[SUCCESS] first build ever - Gigabyte & Corsair 650D

[orestesdd]

orestesdd first build ever - Intel Core i5-2500K, GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155, 16GB RAM, Radeon HD 6870 1GB

• OSes:
  Mac OS X version 10.6.3 Snow Leopard Retail
  Windows 7 Professional SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder DVD 1 Pack
• CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K
• CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
• MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155
• PSU: CORSAIR AX650
• RAM: Corsair 16 GB Vengeance Blue Low Profile 1600mhz PC3-12800 240-pin
• Burner: Sony Optiarc 24X DVD Burner[/*:m:12ftxheb]
• GPU: XFX Double D HD-687A-ZDFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB
• CASE: Corsair Obsidian 650D
• HDD:
  Windows HDD - Seagate Barracuda 7200 1 TB 7200RPM SATA 6 Gb/s (Model ST1000DM003)
  Mac OS X HDD - WD Caviar Black 1 TB SATA III 7200RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM - WD1002FAEX
• SSD:
  Mac OS X - Crucial 128 GB m4 2.5-Inch SSD SATA 6Gb/s CT128M4SSD2 (sata3_0)
  Windows - Crucial 128 GB m4 2.5-Inch SSD SATA 6Gb/s CT128M4SSD2 (sata3_1)
• MONITOR: ViewSonic VX2250WM-LED 22-Inch

The system is already built and functional with Windows and works fine with Mac OS X 10.6.8. Both OSes are installed each on its own single SSD, and each one has its own 1TB HDD. Thanks for all the support. Now I am waiting until I can upgrade to Mountain Lion, but I will wait at least six months after ML is put to the test.

 

[Gordo74]

Re: first build ever - Hackintosh or otherwise

If you're not using a graphics card, all you need is a 400w PSU. If you are, the most you need is the 650w.

 

[orestesdd]

Re: first build ever - Hackintosh or otherwise

If you're not using a graphics card, all you need is a 400w PSU. If you are, the most you need is the 650w.

I will use a XFX graphics card mentioned in my original post for sure. I hope then that 650 will be enough if I want to upgrade, say a year or two from now. Thanks for you input.

 

[Vendetta]

Re: first build ever - Hackintosh or otherwise

My $.02:

-I'd go with a 650w PSU unless you plan to run multiple GPUs in the future.
-Go with the Corsair Vengeance Low Profile RAM, just to ensure you don't run into issues with clearance on the CPU cooler.
-Make sure the specific GPU you're buying is compatible. I know I've seen that some version of the XFX cards aren't working.
-For the SSD, I'd go with the Vertex line or even one of the other brands before I went with the Agility.
-For HDD, don't go with a Green drive for your main system. They're best used as backup drives.

A few tidbits if you're looking to save money. If not, that's okay too.

-You can save money on the PSU. Here are just a few options of many.
If you don't care about modular ($70): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817371031
If you want Corsair ($90): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139005
If you want semi-modular and a great brand ($90): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817151095

-Computer cases are completely preference, so take this with a grain of salt. The case you've chosen is definitely awesome, but it's expensive too. If you were looking to save money, you could do it here as well, and still get a really nice case (like the Fractal Design Define R3). However, most important is that you're happy with it, so go with what you're drawn to most.

-For HDD, I'd go with one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822152185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136533
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822148697

Also, keep an eye out on the Deal of the Day sub-forum as well as a site like slickdeals. I've seen almost all of your hardware on sale at one point or another, and certainly they will be on sale over the next few weeks. You could save a bit of money doing it that way too.

 

[orestesdd]

[REMOVED BY ME] first build ever - Hackintosh or otherwise

Please, see the original post with updates from comments. Thanks.

 

[orestesdd]

Re: first build ever - Hackintosh or otherwise

I wonder if any of the RAM which I selected are correct. Since I am going with a CPU i5-2500K, Intel says the following (See this at Intel website):

Max RAM: 32GB
RAM type: DDR3-1066/1333
Max RAM bandwidth: 21 GB/s
ECC Memory Supported: No

and if I understand correctly all the RAM I mentioned are DDR3-1600. Is this going to work? Or am I wrong? Please, let me know and thanks.

I found out that regardless of what Intel says, I must go with the recommendations given by the Gigabyte motherboard manual. This is what Gigabyte motherboard states:

Support for DDR3 2133/1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz memory modules

Thus, I hope this helps someone having the same confusion which I had.

 

[Bobcat86]

Re: first build ever - Hackintosh or otherwise

Here's my system, first HackIntosh, but I have a great many Winblows builds under my belt. Prices are what I paid in Canadian $ after Instant Rebates & Manufacturers Mail-In Rebates. This baby runs like a charm:

Case: NZTX H2 White - $80
http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/classic_series/h2

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 - $120
http://ca.gigabyte.com/products/product ... id=3973#ov

Power Supply: TOP-800WB 80Plus Bronze - Modular - $60
http://topower.com/product/TOP800WB.html

RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2 x 4GB CS9 Kit Blue - $45
http://www.corsair.com/en/memory-by-pro ... 00c9b.html

Video Card: Gigabyte GV-R685OC-1GD, AMD (ATI) Radeon HD 6850 1GB DDR5 Overclockable - $120
http://ca.gigabyte.com/products/product ... id=3630#ov

CPU: Intel i5 2500K 3.3 GHz, Unlocked - $210
http://ark.intel.com/products/52210

Wi-Fi: TP-Link TL-WDN4800, see my other post on this one - $45
http://www.tp-link.com/ca/products/deta ... TL-WDN4800

SSD HD: OCZ Agility 3 SATA 3 120GB - $100
http://www.ocztechnology.com/ocz-agilit ... 5-ssd.html

HD: 3 x Hitachi 2TB 7200RPM 64Mb Cache, HDS723020BLA642 - $100 each

FireWire 800 Card: PCI-e TI Chipset XIO2213AZAY - $35

I have not move to overclocking yet, as I am currently using the stock Heat Sink that came with the CPU. However, my experience with low profile RAM is that their Heat Sinks are not as efficient and therefore they tend heat-up faster OC'ed or not.

Overclocking is a topic on its own and should not be mixed with a stable configuration.

 

[Vendetta]

Re: first build ever - Hackintosh or otherwise

I'll start by saying that I can't help but feel that you don't want to hear my advice. Your responses feel contrarian in tone, but I'll offer some more advice anyways, as I'm just trying to help you out.

-Go with the Corsair Vengeance Low Profile RAM, just to ensure you don't run into issues with clearance on the CPU cooler.

Before buying RAM, how can I tell if the RAM will not run into issues with the CPU cooler? This is a big issue, for I don't have money to waste. So how can I find out if the RAM I like will not have a problem with the CPU cooler?

In some cases, you can't tell. And again, this is why I suggested the low profile Vengeance. It's no different from your #1 choice, so why not go with the low profile to be safe?

-Make sure the specific GPU you're buying is compatible. I know I've seen that some version of the XFX cards aren't working.

According to Gordo74's thread (this one), the GPU should be OK unless it goes out of stock by the time I am actually ready to buy.

The GPU that Gordo listed in the link you provided is not the specific GPU that you've listed as one that you want to purchase. It's all in the details. The one he's listed is a ZHFC while the one you've listed is ZDFC. I'm not saying the ZDFC won't work, but my suggestion was to make sure the EXACT model you're buying has been used by someone else with great success. Again, just some advice, as I've seen on the forums that one of the Z-FC cards doesn't work as it's not a reference model.

-For the SSD, I'd go with the Vertex line or even one of the other brands before I went with the Agility.

I plan to use the SSD as the main Mac OS X. I just wondering why "Vertex" instead of my selection.

From the things I've read, the Agility series performs worse than the Vertex, and uses cheaper NAND. It may be something you'd never notice, but why not buy the better of the two options from the get go? Actually, I'd go with the Crucial M4 if you can scrape together $100 in the next few days:
http://slickdeals.net/f/4643164-128GB-C ... tarts-5-28

-For HDD, don't go with a Green drive for your main system. They're best used as backup drives.

As I mentioned above, my plan is to use this as a secondary HDD, and possibly buy another HDD to install either Windows 7 or Ubuntu at a later time.

What does "secondary HDD" mean? Are you using it for backup? No, you're using it to store photo, audio, or video? Well, then go with one of the drives I mentioned.

Again, if you don't want my advice, that's okay too. I'm just trying to help you get the most for your money and have a system that runs well. At the end of the day, it's your call.

 

[orestesdd]

Re: first build ever - Hackintosh or otherwise

I'll start by saying that I can't help but feel that you don't want to hear my advice. Your responses feel contrarian in tone, but I'll offer some more advice anyways, as I'm just trying to help you out.

I heard your advice regarding the RAM choice. If you look at my original post, you will see that I am selecting the lower profile RAM to be safe. It will be very hard for me to tell if the CPU cooler will cause issues with high profile RAM unless I am able to test them both, and I don't have the money to do that kind of testing. However, someone mentions that the lower profile RAM may have an issue with OC and heat. Then, we are back on a catch 22 situation. As I said, I have been around computers for 25 years, but I have never built one.

The GPU that Gordo listed in the link you provided is not the specific GPU that you've listed as one that you want to purchase. It's all in the details. The one he's listed is a ZHFC while the one you've listed is ZDFC. I'm not saying the ZDFC won't work, but my suggestion was to make sure the EXACT model you're buying has been used by someone else with great success. Again, just some advice, as I've seen on the forums that one of the Z-FC cards doesn't work as it's not a reference model.

With regard to the GPU, I was told to get one with a particular port layout. In this case, the one that I want to buy does have that layout (1XHDMI, 2XmDP, 2XDVI). I believe this is what's being called "reference model", but as I said, I am a developer, not a PC builder. So the question is, has anyone used the XFX HD-687A-ZDFC model successfully in a hackintosh build? If someone can answer this last question, then I will buy this model; else, I will have to find a different one or not build a hackintosh at all, for I don't have money to throw away.

By the way, even though Gordo used "originally" a XFX HD-687A-ZHFC, a model with just one fan, he did recommend the one with two fans, which is the version I picked. This is what Gordo said in this thread

To note about the 6870: the XFX version with one fan is extremely loud at idle and even moreso at load. That is why I got the aftermarket cooler and installed it. I could not stand the noise of it. I sold the card, along with the cooler, to another member here once I got my 5870 back from RMA. I suggest getting the dual fan XFX 6870. It is much quieter and known to work. Or even the Tri fan Gigabyte 6870 if space allows (note previous paragraph about space).

Then, should I trust his comment? Sorry for the long write-up.

From the things I've read, the Agility series performs worse than the Vertex, and uses cheaper NAND. It may be something you'd never notice, but why not buy the better of the two options from the get go?

Now you are making sense. If you read again my original post, I switch to a 90GB SSD of the Vertex kind. Again thanks for your input.

 

[Vendetta]

Re: first build ever - Hackintosh or otherwise

You shouldn't have a problem with the low profile RAM. Technically, the larger heatsinks will allow for better cooling in a OC situation. However, most people aren't OC to the point that they are tweaking their RAM also. Most people (especially around here) are going to mess with their Multiplier and then set and forget, occasionally some will tweak their BCLK as well. Honestly though, unless you are going for a hardcore OC, then you will be just fine. People have run RAM for years without any heatsink at all, so I think you'll be ok. Also, cooling and airflow inside of your case are going to play a large role, as well as your environment. Part of what you get with a nice big case like the one you've chosen is quality airflow, which should bring the temps down for all of your components. If you want to know if you can fit full size RAM heatsinks with your cooler, you'd be wise to search for reviews (even the ones on Newegg may help) for the cooler that you've chosen. Most people are aware of the issue with fitting a cooler along with big RAM, so most reviewers will mention any conflicts in this area. Most coolers have removable fans on both sides of the heatsink, and typically you can remove the fan from the side that the RAM is on to make room for said RAM. But, check out some reviews and see what people have to say.

I didn't mean to imply that the GPU wouldn't work. My only intention was to make you aware that even the slightest difference in some GPUs may cause them to be compatible or not, even something as simple as one letter difference in the model name. Gordo knows his stuff, and if he recommends it I'd say you're good to go. I'm not familiar with ATI/AMD cards myself, so I didn't want to speak with authority on it. After a brief search, it appears that card has been used with some success. It also shows up in the tmx wiki as being successful for some users.

For the SSD, you'll just want to decide how much space for apps you really need. I have a 60GB in my current machine, and after installing a few games and other productivity apps, I see that I have 11GB available. In my new build, I'll be using a SanDisk 120GB SSD I picked up, just for the extra space. If I were in your situation, I think I'd take advantage of that Crucial M4 deal that is coming up. I've heard really great things about the drive, and it will be the same price as the OCZ you have listed, but you'll get 30GB more with the Crucial. For the record, I'm a big OCZ fan (currently running a Vertex 2 and have multiple of their PSUs). It just seems that in this instance the best value is the Crucial M4.

EDIT: Actually, I just checked and there is currently a deal for the Vertex 3 120GB for $100 AR. Might need to act fast though.
http://slickdeals.net/f/4633854-Newegg- ... e-shipping