Comment on 2600k Build?

[corpfan1]

CPU - Intel i7-2600k
Motherboard - Asus P67 Deluxe
GPU - Evga GTX460 FTW Superclocked
PSU - Corsair AX850
Case - Coolermaster Haf X
CPU Cooler - Noctua NH-D14
RAM - 8GB G.Skill DDR1600 CL8
SSD - 160GB OCZ Vertex 2
HDD1 - 1TB WD Caviar Black 1002FAEX 64MB Cache SATA III
HDD2 - 2TB WD Caviar Green 20EARS
DVD Burner - LG GH24LS50
OS - Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Monitor - 27" LG (forgot model #)


My main questions are:

1) What is the primary bottleneck in this build? Secondary bottleneck? Just want to think about future upgrades.

2) Is there anything I am missing besides mouse and keyboard?


Thanks!

 

[memory]

I would say that the video card is your main bottleneck although still not a bad choice.

BTW, nice choice on the cpu cooler. Although unless you plan on overclocking pretty high, I have heard you do not need that much of a cooler on these new cpu's since they produce less heat.

 

[tynopik]

the PSU seems like overkill

unless you're an uber-clocker, no need to get more than 1333 memory

also whatever memory kit you get, make sure it's only 1.5 V

what's the thinking behind the two hard drives besides the ssd?

what's the main use for this rig?

 

[mnewsham]

caviar black costs too much samsung f3 is better value IMHO. No need to get a 2tb tritiary drive. IF you fill your SSD and your 1TB secondary THEN i would recommend getting a 2nd samsung F3 but no need now.

For SB the cooler is too much a hyper 212+ is fine for the job and decent OC (up to 4.4)

Unless you need the HT on the 2600k save yourself ~$75 and get the 2500k

You are about 300 watts over on your PSU

your case is a lot bigger then you really need the HAF 922 or HAF 932 would be fine

This SSD is a lot more cost effective at the moment with the rebate. (120gb for $190 vs. 160 gb for $280)

make sure the RAM is 1.5V


cant think of anything else right now.

 

[corpfan1]

Thanks for all the feedback!

Some replies:

- The thinking behind the 2 x HDD is as storage for lots of video and photos. The 1TB drive will be used mainly for photo and music storage, while the 2TB will be used for backing up the system and to store videos/movies.

- Going with the AX850 PSU in case of SLIing in the future, as well as possibly adding more RAM and also additional HDDs. Also, the AX850 is supposed to be fanless up to 25% of use...which should prove economical and quiet. Basically a bit of futureproofing here. Plus, got a nice deal on it.

- I really like the Haf X and all the USB 3.0 ports, plus the extra features. Got it at the same price as the HAF932.

- The RAM is 1.5v.

- I figured the CPU cooler was overkill, but every other review of others I read had so many negatives...plus I here the support and service from Noctua is awesome. Also, saved a couple bucks on thermal paste as Noctua's is supposed to be as good as it gets.

- Main uses for the system are:

a) Photo and video editing
b) Light gaming
c) Everyday use
d) Multitasking / video conferencing

Thanks again for the feedback! Truly appreciate any I can get!

 

[mnewsham]

Thanks for all the feedback!

Some replies:

- The thinking behind the 2 x HDD is as storage for lots of video and photos. The 1TB drive will be used mainly for photo and music storage, while the 2TB will be used for backing up the system and to store videos/movies.

- Going with the AX850 PSU in case of SLIing in the future, as well as possibly adding more RAM and also additional HDDs. Also, the AX850 is supposed to be fanless up to 25% of use...which should prove economical and quiet. Basically a bit of futureproofing here. Plus, got a nice deal on it.

- I really like the Haf X and all the USB 3.0 ports, plus the extra features. Got it at the same price as the HAF932.

- The RAM is 1.5v.

- I figured the CPU cooler was overkill, but every other review of others I read had so many negatives...plus I here the support and service from Noctua is awesome. Also, saved a couple bucks on thermal paste as Noctua's is supposed to be as good as it gets.

- Main uses for the system are:

a) Photo and video editing
b) Light gaming
c) Everyday use
d) Multitasking / video conferencing

Thanks again for the feedback! Truly appreciate any I can get!

If you don't SLI now odds are you never will. And most psu's are efficient at 50% draw and up below that they a usually very inefficient.

 

[mfenn]

If you don't SLI now odds are you never will. And most psu's are efficient at 50% draw and up below that they a usually very inefficient.

:thumbsup:

You're never going to need SLI for "light gaming". Future-proofing is just another way of saying "wasting money". You'll be better off by ditching the ridiculously overkill mobo, PSU, and cooler and spending that money on a better GPU from the start.

Your comments imply that you have already bought some (all) of these components. Please let us know which ones have been purchased and which are returnable. Honestly, the config you have is fast, but could easily be so much better for the amount of money you spent on it.

 

[corpfan1]

So, basically the GPU is the only real bottleneck here? Any other suggestions besides the GPU in terms of improvement?

Not sure what is wrong with the PSU?...only paid about $30 more than an HX750...so I think it is well worth it for the extra modularity, rating and 100W of juice. Also the warranty on the PSU is 7 years...and it can easily be re-used for the next system upgrade.

Again, the reasons for the cooler were that it was 100% compatible with the memory choices in terms of fit so all slots would be empty, plus it was a top-rated cooler thus hopefully extending life of all components...as well as customer service, and quality of thermal paste.

I was also considering the P67 PRO (seems really the only other choice) and it was $40 cheaper...but seems to have a lot more problems across user forums and ASUS support site vs. the deluxe. Also like the extra ports of the deluxe (USB 3 and SATA 6) as well as the additional USB3 hub. The deluxe also has better cooling and dual ethernet ports and a better audio chip as well as onboard power/reset/clear CMOS buttons.

So, I could save about $110...but I am still getting top quality parts with some better features and better cooling for that value.

Any other bottlenecks going forward?

 

[mfenn]

So, basically the GPU is the only real bottleneck here? Any other suggestions besides the GPU in terms of improvement?

Sure, if you want to be blinded to the waste that is the rest of your components choices.

Not sure what is wrong with the PSU?...only paid about $30 more than an HX750...so I think it is well worth it for the extra modularity, rating and 100W of juice. Also the warranty on the PSU is 7 years...and it can easily be re-used for the next system upgrade.

There is nothing wrong with it, but that is pretty much irrelevant to the point that I was making. "Only" $30 more than an HX750 still puts it at $175. That's about $130 more than what you needed for this build (NEO ECO 520C).

Again, the reasons for the cooler were that it was 100% compatible with the memory choices in terms of fit so all slots would be empty, plus it was a top-rated cooler thus hopefully extending life of all components...as well as customer service, and quality of thermal paste.

Your first, third and fourth arguments are again irrelevant and your second argument is bunk. The Intel stock cooler is more than sufficient for 4.4GHz and saves you $90.

I was also considering the P67 PRO (seems really the only other choice) and it was $40 cheaper...but seems to have a lot more problems across user forums and ASUS support site vs. the deluxe. Also like the extra ports of the deluxe (USB 3 and SATA 6) as well as the additional USB3 hub. The deluxe also has better cooling and dual ethernet ports and a better audio chip as well as onboard power/reset/clear CMOS buttons.

I guess you totally missed the excellent GA-P67A-UD3. The P8P67D Pro and Deluxe are hardly the only choices. The UD3 has USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s (as do most every other P67 board). The onboard cooling is pretty much useless unless you plan to go for huge overclocks (which you did not mention). The dual Ethernet ports and onboard buttons are not worth $100.

So, I could save about $110...but I am still getting top quality parts with some better features and better cooling for that value.

I'd up to about $300 by my count and that's only considering those 3 components. Your GPU, case, RAM, and primary HDD are all also poor values, though to a lesser extent.

Bottom line, you certainly did buy a fast rig, but you paid GTX 580 prices for GTX 460 performance.

 

[mnewsham]

^

And I thought i was the only one who thought it was overpriced

 

[corpfan1]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I truly do appreciate.

I got pretty good prices on a lot of the items I have so far.

The cooler only cost $70...which I thought was a steal.

I really want to avoid Gigabyte boards, have only had bad experiences as well as others I know too. I have always liked ASUS and they have been reliable for me. Would consider the Sabertooth, but it still isn't out here in Canada....and it looks like it will be even more expensive.

I keep reading that the stock cooler is not enough and the temps are overheating the system for many.

I got the AX850 at $160.

I did consider a faster GPU, but I guess I could always SLI the 460FTW in the future if needed as prices drop. Doubt I will ever need to though. What would be the advantage of a 580 now if I don't need one vs. SLIing a 460?

I was initially going to get the HAF932 case, but got the X on sale at a lower price than even the 932...so I went for it based on reviews.

 

[mnewsham]

SLI just creates more problems then it solves when adding it to a system after the build date. You must deal with different drivers, microstutter, SLI profiles, etc... In the end a more powerful GPU saves you hassle and money in the long run.

 

[mfenn]

SLI just creates more problems then it solves when adding it to a system after the build date. You must deal with different drivers, microstutter, SLI profiles, etc... In the end a more powerful GPU saves you hassle and money in the long run.

:thumbsup:

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I truly do appreciate.

No problem, just trying to help. For the future, you'll know that you don't really need to spend a huge amount of money to get a fast system.

I keep reading that the stock cooler is not enough and the temps are overheating the system for many.

I'm not sure where you've been reading that, but the stock Intel cooler (when installed correctly, of course) is definitely sufficient. We're only talking about a 95W TDP here.

 

[corpfan1]

One of the many places I read about it was this forum...

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2136272


Seems the stock cooler is really crap.

I know a lot of people are going with cheaper aftermarket coolers, but reading reviews, they all have negatives (crappy thermal paste, interfering with ram slots, difficulty installing, problem with the new P67 motherboards and the backplate, etc...) not to mention that they don't make a huge difference.

The Noctuas seem to have no issues and do the best at reducing temps.

That is why I selected this cooler. I am guaranteed effective cooling at a reasonable price. This gives me the ability to overclock if I feel like doing so plus it lets me sleep well at night!


No probs...the whole point of asking for advice is to get constructive criticism in my opinion...so thank you for all the points made! I will do lots of thinking and additional research before completing my build!

 

[fffblackmage]

I keep reading that the stock cooler is not enough and the temps are overheating the system for many.

It's often not sufficient for OCing. However, why include the stock cooler if it's not sufficient for even the stock clocks? Those people complaining of overheating cpus are probably doing something wrong. The pushpin design probably doesn't help either....

 

[BoomerD]

Wait...you're basing a decision on a thread by someone who's perhaps never built a computer before and may have simply installed the cooler incorrectly?

That seems a bit short-sighted. The stock cooler SHOULD do a decent job even with a mild overclock. There are reports of folks pushing the Sandy Bridge processors pretty far on stock cooling.

Myself, I like the Noctua coolers. I bought one last month for my new build...but it's not because stock coolers are crap...they're fine for stock processors.

Otherwise, the rest of your components seem OK to me. COULD you have saved a few bucks here and there by buying lower quality/lower tier components? Sure...but unless you're trying to build on the cheap, why?
I see absolutely nothing wrong with someone buying "premium components" to build a stable, quality PC.

 

[betasub]

And please stop worrying about bottlenecks on a new build, OP. It will vary from app-to-app and game-to-game.

 

[dpodblood]

Noctua coolers are nice, but considering the TDP of Sandy Bridge chips, you could have some money by going with the Coolermaster Hyper 212+. And as others pointed out that PSU is a bit of overkill, and doing SLI is a pain in the ass, especially when there are better single card solutions right now.

 

[Zargon]

OP should post what he has already bought in a clear list so that all of us dont waste time debating its value, since it doesnt matter.

 

[corpfan1]

I have now purchased all the items on the list and will be picking up the final pieces tomorrow.

Here is the list again:

CPU - Intel i7-2600k
Motherboard - Asus P67 Deluxe
GPU - Evga GTX460 FTW Superclocked
PSU - Corsair AX850
Case - Coolermaster Haf X
CPU Cooler - Noctua NH-D14
RAM - 8GB G.Skill DDR1600 CL8
SSD - 160GB OCZ Vertex 2
HDD1 - 1TB WD Caviar Black 1002FAEX 64MB Cache SATA III
HDD2 - 2TB WD Caviar Green 20EARS
DVD Burner - LG GH24LS50
OS - Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Monitor - 27" LG (M2762D-PM) w/built in TV-tuner

Also added Microsoft Office 2010 Home and Student, as well as the Logitech Wave wired keyboard and the Logitech M705 Marathon Mouse.

Is there anything else worth adding? Anything I am missing?

Any point in a 2nd DVD burner (was thinking Lite-On 524) or BluRay drive or burner at this point?

I am assuming no extra cabling is needed? Ordered a DVI-D cable from Monoprice and an HDMI cable as well for the monitor as apparently it only comes with VGA.

I am hoping I don't have to get extensions for the PSU cables for the large case.


Any tips on building this puppy besides the normal building procedures?

I am glad ASUS released the new BIOS today!

Thanks to everyone!

 

[jterrell]

I'd guess the bottleneck is memory not GPU.

I suspect your cpu will multi-task much better than 8 GB of memory will allow.
I would have went 12 or 16 GB 1333mhz. Videoconferencing may eat memory... really depends on the app you use.

In a gaming system the GPU would obviously be the issue but that's only going to matter for about 20-25 total titles.

I would have went with a blu-ray player. No reason not to spending this much cash. you are very close to having a legit HTPC as well as all around rig.

I like a few of your choices and would question others but all in all it is a solid build. You certainly don't have to throw together the same, best price per pound build to win any approvals from me.

 

[mfenn]

Is there anything else worth adding? Anything I am missing?

The P8P67 Deluxe comes with a bunch of SATA cables, so you shouldn't need any other detachable internal cabling. The AX850's cables are decently long, so I don't think you'll have any issues there. Just make sure that you have the usual odds and ends, power cords, video cables, audio cables, any USB cables necessary for hubs, etc.

 

[mfenn]

It's often not sufficient for OCing. However, why include the stock cooler if it's not sufficient for even the stock clocks? Those people complaining of overheating cpus are probably doing something wrong. The pushpin design probably doesn't help either....

:thumbsup:

 

[Zargon]

I am glad ASUS released the new BIOS today!

Thanks to everyone!

wonder how easy it is to update...