My very first build. Compatible?

[dmoll14]

Hi all,

I am in the final stages of getting the parts for my first gaming rig, and before I spend the money I just want to make sure that it won't decide to hate itself once I've built it. If any of you can spot any potential compatibility issues, I would greatly appreciate it. Here is the rig:

CPU: Core i5 3570
MoBo: AsRock z77-Pro4-M
RAM: Corsair XMS3 8GB DDR3 1600
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 7200rpm
Optical: LG SATA DVDRW
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 660OC 2GB GDDR5
Monitor: Philips 23.6" 247E3LHSU 1080p 5ms
Case: Cooler Master RC-K380 mid-tower
PSU: Corsair VS650 650W

I am also getting windows 7, a mouse, mousepad etc, and 3 additional case fans, although I've already checked and the case I'm getting does support 3 additional fans of the same size as those I am getting.


Thanks in advance for your help, I really appreciate it

[eyezpy]

Don't think you will have any compatibility issue with those components. Builds are quite straigh forward these day
I would really consider an SSD if your budget allows it. Also are you happy with just the stock CPU cooler?

[csgohan4]

Good choice of Monitor, which case fans are you getting? I would try and get seagate or Western digitial for HDD choice

[dmoll14]

I would really consider an SSD if your budget allows it. Also are you happy with just the stock CPU cooler?

Thanks for the quick reply! I was also looking at different SSDs, but I think for my budget I would be more than happy just with a HDD. Also, I'm not really quite confident enough yet to be doing any overclocking - especially as my CPU isn't a K version - and I think the total of 7 fans that will be inside my rig should be enough to keep the air flowing and everything relatively cool.

[Willzzz]

Why do you want 7 fans? All it will do is make your PC noisier.

You obviously aren't worried about cooling the CPU and the graphics card has perfectly good cooling.

Ditch the extra fans, dial back the PSU to 500w and get yourself a better case. A quality case will come with all the fans it needs, and will run cooler and quieter.

[dmoll14]

Why do you want 7 fans? All it will do is make your PC noisier.

I'm not actually getting 7 case fans. the case comes with one, the graphics card has two, the CPU cooler has one and I'm getting 3 more, because I have had very bad experiences with poorly-ventilated PCs in the past.

[DanceswithUnix]

Good choice of Monitor, which case fans are you getting? I would try and get seagate or Western digitial for HDD choice

HGST are now owned by WD, both are brands I would be happy to own, nothing to see here, move along.

There isn't a link to the exact ram that you are ordering, there are two common voltages and on Intel rigs ISTR you want the lower one (I usually build AMD rigs that don't care but I think I'm right here).

The case looks quite spacious, I would try without the fans to start with and add them if needed as I really expect you won't need them.

[dmoll14]

There isn't a link to the exact ram that you are ordering

I didn't put in the exact details because the model name is way too long. however, the corsair page for the ram is http://www.corsair.com/en/memory-by-...1a1600c11.html

[Willzzz]

I'm not actually getting 7 case fans. the case comes with one, the graphics card has two, the CPU cooler has one and I'm getting 3 more, because I have had very bad experiences with poorly-ventilated PCs in the past.

Yes I realised that, after all the case can only support 4 fans. However my point still stands, you will get a better ventilated PC by buying a better case.

Buying some cheap, "gamer" case and then trying to fix its deficiencies by adding extra fans is a false economy.

[Phaz0r18]

+1 for an SSD, they really do make a difference.

Even if it is just a 80GB boot drive, your bootime will be in the 15/20 second range which is pretty impressive...

[Mehta23]

Good choice of Monitor, which case fans are you getting? I would try and get seagate or Western digitial for HDD choice

Same here. Although my 2tb Sea gate is much cooler, quieter (although after formatting the WD they're roughly equal) and perhaps a bit quicker! And of course cheaper.

But you can't beat that 5 year warranty on the caviar blacks

[Phaz0r18]

Might be redundant for you but for my build I ripped apart an old 1TB external hard drive apart and used the drive for that...

Finally found a use for the HDD that wasn't being used and managed to get an extra 1TB in my PC.

Win. Win.

[eyezpy]

Thanks for the quick reply! I was also looking at different SSDs, but I think for my budget I would be more than happy just with a HDD. Also, I'm not really quite confident enough yet to be doing any overclocking - especially as my CPU isn't a K version - and I think the total of 7 fans that will be inside my rig should be enough to keep the air flowing and everything relatively cool.

I prefer not to use stock CPU cooler mainly because after market ones can perform better with lot less noise. Lower temps keep my system happy and room temp lower too
Actually why not get the K version? They should be within £10 of each other.

Cheaper cases does not always mean bad air flow. It is the design and fan used and often manufacturers release budget case using same internal design, but with different materials normally meaning more plastic or steal instead of aluminium say.
The K380 looks like it will be adequate and even more so since you are not going to overclock and more fans at lower speeds isn’t a bad idea.

SSDs are great, I could never go back to using HDD for OS and apps now… so if you are happy with HDD then don’t use SSD you wont be able to go back after

[Willzzz]

Actually the stock coolers are usually the quietest at stock speeds.

A CPU cooler won't change the total heat output, in theory a better CPU cooler should make your room warmer.

It's hard to say about the K380, there aren't any proper reviews that I can see and this implies that the review sites don't take the case seriously.
It looks like a typical "gamer" case where all the emphasis is on standing out in terms of outlandish looks.

[eyezpy]

At idle they might be about the same if they all spin at low speeds, but I can't see how a cooler with larger fan be noisier than the normal stock coolers.
A good cooler might make your room warmer quicker but not higher. My theory is that heat get dissipated quicker and doesn't get built up then it shouldn't raise the room temp as high.

[Willzzz]

Even at load they are competitive with the quietest competitors. Obvious the temperatures won't be as low, but well within design limits.

http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/coolin...cooler/?page=6

Agreed, quicker but not higher, and realistically will make no difference.