Need help with new rig :)

areksnumbr1sxylady · 28 Nov 2011 at 00:05

Hi, I really need your advice on couple things the choice is massive and makes my head hurt a lot...

I am designing a new rig it includes :

I am pretty sure with those parts:

Intel i7 2700K
Antec kulher h20 620
8gb corsair vengence 1600
Storm scout case
700W coolermaster PSU

Now I have problems with :

Which motherboard to get??
Asrock Z68 pro (http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...oards/asus-p8z68v-pro-954293/review?artc_pg=2)

I am aware than it doesnt support sli or crossfire... I dont mind.

Seems to say that its pretty much the best board there apart from hardcore maximus iv extreme, for amazing value, but maybe 2700k is too much for it?

I was also thinking about Maximus IV gene Z, but my common sense says that if asrock performs not that much worse than top end maximus extreme, then it will thrash gene z which is micro ATX on top of that...

I am open to other motherboard suggestions, with price tag around 150 quid

Which video card to pick??

560ti 1gb costs 150 quid but 2gb version is 200... I see people saying that battlefield 3 takes on about 1.35gb ram while playing... Is 2gb really sensible to pay for??

If yes, then there is another option of radeon 6950... which is 2gb and is 195 quid maybe that is better?? But again problems with drivers, and horrible 3d apparently... I want to try 3d sometime soon without killing my eyes

Please feel free to advice on anything, it would be appreciated very much

stulid · 28 Nov 2011 at 00:08

I've got another motherboard suggestion - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=mb-364-gi&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1990

reviews,
http://www.kitguru.net/components/m...-z68ap-d3-z68-review-bargain-buy-of-the-year/
http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/gigabyte_ga_z68ap_d3_review,1.html
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...herboards/gigabyte-ga-z68ap-d3-1026263/review
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/motherboards/2011/10/11/gigabyte-ga-z68ap-d3-review/1

If you are just wanting a good single card only system then this is a great board.

560ti 1gb costs 150 quid but 2gb version is 200... I see people saying that battlefield 3 takes on about 1.35gb ram while playing... Is 2gb really sensible to pay for??

Have you seen this? - http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18344284

Nvidia cards are performing better than equivalent ATI cards in BF3.

One last thing, is that a Coolermaster Silent Pro 700W PSU? if it is then thats cool

areksnumbr1sxylady · 28 Nov 2011 at 00:15

stulid said:
I've got another motherboard suggestion - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=mb-364-gi&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1990

reviews,
http://www.kitguru.net/components/m...-z68ap-d3-z68-review-bargain-buy-of-the-year/
http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/gigabyte_ga_z68ap_d3_review,1.html
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...herboards/gigabyte-ga-z68ap-d3-1026263/review
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/motherboards/2011/10/11/gigabyte-ga-z68ap-d3-review/1

If you are just wanting a good single card only system then this is a great board.

Have you seen this? - http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18344284

Nvidia cards are performing better than equivalent ATI cards in BF3.

One last thing, is that a Coolermaster Silent Pro 700W PSU? if it is then thats cool

Thanks a lot for a speedy reply, But will this motherboard be able to last for some time? I mean I dont mind spending more on motherboard as long as it doesnt bottleneck my system.

p.s

Yes it is quiet version

stulid · 28 Nov 2011 at 00:17

Well it supports ivybridge and is also PCI-E3.0 with a ivybridge CPU,
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/gigabyte-msi-pcie-3.0-gen3-third-gen,13485.html
http://www.gigabyte.com/press-center/news-page.aspx?nid=1048

areksnumbr1sxylady · 28 Nov 2011 at 00:20

stulid said:
Well it supports ivybridge and is also PCI-E3.0 with a ivybridge CPU,
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/gigabyte-msi-pcie-3.0-gen3-third-gen,13485.html
http://www.gigabyte.com/press-center/news-page.aspx?nid=1048

Ok thanks a lot

But what about GPU, do you think there is point paying 50 pounds more and getting 2gb 560ti rather than 1gb?? Since some people say that games are becoming vram hungry... including battlefield 3.

And also, I looked at that mobo, it seems to have only 4 pin cpu connector instead of 8... Can that influence OC ability?

stulid · 28 Nov 2011 at 00:28

Did you see the links to the 2 vs 1 gb cards?

How about the reviews for the board above and its overclocking results?

areksnumbr1sxylady · 28 Nov 2011 at 00:31

stulid said:
Did you see the links to the 2 vs 1 gb cards?

How about the reviews for the board above and its overclocking results?

Yes I have, they have been very helpful

thanks for them, I was just hoping for your own opinion =)

stulid · 28 Nov 2011 at 00:38

Do get a 2GB card, being able to turn the settings/resolution/AA/AF up higher without the card having to swap data from from a HDD will speed things up.

And getting 4.5GHZ and a bit more from your CPU is simple with that board, the stock intel cooler I would use upto 4GHz, for more a Antec kuhler620 will clear that Vengeance RAM.

areksnumbr1sxylady · 28 Nov 2011 at 00:42

stulid said:
Do get a 2GB card, being able to turn the settings/resolution/AA/AF up higher without the card having to swap data from from a HDD will speed things up.

And getting 4.5GHZ and a bit more from your CPU is simple with that board, the stock intel cooler I would use upto 4GHz, for more a Antec kuhler620 will clear that Vengeance RAM.

Thanks a lot fur a summary and all the information provided, helped me a lot.. You seem to be very knowledgeable maybe you got more advice on ram,cooling,case ect ?

stulid · 28 Nov 2011 at 00:46

Theres not much more to add, you like the case? then cool, its good.

You want Vengeance RAM, there is cheaper, but this also depends what RAM kits are on offer on a particular day/weekly offer.

And the Antec kuhler is a good performer that is cheaper than a Corsair H60, it also reduces temperatures more than the H60 does - http://hardocp.com/article/2011/03/22/corsair_hydro_series_h60/3 - using a water cooler like this with the compact pump/CPU block means you can get away with using RAM with hose tall heatsinks on them.

If you use a air cooler such as a Coolermaster Hyper212+ then you need to en sure the RAM is low profile to clear underneath the heatsink and fan.

areksnumbr1sxylady · 28 Nov 2011 at 00:51

stulid said:
Theres not much more to add, you like the case? then cool, its good.

You want Vengeance RAM, there is cheaper, but this also depends what RAM kits are on offer on a particular day/weekly offer.

And the Antec kuhler is a good performer that is cheaper than a Corsair H60, it also reduces temperatures more than the H60 does - http://hardocp.com/article/2011/03/22/corsair_hydro_series_h60/3 - using a water cooler like this with the compact pump/CPU block means you can get away with using RAM with hose tall heatsinks on them.

If you use a air cooler such as a Coolermaster Hyper212+ then you need to en sure the RAM is low profile to clear underneath the heatsink and fan.

Ok, thanks a lot for everything

I will probably start ordering things.. Including that mobo you suggested

Oh yeah and just 1 more question came up in my mind... This motherboard seems to support Crossfire only.. Can this mean it is better optimised for Ati radeon than GeForce?