New build - maybe

[Bob338]

A sale from Newegg has prompted me to spec a new build as replacement for the build in my signature. I use the machine mostly for financial research, a couple of financial programs, very light photo editing and storage, and general internet use. No gaming involved though I could get tempted. I’m happy with what I have but thought a new toy that’s a bit faster than my present one, might be fun to put together. I have an extra good spot for this old box and I’ll be networking all in my home. I do have several questions and no urgency, except capturing the ‘best’ for less. No budget involved just the best bang for the buck.

I have one more install on Windows 7 HP OS and I have a new Lian Li ATX mid tower I bought on a sale a while back along with a Lite On optical drive. I also have a low end Corsair 430W PSU that glc had suggest I not use except as a spare. I’ll probably require a keyboard and mouse though I have a few sitting around now. I haven’t bothered spec’ing them and I’d welcome any suggestions.

Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K
Item #: N82E16819116504

SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817151093

ASUS P8Z77-V LK LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
Item #: N82E16813131837

GIGABYTE GV-N550D5-1GI GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Best I could figure is that the motherboard doesn’t have onboard graphics. Any suggestions here are also welcome. I had originally spec’d an earlier H68 pro series of mobo with integrated graphics but thought the latest might be better. ???

Intel 520 Series Cherryville SSDSC2CW120A3K5 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Item #: N82E16820167093

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9B
Item #: N82E16820233196

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

This last drive is a storage drive. I spec’d this one as it was only a few $$ more than the Caviar Green, which would also work. I’ll put the OS and programs on the SSD and use this one for storage and data.

ASUS VH232H Glossy Black 23" 5ms Widescreen Full HD 1080p LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 w/Speakers & HDMI

No rush. This is a definite ‘maybe’.

[glc]

The processor has onboard graphics. You are good to go without a video card, the Z77 has the ports. You can always add a card later if you do get into gaming, the new onboard 4000 graphics are very good for everything else. Recommend the low profile model Vengeance, without the tall heatspreaders.

You could consider the 60gb Intel 520 instead, and use it to cache the spin drive with SRT.

I like the Logitech cordless desktops.

I do like Asus monitors, especially the ones with LED backlights.

[jdeb]

I like the build. Good choice on the power supply.

The graphics are no longer on board but integrated in the CPU Chip. They are pretty darn good for every day use, you could always buy the card at a later date but I think you are good without one. If you want to go with a discrete card, go with a PCIE 3.0 card as the Ivy Bridge takes advantage of it. Right now, the only mid level PCIE 3.0 GPU's are the AMD, the HD7770 is a nice choice. If you prefer NVidia, you will have to wait a little.
Newegg.com - HIS H777F1G2M Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

[Bob338]

Thanks gentlemen!

I'm going forward right now sans video card. Funny, I had looked at that HIS but read nothing here in my research about it so I passed. I'll wait on that. I liked the reviews at Newegg.

I'm using a Logitech LX710 wireless desktop now and like it a bunch. I'll just get another somewhat comparable, hopefully with better battery life.

A grandson that's a gamer has a ASUS monitor and is in love with it, which along with a real good price right now, pushed me into this.

Appreciate your inputs and comments!

Edit: That WAS the memory without the heat spreaders.

[Bob338]

Originally Posted by glc You could consider the 60gb Intel 520 instead, and use it to cache the spin drive with SRT.

Guess I could post my questions to a new topic but thought it best initially to post my questions here.

Please understand I have NO idea what I'm talking about as RAID and SRT are new to me. The above suggestion seems exactly what I want but not knowing a thing about RAID and SRT I have to ask. I'll probably learn more from the mobo manual when it arrives. Parts were shipped yesterday.

What I want is to put my OS on the SSD along with all my other apps. There are quite a few. I presently show 62GB of space used for all the apps and OS, and I presume some data though I try to keep all data on a second drive, which is what I want to do here, only doing it automatically. Presently, for some reason the system backup does not recognize my storage drive and I have to do it manually. I suppose that data will be cached on the SSD and permanently stored on the second spin drive? How does this happen?

Is there a choice between the various RAID configurations available and would RAID 0 be best for my purpose?

My question would be about accomplishing the above. I presume in setting up the mobo I'd initially set up RAID and then follow instructions in the manual on SRT. Is this correct? Any cautions?

The other question I have, and I think I know the answer, I intend to use the current storage drive I have in this machine by merely installing it into the new setup so that I will have all my data on it. I'm guessing that is a simple mechanical operation and use and recognition would be the same as for a clean new drive, but are there any cautions so as to not lose or corrupt my data on that HDD and have it accessible after installing the OS? Thanks.

[glc]

If you got the 120gb SSD, don't worry about RAID or SRT - set it up as a standalone.

[Bob338]

Thanks. That's what I'm getting so I'll follow your advice and hope the new setup will recognize the spin drive for the backup and storage.

[glc]

Don't install the spin drive(s) till you have Windows and drivers installed on the SSD. Make sure you use the first port on the Intel 6.0 controller for the SSD and set it to AHCI.

[Bob338]

Always appreciate your help and inputs. Thanks, will do.

[Bob338]

I pretty well done with the basics and ready to fire up and finish it off. However, I've run into one slight problem. I'm really happy with the Lian Li case which enabled me to take care of wire management better than I have on any other case. I'm really pleased with that result! Here's a pic ready to fire up.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6.../LianLi001.jpg

Question:The Lian Li case has a 'front' panel on top of the unit that Lian Li calls a multi-media module. It has four ports, one for the Mic and Earphones and the three others which they say are eSATA, USB 2 and USB 3. The SATA port is obvious. The other two ports have a black and a blue USB connector. At the end of the cable of the blue one there is a standard blue USB connector which I find that Lian Li has you going all the way to the rear of the case, then out through a rubber plug, and then to connect to the connectors all marked for USB 3 on the rear panel. Their documentation is sorely lacking.

At the end of the other cable connected to the black USB port there is a miniature 5 pin connector for which I can find nothing to attach it to.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6.../LianLi003.jpg

The only thing I have been able to figure is that there is a connection on the mobo for a S/PDIF module that the manual says 'is purchased separately' and they say to install this module (specifies 4 pins) with the 'out' cable to go through an opening in the rear panel. Could the 5 pin plug be for connection to such a module? And how does a 5 pin connector translate into a USB port and connector? It doesn't seem essential for my use, especially since another cable is marked 'HD Audio' and connects the Mic and Earphone to the same connector which would then have to be unplugged to utilize the separate module. I'm confused. Can anyone 'unconfuse' me?

Where does the 5 pin connector go? And if a module were to be connected, what would happen to the 4 pin connector now marked 'HD Audio'?

[Nizmo]

It's a single USB 2.0 header connector. Just connect to one of the USB 2.0 headers on the mobo (make sure the grounded pin lines up with it otherwise your mobo will short out), it's a single lane connector because there's only one USB 2.0 port in the front panel I presume.

[Bob338]

Thanks! Yeah, there's only one connector at the front panel. Only thing hard to understand is that there are two black wires, one of which seems to go to a pin for which the mobo manual shows no connection. In other words, 5 wires, two of which are ground wires on the cable connector. I suppose some boards have a ground connection on the 'other' pin.

[Bob338]

I'm impressed! I'm surprised the thing runs so much faster than the other in my sig.

Ran into a strange problem. When I tested the mobo in the prescribed manner it didn't light up as it was supposed to. On checking things I jiggled the power connection to the PSU and it fired up normally. After installing everything in the case, everything was dead, no power. Swapped the power cord and that did it. There seemed to be a poor connection to the PSU which I thought a bit strange, but there's lots of joy! I'm on the new one now.

I'm using an old keyboard and mouse from antiquity and intend to buy a wireless desktop tomorrow. My current choices are the Logitech MK710 and the MK550. Either will be fine for me and I can buy either for about the same price due to sales and a $20 coupon at Newegg and a good discount at Fry's on the MK550. Net cost on either about $60. Should I have a preference? The list price on the MK710 is near $100 while the other is much less. It's a flip of the coin for me though I haven't seen either. Any suggestion?

[Nizmo]

For about the same price, why not get the better one? MK710 has a frictionless mouse wheel which is very convenient, and MK710 looks very sleek overall.

[Bob338]

Sold!