First Computer Build with the new Asus Z97-A...any comments, suggestions, advice?

Hey everyone,
This is my first ever computer build, which I am mainly building as a gaming PC. However, I really want to have Mavericks as a secondary operating system for when I can't stand windows . I have tried running Mountain Lion on my laptop before (I've posted about my experience), but not being able to have audio, a battery percentage, and all the little issues that come especially with laptops trying to run OSX just made it not feasible as a solid operating system. In addition I ran Mountain Lion off of an external hard drive, as I didn't want to have to completely wipe the internal hard drive. So I'm hoping to start fresh with (hopefully) more friendly parts as these are desktop parts.

So here are the parts I currently have:

Antec HCG M Series 620W PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371059

MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB (I know this will probably have issues, but at least in the beginning I can use Intel HD 4600) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127789

NZXT Phantom 410 ATX Mid-Tower Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146087

G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 8GB (4GBx2) DDR3 2400MHz Memory (will I have to run them at a lower speed?) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231585

Asus Z97-A Series Motherboard (I've read the audio is native and I think the ethernet network is supposed to be as well, but this is also a very new board so there will probably be some issues) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231585

Samsung 840 EVO 120GB SSD (shouldn't directly affect OSX because I'm using this for windows) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147247

Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit edition (to be installed on the SSD)


Now for the parts I still need:

Intel Core i7-4770k or i7-4790k CPU (will the newer CPU have any compatibility issues? I want to get that one but it also depends on if one become significantly cheaper than the other)

Hard Drive- most likely Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM (I'm going to partition about 150GB of this for OSX I think, as I wont be using the operating system for anything but light word processing/browsing the internet) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

Wireless Network Card- I've seen both the TP-Link and Rosewill wireless cards on this website, but is there any difference in compatibility/preformance?)

DVD Reader/Writer (For this I just want whatever is the cheapest and will work the best with both operating systems, any recommendations?)


I'm probably forgetting something here, but I think this is it. Thanks for reading all this, and any advice helps, as I am definitely a beginner at this. I can't wait to complete this build!

How's the build, have you started already to work on it, or it's still in "pending" state

I am upgrading to a similar setup... Same mobo but i7 4790 processor and 16 gigs of Corsair Vengeance 1866 memory, Evga gtx 460 video card and a Crucial mx100 256GB SSD... I am building it tomorrow... Anybody else have something similar that worked... settings???

I will update you guys with my success or otherwise...

Haha I didn't think anyone replied on this topic. Tomorrow I'm doing the build, just went into Fry's and got the i7-4790k. I also ordered the 1TB hard drive that should come in by Friday. I'll definitely keep you guys posted. I've heard there are issues with the Z97 boards, so I'll make sure to document anything I run into. I can't wait to see how this goes!

Here are the parts I've bought since my last post:
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM (where I will partition 150GB for OSX)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840&cm_re=seagate_barracuda-_-22-148-840-_-Product

ASUS 24X DVD Burner (I probably won't use this much so it doesn't really matter to me if it works on OSX) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204


I'm still wondering if there's an opinion on which wifi card to get, as I've seen both listed on here as plug and play with Mavericks.

Well everything is working great. But audio that is, but I think that is my fault. I think I chose two options for audio on accident when doing multibeast. Is there a reason for wanting a wifi card when the default intel gigabit works fine?

I'm glad to hear everything went great for you! It's been a little harder for me. I'm pretty sure that I'm able to load into the installer, but once the boot/kernel screen is finished, I get no signal on my monitor.

I'm currently using the following boot parameters:
-v -x maxmem=4096 GraphicsEnabler=No IGPEnabler=Yes IGPlatformID=0D220003

The graphics parameters I got from this VERY helpful post: http://www.tonymacx86.com/mavericks...stallation-stuck-changing-mtu-0-1500-a-2.html

So I'm not really sure how to get the graphics set up at least for the install, as I know there is an issue with Intel HD 4600, but I thought that could only be fixed after installation. Also I've noticed it says that it doesn't recognize my CPU (i7-4790k), but it continues loading anyways and I've tried using cpus=1 to no avail.

I would like a wifi card because there is only one spot that has Ethernet connection in my house, and I would like to put my computer elsewhere, so I would need wifi. For now I can temporarily use the Ethernet port once I install Mavericks.

As always, thank you to anyone who has advice or comments!

YoureInMySpot said:

I'm glad to hear everything went great for you! It's been a little harder for me. I'm pretty sure that I'm able to load into the installer, but once the boot/kernel screen is finished, I get no signal on my monitor.

I'm currently using the following boot parameters:
-v -x maxmem=4096 GraphicsEnabler=No IGPEnabler=Yes IGPlatformID=0D220003

The graphics parameters I got from this VERY helpful post: http://www.tonymacx86.com/mavericks...stallation-stuck-changing-mtu-0-1500-a-2.html

So I'm not really sure how to get the graphics set up at least for the install, as I know there is an issue with Intel HD 4600, but I thought that could only be fixed after installation. Also I've noticed it says that it doesn't recognize my CPU (i7-4790k), but it continues loading anyways and I've tried using cpus=1 to no avail.

I would like a wifi card because there is only one spot that has Ethernet connection in my house, and I would like to put my computer elsewhere, so I would need wifi. For now I can temporarily use the Ethernet port once I install Mavericks.

As always, thank you to anyone who has advice or comments!

Click to expand...

I will do some research but I believe the main problem your having is from the GraphicsEnabler=No Command.... When you do verbose "-v" does it say anything about last commmand edited or removed or something like that? I would try to go without anything else "no flags" except for the IGPEnabler=Yes. One other thing, in BIOS did you make sure to set the graphics to integrated graphics only? Make sure its not on auto or PCIG or whatever the option is... I am gonna check right now to see what it's supposed to be... but let me know about these other options...

Thomas

I just looked and its in BIOS if you hit "F7" then go to Advanced\SystemAgentConfiguration\Graphics Configuration\ Primary Display...

Choose CPU Graphics only, and under CPU Multi Monitor choose disabled. make sure these are selected and let me know if that helped at all!!!

Thomas

riboild said:

I will do some research but I believe the main problem your having is from the GraphicsEnabler=No Command.... When you do verbose "-v" does it say anything about last commmand edited or removed or something like that? I would try to go without anything else "no flags" except for the IGPEnabler=Yes. One other thing, in BIOS did you make sure to set the graphics to integrated graphics only? Make sure its not on auto or PCIG or whatever the option is... I am gonna check right now to see what it's supposed to be... but let me know about these other options...

Thomas

I just looked and its in BIOS if you hit "F7" then go to Advanced\SystemAgentConfiguration\Graphics Configuration\ Primary Display...

Choose CPU Graphics only, and under CPU Multi Monitor choose disabled. make sure these are selected and let me know if that helped at all!!!

Thomas

Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice! Actually, while trying to solve this issue, i thought, what the heck, lets see if i can boot with my graphics card. It turns out that I didn't have to do anything, the card worked without and boot flags and I was able to install Mavericks. That was way easier than I anticipated. Anyways I ran Multibeast and got Ethernet working, but audio doesn't and I read that there isn't any support for 9 series motherboards on-board audio currently, so we might have to wait. Also currently this is in the buying advice forum, so later I'm going to post in the post-installation forum about how this build is going.