New build - Version 3.0

Following research, advice from forums, etc here is my updated build list.

Build Version 3.0

Approximate Purchase Date: Assembly should be completed by Mid August
Budget Range: £600

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Numerical and computational analysis, engineering software (CAD, FEA, etc), Work, Gaming, expected to be running most of the time.

Are you buying a monitor: No, using my current monitors and hd tv via hdmi connection.

Do you need to buy OS: No, using Windows 7 64 bit

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: ebuyer/dabs/Overclockers (UK based)

Location: UK

Parts Preferences: None

Overclocking: Not initially, but maybe in the future

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Additional Comments: It is really important that the system can manage numerical computations, efficiently. Currently for example I have an 8 GB RAM PC and there is not enough memory to run some analysis. For my analysis, I can select the number of CPU cores and amount of RAM to allocate, the more CPU cores/speed and the more RAM, the faster the analysis gets done.

Build and links

Power Supply Unit
Corsair Memory 600W Builder Series CX V2 ATX PSU
£53.98
http://www.dabs.com/products/corsair-memory-600w-builder-series-cx-v2-atx-psu-7JSQ.html?src=2
Case
Xigmatek Asgard Pro Gaming Case - Black
£34.99
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-018-XG&tool=3

Motherboard
AsRock Z77 Extreme4 Motherboard (Socket 1155, Intel Z77, Up to 32GB DDR3, ATX, 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s, Supports NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX, Premium Gold Caps)
£109.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007KTY4...de=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B007KTY4A6

Processor
Intel Core i5-3570K S1155 3.4GHz 6MB
£178.98
http://www.dabs.com/products/intel-core-i5-3570k-s1155-3-4ghz-6mb-7YXJ.html

RAM
Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
£84.19
http://www.cclonline.com/product/80...65/?siteID=8BacdVP0GFs-WKSCkaahqYe.iolg14D96g

DVDR
LiteOn iHAS124 SATA DVD Write Optical Drive
£14.14
http://www.ebuyer.com/176026-liteon-ihas124-sata-dvd-write-optical-drive-oem-ihas124-19

Graphics Card
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 550 Ti 970MHz 1GB PCI-Express HDMI Windforce 2X
£92.98
http://www.dabs.com/products/gigaby...rce=td&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_content=TB00

Harddrive
Seagate 1TB Barracuda SATA 6Gb/s 64MB 7200RPM Hard Drive
£64.99
http://www.dabs.com/products/seagat...-drive-7XD5.html?refs=42730000-52780000&src=3

TOTAL: £634.24

I would really appreciate feedback on this current build list, it's seems so easy to get deeper and deeper into think about components. I am particularly interested at this stage in compatibility of components, value for money, and perhaps any other cost effective options you may have to suggest, especially as I am a little over budget. I alos have a slight feeling that AMD FX 8120, is a good cost effective option at the moment (especially with £20 cash back offer at the moment and cheaper motherboards), but I am sure I will not disappointed with the i5 ivy bridge, dispite the additional cost.

Thanks everyone, you have all be very helpful and I have learnt so much since posting here. I hope I can finalise my build very soon and get building.

You could drop down the PSU quite a bit, even the CX430 should run this rig. TDP for the Ivy Bridge is 77W, TDP on the 550Ti is 116W. This build is probably going to draw something less than 250W total.

That's one advantage that Ivy Bridge has over Bulldozer, 77W vs 125W.

Nothing from scan.co.uk? That seems to be a customer favorite over there.

Also, you may be able to drop the optical drive. I know I never use mine. You can install Windows off a USB disk (slash anything you need to boot from can be done via USB).

Good point Knufire, thanks. I didn't know if I need a bit of excess, i.e. for adding more harddrives, etc?

I could go for
http://www.dabs.com/products/ocz-technology-500w-corexstream-series-power-supply-8174.html?src=2
OR
http://www.dabs.com/products/corsai...r-series-80-plus-power-supply-7K9K.html?src=3

I just thought it might be worth having a bit of extra wattage for another £15.

I will check out Scan.co.uk prices too, thanks.

Your right the opticals are starting to become redundant pieces of kit, thinking about it. I will need one personally.

CX500 could be a happy medium. Should run that 3570K and any single GPU, even the high powered ones.

CX600 can probably run that and dual 670s, stuff is just getting really power efficient these days.

Do you think there is any money to be saved on the motherboard?

You can, but it'll be less quality. Straight price/performance, it doesn't really get better than the Extreme4. How far are you planning to OC? Are you ever going to go dual cards?

Yes, I have heard a lot of good things about the extreme4, hence I picked it for the build. I recently saw a Gigabyte z77 board for about £40 less, and wondered if I could save a bit there.

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/giga...-s-sata-raid-pcie-30-(x16)-d-sub-dvi-d-hdmi-a

I plan is to use the system for a few months, then maybe upgrade the cooler before overclocking. Then I will take it to where ever is best. I have never overclocked before so I will probably stick the conservative side.

Yes if dual cards will be a cost effect option for upgrade in the future I would like to keep that option open.

If you want to keep dual cards open, then stick to the 600W.

Essentially what you want to look at when comparing the motherboards is how many VRMs there are; these deliver power to the CPU. They're the black boxes around the CPU. I think I count 6 there? That's a 4+2 design, what most motherboards go with. The Extreme4 has a 8+4 section, meaning it can deliver higher loads while staying cooler. High quality motherboards also usually have a heatsink on this section of the motherboard.

Ok, thanks. Any feedback/opinions on the case. I wanted to keep it below £400. I originally had the Antec 300 case, but I found out it's not so great for cable management, despite the good reviews. I still like the case though. What's your thoughts?

http://www.ebuyer.com/143854-antec-300-three-hundred-case-0761345-08300-3

CORRECTION: Opps! I mean I wanted to keep the case below £40

Seen some 300's modded with new holes cut for cables. Not a bad case, but kinda small really.

Isn't this a standard size for mid tower case?

There's no standard for mid vs full tower...only standard is for PCIe brackets/back panel hole/mounting holes locations/size.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATX

I found this case by coolermaster
http://www.ebuyer.com/233740-cooler...r-mid-tower-case-with-side-window-rc-430-kwn1

Also when selecting my CPU, do I need to bare in mind that I do lots of multitasking, i.e. running analysis when lots of programs are open, playing games with other things are running.

It's not a bad case, but no cable management holes and it only comes with one fan, you'll want to add more. That's the case my secondary rig is in.

Do you have any case recommendations for around the £40 mark? There are so many cases! Lol

All my top suggestions are either not available or overpriced overseas, lol. I do like the Xigmatek you posted.

Essentially what you want out of a case at this price range is cable management holes and and least one intake and one exhaust.

In your experience is it a problem when the top case fans doesn't have dust pads to stop the fans pulling in dust?

Shouldn't be a problem as top fans should be exhaust anyway.

Ahhhh I see they are exhaust. That's ok then. Have you heard about any problems with the corsair psu cx v2 version?

No, they're probably the most recommended budget PSUs. Great choice.