'Tis the Season for a new computer build

**DAVID(GEN)** · 12-25-13, 11:02 PM

So I just placed an order at newegg for this new build and I thought I would share what I got with you guys...

i7 4770k

EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB FTW w/ ACX Cooler 03G-P4-3784-KR

G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3 2133 F3-17000CL9Q-16GBZH

ASUS Z87-PRO

NZXT Kraken X60

2x WD VelociRaptor 500GB

Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 2TB

CORSAIR RM1000

NZXT H630 Matte Black

ASUS VG248QE Black 24" 144Hz 1ms LCD Monitor

Also I will be taking a ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 and one of the disk drives out of my current set up

Samsung 840 EVO 500gb SSD (ordered on 1/3)

So I guess it's now time for you guys to make me rethink every choice that I made on this build

lol

I do have one question though, what OS should I get? Win7 or Win8/8.1?

Originally Posted by DAVID(GEN)

Current setup that was built for me.

AMD Phenom II Black Edition X4 965
Nvidia GeForce GTX460 SC
4gb RAM
Asus M4N98TD EVOAsus M4N98TD EVO
Cooler Master V6 GT
2x 500GB Seagate Barracuda RAID 0?

Ultra LSP 750 PRO Lifetime Series
Antec Twelve Hundred
Acer V233H

Asus Xonar DX
TRENDnet Wireless N PCI Adapter TEW-643PI

**salty99** · 12-26-13, 03:32 AM

No criticisms from me, that looks like a stellar build. I was going to do the kraken x60 but my case didn't have the right hole spacing for it. I ended up going for the hydro h100i which has been a good cooler but I wanted the kraken. My next big upgrade might include a new case and a kraken

As for OS, you gonna play BF4? If so, you'll probably benefit from the new DX11.1 in game if you do with win 8.1.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

**Kill8ox** · 12-26-13, 04:55 AM

No SSD drive?
That is a must as a boot drive for new build.Ditch one of the velociraptors and get a 120 gb ssd drive.

**dex71** · 12-26-13, 04:56 AM

I'd go for Windows 8.1. Put Classic Shell on it, and it looks and works like W7 with a few little extras.

As for the build.....looks good. I would dump at least one of the Velociraptors (if not both), and get an SSD. Get one big enough to hold your OS and at least a few games. SSD's make everything run faster....from map loads to boot-up, it's the biggest upgrade you can do. I wouldn't build a new rig without one.

**HeavyG** · 12-26-13, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Kill8ox

No SSD drive?
That is a must as a boot drive for new build.Ditch one of the velociraptors and get a 120 gb ssd drive.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner right here.

Maybe get a WD Black drive for storage and some games, but get a 256GB SSD (or larger).

**Phyrelight** · 12-26-13, 10:16 AM

I agree on SSD value for a new build, they are awesome. 250 is minimum. I have dual 250 and I have os and office apps on primary, steam origin and games installed on second and a 1tb HDD installed for storage. Just installing steam with 4 games, BF4 and 1 origin game I have filled all but about 80gb of the second 250GB SSD. It goes fast

f you ever plan to upgrade your ram during the life of your system you are better off paying a tiny bit more now for 2x8 memory configuration so that you can pick up two more 8s later. To upgrade with 4x4 configuration you will have to upgrade them all.*

*assuming you have only 4 dimm slots, if not disregard

**DAVID(GEN)** · 12-26-13, 12:08 PM

**Current system in first post

D: My order status is packing so I can't make any changes to my order. But what I think I will do is once I get the box with the velociraptors return one of them and get a SSD. The SSD that I am thinking of is the SAMSUNG 840 EVO 250GB MZ-7TE250BW, it seems to have pretty good ratings. I may change my mind before I get everything though and I may end up getting a bigger one. I do have mixed feelings though, I may just get the SSD for the OS only and may one or two other programs, keep the velociraptors, and call it a day. Seems like this may just go to the once I have money again list.
What is better, getting one bigger one or two smaller ones that add up to the bigger one?

You are right I only have 4 DIMM slots for ram and I did think about doing 2 8GB sticks, for that exact reason, but it was hard to find that setup using the approved vender list that ASUS has and not spending $500. That is why I ended up with the 4 4GB sticks. The 16GB in this system is 4x what I have in my current set up so I am not too worried about upgrading anytime soon but I may be eating my words one day.

As for games BF4 is on the going to buy once I get money again list. But at the moment my main focus is the ARMA series, DayZ standalone, and a few other games here and there. So I may just do win8.1, I think I can get it cheaper since I am a student.

Oh and just so you know at the moment I am on a trip with the family and wont be getting my hands on it until around the 8th

. Everything is being shipped to a family friend's house.

Oh and salty I was going to get one of the hydros, i think the H110, and just reuse my antec 1200 to save some money but I decided that I just had to have the kraken and it seemed that the H630 was the best case to fit that. I will let you know how I like it.

**iLLusioN** · 12-26-13, 01:47 PM

I'd just return both of the raptors and get a SSD(or 2 if you think you need it). SSD is the single biggest upgrade I've ever made to a computer. The difference in load times is mind blowing. From the time I push the power button till windows is completely loaded w/ origin and steam are signed in and ready to go is 8 seconds. I see similar increases in load times for games on the SSD...you won't see a frame rate increase, but load times will be cut drastically.

**shatter99** · 12-26-13, 02:17 PM

Definitely send back one of those raptors and get the SSD. The SSD will have the biggest impact on your upgrade.

I recommend going with a SSD > 200GB. I just upgraded from a 90GB to a 240. I am sitting at 150GB free with Win7+Page File, Office 2K10, and BF4 installed. They eat up 70GB by themselves. Anything less than 240 and your going to be kicking yourself.

I would avoid anything made by OCZ at the moment considering they went bankrupt and sold thier assets to Toshibia. Those drives have 0 warranty now -- even the ones still on shelves waiting to be shipped..

**shatter99** · 12-26-13, 02:29 PM

..one more item..

After you get your SSD up and running.. launch the built-in Windows Backup and tell it to make a drive image of your SSD and store it on your 2TB drive. I would recommend configuring it to do this once a week so you always have a "recently" backup.

This allows for the following:

1. Need to update SSD firmware that zero outs the drive.. no problem.. update firmware and boot off the restore cd and reload the image.
2. Allows you to recover the SSD if it gets corrupted in 20-30 minutes instead of spending hours trying to reinstall and configure your apps.

Warning: Do not try to EVER restore a SSD using an image from a mechanical drive. It will not be aligned property and performance will be horrible.