New PC spec - your thoughts please..

I am looking at building a new PC for FSX and Prepar3d that I can get best FPS and graphics from. This will replace my Dell XPS 420 but the screens will stay.

 

Here is the spec:-

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/xGhMmG

Price breakdown by merchant: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/xGhMmG/by_merchant/

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor (£243.99 @ Ebuyer)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£23.82 @ CCL Computers)

Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste (£11.27 @ Overclockers.co.uk)

Motherboard: Asus SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK 1 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£169.99 @ Aria PC)

Memory: G.Skill Trident X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory (£66.63 @ Ebuyer)

Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£132.40 @ CCL Computers)

Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£248.58 @ More Computers)

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (£288.72 @ CCL Computers)

Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case (£84.98 @ Novatech)

Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£84.49 @ Amazon UK)

Total: £1354.87

 

The price is a bit too high and I am thinking of removing the GTX 970 and keeping the GTX 750 Ti that I have just installed in my XPS 420. Is this a good or bad move as I understand FSX to be CPU bound?

 

Comments and advise welcome on helping me chose the best setup...

 

Thanks

Good SOLID build. Especially with a decent overclock.

 

For added CPU cooling add a second fan to the EVO. It comes with the hardware and the mobo already has the extra connector.

The Hyper 212 Evo 120mm Fan - OEM - 200022610-GP is generally only available thru CoolerMaster.

Don't be surprised if it is out of stock; http://www.cmstore-usa.com/hyper-212-evo-120mm-fan-oem-package/

I use the Hyper 212 plus fan, CM Model R4-BMBS-20PK-R0. Though the 212 plus fan is not an aesthetic match, it has nearly the same performance, and is readily available.

 

If you are NOT intent on a max overcock there are a couple of avenues to save money and reduce power consumption.

 

The Asus Sabertooth Z97 Mark "2" mobo, @ ~£119.00 inc. VAT will save ~£50.00

It has virtully identical specs, minus the "Armor" and additional Enthusiast trinkets:

2 x Accessory Fans ( 35 /40 mm )

3 x PCIe x16 slot dust covers

2 x DRAM slot dust covers

3 x PCIe x1 slot dust covers

2 x Short fan screws

4 x Long fan screws

3 x Thermistor cables

1 x back I/O dust frame

1 x back I/O dust grid

1 x connector dust cover collection (On board USB 3.0, DVI, HDMI, DP, LAN)

2 x On board USB 2.0 connector dust covers

8 x back I/O USB 2.0 connector dust covers

7 x On board SATA connector dust covers

1 x SATA Express conector dust cover

5 x Audio connector dust covers

 

The Armor DOES enhance cooling, so...

 

Memory set: G.Skill Ripjaws X DDR3-1866 8-9-9-24 8GB (4GBx2) F3-14900CL8D-8GBXM is 1.5v, vs 1.65v on the F3-2400C10D-8GTX 10-12-12-31, and "may" be cheaper for roughly the same performance(much tighter timings) without pushing the power.

 

Wanna spend some more??!! Ha-Ha!!

Note that the Samsung 840 Pro has a 5yr warranty vs the Samsung 850 Pro's 10yr.

It'll cost ya ~£18.00 extra for the VNAND performance(not a lot!) and added warranty period.

 

Keep your GTX 750Ti. You can upgrade that later, if necessary.

 

Be aware that multiple "Sources" can incur higher overall shipping charges...Compare price + shipping...

 

Good Luck,

Don

Welcome back Don.

Bruce

Hi Don,

 

Thanks for your feedback on my selected spec.

 

I guess my question is, do I need to overlock the CPU to get the most out of FSX. I would imagine I will be able to get by for now with an OC.

 

Ref the MB, if the Mark 1 comes with the armour and all those other extra dust covers and screws, won't I need them in my build if I go for a Mark 2?

 

Ref the RAM, I'm not sure I follow your comment on the two different types. Which one I have selected of the 2 you list?

 

Ref the SSD, is the only difference between the 840 and 850 the warranty then? Is the 850 10 year vs 5 years for the 840?

 

Thanks again for your help.

Mark

Mark,

 

Yes, You'll want to overclock.

Most folks are getting 4.4-4.5GHz out of the 4790K relatively easy.

Google "i7-4790K overclocking" and read the test data / reviews.

 

The Mark1 Armor is nice. It looks great and does enhance cooling of the mobo. If you are not going to push an overclock to the limits, you won't need the extra cooling potential.

The Armor itself is not present on the Mark2 so the covers won't be needed.

They fit the openings in the Armor, not the board itself.

£50.00 for the Armor and trinkets?? Up to you.

 

The DDR3-2400, 10-12-12-31, F3-2400C10D-8GTX is what is on your pcpartpicker list.

DDR3-1866, 8-9-9-24, F3-14900CL8D-8GBXM is only 1.5v, and, with the lower latency should perform similarly with a modest overclock. Should be cheaper too.

 

In almost every category the 850 Pro will outperform the 840 by a pretty good margin.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/665?vs=1253

With the extra 5 years of warranty, IMO, the £18 is a bargain.

 

Good Luck,

 

Don

 

************

Thanks Bruce!

Mark,

 

Yes, You'll want to overclock.

Most folks are getting 4.4-4.5GHz out of the 4790K relatively easy.

Google "i7-4790K overclocking" and read the test data / reviews.

 

The Mark1 Armor is nice. It looks great and does enhance cooling of the mobo. If you are not going to push an overclock to the limits, you won't need the extra cooling potential.

The Armor itself is not present on the Mark2 so the covers won't be needed.

They fit the openings in the Armor, not the board itself.

£50.00 for the Armor and trinkets?? Up to you.

 

The DDR3-2400, 10-12-12-31, F3-2400C10D-8GTX is what is on your pcpartpicker list.

DDR3-1866, 8-9-9-24, F3-14900CL8D-8GBXM is only 1.5v, and, with the lower latency should perform similarly with a modest overclock. Should be cheaper too.

 

In almost every category the 850 Pro will outperform the 840 by a pretty good margin.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/665?vs=1253

With the extra 5 years of warranty, IMO, the £18 is a bargain.

 

Good Luck,

 

Don

 

************

Thanks Bruce!

 

If I overclock then which sounds necessary then I may as well go for the MB with armour for the better cooling - or I am missing something here?

 

Think I will stick with the 850's then on the SSD side of things and get both as 850's (256 and 512)

 

The memory you list as an alternative is actually £90.54, whereas the memory I had listed is £66.63 so its actually cheaper - this doesn't sound right... Have I got my parts wrong? - see below:-

 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (£90.54 @ Amazon UK)

Memory: G.Skill Trident X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory (£66.63 @ Ebuyer)

 

 

Thanks again.

Mark

If I overclock then which sounds necessary then I may as well go for the MB with armour for the better cooling - or I am missing something here?

If you only intend a "basic overclock", into the 4.5GHz realm, the additional cooling won't be of much benefit.

The Mark2 has the same electronics, but, not the aesthetics, nor ducted cooling.

 

Because the Armor ducts more airflow to the VRMs(Voltage Regulation Module) it would be of benefit in exploring the upper limits of overclocking. That generally requires much higher Vcore which generates a LOT of heat.

 

As long as you have sufficient airflow to the Mark2 VRM heatsinks(the Hyper 212 and your case's 140mm rear fan) you'll be fine with modest Vcore increases.

 

Think I will stick with the 850's then on the SSD side of things and get both as 850's (256 and 512)

Both 850's. Good choice!

 

The memory you list as an alternative is actually £90.54, whereas the memory I had listed is £66.63 so its actually cheaper - this doesn't sound right... Have I got my parts wrong? - see below:-

 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (£90.54 @ Amazon UK)

Memory: G.Skill Trident X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory (£66.63 @ Ebuyer)

The weird pricing is probably due to the different sources.

Stick with the DDR3-2400 Memory (£66.63 @ Ebuyer)

 

Enjoy!

So if I stick with the Mark 1, will this allow me to much more than the 'basic' overclock or will I need to change other components of the rig?

To get more than around 4.5GHz you'll probably have to address CPU cooling.

 

While a dual fan Hyper 212 is excellent, for the money, a self contained 140mm h2o loop, with dual fans in push-pull, would be the next step up.:cool:

 

For an even more agressive OC you'll need a self contained 240 x 120 mm loop.:cool::cool:

Push-pull fans for the above help immensely.:cool::cool::cool:

 

For an all out effort, a larger custom h2o setup will be required.:cool::cool::cool::cool:

 

Other than the self contained 140mm, you'll also need to investigate what cooling projects will actually fit in your case.

Yep, the extra CPU cooling you may need can definately be a budget buster.

 

BIG NOTE: Regardless of cooling, a max OC on any given CPU will definately depend on the "Luck of the Bin".

 

I try and stay on top of what's hot in the OC world, but, I can't give more than generalities for builds I haven't done.

For ASUS mobo specific OC help go here: http://rog.asus.com/forum/ and register.

A great bunch of folks, that go the extra mile to help with anything "ASUS".

 

Don

So if I was to simply oc to 4.5 then the system we have mentioned will be fit for purpose from a cooling perspective?

 

Do I still need the MB with armour for 4.5 ghz?

So if I was to simply oc to 4.5 then the system we have mentioned will be fit for purpose from a cooling perspective?

Yes. The Hyper 212 EVO with 2 fans should be up to the task.

Just remember that there is no guarantee your particular CPU will OC to that point.

 

Do I still need the MB with armour for 4.5 ghz?

You don't need the Armor even beyond that. It simply aids in cooling the board's Chips.

Along with looking good...

 

Don