System build suggestions

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pillar

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So one of my co-workers wants a desktop & I told him I would build it for him. Asked him for specifics & he gave me what he was interested in so far. Heres what I have so far, but it will be updated:

cpu:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070
memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
hard drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533
mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130571
os:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116992
psu:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
kb&mouse:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126197

Need help with finding the best AMD video card out there. I will admit that I dont search for em since I use nVidia cards (please no hating in this thread). Anyways, for those guys that use AMD cards, please inform me on some of the best video cards out there available. Also a really good case will help.

The budget here is between $1500-2000. His primary purpose w/ this machine is to produce music (he says he knows where to get a beast of a sound card, so im leaving him to that 1). Also need help w/ a good aftermarket heatsink, also possible watercooling products (never attempt watercooling so youtube videos on how to install this stuff properly would help greatly).
 
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Water cooling is the way to go if you plan on overclocking. It is nearly silent. Don't waste your money on coolant, use distilled water and a biocide like pt nuke.

I would definitely go with something other than the stock cooler that comes with the CPU. Make sure you read the instructions when you install the thermal compound.
 
So I was looking into the Antec Kuhler 620 h20 system. I did watch a youtube video on it & looks like its rather standard installation procedure. The only thing that thru me for a loop was the radiator (apparently that has to be connected w/ the fan, which sounds like the same idea when it comes to a reg car radiator). Im so used to thinkin bout the old school way of doing it w/ all the hoses & having to connect them. Looks like the companies are thinking smarter.

So my ? when it comes to the water cooling is do you think thats a good system to go after (even tho everyone seems to be ratting out the instruction manual cause they apparently dont know how to create a good manual for it)?

Also need some suggestions for a good mid-size case since we may be getting the MSI board that I linked.
 
Well these aren't the standard DIY water cooling kits. These are simplified all in one systems that can only cool the cpu (though this same principle is being converted for use with some gpus). The hose is attached to the radiator already, you do not have to do that. The fan is needed to remove heat from the water as it flows through the rad just as you would with an actual water cooling kit. Both require fans. Sometimes fans on either side of the radiator are used to increase airflow (though usually not by a substantial amount). These kits are decent as they are a closed loop requiring no maintenance. They will not provide the same benefit as an actual custom water loop but they are comparable to higher end air cooling heatsinks. The nice thing about them is they are not massively obtrusive when on the cpu. The radiator/fans are another story though they are usually not in a vital area where you would want access to.
 
omg Pillar, that avatar has got to go, I cant read this thread.:mad:
 
for as the GPU I would go with a 6970. The CPU would get the i5 2500k. i7 is pretty much the same with some extra threading.
 
Agree with ^^^^ ddilly 2500k is cheaper then the 2600k but 2600k has hyperthreading....which imo doesnt do anything (very minimal) ...then you can overclock the s#!t out of it... although you can get a 6950 and unlock it.... save some $$$$$ :thumbup:
 
His is a music producer. I would say that the extra cache+extra threads would be helpful

pillar just post screenshots
 
o ok then that would make sense. as far as a 6950 that is unlocked to a 6970. you will lose its potential and some memory. a regular 6970 is better then the unlocked version of the 6950. I would also throw in a ssd like 130gb or smaller.
 
Ok so first off, dont need an ssd. Thats really more for gamers than anything.

@reflex, what kinda screenies u want me to take?

Also Im gonna go for that MSI Lightning 6970 card to go along w/ the MSI motherboard (mobo just went down $20 extra so nice bit of savings there).

When it comes to case fans that have the best cfm/dba ratio for air flow, ive heard that scythe fans do the best job. My question is which of their fans should I get (the fan needs to be 120mm)?

Almost forgot to ask; my friend doesnt wanna do liquid cooling, he just wants reg air cooling. Is it possible to overclock the cpu w/ the heatsink that comes w/ the intel cpu or should I go w/ an aftermarket heatsink?
 
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screenshots of shopping cart?

I was able to boot 5.1 on the stock cooler, could bench Pi too. Anything past that wasn't really safe temp wise.

4.4 was fine on the stock cooler though.
 
ddily...have no idea where your getting losing potential and memory..they have the same amount and the speeds are the same when you flash it... and you can overclock it just like u would a 6970....i would know i have 2 and have done it to a friends... 389.99 for the 6970 lighting or 239.99 for the 6950...when you can get the same performance with the 6950...thats a extra 150 to spend on something else
 
When I got started in watercooling, I bought a ThermalTake Armor LCS. Almost everything has been replaced short of the radiator.
 


Ok reflex theres your screenie. The item you cant seem in the pic is the case fan, which my friend wants. That doesnt really matter. Just want you guys to look it over & see what yall think.
 
good thing you steered away from water cooling, bit of a waste if friend isn't really a gamer. build looks good to me, though i'm not a big fan of non WD hdds. good case, PSU - personally would go with corsair, decent mobo, good processor (a bit of an overkill perhaps? ), good enough RAM and good enough video card. though if he's a sound producer might i suggest an aftermarket soundcard? i personally can't tell the difference but if he's an audiophile he might want better sound from his system.
 
still should get the 6950 then unlock it...but ive read somewhere in the past week that they are making them so that you cant unlock them anymore...i can only say so much :chair:
 
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