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- Joined
- 23 Jun 2014
- Posts
- 298
- Location
- Cornwall
Hi guys, this is going to be a long post (apologies) and I could do with someone who is very knowledgeable and patient to work through this with me to make sure I get it right first time...
After lots of deliberation and a few tips around the forum as well as talking to the OCUK store, I thought I had settled on a top notch spec. Then I was just told that I could save a bundle of cash and still end up with a system that is just as powerful. It was suggested I should post here for some help.
The main priority for this system is as a music production system in my home studio. I'll also be photoshopping and fine art rendering. Gaming will also be something I'll do quite a lot but does not take priority over anything else. It needs to be as silent as possible for when I'm recording using microphones. I'm going to be running Pro Tools 11 DAW along with lots of effects, plugins, VST's etc.
The system I have in mind is a red/black colour scheme:
Case: NZXT Phantom USB3.0 Big Tower Red. Noise dampened and pre-water cooled. I really love this case so I don't want to have to compromise on this
MOBO: ASUS RAMPAGE Extreme X79 either red/black or black edition. I had settled on the black edition.
CPU: I had settled on the i7 4960X but it was suggested that the 4930K is virtually the same but much cheaper.
PSU: Sunflower Leadex Platinum 1000W
Instead of the Corsair H105 which was my initial plan I decided I'd like to go custom pre-water cooled as follows:
XSPC EX240 Multiport Radiator, XSPC D5 Photon 270 Reservoir/Pump Combo and Mayhems Pastel Nano Red. XSPC RayStorm CPU WaterBlock (Intel). Fans would have to be the most silent available but look aesthetically pleasing with the rest of the rig. I'd also like to go for red LED's/fan LED's and CPU water block LED's for the red/black colour scheme. OR (if better or a better fit in the case) XSPC X2O 750 Dual Bayres/Pump (Black) V4 and I suppose I should go for a spare XSPC Dual Bayres/Pump V4 Faceplate Pack (Red) just so I can mix it up a little. RAM cooling if you think it's needed but I was already told this wouldn't be necessary. Anything I might have missed?
Graphics Card: Inno3D Geforce GTX 780 iChill HerculeZ X3 Ultra 6144MB. Does this GPU have lights/LED's as I seem to recall reading somewhere that it does, could be wrong though. If it does what colour are they?
Monitor: Originally settled on ASUS Sonic Master MX279H 27" but then I thought about the 4K monitors but will the GPU handle 4K or will I need two in SLI for this? Which 4K monitor would you suggest?
RAM: 64GB Kingston HyperX Beast 64GB (8x8GB) PC3-14900C10 1866MHz Dual Channel Kit in quad mode. It has been suggested that 64GB would be too much and may infact be wasted. To quote a comment from another forum member: "Would 64gb be wasted? Absolutely enormous strain on the CPU?"
HDD: 1 x 256GB Crucial MX550 SSD (Got already)
1 x 500GB Seagate Pipeline HD2 (Got already)
2 x 1TB Western Digital Black SATA6 Gb/s 7200rpm
Blu-Ray/CD/DVD: Either Pioneer BDR-209 EBK 16x BDRW Multilayer 25/50/128GB
OR LGBH16NS40
AND OC UK Value Blu/DVD RW Combi
Fan Controller: NZXT Sentry LX LCD Fan Controller as I figure this would give me better control over the fans than the NZXT controls built into the Phantom case and it would integrate the watercooler fans into it. It would also look the part.
OS: Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate (Got already)
USB wireless dongle: ASUS USB-N10 Micro. Not sure if I need this as I recall the ASUS MOBO's have wireless anyway?
NZXT Phantom Window Side Panel
One of the staff members from OCUK said they would probably have to remove some of the sound damping foam in order to fit in the water cooling and to allow for better air flow. I'm also toying with having the system built for me by OCUK but also tempted to just get the sound damping and watercooling done and do the rest of the build myself. I doubt I could do as professional a job as OCUK could though.
I haven't chosen fans for the WC but they would have to be as silent as possible but also look aesthetically pleasing. Noctua maybe or something equally as good. I don't know if the case fans included with the Phantom case would have to be changed or moved to fit everything in and balance out the push pull airflow so any advice knowledge on this is most welcome. I also recall reading that only the NZXT fans with fit the top of the case as they are not quite 200mm.
LED's, red or black cable kits/extensions etc I'm not sure what I'll need.
The budget for this is around about £3000 give or take but if I can save money and get just as high spec and just as powerful this would be great. I could then use the money saved towards my music and studio gear which will be the next mammoth task I am up against. So many decisions to make and not enough knowledge.
Basically I just want the best I can get without spending more than I have to (don't we all).
Thanks for taking the time to read and I look forward to any help and input!
Mick
After lots of deliberation and a few tips around the forum as well as talking to the OCUK store, I thought I had settled on a top notch spec. Then I was just told that I could save a bundle of cash and still end up with a system that is just as powerful. It was suggested I should post here for some help.
The main priority for this system is as a music production system in my home studio. I'll also be photoshopping and fine art rendering. Gaming will also be something I'll do quite a lot but does not take priority over anything else. It needs to be as silent as possible for when I'm recording using microphones. I'm going to be running Pro Tools 11 DAW along with lots of effects, plugins, VST's etc.
The system I have in mind is a red/black colour scheme:
Case: NZXT Phantom USB3.0 Big Tower Red. Noise dampened and pre-water cooled. I really love this case so I don't want to have to compromise on this
MOBO: ASUS RAMPAGE Extreme X79 either red/black or black edition. I had settled on the black edition.
CPU: I had settled on the i7 4960X but it was suggested that the 4930K is virtually the same but much cheaper.
PSU: Sunflower Leadex Platinum 1000W
Instead of the Corsair H105 which was my initial plan I decided I'd like to go custom pre-water cooled as follows:
XSPC EX240 Multiport Radiator, XSPC D5 Photon 270 Reservoir/Pump Combo and Mayhems Pastel Nano Red. XSPC RayStorm CPU WaterBlock (Intel). Fans would have to be the most silent available but look aesthetically pleasing with the rest of the rig. I'd also like to go for red LED's/fan LED's and CPU water block LED's for the red/black colour scheme. OR (if better or a better fit in the case) XSPC X2O 750 Dual Bayres/Pump (Black) V4 and I suppose I should go for a spare XSPC Dual Bayres/Pump V4 Faceplate Pack (Red) just so I can mix it up a little. RAM cooling if you think it's needed but I was already told this wouldn't be necessary. Anything I might have missed?
Graphics Card: Inno3D Geforce GTX 780 iChill HerculeZ X3 Ultra 6144MB. Does this GPU have lights/LED's as I seem to recall reading somewhere that it does, could be wrong though. If it does what colour are they?
Monitor: Originally settled on ASUS Sonic Master MX279H 27" but then I thought about the 4K monitors but will the GPU handle 4K or will I need two in SLI for this? Which 4K monitor would you suggest?
RAM: 64GB Kingston HyperX Beast 64GB (8x8GB) PC3-14900C10 1866MHz Dual Channel Kit in quad mode. It has been suggested that 64GB would be too much and may infact be wasted. To quote a comment from another forum member: "Would 64gb be wasted? Absolutely enormous strain on the CPU?"
HDD: 1 x 256GB Crucial MX550 SSD (Got already)
1 x 500GB Seagate Pipeline HD2 (Got already)
2 x 1TB Western Digital Black SATA6 Gb/s 7200rpm
Blu-Ray/CD/DVD: Either Pioneer BDR-209 EBK 16x BDRW Multilayer 25/50/128GB
OR LGBH16NS40
AND OC UK Value Blu/DVD RW Combi
Fan Controller: NZXT Sentry LX LCD Fan Controller as I figure this would give me better control over the fans than the NZXT controls built into the Phantom case and it would integrate the watercooler fans into it. It would also look the part.
OS: Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate (Got already)
USB wireless dongle: ASUS USB-N10 Micro. Not sure if I need this as I recall the ASUS MOBO's have wireless anyway?
NZXT Phantom Window Side Panel
One of the staff members from OCUK said they would probably have to remove some of the sound damping foam in order to fit in the water cooling and to allow for better air flow. I'm also toying with having the system built for me by OCUK but also tempted to just get the sound damping and watercooling done and do the rest of the build myself. I doubt I could do as professional a job as OCUK could though.
I haven't chosen fans for the WC but they would have to be as silent as possible but also look aesthetically pleasing. Noctua maybe or something equally as good. I don't know if the case fans included with the Phantom case would have to be changed or moved to fit everything in and balance out the push pull airflow so any advice knowledge on this is most welcome. I also recall reading that only the NZXT fans with fit the top of the case as they are not quite 200mm.
LED's, red or black cable kits/extensions etc I'm not sure what I'll need.
The budget for this is around about £3000 give or take but if I can save money and get just as high spec and just as powerful this would be great. I could then use the money saved towards my music and studio gear which will be the next mammoth task I am up against. So many decisions to make and not enough knowledge.
Basically I just want the best I can get without spending more than I have to (don't we all).
Thanks for taking the time to read and I look forward to any help and input!
Mick
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