'm at now,

- CPU - Intel core i7 4770K LGA 1150 Socket
- Motherboard - Asus Maximus VI Formula Socket 1150 (This is the primary MoBo i would like to use.)
- Memory/RAM - Corsair Vengeance Pro (2x8) DDR3 2400Mhz (I thought if I did want to do some editing/rendering in the future, this would be a viable option)
- GPU - EVGA GTX780Ti 3GB Superclocked/ACX
- SSD - Samsung 256GB 840 Pro Series Basic SSD (This will be my boot drive)
- HDD Hardrive - Western Digital 2TB Black Hard Drive
- Blu-Ray - LG 12x Blu Ray reader
- PSU - EVGA SuperNOVA 1000W 80+ Platinum Full Modular OR Seasonic P1000W Platinum Full Modular DC-DC Silent Fan (Not sure which to go for, the Seasonic is around £40 more but I think it offers better fan operating states, but both are currently out of stock at the moment)
- Heatsink Fan - Noctua NH-U14S 140mm Slim U-Series (Not massively keen on this fan, particularly due to the colour scheme, but was unable to find another high end fan, ideally black in colour, fitting the LGA 1150 socket.)
- Sound card - Not sure if necessary
- Case - Corsair Obsidian 650D Black Mid Tower Case
- OS - Windows 7 or 8

Monitor, mice and a keyboard still need to be purchased. I have taken notice of each of the responses posted but I not massively focused on LED lighting and aesthetic aspects, besides the after market fan I mentioned in the list. Each of these components come to roughly £2100-2200 in total, but I am happy with 90% of the components which I have selected. If any improvements can be made relating to what I've chosen, please feel free to inform me. Thankyou. (P.S. I am not interested in water cooling at all, simply because I have no idea how, and feel air cooling would be a better option for me.)

Big Boss94 · 2 Jan 2014 at 20:00

Thankyou for all the feedback, its given me more of a basis to build off, and I apologise for stating im going to purchase the parts elsewhere, but I have found every single component I am interested in at lower prices on a single competitors website, I do like OCUK but it just itsn't practical.

Big Boss94 · 2 Feb 2014 at 19:46

Got all the components set to order for my build, just not entirely sold on the case. Been primarily looking at the Corsair Obsidian 650D but not too keen on the USB 3.0 passthrough to the back of the case, although I know an adapter can be bought. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with the Corsair Carbide 500R, positive or negative, and could share their opinion with me?

Big Boss94 · 6 Feb 2014 at 15:39

Thanks for your reply Wizz, I've got one more question regarding the motherboard, with the Maximus Formula running SLI 780's, I don't intend to go past 2 gpu's, I've found info suggesting they will be performing at x8/x8, opposed to to one running at x16. I've read the maximus extreme would run 2 GPU's at x16/x8 through PCI e, would this make a large difference do you know?

Big Boss94 · 6 Feb 2014 at 15:47

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/387864-33-maximus-extreme-formula - this for reference

Big Boss94 · 6 Feb 2014 at 16:51

What the benefit of going with the 4930k over the 4770k? I can't understand the major difference between the 1150 and 2011 CPU'S and boards.

Big Boss94 · 6 Feb 2014 at 16:52

I'd also much rather stick with an air cooled build, and am very impressed with everything I have read regarding the Noctua NH-U14S. If i were to buy a fan, it would be that one.

Big Boss94 · 6 Feb 2014 at 17:11

Big Boss94 · 7 Feb 2014 at 13:21

Im going to go with the 1150 Socket - just got a bit of a dilemma. I'm happy with all the parts I've chosen but with the maximus vi formula, using dual sli native ill be running x8/x8, wheres with the maximus vi extreme, I would be running dual sli at x16/x8, but would need a sound card due to the omission of 'Supreme FX', what PCI configuration would that set me up in, x8/x16/x8 and would sli still be enabled? Is there a large difference between x8/x8 and x16/x8 and will these be an important aspects within the near future? My chosen heatsink fan would also block the first PCI-E slot on the maximus extremeso I'd have to look for an alternative there, not watercooling for now. (Future upgrade ability is very important, otherwise I'd go with a 2011 board.)

This'd be my setup using the formula - http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/asus_maximus_vi_formula_review,7.html

Big Boss94 · 7 Feb 2014 at 17:52

Cheers for all the information, pretty much set now, you've all been really helpful. Just been reading about the Haswell refresh, the Haswell-e, and the Gen 5 Broadwell CPU. Due to the fact that the Broadwell CPU will be using a new 'Series 9' chipset, what do you think the chances are of the Broadwell-E, or the enthusiast version of the CPU, coming to the upcoming x99/LGA 2011-3 chipset?