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High-End Build - Intel Core i7-4770K / 2-Way SLI GTX Titan / NZXT Source 530

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Post

philip Oct. 8, 2013

NZXT graciously provided us the opportunity to build with the newly released Source 530 full tower case. We took the opportunity to put together a Haswell-based system.

The part list and price at the time of this post:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type Item Price
CPU Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor $327.98 @ Outlet PC
CPU Cooler Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler $74.99 @ Newegg
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-Z87X-OC Force ATX LGA1150 Motherboard $365.99 @ SuperBiiz
Memory Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory $96.76 @ NCIX US
Memory Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory $96.76 @ NCIX US
Storage Samsung 840 Pro Series 512GB 2.5" Solid State Disk $429.99 @ Newegg
Video Card EVGA GeForce GTX Titan 6GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) $999.99 @ Best Buy
Video Card EVGA GeForce GTX Titan 6GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) $999.99 @ Best Buy
Case NZXT Source 530 ATX Full Tower Case -
Case Fan NZXT FZ-200mm NONLED 103.0 CFM 200mm Fan $18.88 @ Amazon
Power Supply SeaSonic Platinum 1000W 80 PLUS Platinum Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply $208.98 @ SuperBiiz
Total
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. $3620.31
Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-08 11:38 EDT-0400

 

NZXT Source 530 Build

The part selection may seem a bit out of balance - that's largely because we reused components from our benchmarking setups. We had most of the components on hand already, including the motherboard, CPU, and dual Titans (recycled from the 3-Way SLI Titan H630 build). Had the AMD R9 series GPUs been available at the time of filming, we would have considered using one of those instead.

Overall the NZXT Source 530 is well designed and easy to work with. I like the versatility that it offers, with highly configurable drive bay options and a multitude of fan and radiator mounts.

Phanteks CPU Cooler

The Phanteks cooler is enormous, but surprisingly it was actually easier to install than slightly smaller air coolers like the popular Cooler Master Hyper 212.

Cable Management

The Source 530 provided plenty of room for cable management behind the motherboard tray. It certainly isn't the prettiest job in the world, but should serve well enough until the parts are returned to the benchmarking pool.

In the near future we will be replacing the stock coolers on the GTX Titans with aftermarket ACX coolers from EVGA. Keep an eye out for future video content that documents that process, along with before and after temperature data.

Comments Sorted by:

olympuse410 20 points 58 months ago

moderately high end

seems legit

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Andorski 7 points 58 months ago

They're aircooling with a massive Phantek cooler on the i7 CPU and stock blowers for the Titans... to be budget-conscious, of course. =P

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revalence123 2 points 57 months ago

moderately high end thats two freakin titans

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xx116xx 3 Builds 14 points 58 months ago

Next build should be something lower end... like under $1k. Because the last few have been way above that.

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Electrospeed 15 points 58 months ago

Yes please... for all of us poor people out there XD

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manirelli staff 8 Builds 6 points 58 months ago

I am planning to do something smaller for the next build. It will likely take place in a matx case as well.

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Henson.conor 1 Build 5 points 58 months ago

you should do it in the new prodigy m case or something like that

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manirelli staff 8 Builds 8 points 58 months ago

reading my mind ;)

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LookTopHats 2 Builds 3 points 57 months ago

or the 350d?

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xx116xx 3 Builds 2 points 58 months ago

Awesome! Can't wait

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Loveandpower 1 point 57 months ago

I'd love to see what the staff can do with a $1,000 pure gaming build.

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manirelli staff 8 Builds 4 points 57 months ago

Honestly, at 1000 most builds are going to look pretty similar. That is part of the reason we like doing the higher end builds as they let us be more creative and break away from cookie cutter suggestions.

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Loveandpower 0 points 57 months ago

You misunderstand what I mean. There are oodles and oodles of similar $1,000 builds but can pcpartpicker top it? Can you out beat the best $1k budget builds?

Show us how pro you are! (i.e. we know for that build a 760 or 660ti is commonly used but can pcpartpicker perhaps for example do a 7990 and blow the competition away? See what I mean now?

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manirelli staff 8 Builds 8 points 57 months ago

The problem is that 1000 is very restrictive. There really isn't a lot of room for creativity and you hit hard budget limits. I'd love to toss a 7990 into a 1k build but I would have to power it with an electric hamsterwheel farm or something to make the budget.

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Continue this thread
DjArtifact 5 points 58 months ago

I would love for you to benchmark the 4820k vs the 4770k for SLI.

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pako 1 point 58 months ago

And a 4930K/4960X would be very interesting to see as well. At high resolutions, perhaps multi--monitor? I would love to see that, as I am debating currently about whether a 4770K or a 4930K would be better for 2 780s with 3 1080p displays in surround.

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manirelli staff 8 Builds 2 points 58 months ago

The benching infrastructure is almost done. These are definitely the kinds of things we are planning to test though :D

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Ludamister 1 point 53 months ago

Has these tests been done yet? I'm wondering myself if I should get the 4820k or the 4770k

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manirelli staff 8 Builds 1 point 53 months ago

Those specific tests have not been done. We are working on benching individual setups right now and have had some setbacks along with other projects taking precedence along the way.

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dmitrogg 3 points 58 months ago

Can we please have a modest build? <1500$ These high-end builds are absurd.

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MapRef41N93W 3 points 57 months ago

That CPU cooler... yukk

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RyneSmith 7 Builds 2 points 58 months ago

Looks nice and the case is pretty sleek! Love the HDD drive bays

Agreed on the wrist strap $5 is better than $3k plus down the drain.

Thanks for the video and the great site! I wouldn't have been able to build my computer without it

Edit: after watching the video I realized that I put the little inserts that hold the wire grips for the fans on the Phanteks cooler in on the wrong side on my first build! Learn something new everyday haha

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JoeyThePCNoob 2 Builds 2 points 58 months ago

Awesome its always great to see the people behind pcpartpicker do their stuff.

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bongobangn 2 points 58 months ago

Was that a fan filter at 15:41? If so that's incredibly inconvenient to need to remove the front of the case to access.

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philip staff submitter 10 Builds 2 points 58 months ago

It was the fan filter falling out, and yeah, I agree. The placement of that is very inconvenient.

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rakenrol14 2 points 58 months ago

'bout time! awesome vid as always! sli titans T_T

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theonelonewolf 1 Build 1 point 58 months ago

Looks like a great case and an equally great price!

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18hockey 1 Build 1 point 58 months ago

I'm still waiting for the 3x Titan SLI benchmarks...

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manirelli staff 8 Builds 5 points 58 months ago

We are finishing that video up with some really cool features you will definitely enjoy. The rough draft is complete and now it is just editing.

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18hockey 1 Build 1 point 58 months ago

Sweet! Can't wait :D

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Blaise170 3 Builds 1 point 58 months ago

I would love for a company to give me free stuff to try out. Anyone have connections?

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LeMonarque 3 Builds 5 points 58 months ago

You're thinking of sponsored builds. That's an age-old question, and the answer is always the same: make 1 or 2 badass creative case mod builds that are aesthetically pleasing and post them on forums. Especially forums that also have their own sections for sponsored builds. You get noticed, you get sponsored.

Either that or you do some great in-depth reviews of the stuff you already have and post them to YouTube or again, a forum. It's gotta be info that people can't already get from the huge amount of pro review places there already are. If you can get noticed there, companies will ask you to review their stuff.

That's kind of how it goes. Nobody is able to ask for free stuff at the beginning. Companies ask YOU. And then after that depending on your relationships you can bug them about sending you their products.

Kind of a b*tch barrier to entry, right? Oh well ._.

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Loveandpower 1 point 58 months ago

thumbs this up maybe one day I will be a pro reviewer...already ranked in top 100 reviewers on BestBuy heh..still no companies begging me though sigh...

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Blaise170 3 Builds 1 point 57 months ago

Yes of course. I know that you can get sponsored by making builds and things. :)

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Zynchronize 1 Build 1 point 58 months ago

Haha, you guys talking about the size of the Phanteks cooler compared to the case; i managed to jam one into a 350D, was so big i had to move the fans slightly off center to fit the GTX770.

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lB5S4l 2 Builds 1 point 58 months ago

Can someone please get him a plastic wedge to help get the front of cases off??

And they make Phillips bits that are extended that can fit in that ratcheting screwdriver so you don't have to rig anything, like this:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/IRWIN-Phillips-Power-Bit-1AVF5?Pid=search

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smithrd3512 1 point 57 months ago

Well he could get a 8" #2 Phillips Screw Driver with a magnetizer from the hardware store. It will do the job. I have a Craftsman 8" #2 that has served me for the past 18yrs without fail.

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quischen 1 Build 1 point 58 months ago

Excellent build video as always. Keep them coming!

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SaiBork 1 point 57 months ago

Am tempted to get a NZXT H630 ATX Full Tower Case for my next build in combination with the NZXT Kraken X60. I haven't watched the video yet as I'm at work, but could you guys tell me whether you think the Kraken would fit in this new case? Or will is just be too small?

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manirelli staff 8 Builds 2 points 57 months ago
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philip staff submitter 10 Builds 2 points 57 months ago

We did also do a build with both of those. :)

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SaiBork 1 point 57 months ago

I know, that's what got me looking at them ;) But seeing this new case is 530 instead of 630, I take it that it will be a cheaper case. Seeing that I'm looking at around £2200 for the new build, any bits of saving will help lol. That's what I get for being tempted to get SLI of 780's with a 750GB EVO drive... :(

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philip staff submitter 10 Builds 2 points 57 months ago

Ah... My bad. I misread your comment thinking you were asking about the H630 and the X60. You should be fine with the X60 and the Source 530. It has plenty of room at top for the radiator and fans.

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DeepFrydFreedom 1 Build 1 point 57 months ago

hahaha you forgot the optical drive (8P)

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Enlyten 1 Build 1 point 57 months ago

Philip does not meddle with inferior budgets.

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boogie606 1 point 57 months ago

unless you've caught it or changed it, you plugged the ssd into sata II port. The sata III ports are the gray ones.

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EpicOtis13 1 point 57 months ago

make an app!!!! please

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LuckyCharms 1 point 57 months ago

Question would you be able to use lets say GTX 680's? instead of two titans? two titans is 2000 dollars. that's a little to much for my wallet

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Cube_of_Rubik 1 point 57 months ago

Phillip, please make a build with an Asus Maximus board! Ahem, VI Hero, ahem. Haha!

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philip staff submitter 10 Builds 1 point 57 months ago

We're actually going to be doing one with a Maximus VI Gene soon. Parts just arrived today. We have a new employee that just joined, so it'll be for his work/dev/oh-and-also-gaming machine.

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Clambumped 1 point 57 months ago

tape over the top lawl just use your mobo box and flip it on that BAM PRO TIP :)

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philip staff submitter 10 Builds 1 point 57 months ago

Have you seen the size of the mobo box compared to this motherboard? It dwarfs it. (Nice tip though - I'll keep it in mind next time!)

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Clambumped 1 point 56 months ago

HOW does the box dwarf the mobo it was HOLDING it! :P

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Brianboy123 1 point 57 months ago

can you guys make a build for 1000-1250 so kids can get some ideas?

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onlysoccer 1 point 57 months ago

I would like to do this build - but I find the motherboard expensive and features that I do not need. e.g 2xLAN

I would go with GTX 780 (x2) GPU's.

What other motherboard would you recommend that I can OC?

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vloxit 1 point 56 months ago

you can see wich direction the fan blows, even when there aren't any arrows... on your fan, you have some latches across the middle with a sticker, well, the air will be blown in the direction of those latches and the sticker...

PS: I'm not using a anti satic electricty band anymore after it accidently hitted my new i7...

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philip staff submitter 10 Builds 1 point 56 months ago

That's true for most fans, but not all. Take the stock Intel CPU cooler for instance - the airflow direction is opposite of what you describe.

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sushisteven 1 point 56 months ago

SO SICK.. Very clean

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stephenrsilvia94 1 point 56 months ago

Needs more storage lel

I would throw a 6GB/s 2TB or something in there

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tankster25 1 point 55 months ago

Can i haz :)

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ImSoSpcl 1 point 55 months ago

nice wiring job

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gre3nary 1 Build 1 point 53 months ago

WHICH HDD WOULD YOU USE WITH THIS AMAZING BUILD?..CURIOUS AND SUGGESTIONS?

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gotapaul 1 Build 1 point 50 months ago

Will the CPU cooler interfere with the ram if it's not low profile?

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philip staff submitter 10 Builds 2 points 50 months ago

Definitely.

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Admad10 1 point 36 months ago

Hi, I'm new... (kind of) Do you have to purchase an SLI bridge thingy separately?

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Caples 4 Builds 0 points 58 months ago

Why would you use Titans? I get that they're expensive, but they hardly outperform 780s.

EDIT: In fact, they just don't unless you're on multiple monitors at once.

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RyneSmith 7 Builds 4 points 58 months ago

Like he said in the video and in his comments they had them on hand from a previous build. Please read

" We had most of the components on hand already, including the motherboard, CPU, and dual Titans (recycled from the 3-Way SLI Titan H630 build). "

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DrEdReviews 0 points 57 months ago

Please guys tell me what do you think about this build, I'm not using it like a gaming pc or a video editing pc , just like a fast pc that can handle games and video editing well enough :)

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Oth0

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RyneSmith 7 Builds 1 point 57 months ago

This doesn't go here, I would post this in the parts list and opinions section

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evilfurby 0 points 53 months ago

I don't know why they built this thing with two titans...you could go 3 way sli with the 780ti or 3 way xfire with the radeon 290x. It doesn't make any sense. Countless benchmarks have shown the Titans are the same or worst than those cards, yet they cost significantly more because they are tailored towards graphic designers. I built a system for $3,500 on this site that is way better than this way.

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/evilfurby/saved/3Qpa

I don't know why you get a 512gb SSD drive when a 250gb would work fine, and put your games on a regular 7200rpm drive. This reminds me kind of like the PCGAMER super gaming pc they built for $10k. You could build a PC that performs near its capabilities for $4k if you took out all of the crap you REALLY don't need to game.

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philip staff submitter 10 Builds 2 points 53 months ago

Neither the 290X nor the 780Ti were released when this was built. Further, if you read the description, you'll note that we had the titans on hand already.

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JigSaWRfS -4 points 58 months ago

I just hate the storage. $400 for 512 gb? It'd be better if it were a $100 3TB. But thats a killer build i must say, everything is awesome except for the storage, if i had money i would buy it, great build

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RyneSmith 7 Builds 8 points 58 months ago

You're comparing a SSD to a HDD drive. Invalid argument to begin with

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Loveandpower 1 point 58 months ago

100% agree with RyneSmith

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RyneSmith 7 Builds 1 point 58 months ago

Apparently someone didn't as I got a down vote lol but whatever thanks

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LeMonarque 3 Builds 1 point 58 months ago

I got your back bro >:|

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RyneSmith 7 Builds 1 point 58 months ago

Haha thanks, I honestly don't care but the fact that someone down voted me for saying that comparing a SSD to a HDD isn't right... cmon... haha

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Continue this thread
Electrospeed -1 points 58 months ago

Fix'd

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decknail 1 point 57 months ago

I will also try this.

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stephenrsilvia94 1 point 56 months ago

SSDs are generally faster and more failsafe.

I am with you on the lack of storage, for the money he had to spend, he probably could have thrown a bigger HDD in :P

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KalamazooKid 0 points 58 months ago

If you look at the build, it appears that the choice of excluding HDD drives was to improve airflow at the front of the case. By mounting an SSD behind the MoBo, they were able to circumvent the use of a HDD rack.

Makes sense if you are looking for better thermals, I think. Plus, I'd think that an individual building this type of PC has access to external storage options or possibly a NAS.

Food for thought.

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