New build, how'd I do?

[Ivy Bridge]

Case:
NZXT Phantom (white)
Motherboard:
ASRock Z68 EXTREME4 GEN3 LGA 1155 Z68
CPU:
Intel Core i5-2500k
CPU Cooler:
Corsair H60 Liquid Cooler
RAM:
Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
ODD:
Samsung CD/DVD combo
HDD:
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM SATA3 (6Gb/s)
GPU:
Zotac GeForce GTX 480 1536MB GDDR5
PSU:
Thermaltake 750W 80+ Bronze
Mouse:
Razer DeathAdder 3.5G
Mousepad:
Razer Goliathus Extended Mouse Pad (control)
Keyboard:
Logitech MK320 wireless



I also got a couple accents like sleeved extensions for my 24 pin mobo/8 pin cpu connections from NZXT, a sound activated blue 15" cold cathode, etc. The motherboard supports PCIe 3.0, which at this point admittedly is kind of just gimmicky but I wanted the motherboard for it's other features as well, so I just see it as a bonus. I'm not completely done with this build, as I get more money I intend to upgrade certain things (ssd/gpu/psu/keyboard most notably)

Altogether I spent about $1250. The parts aren't here yet, I'll update with how the build goes (should be fine, built 3 pcs in the past). This was built for some of the E3 games (BF3 womp womp) mainly. Before BF3 is released I intend to buy an NZXT Hale90 1000w PSU, and a second 480 in SLI. Should be beasting it up for the next few years with that setup.

How'd I do?

 

[kill dank]

Pretty good. I don't know what you need it to do though. You should expect to see some better processors on the 1155 socket than just the 2500k and 2600k. Good deal.

 

[Ivy Bridge]

I built it with E3 2011 games in mind. I could probably slide by with just the 480 I have now, but a second one should ensure that I'm crushing all of them with FPS to spare. Also yeah I hear that the first batch of Ivy Bridge will be available on current 1155 mobos/chipsets with a BIOS update and all that. Should be pretty sweet.

 

[Noodles :)]

Don't get a nzxt psu, they sound shit. Get a corsair, antrec, seasonic, thermaltake.
dont skimp on a psu

 

[Ivy Bridge]

Don't get a nzxt psu, they sound shit. Get a corsair, antrec, seasonic, thermaltake.
dont skimp on a psu

Define "sound shit" lol

I wouldn't consider an NZXT psu "skimping" lulz, the 1000w is $200, 80+ Gold, strong single 12v rail, etc. Also NZXT is a pretty successful company if you ask me lol, it's not like they are unheard of or some noob to the PC game.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=199

^ well known for his psu reviews and he gave it a 9/10 overall. that's the 850w model he's reviewing but it's the same exact tech just different wattage

Also in my experience with TT psus (owned 3 in the past) they are HORRIBLE. Two out of 3 came DOA, and the one I have now can't draw anywhere near the wattage claimed. Also I've always had problems with their support, when one of them died on me (after only 6 months use mind you) I had to jump through rings of fire just to talk to somebody who actually knew what they were talking about. I now avoid TT like the plague.

 

[Noodles :)]

Well it's just NZXT aren't known for making PSU's. They are a successful case maker.
I wouldn't trust them with PSU's.

Fuck got TT and enermax mixed up.
>.>
But I wouldn't touch NZXTs psu tbh.
Spending $200 on a psu might aswell go for a well known brand.
Something like this(Aussie site, so US would be cheaper)
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_354&products_id=15251
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_972&products_id=15955
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_995&products_id=16483
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_226&products_id=17396
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_995&products_id=16519
IMO.

 

[Ivy Bridge]

Meh, I've actually put a lot of thought into the PSU upgrade required to go SLI 480s and considered Corsair as a possibility. To be honest though, the fact NZXT doesn't really make that many PSUs doesn't bother me. I'm more impressed by them coming onto the PSU scene with a good product to start. I haven't seen any bad reviews on their Hale90 series, and from the spec sheet it looks like a really nice PSU. Also, it's white, which is pretty rare in a PSU and will match my case excellently (probably why they made the Hale90 series, to go with the Phantom)

It's hard to find an 80+ Gold PSU in that range, especially at 1kw. I could probably go with an 850w, but I'm going to be overclocking pretty good, especially if I ever get around to getting a custom loop set up (would love to do it if I find an affordable solution) so I'd like the extra breathing room 1kw offers (480s are power hungry as fuck if you didn't know)

 

[Noodles :)]

you're underestimating PSU's lol..
I'd go with the strider 1k gold tbh.
I don't care if they've made one quality psu, they're new to the scene and i wouldnt trust them,
just my opinion tho. and I know the 480s are powerhungry, but 850 would be fine. unless you're benching 24/7 you'd never reach 100% power consumption on both 480s, and everything else.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_290&products_id=15601
gold 900w.
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_290&products_id=15598
silver 1020w.
sorry again for the aussie site, cbf getting newegg up. you get the point tho.

 

[Ivy Bridge]

you're underestimating PSU's lol..
I'd go with the strider 1k gold tbh.
I don't care if they've made one quality psu, they're new to the scene and i wouldnt trust them,
just my opinion tho. and I know the 480s are powerhungry, but 850 would be fine. unless you're benching 24/7 you'd never reach 100% power consumption on both 480s, and everything else.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_290&products_id=15601
gold 900w.
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_290&products_id=15598
silver 1020w.
sorry again for the aussie site, cbf getting newegg up. you get the point tho.

Lmao how am I underestimating PSUs? I'm looking at spec sheets and reviews, not brand names like you are -.- and all of them point to the NZXT being a good PSU. I looked at the Silverstone 1kw on NewEgg and the reviews were shit, like half of them being 1 star or 2 star lol. Whereas on every single NZXT one had solid 5 star ratings with maybe one or two reviews not being a 5 star

Plus jonnyguru rated NZXT higher than the Silverstone, and it costs more, is less efficient, far less aesthetically pleasing, etc... I see absolutely zero reason to go with the Silverstone except the brand name, which I don't care about. Only thing really stopping jonnyguru from giving the NZXT perfect scores was the fact it comes with 5 cables hardwired rather than fully modular, which I can live with seeing as the Phantom is massive and I'll be using most of the hardwired cables anyhow

I understand you're just making suggestions and I appreciate it, I really do, but I'm pretty convinced the NZXT Hale90s are a good line of PSUs and so are many others not meaning to come off as offensive either, I apologize ahead of time if it feels that way

Also 850w with SLI 480s OC'd, 2500k OC to ~4.5 would be pushing it. I'd get away with it, but have pretty much no room at all to get up a custom loop. Even if I could, the wcing opens up possibilities of much higher overclocks on both my GPUs and my CPU... trust me, 850w won't cut it for all of that. I'd rather go overkill now and have room to go wild later on with upgrades and shit, plus I do intend to bench quite a bit (active on overclock.net, I like my bragging rights ) and tri sli is NEVER out of the question muahaha XD not to mention folding@home.. can think of plenty of reasons to justify the extra watts

 

[Noodles :)]

i cbf typing ugh. D:
if you ever go tri-sli you better have a custom loop happening or you'll set the things on fire..

 

[Ivy Bridge]

i cbf typing ugh. D:
if you ever go tri-sli you better have a custom loop happening or you'll set the things on fire..

Probably would have a custom loop before I went tri, but how do you figure? The Phantom has pretty good airflow, and people run quad 480s in stock coolers lol. Bit toasty I'm sure, but it works lolol

 

[Noodles :)]

They'd see 90c temps easily on the cards in quad.
Phantom, eh haven't really looked at the case much, but from what I've read you wouldn't be getting enough rad space inside the case?
rule i've heard is 240mm to start off with then 120mm for every other block, so good luck getting that all internal. something like 240+120+120+120
So you'd need like a 240mm rad and 360mm ran, or 480 with 120. And the phantom(without modding) wouldn't fit that internal i wouldn't think.

 

[Ivy Bridge]

They'd see 90c temps easily on the cards in quad.
Phantom, eh haven't really looked at the case much, but from what I've read you wouldn't be getting enough rad space inside the case?
rule i've heard is 240mm to start off with then 120mm for every other block, so good luck getting that all internal. something like 240+120+120+120
So you'd need like a 240mm rad and 360mm ran, or 480 with 120. And the phantom(without modding) wouldn't fit that internal i wouldn't think.

90c is in the normal operating range for those cards. They are rated to go up to like 105c I think it is.

As for rad space, the Phantom has plenty. You can remove the hard drive bays for a 240. There's room up top for a 360 with a little modding probably too. I've also seen people mod the top bezel to house 240s, and all it takes to mount another 240 on the back of the case is drilling a few holes. Trust me, plenty of space for rads XD. Should all be pretty simple/easy if I ever get around to doing it, shouldn't need much more than a drill for modding purposes

edit:
Horrible example because this guy looks like a noob but this is what I mean:

He took out the HDD cages (I would leave in the small one so I don't have to mount it in a 5.25 bay) and put a 240 in the bottom, and a 360 up top. Of course I'd probably need another 120 rad somewhere in there if I were to tri-sli, but realistically that probably won't happen. So this is pretty minimal modding (removing a couple of fans/hdd cages) needed to get a loop up and running in the phantom imo

 

[Noodles :)]

Hm, from pics ive seen i didnt think it'd happen, touche.
Just get a 5.25-3.5" bay converter for the hdd, if you get a bay res/pump combo theres still enough room for hdds and shit.

Question tho, how much did you get the 480 for? I'd prob of went with the 570. but meh, still an excellent build.
Pictures?

 

[Ivy Bridge]

Hasn't been built yet, parts are estimated to get here on Wednesday. I would have gone for the 570 too, but I got my 480 on sale for $250 and realistically, the difference between the 480 and the 580 is about 10%. For me, it just didn't make sense to pay nearly double the price for an extra 10% :/. Also the 480 outperforms the 570 in most scenarios, except you might be able to OC the 570 a bit better than the 480 because of how hot the 480 is.

 

[Noodles :)]

Ah $250 is a nice price, good choice.
And sweet, post pics when it arrives.
only thing I'd add to it besides a second 480 would be an SSD tbh.

 

[Ivy Bridge]

Yeah I really want a 128GB SSD and a better gaming keyboard. Still have about $700 in upgrades to do,

Hopefully I'll be able to swing it by the time the E3 games start pouring into the market lol

 

[Rawrasaurus]

Can't wait to see the finished product :love:

Can I ask why a 128GB SSD and not a 50GB or so, and use the 1TB for storage?

 

[Ivy Bridge]

Meh if I was going to make the jump to an SSD, might as well go big. 60GB would fill up pretty fast once you get Windows installed and fully updated + get a few games installed. Plus I have quite a few programs I'd like to put on it (After Effects, Vegas, Photoshop, etc) so I figure a 128GB should be plenty of breathing room between all of that. FRAPS recording would also be a lot smoother on an SSD. Dunno if you've ever used it but those files get massive quick

Will probably have pics up Wednesday night assuming all the parts are functional and on time, stay tuned

 

[Noodles :)]

Ps, you'd want 120gig like the vertex 3, or agility 3, cos the 128gig crucials or w/e are slower.

120gig SSD for windows+ office, photoshop and a few games, then 1tb for the rest is the way to go.