New DCS Rig

[steel_tiger1]

So last fall I picked up the 2 980ti cards for $500 and I already have the case. I want to build for the upcoming changes with the F-14 & F-18 carrier ops and all. I was going to build a system right after the first of the year and decided to hold off until the Ryzen was out, but it looks like the Ryzen isn't going to be as good for gaming at this point. I have always built AMD machines they have served me well over the years but it looks like Intel still has the edge here in the gaming community. I am not interested in VR at this point, it's to expensive and not mature enough, it's more of a novelty right now. What are the thoughts from the community on the items from my PC Part Picker list? Anything I need to be aware of or change? My concern is the memory I want to get a good match with the system.I will probably be adding additional SSDs as well.

One other thing is the cooler. The board has the option for liquid cooling the chipset but I have never done that before, in fact I have never liquid cooled anything. I know the Kracken is a good cooler but How does one cool the chipset do I need and additional cooler or just a differnt one all together?

 

Intel - Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor

Noctua - NT-H1 3.5g Thermal Paste

Asus - MAXIMUS IX FORMULA ATX LGA1151 Motherboard

Samsung - 850 EVO 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive

Cooler Master - Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case

EVGA - SuperNOVA G3 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply

LG - WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer

Microsoft - Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit

G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3600 Memory

NZXT - Kraken X52 Rev 2 73.1 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler

(2 x) Asus - GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card

 

Thanks for looking this over.

Edited June 25, 2017 by steel_tiger1
Cooler question

[Demon_]

This very expensive (specialised) motherboard is for the experienced guy who want/need extreme performance of his rig, and who know what he is doing.

If you are not this guy, don't lose your money.

[steel_tiger1]

Recommendation instead?

[Demon_]

Tomshardware: Our test results speak for themselves; there is no doubt that EVGA's 850 G3 is one of the best 850W 80 PLUS Gold-rated PSUs you can buy.

 

 

Cons: Expensive and noisy under taxing loads.

[Demon_]

Gigabytes Z270X-UD3, Gaming K3, Ultra Gaming.

Asus Prime Z270-A.

[toutenglisse]

Motherboard for watercooling system is a good idea since I7 7700K is a very hot cpu when overclocked (with 1 core at 100% and overclocked at 4.8ghz, mine used to go to 90°c and plus, so I made a mesh openning in front of my case in the way of ventirad, wich now is in a "tunnel" from front to rear with more fresh air flow, and now is Under 80°c...)

16 GB 2x8 is right for this 2 channel motherboard and enough for DCS regarding performances, but if you can choose the higher ram frequency you can as this gives better perf (3 min. and avg. fps every more 400 Mhz)

[Von Esch]

The motherboards intended for water cooling are usually open loop. If he's getting an AIO he doesn't need to worry about that. You don't need to really worry about RGB lights on your ram, or SLI either. DCS, when I sold my 780 ti's off, didn't support it. Don't need an i7 either. If you're just going for DCS, an i5 will serve you well. You can probably get a Sabertooth board and save 100 bucks.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Von Esch]

In regards to liquid cooling, you would need to buy all that piece meal, which is expensive. Radiators, plates, hoses, pumps, reservoirs and fittings. Maintenance is required with those. They will get your system the coolest, but can leak or get algae. If you've never done anything with water I'd stick with closed loop and get a different Mobo

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Demon_]

+1 for the i5 7600K

[BitMaster]

Unless you have a Custom Loop Water setup this Formula board makes ZERO sense.

 

The Prime ( as in my sig ) is a very good board and costs les than half the money and misses only the WiFi part iirc.

 

The X61 is the better Kraken, take that one...and if Demon says there is a better PSU there for sure is some truth to that, Seasonic would be his and my pick today, also Prime series.

 

Use the saved money from the board and invest in better cooling ( this 7700k like to get HOT when tortured ) and a better PSU.

 

As usual, I disagree the i5 advice from Demon, I woud pick the i7 ( I actually would by Ryzen now, but that is a totally different discussion )

 

my 2 cents

 

 

 

edit* if you intend to OC to 5G and use 3600MHz RAM speed, prepare for a nice "pull-my-hair" week :) Check that those modules are on the QVL, mine werent and it took a bit time to find the right IO/SA settings to have stable for prime95-AVX at 5G/3600. Trouble ahead imho.

Edited June 25, 2017 by BitMaster

[BitMaster]

In regards to liquid cooling, you would need to buy all that piece meal, which is expensive. Radiators, plates, hoses, pumps, reservoirs and fittings. Maintenance is required with those. They will get your system the coolest, but can leak or get algae. If you've never done anything with water I'd stick with closed loop and get a different Mobo

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

 

No maintenance for 2 years on mine tbh. I did not need to add a sinle ML of water or drain/clean anything.

 

I cleaned/flushed the system when I moved from my 2600k to 7700k and that was it. Add 1 knife tip of citric acid and dont play the fools game and use anything but demineralized water. If you use those coloured premixes you ask for trouble every few month cause the clogg up and block your micro fins, stated everywhere but at those sites who sell it.

 

Buy a Y-Connector and a drain valve and you can flush your system while you prime with zero effort. You just need the right gear and ideas and its very low to zero maint. over YEARS.

 

I had crystal clear water after 2 years when I changed the rig and reused almost everything, from CPU block, fittings, Quick-Conns, Radiaor, Pump, etc etc. I only got me 3m of new tubing ( soft) as I wanted that for looks only, wasnt need tbh.

 

Over time, this pays back but it is easily 5x the price of an 130,- AIO, that is true as well.

[Demon_]

The EVGA SuperNOVA G3 850W is made by Super Flower (Leadex II platform). 10 years warranty.

 

Tomshardware (March 2017) : For now, the SuperNOVA 850 G3 is king of the 850W 80 PLUS Gold category. Don't be surprised if Seasonic responds with an improved platform of its own, though.

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/evga-supernova-850-g3-psu,4930.html

Edited June 25, 2017 by Demon_

[steel_tiger1]

Ok so now I am leaning towards the Asus ROG Maximus Code motherboard or the MSI titanium gaming motherboard.

[RyboPops]

Ok so now I am leaning towards the Asus ROG Maximus Code motherboard or the MSI titanium gaming motherboard.

 

I'm not too familiar with the MSI mobo, but the differences between the Maximus and the Prime that was suggested earlier are:

 

• Maximus supports 4133MHz RAM, Prime supports 3866MHz
  
• Maximus has 2 more PCIe slots, one more 3.0 and one more 2.0
  
• Maximus has a few more USB ports (all USB 3.0 IIRC)
  
• Maximus is slightly smaller (physically)
  
• Maximus supports 6 fans, 3 more than the Prime
  
• Maximus supports THREE GPU's, Prime supports two
  

 

If you really need those extra features, sure, get the Maximus. Otherwise, save yourself $100 bucks and get the Prime.

 

That's my $0.02 after having recently built a new PC. Have fun researching though! It's honestly one of the funnest parts of building IMO.

Edited June 27, 2017 by RyboPops

[BitMaster]

I'm not too familiar with the MSI mobo, but the differences between the Maximus and the Prime that was suggested earlier are:

 

• Maximus supports 4133MHz RAM, Prime supports 3866MHz
  
• Maximus has 2 more PCIe slots, one more 3.0 and one more 2.0
  
• Maximus has a few more USB ports (all USB 3.0 IIRC)
  
• Maximus is slightly smaller (physically)
  
• Maximus supports 6 fans, 3 more than the Prime
  
• Maximus supports THREE GPU's, Prime supports two
  

 

If you really need those extra features, sure, get the Maximus. Otherwise, save yourself $100 bucks and get the Prime.

 

That's my $0.02 after having recently built a new PC. Have fun researching though! It's honestly one of the funnest parts of building IMO.

 

No, wrong:

 

From Asus product "Code" website:

 

Multi-GPU Support

Supports NVIDIA® 2-Way SLI™ Technology

Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireX™ Technology

Expansion Slots

2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8, gray)

1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x4 mode, black) *1

3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1

 

Since the board relies solely on the CPU and PCH PCIe-Lanes they are both EQUAL, de facto ALL those boards are equal when it comes to Express Lanes.

 

You either need a board that has an Add-On chip that sports PCIe Lanes ( not sure if any Z270 board from Asus has this feature, my old Asus X58 has this but its WAY OLD ) or buy a totally different chipset, ala X99 X299 or the AMD Threadripper+Chipset as they offer more Lanes per se.

 

The Prime has more than 3 fans:

 

1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin)

1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin)

2 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (2 x 4 -pin)

...

1 x High AMP Fan header (4-pin)

...

1 x AIO PUMP Header ( you can well use this for any fan as well )

14 USB Ports all in all ( incl 1 x USB-C )

ASMedia® USB 3.1 controller :

1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port(s) (1 at back panel, teal blue, Type-A, Support 3A power output)

ASMedia® USB 3.1 controller :

1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port(s) (1 at back panel, , USB Type-CTM, Support 3A power output)

Intel® Z270 Chipset :

6 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 port(s) (4 at back panel, , 2 at mid-board)

Intel® Z270 Chipset :

6 x USB 2.0 port(s) (6 at mid-board)

 

Asus Mx. Codce has 10 only:

1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (black)Type-A

1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (red)USB Type-CTM

4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (blue)

4 x USB 2.0

 

It might be, once you magnify the pics or RTFM that the Code board has internal headers which are truncated with their channels in the listing, for sure the Code board has more USB at the rear panel but less internal USB20 headers, which some need for hooking up Corsair Link and such stuff. I have a NZXT USB internal Hub to have even more USB internal, includinhg 2 USB20 Rescue Sticks and 1 USB stick to save my Asus Bios and OC profiles on, that is very handy.

 

I am very satiesfied with my Prime Z270-A, rock solid, good overclocker, MODEST price and it hasnt yet bricked compared to my last high end boards that all bricked. Prime is real nice.

Edited June 27, 2017 by BitMaster

[RyboPops]

Ok well besides all that technical stuff....we're basically saying the same thing: Get the Prime. :thumbup:

[steel_tiger1]

Updated slightly with motherboard. I am not sure what cooler to use. I have been reading about all copper coolers to eliminate long term galvonic reactions. And yes I have read all the differences on air vs. water. I want water for asthetics.

Intel - Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor

Asus - STRIX Z270-E GAMING ATX LGA1151 Motherboard

Samsung - 850 EVO 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive

Cooler Master - Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case

EVGA - SuperNOVA G3 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply

LG - WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer

Microsoft - Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit

(2 x) Asus - GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card

[BitMaster]

Nickel plated copper also works, just dont mix any aluminium parts in the loop !

 

There are parts that are not available as copper parts, like Koolance QuickConnectors, drain valves and a few more, those are usually chrom finished and work as well with copper.

 

My tip, use nothing but pure demineralized water + a knife tip of citric acid to fight fungus and slime. This has shown to work over 2 years ( and is recommended by my manufacturer of block + radiator )

 

What WILL happen, regardless, is that you will have a build-up of verdigris, which does not come from galvanic reactions but by pure contamination of the involved parts. THAT you have to clean out from the micro-fins in your CPU/GPU block after 1-2 years. It accumulates at the front gate of your fins and you can measure it by reduced flowrate. Mine needed a cleaning after 2 years, despite all the water was still clear, I had that verdigris in the CPU block. Unscrew the top, take old toothbrush and running water from tab I cleaned it out, put it back together and I am good for another 2years +/-.

 

Flush your loop before you fill it with 2-3x the volume of thre loop with demineralized water. If you use tab water there you ask for verdigris to happen faster.

[Django]

The Asus boards I was looking at are the Prime Z270-A or the Strix Z270F, the only differences I can work out are the Prime supports Thunderbolt while the Strix allows RAID with M.2 drives.

Edited July 4, 2017 by Django

[BitMaster]

The Prime does not really support Thunderbolt...not that you could use it right away.

 

You need to add Asus' Thunderbolt PCIe card which will then occupy 4 PCIe lanes. Not sure if you want that. Basically, you cann add such a 4x card to any PCIe slot in any PC. The header is not the actual chip, or a connection to it. It only allows the card to be controlled by Asus Bios iirc.

 

They both support Raid 0/1 with NvME afaik.

[Django]

They both support Raid 0/1 with NvME afaik.

 

Really??? When I browsed the manuals of both boards the section on RAID setup was slightly different, perhaps the BIOS has been updated... anyway so what is the difference between the two boards (is it just marketing b### s###)?

 

I've seen the Asus Z170 Pro Gamer on special offer, what do people think about that compared to the Prime Z270-A or the Z270F with a Kaby Lake CPU?

 

I'm probably going to go for SATA SSDs, RAM not faster than 3200MHz and would be happy with an i5-7600k OCed to 4.8GHz.

Edited July 6, 2017 by Django

[Django]

Is Kaby Lake + Z170 shooting myself in the foot in some way(s)???

[BitMaster]

I think you skip the HSIO feature then.

[steel_tiger1]

Quick update. I have revamped my whole thought behind my new build. And based on some research and taking future compatibility into account I decided to dump the Intel direction. I purchased the motherboard last night and got shipping confirmation today. This is what the new rig is so far.

 

AMD - Ryzen 7 1700 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor

Cooler yet to be determined.

Memory: In research phase

Power supply: In research phase

ASRock - Fatal1ty X370 Professional Gaming ATX AM4 Motherboard

Samsung - 850 EVO 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive

Cooler Master - Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case

Microsoft - Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit

HP - 128GB 3.5" Solid State Drive Free with purchase of motherboard

 

(2 x) Asus - GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card

 

Question is how accurate is PC Partpicker in calculating wattage requirements according to it I need 655w so I am thinking 750 should be enough?

 

Thanks

Edited July 28, 2017 by steel_tiger1

[cichlidfan]

Two video cards is a waste of money for DCS unless something changes in the future.