Help me to complete my rig

[SystemCrash]

Hi everyone,

Long time lurker here. I need your help to complete my system.

Kept that faithful system for nearly 5 years now. I think for me to change.
My system current system is :
Cpu : Intel C2D @ 3.8ghz
HSF : True-120 + Scythe S-Flex SFF21-F
Mobo : Asus P5Q-deluxe
RAM : Dirt cheap value 4gig DDR2 Memory
GPU : Asus 4850 1gb
CASE : ANTEC Sonata III
Storage : OCZ Vertex II 64gb
Storage : Maxtor 500gb 7200 RPM
Storage : 3X Seagate 2tb green drive
Storage : 1X Hitachi 4TB green drive

Used to be hardcore WoW player. Not a big fan of online FPS. I usually play solo on FPS game.
Did some video rendering 5-7 times After FX. Took two hours to render and compress 5 minutes hd video was really painfull.
As you can see I use my system as file server too.
I'm not a fanboy. Although, I'm really really hyped on upcoming AMD Kaveri Apu
I intend to keep my HSF solution and maybe go dual fan. I already ordered the retention VX MBK II for my true-120. So it will be good for Intel and AMD.
I also intend to keep my monitors ,mouse, mouse, speaker, all the storage beside the maxtor drive.

I plan to o/c my system (if I really need it)

Since I wait this long to start a new rig, I can wait a bit longer but I would like to get a functional system latest feb 2014.

I have dual monitor setup but I only play on a single @1080p. I never play on AA. I never play on max everything but really would too :\ I can accept to play on integrated GPU (or use my 4850) for few months to avoid buy a rebadged previous gen GPU.

I would like to get an efficient and relatively silent rig. I can accept the fact that the rig can be noisy while playing. But I would like to be silent while surfing the web or doing light office development. There's two feature I absolutely want. At least 8 internal sata port and USB 3. (10 sata port would be amazing)
I really like the feature from the Corsair AX860 / AX760 that turn on the fan only when it needed and how effcient they are.
I'm not interest on specific feature beside efficiency and silence.
I really would like to keep my system for at least 2 years. A mobo that would let me upgrade cpu/apu in two years would be really great.
I don't plan to go SLI or Crossfire (might consider to go Crossfire if HSA is really that great)

Regarding the budget : let's say that there's no limit but I like to get the best bang for the buck. For example, I was about to buy an Corsair ax860 PSU few days ago (even I know that it's way too much for my need) because it was in sale on MemoryExpress @150$ instead of 220$. It was cheap, ultra efficient and silent.

I already have few parts from black friday and cybermonday. So help me pick a decision regarding the missing parts.

Next rig
Cpu : ???
HSF : True-120 + Scythe S-Flex SFF21-F
Mobo : ???
RAM : G.SKILL Trident X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400
GPU : ???
CASE : Fractal Design R4
PSU : ???
Storage : Toshiba Q Series Pro 256GB
Storage : OCZ Vertex II 64gb
Storage : 3X Seagate 2tb green drive
Storage : 1X Hitachi 4TB green drive
Keyboard : ???

Many thanks in advance

 

[Dangman]

Despite a long post, you are missing some critical information:
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
6) Will you be overclocking?
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?

Though see if you can return that RAM. With current Intel platforms, there is little to no real world performance benefits from higher speed RAM. You would not notice a difference between that RAM and any DDR3 1600 RAM in games or even video editing.

As for future CPU upgrade, for all intents and purposes, forget about it. Intel changes sockets roughly every 2 years and sucessive CPUs aren't that much of a performance increase to justify the costs of upgrading after two years in the first place. I.e the performance difference between Core i5 2500K (released in 2011) and the Core i5 4670K is not a large enough difference to justify upgrading to the 4670K. As for AMD, while they tend to keep sockets around longer than Intel, they don't actually force motherboard manufacturers to provide support for newer CPUs with their older motherboards. I.e many socket AM3 motherboards out there can't support the latest AM3+ CPUs despite having physically compatible sockets. There's almost no rhyme or reason why certain AM3 motherboards (especially some of the lower-end models) can support AM3+ CPUs and others cannot.

So in other words, the CPU you get today is pretty much the CPU you're going to be stuck with until you do another CPU, motherboard, and RAM upgrade.

 

[ClutchAutomatic]

Cpu: fx-8350
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth 990fx/gen3 r2.0
GPU: r9 290
PSU: AX860
Keyboard: Duckyshine 3 w/ Cherry MX Brown switches

 

[SystemCrash]

Thanks for replies so far... ClutchAutomatic... that's a freaking dirt cheap setup!!! and it seems really decent.

And sorry if I missed some info. Here's more info

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
I live in Canada,Québec, Montreal
6) Will you be overclocking?
I will O/C under stressed situation such as hd video editing
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
I have two 24 inch monitor. I don'T plan to go triple screen.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
Yes I run under windows 7 64 bits.

 

[tiraides]

Which retailers will you buy parts from?

What programs are you using for video editing? How often do you edit video (compared to, say, gaming)?

Is it safe to assume that each monitor uses a 1920x1080 resolution? Do you use both monitors while gaming?

Which edition/version of Windows 7 do you have? (No, 64-bit is not what I'm looking for.)

 

[SystemCrash]

Which retailers will you buy parts from?

What programs are you using for video editing? How often do you edit video (compared to, say, gaming)?

Is it safe to assume that each monitor uses a 1920x1080 resolution? Do you use both monitors while gaming?

Which edition/version of Windows 7 do you have? (No, 64-bit is not what I'm looking for.)

I buy parts where it's the cheapest. It depends the weeks but usually in Canada it's either Newegg.ca, MemoryExpress, Bestdirect... rarely I buy from tigerdirect. Other place might have better price but shipping are pretty high.

I use After FX CS5 and I usually don't use it often. only once a year for maybe 3 weeks. Using it on my C2D is not killing me. It's more the rendering and the compression that comes after ward that kill me.

Each monitor are uses a 1920X1080 resolution.
I do not use both monitor while gaming .

Windows 7 Pro 64 bits registration will be given by my office once I'll show them proof of my new computer.

 

[Dangman]

I use After FX CS5 and I usually don't use it often. only once a year for maybe 3 weeks. Using it on my C2D is not killing me. It's more the rendering and the compression that comes after ward that kill me. .

That's it? Besides gaming, file server use, and that 3 week period of using After FX CS5, are you doing anything else with the PC?

I do not recommend ClutchAutomatic's setup for the following reasons:
1) Since, so far, it appears that gaming is about the heaviest duty use this PC will be seeing on a regular basis, AMD CPUs are not a solid choice considering that Intel CPUs outperform them in games.

2) AMD's biggest selling point is their price to performance ratio. As such, that expensive Asus AMD motherboard nullifies that selling point and therefore killing AMD's biggest advantage over Intel. In other words, if you're going to go AMD, at least make sure it's as bang for the buck as possible, not expensive.

3) THat PSU is overkill for your needs. You have stated no plans for CFX or SLI. As such you would be fine with a solid 650W PSU at most. Even a good 550W PSU will be enough.

But the video card ius a solid choice.

 

[SystemCrash]

That's it? Besides gaming, file server use, and that 3 week period of using After FX CS5, are you doing anything else with the PC?

Well I'm do quite often some really light development (accounting & financing tools). But even my C2D is more than enought for my needs. So I didn't mention since it doesn't require a lot of cpu...

But yeah... I feel the thing that will be the most demanding will probably CS4 and some solo FPS gaming.

I leave my computer open almost all the time, I really would like something efficient.
And something silent when I'm working... The feature hybrid mode that the AX760 and AX860 that offers really amaze me.

 

[Dangman]

Well I'm do quite often some really light development (accounting & financing tools). But even my C2D is more than enought for my needs. So I didn't mention since it doesn't require a lot of cpu...

But yeah... I feel the thing that will be the most demanding will probably CS4 and some solo FPS gaming..

Then you really only have to choose between two CPUs:
1) Core i5 4570 (if not overclocking)
2) Core i5 4670K (if overclocking)

As for the motherboard, the MSI Z87-G41 PC MATE is a solid budget motherboard.

I leave my computer open almost all the time, I really would like something efficient.

For all intents and purposes, efficiency isn't a big issue:
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/10/04/80_plus_irrelevant_to_you_when_buying_psu/#.UqLz78T_wvY

And something silent when I'm working... The feature hybrid mode that the AX760 and AX860 that offers really amaze me.

Then go for the Seasonic SS-660XP2 660W PSU or the Seasonic X650 Gold then: Both PSUs have a similar feature while costing less than either of those two PSUs.

 

[SystemCrash]

Then you really only have to choose between two CPUs:
1) Core i5 4570 (if not overclocking)
2) Core i5 4670K (if overclocking)

As for the motherboard, the MSI Z87-G41 PC MATE is a solid budget motherboard.

For all intents and purposes, efficiency isn't a big issue:
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/10/04/80_plus_irrelevant_to_you_when_buying_psu/#.UqLz78T_wvY


Then go for the Seasonic SS-660XP2 660W PSU or the Seasonic X650 Gold then: Both PSUs have a similar feature while costing less than either of those two PSUs.

Atm I'm hunting for bundle deal on 4670k and msi motherboard.
Regarding the PSU, it seems that the only place that they sell Seasonic PSU is on @ newegg. Also... they're more expensive than a AX760. So far I feel that AX760 is the best bang for the buck I can get.

So far, atm, I'm keeping my eyes open for
Core i5 4670K
and
AX760

I've read the article before and I did my own maths... since electricity is is a lot more expensive here....

 

[Tom_S]

Here is the Seasonic X650 Gold, that Dangman recommended, for $105 at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/SeaSonic-650-...ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1386445621&sr=1-6

 

[Dangman]

Atm I'm hunting for bundle deal on 4670k and msi motherboard.

Sorry for the bad advice but I completely overlooked your 8 SATA requirement. So I recommend getting either the AsRock Z87 Extreme 4 or the Asus Z87-Plus. The latter will probably have a better chance of higher overclocks.

Regarding the PSU, it seems that the only place that they sell Seasonic PSU is on @ newegg. Also... they're more expensive than a AX760. So far I feel that AX760 is the best bang for the buck I can get.

Better get that AX760 today from Newegg then since it's only cheaper than the two Seasonic PSUs I recommended due to the $20 promo code (I don't factor in MIR until you actually have said rebate in your hands).

Here is the Seasonic X650 Gold, that Dangman recommended, for $105 at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/SeaSonic-650-...ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1386445621&sr=1-6

Not the same PSU actually. That's the Seasonic G Series 550W PSU. It's a step below the X series that I recommended. Still a solid PSU though.

 

[Tom_S]

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