Building New PC

[hellohello]

Hi all,

I am new to pc building and trying to make the build worthwhile.

I ocassionaly play game and use adobe after effects.

The current build

Mainboard

Asus P8Z77-V LK

The compability list http://www.asus.com/...LK/#support_QVL

Do I need the X79 chipset? I am not planning to OC or upgrade the CPU. I do plan to use SSD in future. Is the current board good enough?

CPU

Intel i7 3770

GPU

Sapphire HD7790

RAM

Corsair 2x 4GB 1600MHz DDR-3

According to the hardware compability, both the GPU and RAM aren't in the official support list.

For GPU, HD7770 is there but not the HD7790. I go for sapphire as it is cheaper.

As for RAM, corsair is there but not the 2x4GB. Surprisingly, when I checked at corsair site, 2x4GB is actually supported. Now I am confused.

Can I still use those parts or it will cause problems?

HDD : 2x 500GB Seagate 16M 7200rpm Sata 6.0

Case : Corsair Carbide 500R

CPU : Cooler : Arctic Freezer 7 Pro Rev. 2

PSU : I am sure about this, is 500W enough?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[+Biscuits Brown MVC]

All of your parts look just fine. the only thing I would maybe suggest is based on your stated usage, stepping down to a i5 3570 to save a bit.

[hellohello]

Thanks Tempus,

I will consider using i5 to lower the price.

I am just too worried about the official supported list unless they allow me to change the parts if it doesn't work :)

[Phouchg]

Compatibility isn't that big of a problem. Pretty much any board will take 1600 MHz sticks, because any Ivy Bridge system *must* take them - it's a requirement. They can't test all possible products from all manufacturers on the market, now can they?

I've seen XMP profile fail whereas setting by hand works ok. BIOS updates usually solve any small problem you might have. Z77 is a very refined platform by now, although some boards I get still have their very first release (especially ASUS) - in which case I update even it it seems to turn on fine, just to be more sure.

[+Biscuits Brown MVC]

I've never even looked at a motherboards compatibility list - and I've built nearly 20 PC's over the last 5 or 6 years and not once have I found a component that didn't work. I'm not saying that there couldn't be SOME issue with some fringe parts, but you don't have any listed. Everything on your list is about as mainstream as you can get.

[hellohello]

When I google around, I found others having problem with dual channel and one with 4x8GB on this P8Z77 board. Adding up with inexperience, I just want to make sure the build is ok.

Now I am assured. Time to go survey around to get the best price.

Thanks both of you.

[The Gamer]

I have almost the exact same build as that, and it works fine. My RAM is Corsair Vengeance 2x 4GB, however.

The 500W should be enough for your PSU, but I'm not too familiar with your GPU, so I can't say for sure. I'm running the i5-3570K instead of the i7, and an EVGA GeForce GTX 550ti instead of your GPU. I do have your exact same motherboard, though. It's a good motherboard.

[Astra.Xtreme]

I have that same motherboard, and you don't have anything to worry about in regards to compatibility.

[YounGMessiah]

I have the same motherboard, but I would suggest investing into a better one!

Reason is how it handles power, I definitely saw its limits.. It has currently a 4+1+1 voltage regulation, but isnt handled the best.

I would step up in the tier on the P8Z77-V series.

I would also suggest 550W to 600W :p

[Phouchg]

I have the same motherboard, but I would suggest investing into a better one!

Reason is how it handles power, I definitely saw its limits.. It has currently a 4+1+1 voltage regulation, but isnt handled the best.

I would step up in the tier on the P8Z77-V series.

I would also suggest 550W to 600W :p

I've run 7970 Crossfire on HX650W :pinch:

About not handling power well - that is something I know squat of. What does it mean?

[KSib]

pcpartpicker.com is your friend. It will tell you of anything that isn't compatible and you can more easily share your build information with others as well as discover the lowest prices for components. I also suggest this site: http://www.logicalincrements.com/ just because it's a nice starting point for some.

[YounGMessiah]

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Everything-You-Need-to-Know-About-The-Motherboard-Voltage-Regulator-Circuit/616

Some decent details

I wish I could explain it more, but then I would have to teach you about components, the Science, some Math and circuitry.

[Phouchg]

http://www.hardwares...tor-Circuit/616

Some decent details

I wish I could explain it more, but then I would have to teach you about components, the Science, some Math and circuitry.

With that sort of attitude I figure you couldn't explain more if your life depended on it. And certainly not qualified to teach anything.

Now, unless you have definite information why this exact model (or general design as it's being used in numerous other ASUS boards) doesn't deliver (which it does)...

[YounGMessiah]

With what attitude?

All I was stating from my experience with this board and I do have proof (problem is I need statistics from others motherboards or people with the same), but the actual proof is online.

You dont need to know crap about circuits and components to read/learn about VRMs, you can see by looking up all the appropriate components and seeing some are not as quality. In delivering power you need a reliable method which over time is consistent.

Yeah I might not have the qualifications and I could describe a lot more, but why when its explained very well on the web and in books.

Now we could also take into consideration that I have a somewhat bad motherboard and why I experience odd issues when it comes to how it delivers throughout.

So because you dont want to look at the technology being used and have someone feed you a biased asnwer (mine or others), youre going to say I have an attitude and pretty much say my claims are wrong; when you dont even have claims yourself.

Only three of Asus' motherboards utilize the 4+1+1 voltage regulation and has been reported not to be the best, but does what it needs.

(That is based off of reviews online)

[Phouchg]

Claims, I have them in boatloads. MSC containerships at times. One for starters - amount of power phases means nothing. That's a design decision, sprinkled with marketing, which seems to be the case here and with most consumer boards for the last three years. I know the theory. I don't know the specifics, can't back them up if I thought I did, therefore I withhold claims.

There's no definite (or any) proof that it's going to explode (and I exaggerate because that's what I do), it doesn't have known compatibility problems, it can take a fair bit of OC which OP doesn't even want to. Why suggest wasting money? Where's the... ok, wtf.

I might add, anyone that suggests some random wattage number instead of specific configuration or brand is not to be taken seriously about power delivery in general, so if you don't mind... you're digging a hole in the ground with a stick here.

[YounGMessiah]

I will admit that I misread his original post, I thought his CPU choices were 3770k and someone suggested 3570K; so that was my mistake on thinking he cared about overclocking.

And dont pick on the fact that I suggest a higher wattage PSU, I always suggest that range for everyone/anyone. Why? Because it allows them the ability to upgrade with less worries in the future. It isnt random, 550W is common, same with 600W. A brand was not listed because.. simply I forgot and where are your recommendations?

A relevant recommendation, I would say an Antec PSU.

And how can you be taken seriously with your sarcasm? And no recommendations from you either..

If im digging a hole, so are you..

You are saying power phases mean nothing; but yet its the one of the main outlines in power systems.

Yes it is a design process, but it is vital in how the voltage gets distributed through your board with different loads. You can sprinkle all the marketing you want, but its still Science and Math...

If you want..I can get from someone who is accredited/qualified to explain why power phases mean something.

And I never made claims, just an observation that got worded wrong and taken incorrectly

[hellohello]

I have almost the exact same build as that, and it works fine. My RAM is Corsair Vengeance 2x 4GB

The RAM info that I got is confusing. Mobo site stated no 2x4GB for corsair but yes for kingston.

Corsair site, yes for 2X4GB but only for the high performance one.

Anyway, from the feedbacks given, I won't care about the supported list. I will try to find retail that allow me to exchange parts if there is problem with dual channel. The worst case, I will end up with 1x8GB.

I would step up in the tier on the P8Z77-V series.

I would also suggest 550W to 600W :p

If I am not mistaken, the higher tier provides built in WiFi, more SATA ports which I don't think I will need it. The price also increase quite a lot too.

The most HDD I will get is 3, 1 SSD and 2 SATA.

I forgot which site I went, they have this PSU calculator, the site recommend like 450W? I hope that calculator is good enough :)

[YounGMessiah]

If I am not mistaken, the higher tier provides built in WiFi, more SATA ports which I don't think I will need it. The price also increase quite a lot too.

The most HDD I will get is 3, 1 SSD and 2 SATA.

I forgot which site I went, they have this PSU calculator, the site recommend like 450W? I hope that calculator is good enough :)

Fair enough and I used that calculator for my build as well.

Just remember dont skimp out on the PSU, most will agree on that.