new i5-760 gaming/multipurpose build

[osfan]

update: installing win 7 ..., and now i figure out that ddr3 1600 ram isn't supported by i5 760. oops. . im pretty intimidated by all the bios options.

i manually adjusted the dram voltage and some of the timings. still works!

final (maybe) parts list

cpu: Intel Core i5-760 $200

hsf: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus $30

fan: Noctua NF-S12-800 120mm Fan 800rpm $18 (if necessary)

case: Antec P183 $155

psu: Seasonic 460W Fanless $160 (before $10 rebate)

mobo: ASUS P7P55D-E Pro $180

ram: G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 $96

gpu: GIGABYTE GTX 460 1GB $220 (before $20 rebate)

ssd: OCZ Vertex 2 60GB $155 (before $20 rebate)

hd: Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB $70

total before rebates: $1284
total after rebates: $1234

note
(1) Newegg prices are listed here for quick reference. I will shop around and preferably support spcr’s sponsors.
(2) I tried to find 4gb of DDR3-1600 from a brand-name manufacturer on the P7p55d-e Pro QVL list but failed. So I'll just give the G.Skill 4gb Eco a shot(Mem-OK!?)

Thanks to everyone who responded.

[bonestonne]

While I'm sure of most things, the fanless power supply and the GTX470 makes me think twice.

That's a very high power draw, coming from a fanless source. I would expect that to get fairly warm, even at idle, and I'm not sure I would trust that for gaming.

Everything else looks spot on, although I will say, 40GB is small for the OS drive, given that Win7 takes up ~15gb. That's almost half your drive just with the OS.

[danimal]

the coolermaster is $20 at frys right now, if you can find one in stock... you could get the mugen2 for $40, and it has a better fan than the coolermaster does.

imho, the 470 isn't worth that much money... but it also depends on what games you are playing? you can never have too much video card for crysis, for instance.

[osfan]

While I'm sure of most things, the fanless power supply and the GTX470 makes me think twice.

That's a very high power draw, coming from a fanless source. I would expect that to get fairly warm, even at idle, and I'm not sure I would trust that for gaming.

Everything else looks spot on, although I will say, 40GB is small for the OS drive, given that Win7 takes up ~15gb. That's almost half your drive just with the OS.

Hmm...maybe I will have to go with an active psu then. Saves a few bucks too.

I only play a couple of games (SC2, Civ5) and no need for enterprise level applications, so for now I'll manage with a 40gb ssd I think.

[osfan]

the coolermaster is $20 at frys right now, if you can find one in stock... you could get the mugen2 for $40, and it has a better fan than the coolermaster does.

imho, the 470 isn't worth that much money... but it also depends on what games you are playing? you can never have too much video card for crysis, for instance.

ill check my local frys, thanks!

the mugen 2 is for "All AMD, 775, 1366" i think. http://www.scythe-eu.com/en/products/cp ... ooler.html

diablo 3 is on my wishlist. currently i have a 23" 1920x1080 max lcd.

teamliquid(dot)net -- im a starcraft fan. if i have enough bandwidth, computer power i'd like to be able to stream hd battlenet games of me playing.

[MikeC]

GTX470 TDP is 215W. With all the components going 100%, this system might hit 350W. The PSU would need to dissipate <40W at this power load. In the isolated chamber of the P183, I doubt the x460 would have any thermal issues.

But if the GTX470 is fan-cooled, it'll be screaming when pushed hard, so the advantage of the fanless psu gets wasted.

[osfan]

GTX470 TDP is 215W. With all the components going 100%, this system might hit 350W. The PSU would need to dissipate <40W at this power load. In the isolated chamber of the P183, I doubt the x460 would have any thermal issues.

But if the GTX470 is fan-cooled, it'll be screaming when pushed hard, so the advantage of the fanless psu gets wasted.

Thanks Mike,

It still would be nice to have the computer quiet when I'm working and not gaming on it.

I'm gonna go with the Seasonic X650 ($150) instead of the fanless psu then.

[MikeC]

I'm gonna go with the Seasonic X650 ($150) instead of the fanless psu then.

Good compromise. It will be interesting to see when if/that psu fan comes on.

[osfan]

I'm gonna go with the Seasonic X650 ($150) instead of the fanless psu then.

Good compromise. It will be interesting to see when if/that psu fan comes on.

I'd like to provide updates on how my build works out w/ pictures and some observations on performance. Hopefully, within the next couple of weeks so others can get some benefit from it.

[Das_Saunamies]

Unless you're planning to overclock, the DDR3-1600 will be a wasted investment. Rather just get some DDR3-1333/CL7 and save a few bucks.

Rather thinking the same for the hot and thirsty 470, but it's your rig. I'm kicking along fine on said games with a 460, at 1920x1200 and on High detail.

Some power consumption figures for comparison: http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/video/ga ... _power.png
Some temperatures for good measure: http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/video/ga ... 0_temp.png

Edit1: 470 is not "huge", was thinking of the 480.

[osfan]

Unless you're planning to overclock, the DDR3-1600 will be a wasted investment. Rather just get some DDR3-1333/CL7 and save a few bucks.

Rather thinking the same for the hot, huge and thirsty 470, but it's your rig. I'm kicking along fine on said games with a 460, at 1920x1200 and on High detail.

Some power consumption figures for comparison: http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/video/ga ... _power.png
Some temperatures for good measure: http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/video/ga ... 0_temp.png

i might attempt overclocking, it depends on how quiet/cool things go. ive been surviving with a Athlon XP 2500 oc'd to 3200(2.2 ghz) for about 7 years now...

but i think you're right. more than i need. the gtx 460 just seems like a better value when you take into account power consumption and noise.

[Das_Saunamies]

Unless you're planning to overclock, the DDR3-1600 will be a wasted investment. Rather just get some DDR3-1333/CL7 and save a few bucks.

Rather thinking the same for the hot, huge and thirsty 470, but it's your rig. I'm kicking along fine on said games with a 460.

i might attempt overclocking, it depends on how quiet/cool things go. ive been surviving with a Athlon XP 2500 oc'd to 3200(2.2 ghz) for about 7 years now...

Alright, then a low voltage kit is probably good, though I haven't seen any clocked by anyone I know. I'd check mobo compatibility by way of mfg QVL list or through someone who has an identical rig, just to be safe (I've had to change kits once because of an incompatibility, learned to appreciate QVLs).

[osfan]

Unless you're planning to overclock, the DDR3-1600 will be a wasted investment. Rather just get some DDR3-1333/CL7 and save a few bucks.

Rather thinking the same for the hot, huge and thirsty 470, but it's your rig. I'm kicking along fine on said games with a 460.

i might attempt overclocking, it depends on how quiet/cool things go. ive been surviving with a Athlon XP 2500 oc'd to 3200(2.2 ghz) for about 7 years now...

Alright, then a low voltage kit is probably good, though I haven't seen any clocked by anyone I know. I'd check mobo compatibility by way of mfg QVL list or through someone who has an identical rig, just to be safe (I've had to change kits once because of an incompatibility, learned to appreciate QVLs).

Thanks, that's the first I've heard of QVLs. Seems like the right thing to do.

[CA_Steve]

fyi the 60GB version is only $20 more at newegg...also OCZ rebates will take the full 12-16 weeks unless you pay them to expedite it.

[osfan]

fyi the 60GB version is only $20 more at newegg...also OCZ rebates will take the full 12-16 weeks unless you pay them to expedite it.

thanks!

[osfan]

thank you all (bonestonne, danimal, MikeC, Das_Saunamies, CA_Steve) for your comments.