Could use some assistance with a mid-range build...

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ikonzaphod

Honorable
Apr 12, 2013
3
0
10,510
Hello smart people!

Thank you in advance for any input you provide, I think this will be my first build since there was a debate between VLB and PCI as the future of PC architecture :) Please help me make as few mistakes as possible.

I'm trying to build a moderate level gaming PC for right around $1000. I've chosen the following pieces, but I'm unsure the best bang for the buck so to speak - the only component I'm pretty much set on is the processor.

Case: CM Storm Enforcer - Gaming Mid Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 Ports (SGC-1000-KWN1)​
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 - BX80637I53570K
MOBO: AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME6
Video: Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7850 2 GB GDDR5 DVI-I/HDMI/2x mini-Displaypor​t PCI-Express 3.0 Graphic Card GV-R785OC-2GD
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8 GB ( 2 x 4 GB ) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) 240-Pin DDR3 Memory Kit
PSU: Corsair Enthusiast Series 650-Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified Power Supply
SSD: Samsung 840 Series 2.5 inch 120GB SATA III internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
HDD: Western Digital WD1002FAEX Caviar Black 1 TB SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Internal Desktop 3.5" Hard Drive
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan

Plus Arctic Silver 5 Polysynthetic Silver Thermal Compound Paste and another fan for the top of the case, a Cooler Master MegaFlow 200mm Red LED Computer Case Fan

My concerns would be:

I'm not an overclocker by any means, but would like the opportunity - do these pieces scale well?
Will the CPU cooler interfere with the RAM slots on this board, messing up expansion?
Is the MOBO solid, are there better alternatives in the price range, or is it just personal preference?
Will the PSU be powerful enough to handle an upgrade to the video card say, a year or two down the road?

Suggestions for improvement would be greatly appreciated!
 
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Onus

Onus

Titan
Jan 27, 2006
37,037
12
89,965
You've made a lot of very good choices there. The Extreme6 has better VRMs than the Extreme4, and even that board overclocks pretty well. Your power supply is a little overkill, BUT supports your goal of being upgrade-ready. Just plan on that being a single strong card, as Crossfire is broken; AMD admits it, is working on fixes, but they may not be here until July.
Check out the GTX650Ti Boost edition. It's a little faster than the HD7850 while being cheaper, AND it supports SLI, which is not broken.
I personally cannot support Coolermaster , because the company is willfully dishonest. Rosewill makes comparable/better cases for the same price, and both Antec and Fractal Design have some very nice cases as well; my Define Mini is probably the nicest case I've owned. Per Frostytech reviews, the Xigmatech Gaia performs within 1C of the Coolermaster Hyper212 EVO, but is quieter, and a LOT cheaper (just $20): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233082
Your mechanical HDD choice is the one I prefer, for the five year warranty (and it is fast).
I've seen some criticisms of the performance of the 120GB Samsung 840, but the Pro is great. Check out the Crucial M4 as well.
I like your choice though, of getting a SSD rather than putting more money into the graphics card. It won't help FPS at all, but will make your entire "user experience" better. If there's some wiggle room in your budget, you might consider a GTX660 or HD7870, but if you don't insist on playing every game on "UltraMaxOhWOW!" settings, you'll be fine.
 
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I

ikonzaphod

Honorable
Apr 12, 2013
3
0
10,510
Thank you for the prompt reply! I'll look into the Xigma, as again I'm not devoted to any of the pieces. Rosewill does have some nice cases, i'll rexamine them and see what looks good, the CM case I chose seemed to have good ariflow and architecture, but again, this is my first shot and I want your input :)

Regarding the video, i saw the march recommendations for the Powercolor Tahiti based 7870 vs the standard Pitcairn, but had slight concerns on power draw and heat and whether it would burn out faster.

Again, much obliged.
 
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Onus

Onus

Titan
Jan 27, 2006
37,037
12
89,965
A lot of people love Coolermaster cases, but like I said, the company has been proven to be guilty of willful dishonesty, so I refuse to buy ANY of their products, no matter how good. A lot of people don't care about that, but I never recommend any product I would not buy myself.
Both of my rigs have Gaias on them, and they stay cool. One of them has been bitmining, and even with a HD7870 putting its heat in the case, the CPU has stayed around 40C. At idle, it's around 31C-33C.
 
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