3770K: Blazing Fast w/Right Set-Up. You'll Need to Manage it's Heat..Read.!
The 3770K is super fast. Handles multi-tasking, video-editing, you name it; never breaks a sweat. Gaming wise it's good, but the built in HD4000 it's not enough for heavy modern gaming. You'll need a 660TI, 670 OR 680. Avoid AMD's 7000 series video cards, the drivers simply Suck! Intel should have a class action suit filed against them by all 3570K and 3770K owners, for false and misleading advertising. The TIM,{Thermal Paste} used on these processors is utter junk. The units are built and marketed for over-clockers, but the damn TIM they used; restricts it due to heat escalation. Intel had to know this, but didn't give a damn about "Us Consumers." If you have a Sandy 2500K, 2600K or 2700K, in my opinion; do not upgrade to the Ivy Bridge 3570K or 3770K. Yes you gain native USB3.0 and PCI 3.0, but really; those gains do not offset the "Heat Issues" if you're an over-clocker.
Having said all that, this is a great processor. It's extremely responsive, when run in Raid Zero like mine; well it's "Stupid Fast." You can get these to 4.5, 4.6 with various aftermarket "All in one liquid coolers" or "Water Loops." I've got mine on an Asus Maximus V Formula with an Antec 920, stable at 4.6 with temps that I'd not push higher. Here is my set-up: it "Hauls Balls."
Motherboard: Asus ROG Maximus V Formula {Wireless Built In, Auto-Boosts 3770K to 3.9 on all 4 cores}
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 2400
C Drive: Dual Corsair Force Gt 180's in Raid Zero
D Drive: Dual Corsair Force 60's in Raid Zero
Video Card: Asus DC2T 670, this card 1058 base, 1137 boost. Out of box runs at 1217 all the time. It's "Dead Silent and Stupid Cold." If you can find this card out there, buy it. This card runs circles around most 680's, plus it's dual slot; not 3 slot.
CPU Cooler: Antec-Kuhler 920 in push/pull, you must have a top of the line CPU cooler to Over-Clock these Ivy Bridges..No Other Way.
PSU: Themaltake TPG1050M Tough Power Grand. Hint: buy a good and larger PSU than needed with Ivy Bridges, this will help some with the heat issues of the Ivy Bridges.
Case: Thermaltake Chaser MK-I. I pulled all the color-shift fans and the 140 rear out. I'm running it with 4 200mm Cooler Master MegaFlows, the Black ones; I no fan of "Club Lighting." I'm running 2 Cougar 120's on the 920 and a third as a bottom intake. The amount of air running through my rig.."Like a Hurricane." Best part...Dead silent, except the subtle sound of air, not fans; moving.
I put in a blu-ray writer by Lite-On, and run an external LaCie Porsche 2TB drive for storage/security. The LaCie is great, runs USB3.0, it's eerily silent and has built in 7200rpm.
Lastly placed a couple of "UV Black Lights" in for effect. Meshes perfect with the Formula's {Republic of Gamer's} native red lighting. BTW: With Asus's ROG Maximus Boards, like my Formula; you Do Not Need an additional sound card. The audio chip in these boards are Killer.
Hope this review helps somebody. Oh I forgot, I'm running all this on Windows7 Ultimate. Stay away from Windows8...it Totally Sucks! For those not sold or worried about solid state drives, Corsair's Force and Force GT series are "Tanks." Research it, read the reviews. My 180's in Raid Zero, 1020 read/write speeds. Total boot time, no joke; less than 12 seconds. Everything opens before you're done clicking, any program; matters not. My WEI Experience: 7.9 across the board. I won't need another computer till I start turning grey...LOL. Have a great one...Dave !!Read full review
