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

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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

  • 75 months ago
  • 20 points

moderately high end

seems legit

  • 75 months ago
  • 7 points

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

[comment deleted]
  • 75 months ago
  • 14 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 15 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 6 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 5 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 8 points

reading my mind ;)

  • 74 months ago
  • 3 points

or the 350d?

  • 75 months ago
  • 2 points

Awesome! Can't wait

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 4 points

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.

  • 75 months ago
  • 0 points

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?

  • 75 months ago
  • 8 points

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.

Continue this thread
  • 75 months ago
  • 5 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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.

  • 75 months ago
  • 2 points

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

  • 70 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 70 months ago
  • 1 point

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.

  • 75 months ago
  • 3 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 3 points

That CPU cooler... yukk

  • 75 months ago
  • 2 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 2 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 2 points

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.

  • 75 months ago
  • 2 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 2 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

Looks like a great case and an equally great price!

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 5 points

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.

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

Sweet! Can't wait :D

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 5 points

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 ._.

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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...

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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.

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

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.

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

Excellent build video as always. Keep them coming!

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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?

  • 75 months ago
  • 2 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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... :(

  • 75 months ago
  • 2 points

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.

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

hahaha you forgot the optical drive (8P)

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

Philip does not meddle with inferior budgets.

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

make an app!!!! please

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

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.

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

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!)

  • 73 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

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?

  • 73 months ago
  • 1 point

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...

  • 73 months ago
  • 1 point

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.

  • 73 months ago
  • 1 point

SO SICK.. Very clean

  • 73 months ago
  • 1 point

Needs more storage lel

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

  • 72 months ago
  • 1 point

Can i haz :)

  • 72 months ago
  • 1 point

nice wiring job

  • 70 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 67 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 67 months ago
  • 2 points

Definitely.

  • 53 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 0 points

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.

  • 75 months ago
  • 4 points

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). "

  • 74 months ago
  • 0 points

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

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 70 months ago
  • 0 points

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.

  • 70 months ago
  • 2 points

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.

[comment deleted]
[comment deleted]
  • 75 months ago
  • 8 points

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

100% agree with RyneSmith

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

I got your back bro >:|

  • 75 months ago
  • 1 point

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

Continue this thread
  • 75 months ago
  • -1 points

Fix'd

  • 74 months ago
  • 1 point

I will also try this.

  • 73 months ago
  • 1 point

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

  • 75 months ago
  • 0 points

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.

[comment deleted by staff]

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