Encoding PC build in progress. Suggestions?

[louv68]

I haven't built a PC in about 6 years and would like something to encode HD video quicker than my current setup. Most use will be seen making backups of my growing Bluray collection, and also converting them to MKV's for a NAS. My current PC takes way too long. It took about 15 hours to convert Blade Runner on Bluray to MKV using Handbrake. Too damned long. I will of course use the PC for other regular day to day type usage ie. internet browsing, MS Office, etc.

I've already bought:

• i7 3770K
• Windows 7 Pro 64 bit (OEM)
• Samsung 840 Pro 128GB SSD for the OS
• LG Bluray Writer (WH14NS40)
• ASUS Bluray ROM (BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS)
• I have a few external HDD's

Still need:

• Case - looking to spend $150 or less
• Motherboard (looking at GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB) I've never overclocked, and would consider doing so. Reviews I've read give this MB high marks.
• Power Supply
• CPU Cooler/Fan (air or water cooled?) $80 or less preferred
• RAM (how much, 16 or 32GB and is 1600Mhz "fast enough"?) Needs to be 1.5v to work with above MB. Looking at (CMZ32GX3M4X1600C10) Not exceeding $160 or so preferred, but I can spend a little more.
• Video Card - I assume since I'm not a gamer, I don't need anything too extravagant/expensive. Would prefer $100 or less unless it is beneficial
• Internal Hard Drives (thinking of getting two, maybe three 1TB or larger) Someone suggested WD Black drives. Is three overkill?
• Maybe a few extra case fans

Any Suggestions/Pointers on the items I still need? Anything I've forgotten? I've had a few cocktails. I'm also not opposed to using rebates. Thank you so much for your time.

[deadrats]

overall it looks pretty good, i have a 3770k, if you live near a microcenter you can get it for $230, a steal at that price. as far as ram is concerned, using microcenter as a guideline, you can pick up 16gb for about $80, with regards to ram speed iirc the fastest speed IB can use is 1600mhz, i will say that latency is a bigger factor as far as ram performance is concerned than it's speed. the SSD is nice, as far as coolers i'm using a Scythe Shuriken B revision that i got for $35, nice cooler, quite not bad for the price.

as far as motherboard is concerned, while that MB is really nice, since you don't overclock and you're not a gamer that MB is overkill, you don't need SLI, hell you don't even need a discrete video card, choose a MB that will allow you to use IB's integrated gpu (and consequently quick sync, if you feel like playing around with that technology).

i use an older H61 based MB, for a modern economical, good quality board i would say pick up an MSI Z77A-G41, uses the same chipset as the board you're looking at, supports SLI and CrossFire also supports the IB integrated gpu and it only costs about $75, i think it's a great deal.

[louv68]

Thank you deadrats. I did buy the 3770k at Microcenter. Best price around by at least $70 Ding, Ding, Ding!

[Brainiac]

I built a computer for a friend earlier this year and used this case:

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-SUMO-4112-Full-Tower/dp/B002BBZKFG

I purchased it from NewEgg, but they no longer carry it. It comes with a docking station unit for a laptop hard drive that came in handy (drive not included.) I had an external drive that died, so I cracked open the external case, removed the drive and placed it in the docking station unit and it worked fine.

It's quite large, but I like roomy cases.

Brainiac

[louv68]

Thanks Brainiac. Case is a bit too large to fit under my desk in the PC stand.

I bought one of these to use any IDE or SATA as an external, and it works perfectly. Cheap too for how handy it's been. USB 2.0 to SATA IDE Adapter

[usually_quiet]

Lian Li's minimalist aesthetic isn't to everyone's taste but the company has a reputation for building high-quality well-engineered cases. This is one of their more popular models. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112304

[louv68]

Thanks usually_quite. That looks like a really nice case. I like that it's not gawdy like most cases these days.

Anyone have any suggestions on a good MB/memory, and if I should go with 16 or 32MB? Would it be best to go with 2 or 3 HDDs in addition to the SSD OS/Program drive? 650W power supply too much, and should I get a 'Gold' certified one or is it just a gimmick?

[budz]

Why not get your mb/ram from Newegg?

[louv68]

I'll buy from whoever has the best price. I am a fan of newegg, but look up the MB I listed, and you'll see that it's $30 more + $9 shipping.

[deadrats]

I'll buy from whoever has the best price. I am a fan of newegg, but look up the MB I listed, and you'll see that it's $30 more + $9 shipping.

newegg doesn't have the one you listed, they have a similar one with a slightly reduced feature set, microcenter has the same one newegg does but 10 bucks cheaper:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128544

http://microcenter.com/product/387556/GA-Z77X-UD3H_LGA_1155_Z77_ATX_Intel_Motherboard

personally i don't buy jack from either newegg or tiger direct, they both believe in the over-charge.

and check out these ram prices, 16gigs for as low as 60 bucks:

http://microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?N=4294966965+4294937312&NTX=&NTT=&NT...rtby=pricehigh

[louv68]

I completely agree with you about newegg and tigerdirect. I look at their email deals; some good, some not so good, and search elsewhere to see if I can find the item(s) at an even better deal. My girlfriend pokes fun at me for liking the shopping clubs (Sam's Club), and other bargain meccas as she calls them. Hey, who doesn't like a good deal right? I'm frugal, not cheap. Been laid off on and off thru the years. Not fun. Newegg used to be my one stop shop place; not so much anymore. Don't overlook Amazon. I'm thankful to have a Microcenter within a reasonable driving distance. Their mailer ad is a happy read for me.

I'm placing the GA-Z77X-UD3H in the list of possible boards to buy. Thank you for the heads-up.

[deadrats]

Been laid off on and off thru the years.

you're preaching to the choir, bro. i went from owning my own pest control business that was a cash cow to going back to driving a cab at night for 12 hours at a clip to going back to school to be an MA to still not being able to find a decent paying job.

hopefully 2013 will be a better year for all of us.

[usually_quiet]

Thanks usually_quite. That looks like a really nice case. I like that it's not gawdy like most cases these days.

I'm happy to have suggested a case that appeals to you. I guess you have checked the measurements to make sure it will fit in the PC stand under your desk. While it is an ATX mid-tower case, it is not one of the smaller ones I have seen.

Anyone have any suggestions on a good MB/memory, and if I should go with 16 or 32MB?

DDR3 1600 is the most popular type of memory now right now and a good choice for Ivy Bridge CPUs. If you want to play it safe, check the recommended/tested memory list for the motherboard and pick one of the models listed. Encoding is CPU intensive, not memory intensive. You could go with two 8 GB sticks and leave two slots empty for future expansion if needed.

Would it be best to go with 2 or 3 HDDs in addition to the SSD OS/Program drive?

My own experience is that when working with HD video, the more storage space available, the better.

650W power supply too much, and should I get a 'Gold' certified one or is it just a gimmick?

The PSU capacity needed depends on what is installed in the system, especially the video card(s), but it isn't a bad thing to have a bit more power available than is necessary. A "Gold" certified PSU should generate less heat than the equivalent "Bronze" certified PSU and will use less electricity, plus it may be quieter. You'll have to be the judge of whether the difference in efficiency is is worth the additional cost.

[olyteddy]

A couple months ago I got a GA-Z77MX-D3H (micro ATX) and 8 GB RAM from NewEgg for $120. It was a 'buy a Z77 and get the RAM free' deal. I'm using it in an HTPC with an i3-3225 (I know, overkill on the MoBo, but the RAM was free).

[louv68]

Final parts ordered:

Fractal Design Define R4 with Window Titanium Grey Silent ATX Mid Tower Case

ASRock Z77 Extreme6

Crucial Ballistix 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Model BLT2KIT4G3D1869DT1TX0 x2

SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W

Western Digital WD Black 1TB x2

Thermalright True Spirit 120 HSF

Arctic Cooling MX-4 Thermal Compound

ArctiClean 60ml Kit (includes 30ml ArctiClean 1 and 30ml ArctiClean 2)

[hello_hello]

I've been meaning to upgrade this PC for over a year. I was fairly determined to do it in the next few weeks but then I started thinking about the next generation of Intel CPUs probably being only a couple of months away...... might as well hang out just a little longer, I guess.