Help me with a new build :)

FrozenShivers · 17 Feb 2014 at 18:12

First of all hello, started using OCUK many years ago for parts, been a browser here for ages but never posted, thought you guys might be able to help me with a new build, my nephew was going to have a PC bought for him, so I suggested they buy mines and that way I get to make a new build!

I'll be looking to order this in the next month or two.

My current specs are, i5 3450/7850 Twin FROZR/2x4GB RAM/Sandisk Extreme 240GB SSD/Corsair CX430 V3/Bitfenix Prodigy/Dell U2312 IPS monitor.

I'll be keeping the monitor&SSD (SSD is going to my Macbook Pro). Requirements for new build are, custom water cooling loop (first time doing this), has to be quiet, black and green theme, NVIDIA GPU (been with ATI for ages, fancy a change and really want to try Shadowplay). Computer will be used for gaming. Not got a set budget, but I'm not rich. I've already got a rough idea but it's not finalised, here's what I'm thinking.

CPU - i5 4670K
Motherboard - Gigabyte Sniper M5 mATX

GPU - GTX770 (not sure which brand is good? EVGA? Needs to have a compatible water block)

RAM - 2x4GB or 2x8GB, 1866mhz, maybe Avexir? That's if the LED's aren't always flashing away and being distracting (probably the former, unless games are actually going to start using past 8GB)

Storage - 500GB Samsung Evo. I can't go back to HDD storage for OS and even my steam collection now, too used to using an SSD as my only storage for these things. Also need a 500GB 2.5 inch HDD for Shadowplay footage (going 2.5inch due to the Arc Mini having space behind the motherboard tray to fit 2 SSD's, so was planning on putting this in the second SSD slot).

Case - Fractal Design Arc Mini R2 Can fit a 360mm+240mm radiator in this mATX case to my knowledge.

PSU - XFX 750w Black Edition

Radiator Fans - Corsair SP120's Quiet Series

Case Fans - No idea, any recommendation's for something quiet that pushes a decent bit of air and matches the theme? Not sure how the Bitfenix Spectre's hold up.

Radiator - XSPC RX360 V3+XSPC RX240 V3 (Awaiting reviews)

Pump - Some sort of D5 variant.

CPU Block - Unsure, must be black, no copper look.

GPU Block - Unsure, must be black, no copper look.

Fittings/Tubing - Compression fittings (not sure which), no idea whether to go green tubing and distilled, or go clear tubes and some green Mayhem's (the stuff that isn't for show cases and lasts a while?), also unsure of size for tubing.

Reservoir - Tube one, no idea which.

Apologies for the lengthy post, as you can probably tell I'm pretty OCD with researching and planning, don't want anything to be missed. Any help and input would be much appreciated, look forward to your feedback!

FrozenShivers · 24 Feb 2014 at 11:25

Nobody?

Fulax · 24 Feb 2014 at 11:42

Sorry for missing this - threads slip through the net sometimes

You seem to have everything pretty well covered. You could easily drop the PSU down to a 550/650w unit, unless you're planning to add a second GPU.

8gb is plenty for gaming, and will be for the foreseeable future. The LEDs on the Avexir RAM do pulse. There isn't much else to choose from if you want green RAM, though. So you have a few options: 1) order some custom RAM with solid lighting directly from Avexir. You can get a quote from their website. 2) get any other RAM kit, some green spray paint, and mod the heatsink yourself. 3) get some black RAM.

You can use the green paint on the coloured rings that come with the SP120s, too. Case fans: AF120s will match the SP120s.

Try to get a 780. If I had to choose between a 780 and a 250gb SSD or a 770 and a 500gb SSD, the 780 would win every time.

Are you set on the case?

Can we have a budget to work with?

FrozenShivers · 24 Feb 2014 at 15:30

Fulax said:
Sorry for missing this - threads slip through the net sometimes

You seem to have everything pretty well covered. You could easily drop the PSU down to a 550/650w unit, unless you're planning to add a second GPU.

8gb is plenty for gaming, and will be for the foreseeable future. The LEDs on the Avexir RAM do pulse. There isn't much else to choose from if you want green RAM, though. So you have a few options: 1) order some custom RAM with solid lighting directly from Avexir. You can get a quote from their website. 2) get any other RAM kit, some green spray paint, and mod the heatsink yourself. 3) get some black RAM.

You can use the green paint on the coloured rings that come with the SP120s, too. Case fans: AF120s will match the SP120s.

Try to get a 780. If I had to choose between a 780 and a 250gb SSD or a 770 and a 500gb SSD, the 780 would win every time.

Are you set on the case?

Can we have a budget to work with?

Thanks for the reply fella! No plans on going SLI, strictly single card, I knew I was being excessive with 750W, but thought that it may run a little quieter, and if I upgrade to something like an 880 in the future it would be able to handle it without a PSU upgrade. I'll consider dropping to a comparable 650w..

RAM wise I'll probably just chuck some black RAM in there, that should do the job fine. Doh, not sure why I didn't think of AF120's! 500GB+ SSD is sadly set in stone, already on a 240GB and it's full.

Not 100% set on the case, open to suggestions if you have any other mATX cases for me to look at? The other main contender I had was the Corsair 350D, as far as I know the Arc Mini is the only mATX case that can fit a 360mm+240mm radiator in it? (I may be wrong!), I wanted this much radiator coverage so that I can keep the fans in the system running relatively slow as sound (or lack of) is important.

I have strongly considered the 780, and I still am (would just add some cash to the build rather than take away from the SSD), not idea what 770/780 I should go for though? Brand? Waterblock compatibility? Price?

I'll go do a tally and see if I can get a rough budget, thanks again!

Fulax · 24 Feb 2014 at 16:06

There are waterblocks available for most 780s. You can either go for the reference card which is £360 at the moment, or you can get one of the cards with a custom PCB (e.g. ASUS DCUII, MSI Lightning, EVGA Classified). They're quite a bit more expensive at the moment, but should in theory overclock better.

I suspect you're right on the case. The 350D can hold a 240 and 280mm radiator, or two 240s. So you get more radiator space in the Fractual, but it just looks a bit...meh. Fractal are the Volvo of case manufacturers. The 350D is much more elegant. Or for pure sex appeal: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=2362&catid=2454

I've got one of the old versions of those Parvum cases and they're just awesome. They'll fit two 240mm radiators.

FrozenShivers · 24 Feb 2014 at 22:37

Thanks, I'll look into it. I had stumbled across the Parvum cases (your build is gorgeous by the way), but I actually do like the Fractal as well, case isn't 100% decided yet! I guess budget is around £1500, that's after doing a rough tally, not sure on how much compressions fittings+tubing cost mind you.