New Gaming Machine

[Quander]

Hi Guys,

This is my second machine bought here - the 1st was nearly 8yrs ago and has served me well. But since have had a issue with a dead ram slot, the 2nd slot of the 1st pair so has been restricting my performance. I have also been having overheating issue mainy due to me accidently snapping one the cooler pins from one twist too many when I went to re-apply the thermal paste. So while I could go down the route of ramming more fans into it or a new mobo I feel this has served me well but its time to move on to newer and better so bit the bullet and decided to treat myself.

Case
FRACTAL MESHIFY C BLACK GAMING CASE (Window)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Six Core Processor i7-8700k (3.7GHz) 12MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG MAXIMUS X HERO: ATX, LGA1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
11GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1080 Ti - HDMI, 3x DP GeForce - GTX VR Ready!
1st Hard Disk
500GB Samsung 850 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 540MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
2nd Hard Disk
1TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 3.5" SSHD - UP TO 5X FASTER THAN HDD!
3rd Hard Disk
1TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 3.5" SSHD - UP TO 5X FASTER THAN HDD!
1st M.2 SSD Drive
256GB SAMSUNG PM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 2800MB/R, 1100MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 550W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H110i Hydro Cooler w/ PCS Liquid Series Ultra Quiet Fans
Thermal Paste
EK-TIM ECTOTHERM THERMAL COMPOUND
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
USB Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
NO OFFICE SOFTWARE
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Firefox™
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
2 - 3 DAY DELIVERY TO REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 8 to 10 working days
Quantity
1

Price €2,798.00 including VAT and delivery

Unique URL to re-configure : https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z370-pc/sqgWmdRUU6/


My main uses will be gaming and photo processing probably as much as each other. So went with the 256Gb M.2 for main system where I'll have the like of Lightroom/ Photoshop so that will greatly benefit from that as well as a nice fast OS. For the gaming I went with the 500Gb SSD and the remainder 2 x 1Tb SSHD for general storage and of course holding my photo collection.

I felt the 8700K Intel/ ASUS ROG MAXIMUS X HERO with the 1080TI was a good fit for my gaming needs. While I probably won't go SLI I was wondering if the 550W PSU would support that or should I have gone with the 850W as I originally selected?

I also thought the 3200 Cosair Vengance Ram was more than sufficient for both my gaming and photo processing needs.

I already have a 27" Dell Ultra Sharp Flatpanel Monitor and a Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard with a Razer Mouse with a Logitech 5.1 Surround Speakers. I have the old Creative Sound Card but I think these days the inbuilt mobo sound would be more than sufficient right? So I think I have covered all my bases, unless you think there is something else I am missing to complete my newest dream machine Oh just noticed my old spec is my signiture. Once I get this delivered I'll change it.


Regards
Mark

 

[Oussebon]

While I probably won't go SLI I was wondering if the 550W PSU would support that

Not even close. 850W would be better.

That said, there's no real point to SLI GTX 1080 tis unless you're gaming at 4k res.

I'd drop the Hero in favour of the Ultra Gaming. Unless you're planning on using LN2 to cool the CPU or need some of the other more exotic features it has (which?) it's not really worth the expense. What do you need on the Hero that the Ultra Gaming doesn't offer? (or the Z370-E if you need wifi onboard)

1st Hard Disk
500GB Samsung 850 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 540MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
2nd Hard Disk
1TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 3.5" SSHD - UP TO 5X FASTER THAN HDD!
3rd Hard Disk
1TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 3.5" SSHD - UP TO 5X FASTER THAN HDD!
1st M.2 SSD Drive
256GB SAMSUNG PM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 2800MB/R, 1100MB/W)

This configuration seems a bit odd. I'd have just gone with a 1TB PM961 (if you're buying 750gb SSD storage, why not just a single 1TB drive, and also one that is much faster than the 850 Evo) and a single 2TB HDD. It's basically the same price as what you have. The games may well load faster off the faster SSD, and you get more space for them. Meanwhile there's not much point to storing random documents on an SSHD.

have the old Creative Sound Card but I think these days the inbuilt mobo sound would be more than sufficient right?

Agreed.

I'd also have bought the system pre-overclocked. I assume you're going to overclock (no point at all buying an H110i if you're not) in which case you might as well have an OC covered by the warranty, provided by PCS.

 

[Quander]

Not even close. 850W would be better.

That said, there's no real point to SLI GTX 1080 tis unless you're gaming at 4k res.

I'd drop the Hero in favour of the Ultra Gaming. Unless you're planning on using LN2 to cool the CPU or need some of the other more exotic features it has (which?) it's not really worth the expense. What do you need on the Hero that the Ultra Gaming doesn't offer? (or the Z370-E if you need wifi onboard)

This configuration seems a bit odd. I'd have just gone with a 1TB PM961 (if you're buying 750gb SSD storage, why not just a single 1TB drive, and also one that is much faster than the 850 Evo) and a single 2TB HDD. It's basically the same price as what you have. The games may well load faster off the faster SSD, and you get more space for them. Meanwhile there's not much point to storing random documents on an SSHD.

Agreed.

I'd also have bought the system pre-overclocked. I assume you're going to overclock (no point at all buying an H110i if you're not) in which case you might as well have an OC covered by the warranty, provided by PCS.

Thanks for your input, I have reverted back to the 850W to future proof for the sake of a few quid. I also took your mobo suggestion under advisement and have revised it with the Z370-E as I agree but given there wasn’t that much in the price diff I said I’d go with the one with extra bits again, future proofing in mind.

For the HD spec I always like to have a segregation between OS which I generally only use for OS and applications with everything else, games included separated on other drives that was if I have to do a OS reinstall etc. There will be minimal disruption also a safety measure in case of drive failure. Granted I’d do regular external drive backups anyway. So went with the 1tb 916 and 2tb Firecuda SSHD cutting away the Evo 850 altogether.

As for OC I didn’t configure under that and it doesn’t give me the option to add it now ☹️ unless I have some other Avenue I can do it by.

 

[SlimCini]

SSHDs are pointless. Get a regular HD.

 

[Oussebon]

The Hero is only £37 more than the Z370E. But the Z370E has wifi while the Hero does not.

The Ultra Gaming has pretty much the same features as the Z370E except for the wifi is £90 cheaper than the Hero.

For the storage, you can always partition the SSD if you really want

 

[Quander]

SSHDs are pointless. Get a regular HD.

So you are saying the HDs are as fast as the SSHDs so they are only a gimmick then - did a bit of reviews and they do appear to be faster and as I will be storing my RAW files from my photography and processing my photos via it any extra speed with the accessing of the photos or any other files is welcomed. So is pointless a bit harsh?

 

[Quander]

The Hero is only £37 more than the Z370E. But the Z370E has wifi while the Hero does not.

The Ultra Gaming has pretty much the same features as the Z370E except for the wifi is £90 cheaper than the Hero.

For the storage, you can always partition the SSD if you really want

I agree. Thanks again with helping me make up my mind.

Also are you aware of anyway I can add an OC to my CPU after the fact as I am not seeing any options anywhere now, am I too late or can I just request it?

 

[SpyderTracks]

So you are saying the HDs are as fast as the SSHDs so they are only a gimmick then - did a bit of reviews and they do appear to be faster and as I will be storing my RAW files from my photography and processing my photos via it any extra speed with the accessing of the photos or any other files is welcomed. So is pointless a bit harsh?

SSHD's are only beneficial when they're the primary drive in the device, otherwise as in your case, if you have an SSd as the primary drive, then the SSD on the SSHD is bypassed, and it essentially becomes a standard HDD. There's literally no benefit to having on in your system, and arguably, a good HDD will perform better.

 

[Quander]

SSHD's are only beneficial when they're the primary drive in the device, otherwise as in your case, if you have an SSd as the primary drive, then the SSD on the SSHD is bypassed, and it essentially becomes a standard HDD. There's literally no benefit to having on in your system, and arguably, a good HDD will perform better.

Thanks for the info - i am new to the SSD party as have been avoidiing them up to now due to their cost and lifespan. But it appears both have gotten alot better since. I was under the impression the benefit of the speed would be recieved regardless of whether it was the primary drive or not, guess I was wrong.

So any recommendations on which HD I should chose - I still want the 2Tb and from what I can see if I go with the equivilent performance or pro drives it goes above the price, not by alot but would add give or take 40quid to the overall - which is fine if they would be worth it. Or is the Baracuda Sata III 2TB fast enough - or more to the point faster than what I already selected - the Firecuda?

 

[Oussebon]

Also are you aware of anyway I can add an OC to my CPU after the fact as I am not seeing any options anywhere now, am I too late or can I just request it?

the pre overclocked systems are under a different configurator. the cost difference vs stock clocked systems is usually about £10. You can phone PCS and ask if they can change the a pre-OCed system, or cancel the order and resubmit using the different configurator.

So any recommendations on which HD I should chose - I still want the 2Tb and from what I can see if I go with the equivilent performance or pro drives it goes above the price, not by alot but would add give or take 40quid to the overall - which is fine if they would be worth it. Or is the Baracuda Sata III 2TB fast enough - or more to the point faster than what I already selected - the Firecuda?

The Pro HDDs / WD Blacks are supremely expensive and just not remotely worth the cost versus anything else you could spend the money on.

For your uses you'd be very unlikely to notice any difference between an SSHD, a regular 7200rpm HDD, or one of the highly expensive Pro ones. Therefore a regular HDD is a better use of your cash.

 

[Quander]

the pre overclocked systems are under a different configurator. the cost difference vs stock clocked systems is usually about £10. You can phone PCS and ask if they can change the a pre-OCed system, or cancel the order and resubmit using the different configurator.

The Pro HDDs / WD Blacks are supremely expensive and just not remotely worth the cost versus anything else you could spend the money on.

For your uses you'd be very unlikely to notice any difference between an SSHD, a regular 7200rpm HDD, or one of the highly expensive Pro ones. Therefore a regular HDD is a better use of your cash.

Ya I was kind of edging that way so change made went with the Sata III 7200 Seagate. On the OC I think I will leave it for now. But thanks for your valuable imput My final system now decided

 

[Quander]

Hey Guys,

System has been up and running now for 2wk and couldn't be happier - loving the 1TB SAMSUNG PM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3000MB/R, 1700MB/W) - boot time under 5sec and shutdown under 3secs. I can also see its benefit in Lightroom in the uploading and processing. I also bought the new Sound Blaster X Katana Soundbar which is awesome. Under my Dell UltraSharp U2713HM I see the 1080TI Mini had to be used as it obviously wouldn't fit alongside the Corsair H110I 280mm Rad - but checked out reviews and apart from more RGB, 3 Fans vs 2 there isn't much in the difference so I'm happy with that.

I was initially worried the fact that when running Witcher 3 maxed out GPU was hitting 84c with the card set to 100% power in Afterburner and while that appears to be ok I just reduced the temp to low 70s along with its power to keep it at cooler max level. I did a Heaven Unigine on Ultra and Extreme benchmark between the 2 power levels and there was a very small difference in the overall scores. So will leave it at that for now.

There are also 3 temps on the Corsair Link, which is also reflected in the HW Monitor which looked odd:
Mb Temp 7 - 0c TO MAX OF 127c
Mb Temp 8 - Static 44c
Mb Temp 9 - Static 13c

But on googling I found these exact same temps - and said it was an Asus Mobo thing and not to worry about them as they were either redunant or just not being correctly read. So unless I am told differently then will just ignore those 3 temps.

 

[Oussebon]

84 degrees is the target temp for Pascal GPUs I believe. You could try a custom fan curve in MSI afterburner instead of reducing the power target. It's probably more common for people to increase the power and temp targets to get extra performance without actually overclocking Rather than decrease the power target to below 100% - because you're getting less performance than what you paid for

Good to hear all is well overall!