Almost there

[cleverchap]

Hi there,

I've specced this badboy up

4x 1TB Western Digital WD1002FAEX Caviar Black, SATA 6Gb/s, 7200rpm, 64MB Cache, 8 ms
Noctua NH-D14 Dual Radiator and Fan Quiet CPU Cooler
2 x Noctua NF-P14 FLX Vortex-Control 120/140mm Quiet Case Fan
1200W Corsair Pro Gold AX1200
Intel Core i7-2600K 3.40 GHz, Sandy Bridge,1155, Qd Core, GPU 850Mhz, 95W, Retail
Antec Formula 7 Thermal Compound
Plextor PX-LB950SA x12 BD-R, x8 DVD±DL x16 DVD±R x8 DVD±RW Writer Retail
24" BenQ XL2410T
Corsair Obsidian Series 650D Black Mid Tower Case with Side Window w/o PSU
1280MB MSI GTX 570 Twin Frozr II/OC
Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD7-B3
60GB OCZ Agility 3 SSD, 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s, SandForce 2281, Read 525MB/s, Write 475MB/s, 50K IOPS

and need help with which ram to get for it.

I've seen these puppies (CMP16GX3M4A1333C9) in action, and I know I can remove the top heatsink off them to allow for the Noctua heatsink, but if there are any recommendations instead?

The psu is overkill, but planning on adding another 570 (maybe tri ;-)) (as well as overclocking the lot)

Also the two noctuas are to replace the top fan, i hear the 650d is a little on the noisy side - May also change the front fan as well, I heard the Sigmatek's are quite good replacement (200m/ thin profile)

My work is split on gaming/virtualisation/gns3 ios stuff, the odd bit of raytraycing ... and even surfing the web every now and then.

Please advise.

Cheers

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The Core i7 2600K lacks certain virtualisation options found on the Core i7 2600:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/t...-2100-tested/2

I would really consider waiting for Bulldozer and/or Sandy Bridge E as you could get an 8 core or 6 core processor which would be ideal for virtualisation.

If you cannot wait,perhaps it would be worth looking at getting a Core i7 970 six core processor.

[Tattysnuc]

When you say virtualisation, what are you doing?

I have the 2600K and Windows 7 Ultimate, and the XP virtualisation works fine. However, last night I tried installing Server 2008 X64 and was promptly told that mu CPU wasn't supported. I guess that virtualisation is 32bit only, but I can't say for sure it was that or whether Server 2k8 needs one of the other options.

I'll try on my i7 980X rig to see if it's X86/64bit related tonight... but I'll have to use Microsoft virtual machine instead, so it's not an apples to apples comparison.

I've a strong hunch it's that Virtualisation is on 32bit as it limited me to 3712 mb of ram...

[Pob255]

The Corsair Obsidian Series 650D is the same internal frame as the graphite 600T it uses a quiet 200mm fan front and top
However the fan controller is now a simple 3step affair and the fans run faster at top speed so are more noisy (but provide more air flow)
Swapping out the fans will reduce the noise but is also going to reduce the air flow.

Personally I'd say go with the Graphite 600T over the Obsidian 650D

If you don't mind the looks the Raven3 would be worth considering as wound be the HAF-X

Also water cooling or something like the Antec Kúhler H2O 620

[c.ruel]

That powersupply is massive overkill.

[Pob255]

not for heavy overclocking + three gtx570, for a single gtx570 it would be.

[Blackmage]

This will do for RAM.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=MY-095-KS

or

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=8&subcat=1517

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

When you say virtualisation, what are you doing?

I have the 2600K and Windows 7 Ultimate, and the XP virtualisation works fine. However, last night I tried installing Server 2008 X64 and was promptly told that mu CPU wasn't supported. I guess that virtualisation is 32bit only, but I can't say for sure it was that or whether Server 2k8 needs one of the other options.

I'll try on my i7 980X rig to see if it's X86/64bit related tonight... but I'll have to use Microsoft virtual machine instead, so it's not an apples to apples comparison.

I've a strong hunch it's that Virtualisation is on 32bit as it limited me to 3712 mb of ram...

The 2600K lacks VT-d whereas the 2600 does not:

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52214

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52213

[cleverchap]

Hi chaps,

Thanks for the replies. Apologies, the *SLASH* between virtualisation/GNS3 shouldn't be there - - was meant to be Virtualising Routers in GNS3 ... clearly I wasn't awake then.

slightly off topic - Personal preference (as an aside) for virtualisation of that kind (ie esxi 4.1 etc) would go to something like a ml110 g7 with an e3-1240 - back to main topic.

It was actually really hard for me to pick a case that I liked, the ram I could almost live with (whichever I picked e.g mushkin/corsair/kingston/g.skill etc)

I wanted to like the fractal r3, but didn't fancy snapping a bit off to fit a larger psu and covering the bottom fan air intake bit. Maybe i am being a wuss ;-) ... could I get away (if i sacrificed) with a lower psu ...e.g the ax850 and had 2 x 570's in the end? The define xl I wanted to like as well ... but the angled fan at the top doesn't look right (maybe it's just me). Does it really work or am I just being a bit anal/picky?

The 600T I didn't really like the look of (being simple, i liked the look of the obsidian) - The raven r3 looks great ... and knowing my luck I would fluff the installation of my equipment in it ;-) I also looked into the Antec P193 ... but it's the horrible fan bit sticking out the side that I don't like. The P183 v3 is nicer though ...

I guess I should have stated that a quiet "aircooled" case was what I was looking for (even if it means tweaking some of the fans to improve on it) and "potential" to change to a watercool based one in the future.

Ack, I should have thought this more through from start :-)

Been way out of the game too long.

Cheers

[GoNz0]

if your getting a psu that big consider the enermax 1250w