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Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread - Page 506

Forum Index > Tech Support
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When using this resource, please read the opening post. The Tech Support forum regulars have helped create countless of desktop systems without any compensation. The least you can do is provide all of the information required for them to help you properly.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20319 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-07-11 11:32:34
July 10 2015 20:43 GMT
#10101
Not sure about performance as RAM can't be bottleneck


It actually can and is quite often, but a lot of stuff scales with latency so there can be no benefit from adding more channels with the same RAM, even on a program that benefits from RAM performance (because there are multiple important metrics for it)

If 5% of the time doing the CPU work for a frame is spent waiting on RAM and you can make the RAM twice as fast where it matters, that would only speed up the task as a whole by 2.5%.

That's the main reason that big RAM performance gains are quite rare; it's hard to find tasks where a large % of their time is spent waiting on RAM, but there are quite a few tasks and games that spend a notable amount of time waiting on it and see performance gains from faster RAM, it's just usually in the leagues of +5% for 1.5x higher bandwidth and tighter latency, not +30%.

+5% still matters to some people, that would make a 4.8ghz 4790k with fast RAM outperform a 5ghz 4790k with regular RAM wherever it applied - and where you do get those +10%'s it's awesome
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
B.I.G.
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
3251 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-07-11 18:40:17
July 11 2015 17:59 GMT
#10102
So this is pretty much the two options I'm ending up with after taking the advise from you lovely folks as well as taking sources in China into consideration etc. I'm not planning on overclocking (don't know how) but as you can see in the list on the right I found a deal that makes the clockable i5 and motherboard only a bit more expensive than the non clockable counter parts. Do you think its worth it to go for the overclockable versions or is there really no point?
[image loading]
Also I think this is pretty damn expensive. If you guys still see a pointless overkill somewhere please let me know.

As always, thanks for the input!

Edit: I just spent a few minutes looking at prices for apple products and I already feel much better.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20319 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-07-11 18:55:36
July 11 2015 18:54 GMT
#10103
Do you think its worth it to go for the overclockable versions


A lot of the added cost comes from the cooler that you have to buy to OC well

OC is good if you want more singlethreaded CPU performance which is important for some games (most importantly from the good games that i've played, Kerbal Space Program and SC2) but it does add that cost and you need to be willing to put some time in and learn how to do stuff properly, preferably enjoying it along the way.

It somehow hasn't been mentioned yet, but next generation of intel CPU's is due in about 4 weeks. You might want to wait for that, but everyone at this point would be pleasantly surprised if actual performance gains at achieveable clock speeds rose by a lot more than ~10% or so. It's still relevant because you might care about that and they'll use different motherboards - i'm not sure on which RAM they're using, but the info should be out there already, there have been motherboard previews that i have not even looked at.

What do the good screens cost over there? Something like an xl2411z?
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
B.I.G.
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
3251 Posts
July 11 2015 19:13 GMT
#10104
2599 CNY for the screen you mentioned. That would come down to about 300 to 350 euros.

I don't feel I should wait for the next gen. Something new will always be coming along anyway. I understand your point about the overclocking. But in this case the difference between getting a version that can against a version that cant overclock is 200 CNY (30 euros). I know I will have to invest time to learn and extra money (for the heatsink) to actually do the overclocking, but in my limited knowledge it seems to make sense to leave this possibility open for 30 euros. Or am I overlooking something in my reasoning?
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20319 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-07-11 19:34:02
July 11 2015 19:30 GMT
#10105
I don't feel I should wait for the next gen. Something new will always be coming along anyway.


That's true, but in this case we've had 4670k/4690k's for 25 months, 1 extra one isn't a lot to ask

it seems to make sense to leave this possibility open for 30 euros


A lot of people do that but don't want to go back later and unbuild half of their system to put a CPU cooler backplate on their motherboard (you don't have to do that depending on the case, right? I'm not sure), then mount a CPU cooler and learn how to actually OC. Also you're looking at a kinda expensive non-OC board plus a kinda cheap OC one, which narrows that price gap a bit.
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
APurpleCow
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
United States1372 Posts
July 11 2015 21:55 GMT
#10106
Time to build a new computer! Questions in OP:
+ Show Spoiler +
What is your budget?

~$1500 for the tower, but no real set limit.

What is your monitor's native resolution?

Buying a 1440p monitor for this computer.

What do you intend to use the computer for besides gaming?

General use.

Do you intend to overclock?

Yes.

Do you intend to do SLI / Crossfire?

No.

Do you need an operating system?

No.

Do you need a monitor or any other peripherals and is this part of your budget?

Need monitor, not part of the budget.

What country will you be buying your parts in?

USA


Build:
+ Show Spoiler +
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.98 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H-BK ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($134.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($97.95 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB AMP! Video Card ($648.95 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($73.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Monitor: Acer K272HULbmiidp 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($329.99 @ Micro Center)
Keyboard: Logitech K120 Wired Standard Keyboard ($7.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1813.19
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-11 17:51 EDT-0400


Been gaming on a 650M laptop for a few years now and it's finally getting to the point where I can't run new games on minimal settings (Witcher 3). I'm almost sure I want a 980ti and 4690k, and I definitely want an SSD, though I'm not sure if I want to opt for a 500GB SSD right now, or stick with the 250GB.

Also, I want a 27" 1440p IPS monitor. Does this one look fine?

Any other suggestions? Things I'm missing? Somewhere I can cut costs?

Thanks!
mantequilla
Profile Blog Joined June 2012
Turkey779 Posts
July 12 2015 01:03 GMT
#10107
Why not get a smaller, cuter mATX case + mobo? My friend got a mid tower and darn that thing is so unnecessarily huge.
Age of Mythology forever!
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20319 Posts
July 12 2015 01:07 GMT
#10108
^Who's that directed at? for B.I.G. maybe, it's kinda silly to use matx for ocing a flagship power GPU on air though (like a 980ti or a 290)
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
mantequilla
Profile Blog Joined June 2012
Turkey779 Posts
July 12 2015 01:17 GMT
#10109
Yeah I was checking his build, people usually get bulky mid towers without needing it's expandability and such.
Age of Mythology forever!
IceHism
Profile Joined February 2010
United States1903 Posts
July 12 2015 01:32 GMT
#10110
Do computer parts go on big sales on amazon prime day? July 15 this year.
APurpleCow
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
United States1372 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-07-12 01:51:28
July 12 2015 01:51 GMT
#10111
On July 12 2015 10:03 mantequilla wrote:
Why not get a smaller, cuter mATX case + mobo? My friend got a mid tower and darn that thing is so unnecessarily huge.


Ahh shit I edited my build and it didn't get saved. I was planning on getting a Silverstone PS07 instead of a Fractal Define, and a Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX motherboard.
Myrmidon
Profile Blog Joined December 2004
United States9452 Posts
July 12 2015 03:25 GMT
#10112
The Acer K272HULeogmoreletterslolerjgirjgg has PWM-based backlighting and overshoot ghosting. If adventurous you may want to try one of the current better Korean options like the Crossover 2795QHD.

Reviewed here in Korean:
http://www.playwares.com/xe/index.php?mid=display_review&document_srl=46398151

That's one of the more reputable review sites in any language. As a bonus, it also can be run at higher frame rates without skipping like around 100 Hz.

If you're most people you can get by readily with 8 GB of RAM, but that's not saving a ton of money.
B.I.G.
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
3251 Posts
July 12 2015 04:01 GMT
#10113
To be honest I have no clue what case I should get, and I'd happily rock a Nickleback ft Justin Bieber My Little Pony case if it saves me a few bucks. As in: looks be damned I just want something cheap and functional. As long as it's not as big as a car I also don't really care at all about the size. Any suggestions?
Myrmidon
Profile Blog Joined December 2004
United States9452 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-07-12 04:57:21
July 12 2015 04:55 GMT
#10114
SPEC-03 should be functional, reasonable enough and lower cost without being terribly flimsy. I think it looks ridiculous, but that's only the aesthetics.

There are probably cheaper options available that might be suitable, but I have no idea what would be available from where you're buying.

Be warned if you're overclocking the CPU and want to use a tower cooler that the max height supported is only 157 mm. That's enough for many good coolers, but many others even on the budget side are a little taller than that, never mind the top coolers.
B.I.G.
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
3251 Posts
July 12 2015 06:27 GMT
#10115
On July 12 2015 13:55 Myrmidon wrote:
SPEC-03 should be functional, reasonable enough and lower cost without being terribly flimsy. I think it looks ridiculous, but that's only the aesthetics.

There are probably cheaper options available that might be suitable, but I have no idea what would be available from where you're buying.

Be warned if you're overclocking the CPU and want to use a tower cooler that the max height supported is only 157 mm. That's enough for many good coolers, but many others even on the budget side are a little taller than that, never mind the top coolers.

To be honest I always feel that spending money on a case that is good looking is like spending extra money on a dishwasher because you want it to have chrome rims.

Am I correct to assume that this case, ugly though it might be, gives me some room to work with should I decide to change something in the future?
Craton
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
United States17262 Posts
July 12 2015 07:19 GMT
#10116
The main things to look for in cases are:
Capacity - Does it fit the mobo size(s) you want, the # of 5.25" and 3.5" slots you want, room for radiators, handle long graphics cards, etc.

Cable Management - Can you run cables behind the mobo tray, will you end up with a bird's nest or can you keep cables tucked out of the way (this affects airflow and the ability to get in your case and make changes)

Airflow - Fan slot sizes/locations, internal design (eg. are there obstructions), etc.

Noise/vibration dampening

Aesthetics


I usually care about capacity and cable management. Things that meet my needs there usually come with the rest.
twitch.tv/cratonz
B.I.G.
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
3251 Posts
July 12 2015 08:07 GMT
#10117
Yeah the SPEC-03 seems to have enough size, ventilation options and cable management options.

Choosing a build is a b&%^* when you're not very knowledgeable like me. Now I'm wondering if my 500W PSU is enough because I just saw somewhere that Gigabyte recommends 550W for their three fan gtx 970 card...
DarthPunk
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Australia10857 Posts
July 12 2015 08:22 GMT
#10118
On July 12 2015 17:07 B.I.G. wrote:
Yeah the SPEC-03 seems to have enough size, ventilation options and cable management options.

Choosing a build is a b&%^* when you're not very knowledgeable like me. Now I'm wondering if my 500W PSU is enough because I just saw somewhere that Gigabyte recommends 550W for their three fan gtx 970 card...


They say that because they are afraid of people with shitty generic brand or OEM power supplies not being able to power it/taking out their compontents.

AFAIK that corsair PSU should do the job.

"If I wanted your opinion, I'd have told you what it was."
y0su
Profile Blog Joined September 2011
Finland7871 Posts
July 12 2015 08:56 GMT
#10119
On July 12 2015 16:19 Craton wrote:
The main things to look for in cases are:
Capacity - Does it fit the mobo size(s) you want, the # of 5.25" and 3.5" slots you want, room for radiators, handle long graphics cards, etc.

Cable Management - Can you run cables behind the mobo tray, will you end up with a bird's nest or can you keep cables tucked out of the way (this affects airflow and the ability to get in your case and make changes)

Airflow - Fan slot sizes/locations, internal design (eg. are there obstructions), etc.

Noise/vibration dampening

Aesthetics


I usually care about capacity and cable management. Things that meet my needs there usually come with the rest.

Cases are an interesting topic :D
There's a lot of little factors that influence preference so I'll throw in one thought: It's the longest lasting "component".

+ Show Spoiler [form&function] +
my case also serves as a stand for my 2nd monitor[image loading]
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20319 Posts
July 12 2015 12:49 GMT
#10120
On July 12 2015 17:07 B.I.G. wrote:
Yeah the SPEC-03 seems to have enough size, ventilation options and cable management options.

Choosing a build is a b&%^* when you're not very knowledgeable like me. Now I'm wondering if my 500W PSU is enough because I just saw somewhere that Gigabyte recommends 550W for their three fan gtx 970 card...


They recommend it to cover the people with shit PSU's and stuff that can't do anywhere near its rated power, 970 is technically medium sized GPU that needs an upper limit of 200w or so for 1.2v
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
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