Build Log - Corsair Obsidian 900D

[TeaLeaf]

Did the dirty deed this evening and ordered the first few bits for my new PC.  I'll post up some piccies in due course as the bits'n'bobs arrive and get un-boxed and plumbed in.

Case: Corsair Obsidian 900D    
CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K
Mobo: Asus Z87 MAXIMUS VI FORMULA
PSU: Corsair AX1200i

Still trying to decide on RAM, I'm looking for 2 x 8GB initially.   It's a tricky choice as speed is less important with the way Haswell overclocks whereas timings are more important again these days.   Anyone got any neat suggestions?

I also went with Noctua NT-H1 Thermal paste (my first move away from Arctic in many years).

Graphics are still to be researched more, I'm trying to figure out if I want 1 card or 2 in SLI to run my 2560x1600 monitor.

The planned water-cooling loop will encompass the motherboard (the Formula has a waterblock already on it), the CPU and the graphics card(s).   I'm waiting to decide on the radiators, pump and reservoir until I get the case.   Finally I'm also considering swapping out the default case fans for some quieter ones.

More to follow!

[lionheart]

Graphics cards are the tough one I reckon. Ive still got my GTX670 on a 2560x1440 monitor, it handles BF3 ok but I've had to turn down the AA (don't really need much AA at this res tbh), depends on your budget I guess, but my choice would be a GTX 780 as a single card or 2 x GTX770 for all out war. Personally I'm still waiting a while for an upgrade, there are many rumours about regarding ATI's next offering due out towards the end of the year and I've yet to really see the need in upgrading my I7 OC'd to 4.2.

[TeaLeaf]

my choice would be a GTX 780 as a single card or 2 x GTX770 for all out war.

That's pretty much where I have go to in my thinking.    I'll read a bit more and then decide.

You got any thoughts on the RAM front Lion?

[lionheart]

Money no object

Slightly Sensible

Sensible

[lionheart]

The Ram modules are getting taller and taller nowadays make sure you've got the clearance to fit the big ones, I know I struggle sometimes with the industrial sized cooler I have

[Gone_Away]

In my new build last year I went for two 8gb sticks which were pretty reasonable at the time. I've got scope to double but I haven't had the need to yet.

[Tutonic]

I've got 12GB at the moment, and frankly it's overkill for gaming. Nothing even comes close to maxing it out.

[TeaLeaf]

Money no object

Slightly Sensible

Sensible

Been looking into things with the RAM and it seems to be a case of tighter timings are actually better than looser timings on a higher frequency.  As an example and pulling from a THG thread:

1600 8-8-8-24-T1
1866 9-9-9-24-T1
2133 11-11-11-27-T1

The best RAM in this lot is not the 2133, it's the 1866 which has higher bandwidth with those timings.   Second best is the 1600, worst is the most expensive 2133!    I really need to read some more about RAM & Haswell!

The slightly connected issue is that it seems any overclock on your RAM restricts the CPU overclock (my knowledge of Core2 Duo overclockign is not helping me here!).   So the general idea (in so far as I can yet understand it) is that you get the best results by using the tightest memory timings you can get at a decent speed, then let do the CPU overclock do the rest.  So the expensive fast ram sets may not actually be the best way forward.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, so I'm off to read more and become dangerous......!

The Ram modules are getting taller and taller nowadays make sure you've got the clearance to fit the big ones, I know I struggle sometimes with the industrial sized cooler I have

The case is a biggun', so room won't be a problem!

[sulky_uk]

this has happened in the states, may be worth holding out to see if the dicount gets over here unless you dont care about costs

http://hexus.net/business/news/components/58673-amd-cuts-radeon-hd-7990-graphics-card-price-300/

[Sneakytiger]

are the haswell cpu's much more powerful than the previous gen on intels?
i heard there not as overclockable as previous gen intels.

[TeaLeaf]

Haswell are a different beast to be sure and if you have a previous gen CPU then it is really not worth the trouble, but most CPUs are maxing out in the 4.4-4.8GHz range, which is much the same as previously.    But I'm moving up from an ancient Intel Core 2 Duo X6800 @ 4.2GHz, so for me the upgrade is massive and there seems little point in buying old gen when I need to replace the mainboard whatever I do as the socket is different.

CPU|Passmark CPU Mark (higher is better)
My current Intel Core2 X6800 @ 2.93GHz   |1,954   
Newly bought: Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.50GHz|10,167   
@Sulky
Interesting price cut there, not sure I want an ATI atm, I think I am preferring lack of micro-stutter (if I go multi-GPU) and lower power draw. I know the beta driver has helped the stutter issue, but it still does not seem to scale as well as SLI does.   I'll keep an eye out though as I have not yet settled on anything for graphics yet.

nice description of memory timings in this Haswell overclocking guide:
http://www.overclockers.com/3step-guide-to-overclock-intel-haswell
Scroll down to the 'Dial in the RAM' bit and read on!

[lionheart]

Also the micro stutter is still a problem at higher resolutions.

[lionheart]

Here comes AMD...

[TeaLeaf]

Aye not sure I can wait for it to hit the shelves, so I'll be buying sometime this month me thinks.

Done some more work on the RAM and am leaning towards this Corsair module either in 4 x 4GB or 2 x 8GB.   My preference probably being 2 x 8GB, for no particular reason other than it leaves 2 slots free for future expansion
http://www.corsair.com/us/dominator-platinum-with-corsair-link-connector-1-65v-16-gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cmd16gx3m4a2400c9.html

[kregoron]

are the haswell cpu's much more powerful than the previous gen on intels?
i heard there not as overclockable as previous gen intels.

No not really, at stock speeds Haswell a tad better then Ivy. Comparing my 3770k and my 4770k, at stock speeds there isnt more then 5-10% difference. Tho the new 4600 iGPU helps it tremendously in benchmarks. Overclocking wise, it does clocks fine, not brilliant like sandy did, but fine. It just incredibly hot. especially the retail models, the prototypes weren't as bad, retails just run a tad hotter when overclocking.
I haven't seen any that wont do around 4-4.3ghz without props, tho reaching above 4.4 can be more tricky as you hit that weird hassy thermal barrier. Tho intel seems to have fixed it in later revisions as more and more people are breaking the 4.5ghz on water, as high as 5ghz.

The best you can do ram wise, is to get G.skill tridentx 3000mhz and just clock em down to 1866 and apply even stricter timings tho a insanely expensive solution



OT: Looks good TL, there are 3 decent motherboards out there, tho atm i prefer the MSI Mpower z87, good price and incredible performance and their Bios is neat Running mine on a Asrock Z87 Extreme9 tho. But performance wise, all 3 boards performs the same, within 1% margins.  

The Micro stutter issue with AMD isn't worth mentioning with the new drivers, and the official one will probably be even better.