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New rig for early 2018 - will it fit and what can i do better?

Asenph
Level 7
Hello, I am new!
Here at least.. not to asus rog products. 😄

So in early 2018 (Q1) I'd like to get myself a new rig. I put it together with the awesome pcpartpicker site. That site does not give me any compatibility issues, but I know you cannot count on that to be true. I especially had problems with the cpu-cooler and the memory. After looking into it the memory's height had to be a problem.
Maybe some of you still see a similar problem in the build, have a suggestion what I can do better or general feedback on my choices 🙂
I focused primarily on performance and secondary on noise level.

So here it is: https://de.pcpartpicker.com/list/hPcxnn (Storage will be completed by my current build drives)

Motherboard: Asus - ROG STRIX Z370-E GAMING ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor
CPU-Cooler: Noctua - NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler // Note: I have thought about the beQuiet Dark Rock Pro Adv, but the NH-D15 seems to do better and is practically the same noise, also the dark rock seems to have issues with the setup (as in: its hard to get in 😄 )
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 1080 Ti ROG Strix OC
Storage: Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
CASE: Fractal Design - Define XL R2 (Black Pearl) ATX Full Tower Case // Note: Could not find a good alternative in space and design. Don't get me wrong, I like it too and I have one already for my old rig.
Power Supply: be quiet! - DARK POWER PRO 11 850W 80+ Platinum Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply // Note: I chose this because I want to have the option to do SLI in the future without having to buy a new PSU. Maybe it should even be the 1000W model?
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory (CMK16GX4M2B3200C16) // Note: Now this was my biggest problem... I had the "G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200" with 3200/CL14 in the build before, but it is to damn high. Even the Vengeance LPX seems to be 3-4mm to high, so I expect I'll need to adjust the cooler on the NH-15 CPU-Cooler.

So my main problem or "open questions" are with the power supply and the memory/cpu-cooler situation. I am open for case-suggestions.. or any other suggestions/feedback, too 😄
I did not change the cpu-cooler, because apparently better memory would only affect (in theory) the performance by about 1%. I however really want the best cooling (no water-cooling tho) I can get with very low noise level.

Thanks for any feedback! 🙂
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3 REPLIES 3

Heini
Level 11
I'm using the NH-D15. The fan nearest the ram can be mounted a little higher to allow larger heat spreaders. You'll be fine with some LPX (low profile) but it will work with the GSkill also.

JustinThyme
Level 13
Fist thing is get out of the cheap seat with the MOBO and go for nothing less than the Maximus X Hero. If I was shopping Z370 Id be looking at the APEX or waiting for the extreme. Just doesnt make sense to go low on the backbone of the system and spend 4 times as much on the graphics.

Other points I would reconsider.
Storage, 250GB 850 EVO?? One step above a spinner. Id go with nothing less than a 500GB 960 EVO, but preferably the 512 GB 960 pro.

Power supply, any particular reason for a model that isnt on a single top rated power supply list?
in no particular order Id be looking at Seasonic, Corsair, EVga or Silverstone 80+ units.
As for how much of PSU, If you intend on going SLI with Two 1080Tis and OC them to their potential you are looking at 600watts just for the graphics. Id not go a watt less than 1000 which would put you at about 80% of that PSUs capacity under full overclocked load. if you are energy minded a step up to a 1200W would be even better as that would put you running in the sweet spot of 50-70% for best efficiency.

Why are you opposed to WC? You want silence and performance there isn't an air cooling product on the planet that will deliver either unless you are sitting your case outside your window in subzero temps. You case is just screaming to have a 280MM rad in the top. If you want to keep it simple there are a ton of 280MM AIO cooling systems that are not much more than that honking chunk of motherboard cpu mount stressing metal monstrosity in your list that will totally negate any and all aesthetics of your build as your eyes will never make it past that. It will also dump heat in your case that you already have enough of with the GPU as the newer cards do not pump the heat out the back, it goes in your case! Do you8rself a favor and build your cooling around your system instead of your system around your cooling.



“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, I'm not sure about the former” ~ Albert Einstein

Thanks for the answers guys 🙂

@Heini: I knew I had to adjust the height of the outer cooler, but it would even be okay for the gskill? It's like 10mm higher... I think I might run into an issue on the case end.

@JustinThyme: I didn't even consider the Hero or Apex 😄 What are the main pro's/cons? Most of the differences I don't understand, maybe they are not relevant to a casual? A negative on the Apex seems to be: only max 2 DIMM slots for max 32gb. Okay the later will be fine for a long time, but still weird. The pro for both (Hero and Apex): USB 3.1
I might switch to the Hero.

The 250GB EVO is for windows. I AM on a budget actually (2k-2.3k € ... round about that frame). I'll add an 960 PRO for games later.

Power Supply: The particular reason is: I have a be quiet now, never had any problems with it, it's silent and I did not read any relevant negative reviews. Do you have a particular reason not to take this one but an other one instead?
I made some calculations myself about the theoretical W and came to almost exactly 850W under full load with SLI.. and without overlocking them (further). I think you are totally right.. it should be the 1000W.

WC: I'm not using it now and the noise level of my old rig is perfectly fine. Let me rephrase my statement: I don't need silent, but I don't want noisy. Another problem with WC is: I'll probably screw it up. Also I use an Define in my old rig, too and the temperature levels are quiet good actually. I didn't clean **** up in a long time now and under full load I come no where near of temperatures that are concerning.
But I really don't think I build my system around my cooling, with the exception of the memory adjustment.

Oh.. about the aesthetics: I'll probably turn off all RGB (I hate light) and the case I chose has no windows... for a reason. I want a big fat black box sitting in a corner minding it's own business while giving me nice fps.