My new build (updated 25/02).
Posted: 25 Jan 2013, 13:44
So I've been threatening to do a nice "this is my build" post with pics and all, but that was three PCs ago already and I've never actually gotten around to doing it! So I've decided to open this thread now already and then just start posting pics once my new parts arrive, which will hopefully be in the next week or two.
Watch this space
So I thought I'd start with the parts that will be carried over from my old system, since I don't know how long the new stuff will take.
Update 1
The first pics are the boring ones, the good stuff will come later on.
My Corsair H100 is looking a wee bit on the dirty side, so I'll need to give the radiator a clean, but it still does the job. I wouldn't mind slapping the H110 in instead, but it'll have to wait for better days.
I've been using these CM fans until now and since I'll be able to use push/pull in the Cosmos II, I'll be ordering another two of them.
The reason I started using them and not the stock H100 fans is because they are MUCH quieter (19 dBA compared to the 39 dBA of the stock fans), push out the same 90 CFM and have a funky red LED. I'll add some pics of them in action when everything is up and running.
The ammunition for my gaming power:
I don't think I need to say too much about these babies.
That's it for now, more to follow!
Update 2
17 February - Okay peeps, the next update is finally here!
First up is my Asus Blu-Ray drive, carried over from my previous build, for all that HD goodness.
Then we have the additional two CM fans, which would have been used for the H100 radiator, but that idea has since changed, more on that later.
Here's the powerhouse PSU, the Corsair AX850. I think these PSUs pretty much speak for themselves by now.
Here are some very SEXY individually sleeved white modular cables for the AX850. These are an official upgrade set sold by Corsair, they're about R 1,000 additionally. That's a lot of money for some people, but if you want a bit of extra spunk for your system, definitely worth it.
Four cores of unlocked i5 goodness. Once my system is been up and running and everything is back to normal, I'll dabble a bit with overclocking. I considered the 3770k, but the additional premium wasn't worth the performance gain, since this system is primarily for gaming.
Speaking of overclocking, I thought this manual was a nice addition to the box of the Z77A-GD65. The more experienced overclockers probably wouldn't use this, but still.
This certificate is just for the bling factor, but I thought it added a nice touch.
I've always thought that the Ramapge III Extreme is pretty much the best looking board ever made, but I must say, the GD65 is definitely not far behind.
There's much cheaper RAM to be found out there, but better looking? Definitely not. The Dominator Platinum kits are very easy on the eye. This particular kit is 2 x 4 GB and runs at 2,400 MHz with CL10 timings.
The parts I was most excited about getting, the OCZ Vectors! These babies have oodles of space, insane amounts of speed and are damn good-looking. They're also much heavier than my old F120s. They come with 3.5-inch adapters and each with a copy of Acronis True Image.
And now for the BFC! (Big **** Case)
I can safely say I have NEVER seen this kind of warning on a case before!
The beast slumbers...
... and slowly awakens... (I'm happy that I managed to maneuver this behemoth without breaking my back)
That's it again for now! I'll upload some pics of the putting together and some benchmarks during the week.
Update 3
25 February - Sorry guys, I just haven't gotten around to posting the rest of the pics, but here they are!
I removed the middle drive bays to provide better airflow, I'm using the bottom drive bays, as seen in the second pic.
Trying to sort out the chaos of the cabling!
At least the motherboard and the PSU are in. There's lots of space for a longer PSU.
Z77A-GD65 + H100 + Cosmos II + 4 x 25mm fans = FAIL. The heatsink on the GD65 is too high for a 25mm fan to fit. Can you believe that?!
I'm currently only using three fans, two in push/pull and one in pull. I'm once again using the stock H100 fans for the radiator and installed the extra 120mm fans on the side panel for extra GPU cooling.
And... THIS is what I like to call a 'cabling of crap'. I could even close the side panel!
Luckily I managed to re-arrange the cabling to at least be able to close the side panel without force. Or rather, too much force.
And... (drum roll please)... this is the final result. Looks VERY sleek and sexy, if I say so myself. Sorry about the lighting in the photo though.
I will run and add some benchmarks here during the week as well.
Update 4 - Benchmarks
All benchmarks were run at stock CPU and GPU settings and the RAM running its XMP profile of 2,400 MHz, CL10.
Here are the first benchmarks:
3D Mark Vantage, Performance preset
3D Mark 11, Performance preset
3D Mark 11, Extreme preset
3D Mark Ice Storm
3D Mark Cloud Gate
3D Mark Fire Strike
Watch this space
So I thought I'd start with the parts that will be carried over from my old system, since I don't know how long the new stuff will take.
Update 1
The first pics are the boring ones, the good stuff will come later on.
My Corsair H100 is looking a wee bit on the dirty side, so I'll need to give the radiator a clean, but it still does the job. I wouldn't mind slapping the H110 in instead, but it'll have to wait for better days.
I've been using these CM fans until now and since I'll be able to use push/pull in the Cosmos II, I'll be ordering another two of them.
The reason I started using them and not the stock H100 fans is because they are MUCH quieter (19 dBA compared to the 39 dBA of the stock fans), push out the same 90 CFM and have a funky red LED. I'll add some pics of them in action when everything is up and running.
The ammunition for my gaming power:
I don't think I need to say too much about these babies.
That's it for now, more to follow!
Update 2
17 February - Okay peeps, the next update is finally here!
First up is my Asus Blu-Ray drive, carried over from my previous build, for all that HD goodness.
Then we have the additional two CM fans, which would have been used for the H100 radiator, but that idea has since changed, more on that later.
Here's the powerhouse PSU, the Corsair AX850. I think these PSUs pretty much speak for themselves by now.
Here are some very SEXY individually sleeved white modular cables for the AX850. These are an official upgrade set sold by Corsair, they're about R 1,000 additionally. That's a lot of money for some people, but if you want a bit of extra spunk for your system, definitely worth it.
Four cores of unlocked i5 goodness. Once my system is been up and running and everything is back to normal, I'll dabble a bit with overclocking. I considered the 3770k, but the additional premium wasn't worth the performance gain, since this system is primarily for gaming.
Speaking of overclocking, I thought this manual was a nice addition to the box of the Z77A-GD65. The more experienced overclockers probably wouldn't use this, but still.
This certificate is just for the bling factor, but I thought it added a nice touch.
I've always thought that the Ramapge III Extreme is pretty much the best looking board ever made, but I must say, the GD65 is definitely not far behind.
There's much cheaper RAM to be found out there, but better looking? Definitely not. The Dominator Platinum kits are very easy on the eye. This particular kit is 2 x 4 GB and runs at 2,400 MHz with CL10 timings.
The parts I was most excited about getting, the OCZ Vectors! These babies have oodles of space, insane amounts of speed and are damn good-looking. They're also much heavier than my old F120s. They come with 3.5-inch adapters and each with a copy of Acronis True Image.
And now for the BFC! (Big **** Case)
I can safely say I have NEVER seen this kind of warning on a case before!
The beast slumbers...
... and slowly awakens... (I'm happy that I managed to maneuver this behemoth without breaking my back)
That's it again for now! I'll upload some pics of the putting together and some benchmarks during the week.
Update 3
25 February - Sorry guys, I just haven't gotten around to posting the rest of the pics, but here they are!
I removed the middle drive bays to provide better airflow, I'm using the bottom drive bays, as seen in the second pic.
Trying to sort out the chaos of the cabling!
At least the motherboard and the PSU are in. There's lots of space for a longer PSU.
Z77A-GD65 + H100 + Cosmos II + 4 x 25mm fans = FAIL. The heatsink on the GD65 is too high for a 25mm fan to fit. Can you believe that?!
I'm currently only using three fans, two in push/pull and one in pull. I'm once again using the stock H100 fans for the radiator and installed the extra 120mm fans on the side panel for extra GPU cooling.
And... THIS is what I like to call a 'cabling of crap'. I could even close the side panel!
Luckily I managed to re-arrange the cabling to at least be able to close the side panel without force. Or rather, too much force.
And... (drum roll please)... this is the final result. Looks VERY sleek and sexy, if I say so myself. Sorry about the lighting in the photo though.
I will run and add some benchmarks here during the week as well.
Update 4 - Benchmarks
All benchmarks were run at stock CPU and GPU settings and the RAM running its XMP profile of 2,400 MHz, CL10.
Here are the first benchmarks:
3D Mark Vantage, Performance preset
3D Mark 11, Performance preset
3D Mark 11, Extreme preset
3D Mark Ice Storm
3D Mark Cloud Gate
3D Mark Fire Strike