Sim rig

[JayPee]

Currently I'm making a new rig on paper. I'd like some opinions on it. Having DCS (+ EDGE) / BMS / Prepar3D in mind.

 

CPU - i7 4770K (aim is to touch the 4.5Ghz)

MB - ASUS Maximus VII Ranger (future proof Z97)

GPU - ASUS GTX780 DC II OC 3GB

RAM - Crucial Ballistix Tactical 2x4GB (1600 CL8 )

CPU Cooler - Noctua NH-D14

Case - Fractal Design Define R4 Pearl Black (I don't want it to look like a gaming rig)

PSU - Seasonic S12G 650W

SSD - Samsung 840 Basic 250GB (already have that one)

Wifi - TP-Link TL-WN751ND

 

Initially I'll be running 1x 1080p. Obviously I want smooth 60FPS, preferably with everything maxed, SweetFX, and some texture improvement mods.

Edited June 8, 2014 by JayPee

[cichlidfan]

Aside from adding another 8GB of RAM, just because it is cheap enough, I would only add more disk space. Either a 1 or 2TB HDD or another 250GB SSD. I like having storage space.

[JayPee]

Aside from adding another 8GB of RAM, just because it is cheap enough, I would only add more disk space. Either a 1 or 2TB HDD or another 250GB SSD. I like having storage space.

I've got enough network storage space for loose data. Only thing I need local is OS, Office, some utilities, DCS, BMS, Prepar3D, ....and SWTOR (Sorry, boys will be boys).

 

What I'm worried about most is the cooling performance and the noise. I'd like the noise level to be notebook-ish, hence my choice for the case and the ASUS GPU. Reviews claim the latter is the one of the most quiet 780s.

Edited June 8, 2014 by JayPee

[cichlidfan]

I have lots of network storage too, but I am a pack rat so I still have over 700GB of SSD and a 2TB HDD in my flight box. :D

[xxJohnxx]

For low noise I would suggest the Corsair H60/H80 water cooling. With a custom fan that thing is noiseless.

With the default fan it just makes a bit noise when doing a CPU heavy task, such as rendering a movie.

 

I am running a i7-3770K @ 4.5GHz, temperatures are at about 50°C wenn gaming.

[JayPee]

From what I know watercooling like the Corsair H100 is like the GAU-8 compared to the air cooling I mentioned.. I'm not sure what I'd have to do to mod such a cooling?

[Saruman]

I own Corsair H50 and it is still fine too. I'm going to put it on a new 4790k on a maximus vii ranger, in fact

[JayPee]

You gonna OC that i7?

[Saruman]

Of course yes, otherwise I would not take the k version (but I'll overclock at the maximum speed I can reach without changing voltages, because I don't like to overvoltage components given that I think that it shortens their life a lot). The case (Corsair Obsidian series) has a lot (7) of custom well positioned fans too (I have a specific lcd in a 5.25 bay with which I control their rpm, so I can make the pc quiet if I want to), so temperature is not going to be a problem like it's not a problem with my actual Phenom II X6 1055T,that I overclocked from 2.8 to 3.7 ghz, along with the videocard (from 800 mhz to 920).

 

Consider that the cpu now never goes more than 45-50 under load in the hottest days (room temperature more than 27 celsius degrees, alas without air conditioning)

Edited June 8, 2014 by Saruman

[JayPee]

OK.

 

Anyway, opinions still are welcome fellow arm chair pilots! Let me know if you think I'm somehow making a mistake with the aforementioned rig.

[Saruman]

Not really. Just make sure the psu have a lot of amperes. And consider buying an h100, because liquid kit does make the difference compared to air cooling. Oh, and I'd wait the newest 4790k at the end of the month rather than picking the 4770k.

[JayPee]

Any idea how the new 4790K would relate to the cooler in terms of overclocking?

[Saruman]

Well, better than the 4770k, given that the 4770k has problems with the thermal pad not perfectly adhering to the cpu and Intel explicitly addressed the issue with the 4790k.

[xxJohnxx]

The 4790K will therfore run cooler than the 3770/4770. However, I would still recommend the Corsair Watercoolers. They are easy to set up, and well worth the cost!

[Saruman]

Of course, water cooling kit is always the best way. Air cooling is old tech by now :)

[JayPee]

I know watercoolers cool better than aircoolers but they also generate more noise!

[Saruman]

I cannot hear the pump of my H50, to be honest, even if I turn off all the fans, but I admit that: 1) noise is pretty subjective (you can hear something that I can't or you can be bothered by something that I don't perceive as noise); 2) my tolerance to noise is pretty high, otherwise I wouldn't have up to 7 fans in the pc and I wouldn't put them at full speed while playing (they're audible at full speed, yes!) ; 3) noise depends on the case too, given that my pc isn't that noisy as one would expect from all those fans, and this is thanks to the case.

 

So, to sum it up, I don't hear any noise from the pump, but I don't know if it's because of the good case or my ears. To hear it, I must put the ear at a couple of centimeters from the pump (case opened and fans off). Usually when the pump produces noise, anyway, the unit could be broken, at least as far as I know.

 

Do you speak because you actually listened to liquid cooling kit by Corsair? If you only read it, it could be worth to ask someone to show it to you, to verify the noise. If you instead speak on personal direct experience, then your ears are better than mine or your tolerance to noise is lower than mine, and then your choice of using Noctua is fine :)

Edited June 8, 2014 by Saruman