2012 Computer Notes (advice welcome!)
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:02 am
Wow! It's been awhile.
My sister's hoping to get my current quiet desktop sometime this month so it's time for a new computer!
Any advice would be appreciated. I'm hoping some people here might know a thing or two about CPUs and GPUs
Edit: Done researching and ordering! Took 6 days, 2012-07-15 to 2012-07-20.
Purchase Summary ($2110.76 spent, $22.50 fatwallet cashback, not counting 1% chase cashback, 2012-07-15 to 2012-07-20)
My sister's hoping to get my current quiet desktop sometime this month so it's time for a new computer!
Any advice would be appreciated. I'm hoping some people here might know a thing or two about CPUs and GPUs
Edit: Done researching and ordering! Took 6 days, 2012-07-15 to 2012-07-20.
Purchase Summary ($2110.76 spent, $22.50 fatwallet cashback, not counting 1% chase cashback, 2012-07-15 to 2012-07-20)
- Case: (delivered) SilverStone FT02B (silentpcreview (spcr), $229.00)
- CPU: (delivered) Intel Core i5-3570K ($214.99 -$3.45 cashback)
- CPU HSF: (delivered) Noctua NH-D14 (spcr, noctua, $84.99)
- GPU: (delivered) ASUS GTX 670 DirectCU II TOP (techpowerup (tpu), $429.99 +$30.65 tax +$7.87 shipping -$6.45 cashback)
- Motherboard: (delivered) ASUS P8Z77-V PRO (anandtech, $209.99)
- Operating System: (delivered) Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder DVD 1 Pack ($168.00)
- Power Supply Unit (PSU): (delivered) Kingwin Stryker STR-500 Fanless PSU (spcr, $168.95 -$9.60 cashback)
- RAM: (delivered) 2x 2x8gb G.SKILL Ares DDR3 1600 sets (32gb total, $175.98 -$3.00 cashback)
- SSD: (delivered) 256GB Samsung 830 MZ-7PC256B/WW (i.e. with Desktop kit, $194.99 (after $45 instant coupon))
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): (delivered) CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD 1500VA Pure Sine Wave ($195.36)
- Extra Cooling Outside of CPU HSF: Doesn't seem necessary as long as I use the proper components in the first place
- Hard Drives: I have plenty and have gotten more selective of what's on them; I'll buy more when I get a new NAS
- Keyboard: Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard
I've tried co-workers' mechanical keyboards but they're almost always non-ergonomic and too loud for me. - Monitor: Dell U3011 and Dell UltraSharp 2405fpw dual-monitor setup
- Mouse: Logitech G500
- Speakers: Audioengine A5 two speaker setup
I liked them enough to own separate pairs for my television and computer.
- [$229.00] (amazon), Case: SilverStone FT02B (silentpcreview (spcr))
I didn't get the FT02B-W(indowed) version since I think the windowless one will have better acoustics due to additional noise dampening foam. - [$214.99] (newegg), CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K
Supports turbo, K (i.e. unlocked) is only $20 more than locked, and is ~$100 cheaper than i7 models for features that won't affect me much (hyperthreading, hd4000, +2mb L3 cache, minor clock boost). I also snagged a $15 instant discount promo code (BTS504) that applied after 1.5% cashback ($3.45 = $229.99 * 0.015). - [$84.99] (amazon), CPU HSF: Noctua NH-D14 (spcr, noctua)
The Noctua NH-D14 "only" uses a 14cm and a 12cm fan, but fits in my case (uses 160mm out of 165mm clearance). The newer Thermalright Archon SB-E (spcr) is 175mm with its 15cm fan. - [$429.99 +$30.65 tax +$7.87 shipping] (newegg, -$6.45 cashback), GPU: ASUS GTX 670 DirectCU II TOP
After reading anandtech and skimming tom's hardware, Nvidia's GTX 670 seems to be the sweet spot for me due to my 2560x1600 monitor and low-noise preference (less power => less cooling => less noise). An spcr thread informed me that third-party cooling may be unnecessary since some companies have gotten better about noise, which led me to the ASUS GTX 670 DirectCU II. Both techpowerup (tpu) and hc report great idle and load acoustics at 1 meter and 1 foot respectively. The overclocked TOP-version has availability and stability issues, so a non-TOP version is fine too. If I can't get the ASUS, my backup choice is the Gigabyte GTX 670 Windforce (tpu, hc, see earlier hc link for a heads up noise comparison). - [$209.99] (amazon), Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V PRO (anandtech)
The ASUS P8Z77-V PRO has the features I want (stability, great fan control, usb3.0, auto overclock, memory subsystem improvements, virtu, etc) and doesn't charge me for features I won't use (bluetooth, extra nic, etc). Additionally, it had a fairly recent price drop. - [$168.00] (amazon), Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder DVD 1 Pack
I play games, hence Windows 7. I'm fine with an OEM version, so System Builder it is. I remote desktop into my PC, hence I need the Professional version or better (wikipedia). For $38 over the Professional version I get the Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications, BitLocker Drive Encryption, Multilingual User Interfaces, etc. - [$168.95] (TigerDirect, -$9.60 cashback), Power Supply Unit (PSU): Kingwin Stryker STR-500 Fanless PSU
I definitely want to get an 80 plus platinum certified PSU since it correlates with less noise; sadly this removes seasonic as a contender. I'm currently deciding between the Kingwin Stryker STR-500 Fanless PSU (spcr) and the Kingwin LZP-1000 PSU (spcr). Both are silent at ~500W and below since the latter's fan turns off completely. The STR-500 is tracking around $170 and the LZP-1000 around $220 respectively. I don't think I'll need over 500W by viewing the total system power usages at anandtech for their latest gpu review which lists 317W under load. Is another 500W for $50 more worth it? I'm leading toward no, especially since 90% efficiency for the LZP-1000 kicks in above 166W wall draw. - [$175.98 (newegg), RAM: 2x 2x8gb G.SKILL Ares DDR3 1600 sets (32gb total)
Noctua confirms this RAM fits under my CPU HSF. My motherboard supports 32gb in 4 slots, so I decided to go for it. 1600 was chosen since it's the highest non-overclocked speed (read as reasonably priced). I also snagged a discount code (HARDOCPX718D) that took $24 off ($12 per pair!) that applied after 1.5% cashback ($3.00 = 2 * $99.99 * 0.015). - [$194.99] (after $45 instant coupon, amazon), SSD: 256GB Samsung 830 MZ-7PC256B/WW
Reliability is key, so I focused on the Intel 520 (anandtech) and Samsung 830 (anandtech). SandForce based drives like the Intel 520 can suck over time even with trim. This left the Samsung 830 as victor. I chose 256GB since it yielded the best price per GB by far, was >100 GB, and suffered no performance penalties (unlike the 64GB version). A Tom's Hardware thread helped me decrypt Samsung's model numbers and finally choose the MZ-7PC256D/AM for its included desktop kit (i.e. cables and 3.5" bracket). - [$195.36] (amazon), Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD 1500VA Pure Sine Wave
I've been waiting for a sale on this quiet, automatic voltage regulating, pure sine UPS, but decided to get it now since I'm building a new system. It was $156.07 on 2011-03-20 (camel) and hasn't been that cheap since In retrospect, I should've bought it from Provantage for $175.95! Provantage needs to be scraped!