Looking at buying a 3XS system - A few questions

[sharps_87]

I'm 99% sure I'm wanting a place a scan custom system order over the next 3-4 days. Looking at the following:

Corsair Obsidian Series 800D Black Full Tower Case with Side Window
Intel Z68 Chipset: Asus ROG Maximus IV Extreme-Z - Intel Z68
i7 2600K 3.4GHz Quad Core + Hyperthreading 8MB Cache
Corsair H100 Hydro Series Extreme Performance CPU cooler
Overclocking - CPU: 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ Sandy Bridge CPU professionally overclocked by our 3XS engineers to 4.7Ghz
16GB (4x4GB) Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3 1600MHz
3GB XFX HD 7970 1000MHz GPU 2048 SPs 5700MHz GDDR5
850W PSU Corsair Pro Series Gold 850AX Modular
240GB OCZ Vertex 3 Sandforce SSD Read 550MB s Write 520MB s
1TB Western Digital Caviar Black SATA 6Gb s 7200rpm 64MB Cache x 2
LG BH10LS38 Blu-ray Writer - Retail with Software
Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit - OEM
Acronis True Image 2011 complete back-up software.

My questions are about the bits in bold. I've noticed you have the ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 in stock on your site, this isn't an option in the build on the site but would it be possible to have the Extreme7 over the Maximus IV Extreme-Z?

With regard to the SSD and HD's, is it possible to request the setup so that Windows is put onto the SSD with the remainder been used as cache and the HD's be set up as a RAID mirror? Just don't see any information on how the drives are set depending on the options you pick.

Look forward to hearing back from you fellas.

[Philipp]

Hello sharps_87....

Nice system spec

We can use the ASRock board if you like, however in our experience the Asus Maximus is a better board.

In terms of hard drive configuration it should be possible but its something we would need to test internally, if I am understanding correctly your looking at having windows installed onto the SSD with say 30Gb of the SSD partitioned off and to be used as the SSD cache for the 2x1Tb drives in mirror?

Personally I would keep the 240Gb SSD as it is and use this for Windows + Games and programs and then use the 2x1Tb drives as storage.

Cheers

[sharps_87]

The reason on the motherboard change was I understand the ASRock supported PCI-E 3.0 and the ASUS Maximus does not? Have I got that wrong?

That was my intention but I'd be happy to go with your personal suggestions if you feel that would be a better storage setup. How would I go about ordering my spec if I decide on the ASRock given it isn't an option when selecting components?

[Philipp]

It seems the Asrock board is Gen3 ready and will support this with the correct (currently unreleased CPU), with your system and platform it wont make any difference.

If you would still like the Asrock board you can just order on-line with the Asus and ill switch at our end

[Philipp]

If you like email me philipp@scan.co.uk with your contact number and I can give you a call to explain in more detail

Regards