[Build] The End is Nigh

[scicrazy]

The end of laptop limitations that is. One final review before the plunge.

PCPartPicker part list

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor (£163.00)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£22.49)
Motherboard: MSI Z97-G45 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£89.96)
Memory: Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£58.4)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£45.95)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£37.97)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card (£168.91)
Case: BitFenix Shinobi ATX Mid Tower Case (White) (£43.99)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£68.54)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer (£11.05)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) (£72.77)
Monitor: BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor (£118.98)
Other: DVI-D Dual Link Cable 2m (£3.91)
Other: HDMI v1.3A 1.8m Cable (£1.19)
Total: £907.20
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-11 20:55 BST+0100

I'm going to use a 15" TV/DVD as a 2nd monitor, hence two cables. I'm also considering a Cooler Master CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate Keyboard, and headphones, but that's not essential to setup.

[sam0]

What do you plan on using the PC for, mostly gaming? I assume you plan on overclocking?

[mynameissi]

I feel your pain scicrazy. I've had a laptop for 3 years now and its just bad for anything but surfing the net.
I like your build, its balanced, can't see anything wrong with it, well apart from the choice of windows 8
Windows 7 all the way

[scicrazy]

Mostly gaming. But I also do image manipulation/creation, and want to try branching out into (light) rendering and video editing/recording. I left space in the PSU wattage to allow for a better/2nd GPU later - not sure if it's enough though.
I will be overclocking, somewhat carefully. Because, experimental fun.

I have win7 atm, and it refuses point blank to run some of my older games. I only chose 8 on the proviso that I'm installing classic shell right after an AV, Firewall and 64bit Firefox.

[mynameissi]

Hmmm
If you were wanting to have a future proof psu, then 650W isnt going to cut it
I think you will need one with more W than 650 to SLI, say, 760s
I think about 750W is needed for that
Just to be safe
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CP-9...d+Power+Supply
This is around the same money but 750W, gold rated. Just a suggestion

[kalniel]

Hmmm
If you were wanting to have a future proof psu, then 650W isnt going to cut it

That just isn't true, sorry.

I think you will need one with more W than 650 to SLI, say, 760s
I think about 750W is needed for that

Depends what you are SLiing - for the 760 he's going for then 650W is more than enough, by tons.

Just to be safe
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CP-9...d+Power+Supply
This is around the same money but 750W, gold rated. Just a suggestion

But a bad one IMHO - there are better supplies than this.

[mikeo01]

I'll echo Kalniels response. To put it into perspective I am running an R9 290 (300W card) on a 450W PSU with a Xeon with a smidge to spare. So do the math

Other than that seems like a nice build. I'd probably swap that Nvidia card for a 280 (better performing than the 760 + few quid cheaper @ Scan). And possibly swap the RAM for THIS or THIS or finally THIS (or red if you want to go with red ). Mainly because why not, Haswell sees a decent boost with higher RAM speeds.

Though I am no good when it comes to monitors so I will leave that to others

[mynameissi]

That just isn't true, sorry.

Depends what you are SLiing - for the 760 he's going for then 650W is more than enough, by tons.

But a bad one IMHO - there are better supplies than this.

I went off what my mate had said who is SLI'ing 770s
He bought a 850W psu, stating he wanted to be on the safe side
So I reckon 750W is being safe
Plus it doesnt cost much more to get 100W on a psu than having to upgrade it in the future getting a whole new psu
So why not get a 750W psu now instead of a 650W, when according to him there could be a small risk.
I dont see your points?
Reference:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm
Therefore you saying 650 would be enough "by tons" is incorrect.

[kalniel]

I went off what my mate had said who is SLI'ing 770s
He bought a 850W psu, stating he wanted to be on the safe side

Ask him to check what his actual power draw is then.

So I reckon 750W is being safe

It's overkill.

Plus it doesnt cost much more to get 100W on a psu than having to upgrade it in the future getting a whole new psu
So why not get a 750W psu now instead of a 650W, when according to him there could be a small risk.

Because going overboard wastes both money and efficiency, especially if you are having to get a lower quality supply like the one you recommended.

I dont see your points?

A whole system using one 760, such as http://www.anandtech.com/show/7103/n...-760-review/16
uses peak at the wall 336W. Assuming 90% efficiency that's a real power load of 300W.

Even power hungry estimates for a single 760 are around the 160W peak level (guru3d), so an overestimation of the peak load for an SLI system is 300+160 = 460W.

550W gives plenty of headroom, especially for a system that isn't even SLI'd yet, only might be. 650W is already overkill. The further overhead the less efficient you are likely to get as you move away from peak efficiency - this is getting better all the time, and platinum supplies have less of a problem with this.

So 650W is 'by tons' And 750W completely unnecessary unless you have a bad PSU whose values don't mean anything.

Reference:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm
Therefore you saying 650 would be enough "by tons" is incorrect.

Never use an online PSU calculator such as the one on that site. They are almost never accurate.

[mynameissi]

Well i'd rather have a large cushion and a smaller risk of blowing than pay like £10 less
But thats just me

[kalniel]

Well i'd rather have a large cushion and a smaller risk of blowing than pay like £10 less
But thats just me

But by going for a less good PSU you are increasing the risk, not lowering it.

[mikeo01]

Yes and by your logic it is simply a large cushion for a small person; most of it isn't even in use. Also this large cushion may use lower quality material, it will be cushion you but may not be as soft, as effective and as comfy.

And as Kalniel rightly said there is more of a risk internally. Just because a PSU is bronze and has higher wattage doesn't mean its current delivery is stable and clean. Nor does it mean it can handle fluctuations in voltage requirements.

In fact that 750W is probably going to use more power than a quality 550W uses.


You must remember power supply ratings and online calculators over do it, because if they get too close to the "actual requirements" and someone's power supply burns out, guess who gets the blame. The manufacturer for posting the spec sheets.


Plus the fact that GPUs very rarely come close to their TDP rating (unless you push it to the max). Keeping the card cooler will also reduce its power consumption. You've also got to think about lower states and idle, the majority of the card's running time isn't going to be hitting its TDP and I'd wager a lower quality PSU will start wasting more trying to compensate for the voltage variations

[scicrazy]

Odd, it said no new replies.

I checked reviews and swapped the 650W for a 750W from the same EVGA line.

[del]http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/T4DkHx[/del]

Checking RAM.

edit: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/BD2bRB

[mikeo01]

That is honestly a waste of money and watts.

EVGA are decent, but honestly going for hold 750W is a waste. I'd opt for XFX 550W Bronze or if you are set on efficiency XFX TS Gold

If you prefer modular design take a look at hybrid modular, keeps the 24-pin ATX cable, EPS12V and 6-8pin PCI-E cables they don't need to be modular.


Only if you are thinking about crossfire/SLI

Here is my power consumption from the wall (Prime + furmark) (so take 87-90% off that and you get the wasted energy and total system wide draw) (specs at side):

Xeon 1230V3
idle 38-50w

load 120w:
(380W (330W @ 87%) with R9 280X (250W TDP)
415W (361W @ 87%) with R9 290 (300W TDP)) - roughly

[scicrazy]

I think the laptop knows it's time is near. It locked up within hours of the monitor arriving (a day early). I just wish the Mouse would arrive so fast - it's been a month and still no dispatch, and it's from Amazon themselves.

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/4Y2WJx

[Bonebreaker777]

Good luck with the build. Also joining the previous comments, a higher quality PSU with the maximum performance closest to the total power requirements of your system would be the best.

What are you going to do with the laptop?