GPU/RAM/Cooler/Monitor Upgrades

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I was trying to steer clear of FreeSync/G-Sync, I didn't like the idea of being tied down to one manufacturer. However, after quite a bit of reading on AnandTech and Ars Technica I now believe that there is justification in getting one of them, and of the two I am pushed towards FreeSync. Cost is obviously the biggest factor here.

With that in mind, and based upon the replies above, what do you think about these upgrades:

R9 390X Gaming 8G
Asus MG278Q
G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133
Corsair H100i GTX

Gonna get some replacement fans for the Define R4 to sort out the fan noise and airflow, probably some Noctua NF-A14's at the front and back, and push the CPU and RAM up to as high as they can go. If the H100i GTX is too loud, then some NF-F12's should do as replacements. Without the Corsair A50 hitting the side fan I should be able to close the case and sort out airflow/pressure.

The monitor is slightly (!) more than I had anticipated, but I read an awesome review about it, looks really nice even if you don't take FreeSync into account.

You are not really being tied down to Freesync. It's the software interface for adaptive sync made by AMD. The actually hardware is an optional part of the latest VESA standard - AMD just pushed it along.

Most,if all, Freesync compatible monitors are around the same price or £20 to £30 more than their non Freesync versions,G-Sync equivalents which are usually £100 to £200 more.

This is why you get £100 Freesync monitors.

Even Intel said it might support the hardware.

Edit!!

The Fury Nano is £360 delivered from OcUK.

Plus the Fury is supposedly getting a price cut.

If you want to spend less I would get a Sapphire R9 390 Nitro.

[Allen]

Yeah, it was more of a misunderstanding of the technology with regards to FreeSync. Have a much better understanding now, thanks.

From what I read, the Fury isn't that much better than the 390X for the price increase, plus the 390X can be overclocked quite nicely (and if I'm sorting out airflow and pressure, I'll want to do that). Am reasonably happy with the cost of the GPU for the performance it gives, no need to drop to the Nitro.

Am hovering over the order button... :S

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Yeah, it was more of a misunderstanding of the technology with regards to FreeSync. Have a much better understanding now, thanks.

From what I read, the Fury isn't that much better than the 390X for the price increase, plus the 390X can be overclocked quite nicely (and if I'm sorting out airflow and pressure, I'll want to do that). Am reasonably happy with the cost of the GPU for the performance it gives, no need to drop to the Nitro.

Am hovering over the order button... :S

The Nano is slightly downclocked R9 Fury X - its the same chip running at roughly 850MHZ to 900MHZ as opposed to around 1GHZ,so it technically has more overclocking potential. Plus even with launch drivers its faster than an R9 390X:

http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/im...-NANO-2-81.jpg



So for around £25 more it seems a decent buy IMHO!!

The reason I said to go for a Sapphire R9 390 Nitro is since the R9 390 and R9 390X Nitro cards are by far the best of the current crop of 390 series cards IMHO.

[Allen]

OK, little bit more investigation needed on my part then, thanks.

[Bonebreaker777]

In addition, this will be my PC after these potential upgrades:

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/Yz9qTW

Slight compatibility issue according to PCPP, RAM needs 1.6V to run at 2133MHz/CL 9 when the max recommended for Sandy Bridge is 1.575V. Read that Sandy Bridge has been thoroughly tested at 1.65V though with no issues until going over 1.73V.

If I were you, I would try what she speed the modules manage at 1.35V. If by any chance 1600Mhz with reasonable timings, stick to it.
If you will need 1.5V for stability, might as well try 1866Mhz with reasonable timings.

Any higher will be just unnecessary stress for some extra benchmark points, nothing else.

[Allen]

After further reading, I think the BenQ XL2730Z is currently the best of the 144Hz 27" FreeSync screens. I liked the look of the MG278Q and MG279Q from Asus but according to a very long and detailed thread on overclock.net and info on TFT Central it appears that Asus' quality control has gone to pot and many, many owners are going through multiple RMA's to get screens without huge amounts of backlight bleed. The BenQ appears to be the sweet spot right now.

However, what with the upcoming price drop of the R9 Fury's (thanks for the hint by the way), I think I'll hold off on a GPU and monitor until this drop goes ahead, see what's what then.

With the BenQ and an R9 Fury I'll be gaming on a very nice 27" TN panel with a 23" IPS (current Dell) for non-gaming related activities.

I still need help with the cooler and RAM though, not 100% decided. Right now I want to get an AiO cooler to keep temps down from a hopefully nicely overclocked 2500k and the NZXT Kraken X41 looks like a solid choice. It's about £12 more than the (from what I can tell) best air cooler on the market right now, the Noctua NH-D15. There are less reviews around of them than the Corsair equivalents, but I'm guessing that Corsair has a larger market share due to their bigger brand? Plus there's too many Corsair models to choose from, I'm not sure which will fit in my case!

Also, RAM... I thought just getting the fastest RAM available for my motherboard would be the best bet, it'll only run as fast as it can be run. But still, there's plenty of choice and I'm not sure what is best, or if there is a best. Currently looking at the Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866. My motherboard says it can handle 2133MHz, but I can find very little info online as to whether it actually works, and if it provides any benefit.

[Bonebreaker777]

Not sure if I would pay extra £12 over the 'best' air cooler to get an AiO cooler, unless I have mounting issues or transport my case often.
Shouldn't you be able to get a double radiator for the same/similar price?

As long as the RAM related voltage is reasonable, feel free to run them at any speed you like
Above 1866Mhz the actual performance increase is minimal, if I remember correctly.

Speed comparison: http://techbuyersguru.com/does-ram-speed-matter-ddr3-1600-vs-1866-2133-and-2400-games

RAM size comparison: http://techbuyersguru.com/does-memory-matter-4gb-versus-8gb-versus-16gb-gaming

[Allen]

Thanks for those links, interesting reads (despite knowing the results beforehand). The reason for going from 8GB to 16GB RAM is due to what else I use the system for (VM's, etc), and the reason for wanting higher MHz RAM is, well, because I can. It's not that much more expensive, there's just a lot to choose from. I guess I'll just go for 2133MHz CAS 9 RAM, any manufacturer, and be done with it. Such a minute difference and I'm spending too much time thinking about it.

Any reasons why you wouldn't go for an AiO cooler, other than mounting issues or case movement? My mate has one (single rad) and is very happy with it, and most people online say positive things about them. I haven't read any reason why you should select air over water, other than if you can't afford it. Most people say that a single rad will handle a modest O/C of a 2500K so no need for the more expensive and harder to fit dual rads.

[PorcupineTime]

Interesting that the AMD stuff is coming down in price. When is the HBM stuff due out, do we know yet?

Given the fact that I'm selling all my bobbins that I haven't managed to make in to a PC yet I'm not very interested in this type of build.

[Bonebreaker777]

AiO vs air? Not sure but I tend to remember that the first few models were behind air coolers in performance unless you turned the FANs up really high.
I would personally go with dual rad if the price is similar and you have space to home it.
How conservative OC you are planning?

[Bonebreaker777]

Interesting that the AMD stuff is coming down in price. When is the HBM stuff due out, do we know yet?

Given the fact that I'm selling all my bobbins that I haven't managed to make in to a PC yet I'm not very interested in this type of build.

You mean the HBM which is featured on the AMD Nano and the Fury? I think it's safe to say that it's out right now.

[Allen]

With regards to O/C, I'd like to push it as far as I can, like I used to back in the day with my XP-M 2500+. That thing went from 1.8GHz to 2.7GHz on air with ease (although I only got mine stable at 2.6GHz IIRC). I've heard about people getting the 2500K to 4.7GHz without changing voltages, 4.9GHz with and 5GHz (but mostly unstable), however most of these seem to use AiO coolers...

[Allen]

Well, bugger.

Bought my new parts, decided on the following:

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133
SAPPHIRE NITRO Radeon R9 390X 8G D5 with Back Plate 1080 MHz
BenQ XL2730Z

They turned up today. I excitedly got to work de-constructing my PC to find that I had forgotten about a failed and replaced PSU a while back and that I only had my old Corsair CX500M installed... The GPU requires 375W on it's own, so I now need to get a new PSU!

Much head banging on walls ensued...

[kalniel]

I don't think the GPU requires anything like 375W on it's own - that's more likely a whole system at wall draw.

However I don't know if the CX500 has the right connectors.

[Allen]

I believe it does, it's got 2 PCI connectors with 6+2 ports. The 6 port cables are being used in my current R9 280, the 2 port cables are dangling free.

Odd about the wattage, on the Sapphire page it says the TDP is 375W and it suggests a 750W PSU.

[kalniel]

I believe it does, it's got 2 PCI connectors with 6+2 ports. The 6 port cables are being used in my current R9 280, the 2 port cables are dangling free.

Odd about the wattage, on the Sapphire page it says the TDP is 375W and it suggests a 750W PSU.

That's not a realistic measure, just a covering themselves for cheap PSUs that can't supply half their rated wattage. I just checked a bunch of reviews and three of the four had whole system draw at around 370-380W measured at the wall (ie PSU needed to supply about 330W). Granted though, you may need more for the overclock.

So cabling is good, what's the amperage on the 12V rail for your PSU?