New Gaming PC Build $1000

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G

Gatt

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Apr 4, 2013
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Approximate Purchase Date: In the next month or two.
Budget Range: Around $1000 before rebates and shipping
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (BF3, Skyrim, Guild Wars 2, Arma II DayZ), Streaming video, Internet. Mostly just gaming.
Are you buying a monitor: No
Parts to Upgrade: All of it.
Do you need to buy OS: Yes
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com
Location: Evansville, Indiana USA
Parts Preferences: None
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: No
Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: First gaming pc.

I'm building my first gaming pc and i need some advice.
What i have picked out so far.
Mobo:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293
CPU:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
RAM:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233180
HDD:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339
Case:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160
OS: Windows 8 (64bit)
PSU: 550w

My questions are will this build work ok, will my current PSU be good enough or should i upgrade, and the bigest question is what GPU should i get? I've been looking at the AMD 7950 and the GTX 660 Ti. i would like to keep the GPU around $300.
Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.
 
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JD88
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JD88

JD88

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I would suggest a much smaller and less expensive case as that one is way overkill.

Your current PSU should be plenty if it is from a reputable brand.

I would put the case and PSU savings towards a GTX 670.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/OkXu
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/OkXu/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/OkXu/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($117.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($379.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($58.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1020.77
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-04 01:23 EDT-0400)
 
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envy14tpe

envy14tpe

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Mar 3, 2012
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($295.91 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Full (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1072.81
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-04 03:20 EDT-0400)
This goes over $1000, but if you drop the SSD it'll put you under; but I would definitely recommend keeping a SSD.
 
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JD88

JD88

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I have built several rigs using that exact board and have not had a single issue. In fact, I have had better luck with AsRock than ASUS or MSI. It currently has over 700 reviews on Newegg with a 4 egg rating. Your experiences sound like unfortunate cases of bad luck as no manufacturer is perfect.


GTX cards do in fact work out of the box without issue and it supports Nvidia SLI.

See:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-157-293&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo


A 7970 does have slightly better performance in some games, but they are also $30-$40 more expensive. We are already stretching the budget in this case for a 670. If anything, I would suggest maybe dropping down to a 7950 to save a little money, but that is entirely a matter of preference for the OP.
 
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G

Gatt

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Apr 4, 2013
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10,510
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ?
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Storage:?
Video Card:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125413
Case: ?
Power Supply: 550w
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Full (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)

It seems i get more questions as i go, sorry. First for the mobo, wouldn't i need 3.0 gen instead of 2.0 for newer GPUs? I would also like to to have extra available room for more RAM in the future. So i don't want to fill it up with just the two sticks. I have done a bit of searching and the ASRock mobo do seem to have a nasty rap. Please bare in mind that i do plan on upgrading as time goes to stay with the curve.(sorry i should have mentioned that at first)
STORAGE: i have heard bad things about Seagate (are they reliable?). Would a SSD really make that much of a difference that i should fork out the extra $$$ for it?
GPU: I am leaning towards the 7970 atm it all depends on the final price of everything. Is this a good idea over other cards. i dont want to have to up date my GPU in 6 months just to keep up.
CASE: Would a mid case be able to hold everything comfortably and would it leave with room to put in bigger GPUs in the future IE: 680. i need a descent cooling case, summers tend to get hot around here. My previous pc (which is not worth mentioning) burnt up because of airflow restriction. Or at least thats my best guess.

Thanks for all the help so far people!
 
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envy14tpe

envy14tpe

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JD88

JD88

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Let me see if I can't help with some of this.

I'm not sure what you mean by Gen 3.0 vs 2.0. The motherboard suggested is the latest Z77 chipset that supports all of the latest graphics cards.

A similarly priced ASUS or Gigabyte board would work just as well if you are scared of AsRock, but you will find nasty dirt about any company if you search enough.

There are four RAM slots in that board and it supports up to 32 GB.

All hard drives go bad. Seagate and WD both have failures. That drive has a lot of good reviews though. It's really a matter of luck as to how long they last.

SSDs are great for load and boot times. Everything feels snappy with them. They don't help overall gaming performance though. Since you are going to upgrade down the road, this is something I suggest getting later and putting as much of your budget as possible toward other things.

At $400 the 7970 isn't that great of a value IMO. Especially when the 670 can be had for $50 less in some cases.

GPUs are only getting smaller. A 680 isn't any bigger than a 670 and they perform within 5-10 percent of one another. It wouldn't be an upgrade. 7970 is about as big as it gets aside from dual chip cards.

I can suggest a larger case with better airflow, but honestly components are getting cooler and need less space. You're just fine going with a mid tower case. I wouldn't suggest spending any more than about $80 on one though because any more and you start having to sacrifice in other places in a $1000 budget.
 
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J

jesot

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At that pricepoint, I recommend i5 3570k build with GTX 670. You can set it up for SLI down the road by getting a good board and a SLI Certified/Ready PSU

i5 3570k ($220)
MoBo (~$130)
Memory (~$60)
GTX 670 (~$370)
PSU (~$100)
HDD (~$60)
Case of choice (remainder (~$60)) - you can usually get some of the parts above cheaper to open up more options for your case, but also try to make room for a CPU cooler (~$30)
 
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G

Gatt

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ok this is what i have so far. i still need to get a CPU cooler that will work with the Mobo. I i have a 550w LOGISYS PSU, will that do? I also have a spare cd/dvd drive so im not to worried about that.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/OpgQ

im still really undecided on the gpu. And JD88 i when i look up GPUs they always say something like PCI-Express 3.0 x16, thats why i asked about the 3.0 gen
 
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JD88

JD88

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That looks good so far.

The Asus 670 is one of the most expensive ones though, you might actually be better off with a 7970 at that price range.

Also, careful on that RAM. The heat sinks are really tall and can get in the way of some CPU coolers. I'm not sure about the Hyper 212 EVO which is really the best value.

I'm not sure on the Logisys PSU. That's not a great brand. Has it been reliable in the past or did you just buy it? Do you have a link to the specs on it so we can take a look?
 
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G

Gatt

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this is the PSU http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PS550E12BK

Which brand would be recommended for the 670?
What cooler should i go with i always get a warning saying Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard has an onboard USB 3.0 header, but the Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case does not have front panel USB 3.0 ports. Does this matter?
Sorry about all the noobish questions this is my first home build rig and i want to do it right.
 
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JD88

JD88

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The 912 does not have front side USB 3.0 ports. Your motherboard is equipped to handle them, but you just wont have them on the front. You will still have USB 3.0 on the back motherboard panel. This won't affect how it works at all, it just depends if you want them on the front or not.

I would get the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO cooler. It works great. You might want to get some RAM that isn't as tall though.

That PSU won't work. It doesn't have the necessary connectors. I would get something more reliable that is around 500W from Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, or XFX.

I would get that EVGA 670 for $379 unless there is something else cheaper. Most of the brands are just fine and you can overclock any card to the factory overclocks of other cards.
 
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G

Gatt

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OK this is where i am: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Oq4u
i went with 1x8gb stick instead of 2x4gb is that a good idea or does it even mater? The PSU will set it over the edge a bit but i can probably swing it. The GPU is still up in the air i will be buying it last so i have time to decide. Unless i find a killer combo :)

i will be buying it a over the next month to month and a half instead of all at once. should i buy all from one place or are the places pcpartpicker suggests reliable?
 
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JD88

JD88

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Looks good. By using 2 4GB sticks you are taking advantage of duel channel memory which is faster. How noticeable it would be I'm not sure.

Newegg and NCIX are reputable.

Amazon is usually pretty good buying direct from them or if you can find a seller with good feedback.

I've never used or heard about Outlet PC or Super Biiz. They might be fine, I just don't have any experience with them.
 
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beanboom6

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Apr 8, 2013
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What about swap i5 3570K for a 3470/3570, ditch the cooler and save up to $50 bucks without the "K" aswell, they both have turbo boost which is fine, and buy a gigabyte 670 wf3 oc/7970 oc???
 
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beanboom6

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Apr 8, 2013
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Hey man i never new that, i'll look into it but it looks promising! looks a good cpu

 
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