I'm planning to put together a new PC using some of the parts from my ageing Q9650 build. I'd like to try out all the current main sim software - X-Plane, FSX, Flightgear, DCS World and possibly Prepar3d too, flying things like iFly737 in FSX and FF757 / FF777 in X-Plane. I've also been collecting old PCs to use as slave machines in multi-display setup, and this new PC would be providing the main graphics in that setup.

 

Below is a preliminary list of parts. I'm not in a rush to build this thing - maybe a New Year's present for myself:

Blue things are from my current system.

Green things I've already bought new.

? your suggestions welcome!

 

CPU = i7-4790K (OC to 4.6GHz)

Cooler = Air ?

Thermal paste = MX-4

GPU = GTX780Ti 3GB

MB    = Z97 Asus ?

RAM = 8GB DDR3-2400 kit ?

         or 16GB DDR3-2400 kit ?

HD1  = Samsung 1TB (32MB) SATA2

HD2  = Samsung 1TB (32MB) SATA2

HD3  = Western Digital 320MB (32MB) SATA2

         or Samsung 500MB (16MB) SATA2

PSU  = Corsair TX850 850W

         or Seasonic S12G-750 750W

Case = Coolermaster CM690

 

I'll update the parts list as I make decisions.

Nice system. Windows 8.1 I presume too. I got the 16GB DDR3 2400 RAM and don't believe you need that much right now with FSX/P3D but it might have some advantage with 64 bit programs like X-Plane and possibly P3D in the near future. So, 16GB's is for future-proofing.

 

I would add about 120GB SSD for your OS. Faster startups for one thing. If you have the funds, go for one with at least 250GB's or more. I have a 260GB SSD and have the OS and the FSX/P3D basic programs installed and many addons located on separate mechanical HDD's. FSX/P3D will start up faster on the SSD but think that's the only performance gain right now.

 

I have the Noctra DH D-14 cooler which was the top of the line and now they have the D-15 which I understand is even better. The only thing you need to be concerned about with this cooler is the size of your memory sims. Mine fits over my memory modules okay and, if I want to replace them someday, I'll have to remove the D-14 cooler first (which is really not a big deal). I believe it fits nicely over most memory sims (modules).

 

Best regards,

Windows 8.1 I presume too. I got the 16GB DDR3 2400 RAM and don't believe you need that much right now with FSX/P3D but it might have some advantage with 64 bit programs like X-Plane and possibly P3D in the near future. So, 16GB's is for future-proofing.

 

I would add about 120GB SSD for your OS... FSX/P3D will start up faster on the SSD but think that's the only performance gain right now.

 

I have the Noctra DH D-14 cooler which was the top of the line...

 

Thanks for your reply. Well I'll be sticking with Windows7 for the foreseeable future for my main FS gaming machines, although I'm planning to experiment with Linux Mint and Xubuntu for X-plane and Flightgear multi-display setups.

 

What brand of RAM did you go for in the end? I remember when FSX was released and some people were determined to "future proof" their new systems with 8GB of RAM - I never had any issues with 4GB RAM and FSX! I'm a bit skeptical about 16GB DDR3 memory right now unless someone can give me real world data for RAM use where this is a demonstrated need. I'm more of a systems than eye-candy enthusiast so will not be running the highest graphics settings. I'd prefer to spend under £100 on a RAM kit.

 

As far as hard drives go, I'd be very interested if anyone has experienced real time advantages to their flight simulator going from SATA2 to (on SSD) SATA3 drives? Right now I'd prefer to make-do with my SATA2 drives and spend my budget on other components.

 

As far as an air cooler goes, I'm not looking for extreme overclocks so would like to spend up to about £50 - any recommendations?

As far as an air cooler goes, I'm not looking for extreme overclocks so would like to spend up to about £50 - any recommendations?

As I stated before, my recommendation would be with Noctra D-15. Here's a good review - http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/noctua-nh-d15-review,1.html. Less than $90. Of course you can use the one that will come with your CPU too. I'm not sure if that will take you up to 4.6GHz though.

 

What brand of RAM did you go for in the end?

Crucial PC3-12800H (800MHz) XMP-1600

 

I agree 8GB's of RAM is sufficient if you are not going to future-proof.

 

Best regards,

OK it's Spring and I'm thinking about this build again! Based on Z97 reviews it seems that Asus or MSI is the way to go.  I just need a solid board for a reasonable overclock not looking for fancy features. Any suggestions for ideally under about  £130?

I'd suggest this http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Intel+Socket/Socket+1150+-+Intel+Z97/Gigabyte+Z97-HD3+Intel+Z97+%28Socket+1150%29+DDR3+ATX+Motherboard+?productId=60526

 

I swear by Gigabyte boards after some horrible experiences with Asus and MSI

Thanks for your reply Charlatan but the link you gave doesn't work can you tell me the model you recommend?

 

My current LGA775 board is a Gigabyte but I've found in all reviews that the Gigabyte Z97s *never* come top of the reviews against the Asus or MSI offerings including for OC performance. I think I'd like to narrow down the most appropriate Asus or MSi board and the compare to Asrock Gigabyte etc.

A couple more things I was thinking about:

Q1) Is it worth getting a board that does SLI in case X-plane or Prepar3d are updated in the future - or is this not a realistic consideration?

Q2) Should I be concerned with M2 and SATAe yet - can't good old SATA6gb/s drives get the job done?!

I have to say I use Asus and MSI boards 8 times out of 10 and don't have many bad experiences - I need to replace one once in a while, but I never had a client complain about them - the one year warranty does the trick on all the defective boards I've seen, which fail either in a stress test or in the first couple of months.  I did have my share of problems with ASRock and Gigabyte though.

 

 

 

Q1) Is it worth getting a board that does SLI in case X-plane or Prepar3d are updated in the future - or is this not a realistic consideration?

 

Most ATX boards will do SLI without any problem.

 

 

 

Q2) Should I be concerned with M2 and SATAe yet - can't good old SATA6gb/s drives get the job done?!

 

It's more a question of future-proofing.  There isn't many offerings in that category yet.  Of course 6gb SATA will get the job done perfectly.

Another question:

Q) Is USB3.1 fully implemented on the Z97 chipset or is it a marketing gimmick until the next generation of chipsets come out? I see that some boards are offering this yet the slots are sharing bandwidth, along with M2, with PCIe.

Another question:

Q) Is USB3.1 fully implemented on the Z97 chipset or is it a marketing gimmick until the next generation of chipsets come out? I see that some boards are offering this yet the slots are sharing bandwidth, along with M2, with PCIe.

 

Not really.  Z97 doesn't support 3.1 - those boards use external controllers.  They do, however, work extremely well.  Their only downside is to increase slightly the price of the board, since it needs the controller.  Newer chipsets will support 3.1 directly.

 

Is it just a gimmick?  Absolutely not.

I was thinking... I need:

LGA1150 for i7-4790K (I'm not planning to upgrade to Broadwell - I keep my PCs for about 5yrs)

Good voltage regulation / reliable components for overclocking (aiming for about 4.5Ghz on air so nothing extreme).

I'd like 1 or 2 legacy PCI slots.

I don't need SLI.

I don't need M2 or SATAe.

I don't need other fancy features.

 

Conclusion... do I even need a Z97 board? Can't Z87's do everything I want?

Well, it's better futureproofing for a small premium, worth it to me.  Also, go with a Corsair H60i closed loop liquid cooler, it's a great and inexpensive one, overclocking is a walk in the park with those.

OK my flirtation with Z87 + Haswell refresh has ended! So far the build it's looking like:

 

CPU = i7-4790K (OC to 4.6GHz)

Cooler = Noctua NHD15

           or Thermalright Silver Arrow SB-E Extreme

Thermal paste = Arctic Cooling MX-4

GPU = GTX780Ti 3GB

MB = Asus Z97-A

       or Asus Z-97-Pro Gamer

RAM = 8GB DDR3-2133 1.5V kit ?

         or 16GB DDR3-2133 1.5V kit ?

HD OS = Samsung 1TB (32MB) SATA2

            or 60 - 120GB SSD ?

            or SATA3 (64MB) 7200 ?

HD FS1 = Samsung 1TB (32MB) SATA2

             or SATA3 (64MB) 7200 ?

HD FS2 = Western Digital 320MB (32MB) SATA2

             or SATA3 (64MB) 7200 ?

PSU  = Seasonic S12G-750 750W

Case = Fractal Design Ark Midi R2

Case fans = Thermalright TY-143 (140mm / CFM =130 / dBl = 21 - 45)

                 or Akasa Viper R (140mm / CFM =110 / dBl = 7 - 22)

Some fan questions:

Q1) Is there an adapter that lets you use a 4-pin PWM fan with a 3-pin MB fan socket? Mainly concerned with being able to hit max rpm.

Q2) Any recommendations for 120mm and 140mm high flow chassis fans (3-pin or molex)?