Need opinions on two builds.

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l3radrocks

Honorable
Apr 6, 2013
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Hey guys, I've been researching for my first build, and have come up with my rig. The main problem though, is that some people have recommended that I use asrock motherboards, but I have also heard that their customer support is terrible, and their motherboards are always faulty. That's why I made a separate rig plan for a gigabyte motherboard. Here's both of them. The only difference is the motherboard.


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

Motherboard:
ASRock Z77 Extreme3 ATX Intel Motherboard -

RAM:
CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1600C11 -

GPU:
EVGA 02G-P4-3660-KR GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card -

PSU:
SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply -
SSD+HDD:
Corsair Neutron Series GTX 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 Internal Hard Drive -

Case:
BitFenix Shinobi XL BFC-SNX-500-KKN1-RP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case

Optical:
SAMSUNG Model SH-224BB DVD Burner -

OS:
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit -


Here is the second.


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

Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

RAM:
CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1600C11 -

GPU:
EVGA 02G-P4-3660-KR GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card -

PSU:
SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply -
SSD+HDD:
Corsair Neutron Series GTX 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 Internal Hard Drive -

Case:
BitFenix Shinobi XL BFC-SNX-500-KKN1-RP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case

Optical:
SAMSUNG Model SH-224BB DVD Burner -

OS:
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit -

Opinions? Advice? Anything is appreciated, thanks!

My budget is around $1200 by the way.
 
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envy14tpe

envy14tpe

Champion
Mar 3, 2012
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Need a real cooler. (not Intel one)
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2

Nice case but really expensive. Instead of a $144 case why not a NZXT Phantom 410 for $99?
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-caph410b1

Everything else I like about your build.

I don't think ASRock is as bad as people make them out to be. I use one myself and am very happy with it.
I think both boards are excellent and you can't go wrong with either. The Extreme 3 is lower in price so I'd lean
that way.
 
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ksham

ksham

Splendid
Mar 29, 2013
8,398
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Of the two you posted, I'd choose the second one. But if the first one had an Extreme4, I'd choose it instead.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($389.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($94.44 @ Amazon)
Total: $1194.34
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
 
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L

l3radrocks

Honorable
Apr 6, 2013
14
0
10,510

You got me wrong with the ASRock part, I haven't said that people told me that they were bad boards, just a horrible company. I don't want to buy a board that might be defective and never get an RMA, such as many people have had happen when buying ASRock (Or so they tell me)

As for the fan, I wasn't really planning on overclocking, and I'm assuming that you suggested that fan because you thought I was gonna OC. Would OCing be beneficial to my build?

Also about the case, I just fell in love with it :)
 
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J

Jack Revenant

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Apr 16, 2013
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Doesn't seem like the most fair comparison. The GA-Z77X-UD3H costs more than the Extreme3. I would tend to go for the ASRock Extreme4, myself. I'm heard nothing but good things about it. That said, but the GA-Z77X-UD3H and the Extreme4 were selected as winners in this comparison: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z77-express-ivy-bridge-benchmark,3254-35.html so you could probably go with whichever you felt more comfortable with.
 
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L

l3radrocks

Honorable
Apr 6, 2013
14
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10,510


Thanks for the feedback. Like I said before, I have heard good things about the boards themselves too, but I'm scared of that what-if scenario where I get the board with the bent pins, and ASRock refuses to RMA.
 
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ksham

ksham

Splendid
Mar 29, 2013
8,398
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29,960

The Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO is a CPU Cooler, not a simple fan. When you selected a K-series CPU, which is meant for overclocking, people would assume you want to overclock. If you don't plan to overclock, then you can opt for an Intel Core i5-3350P or Intel Core i5-3470.

Overclocking is not a matter of whether or not it is beneficial to your build. It actually has more disadvantages than advantages. On the plus side, you gain higher performance. On the down side, it generates more heat, requires more power, can drain the lifespan of the CPU, cause your system to become unstable, and can also kill your chip. Learn about it before you decide.
 
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Emelth

Emelth

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Jul 30, 2010
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There is nothing wrong with ASRock motherboards many members use them and I find them very reliable. Nor have I heard issues about their Customer Service. Both MoBo you selected are from very good companies both will be able to rely on. I would push you more towards a ASRock Z77 Extreme4 its one of the most highly used for your price range.

If you got a MicroCenter close by I would advise going to it here is something of what your build could look like.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.16 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.62 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($309.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($63.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($94.44 @ Amazon)
Total: $1158.13
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-04 00:58 EDT-0400)

 
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envy14tpe

envy14tpe

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Mar 3, 2012
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If your worried then don't get the ASRock motherboard. Buy the Gigabyte board you listed or an Asus Z77 for $130 range. Also, some people are nervous about the Extreme 3/4 cuz it's smaller and people are afraid of flexing.

You chose components that make me think your overclocking, namely the 3570k and a Z77 not H77. Yes, overclocking is beneficial and at your budget I would overclock it. It's just getting more speed for your money. My 2500k has turbo boost to 3.7GHz. However, I overclock it to 4.4GHz.

For the 660ti. I saw the Asus 660ti at a good price.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx660tidc2o2gd5
 
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L

l3radrocks

Honorable
Apr 6, 2013
14
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10,510

Why go with the Radeon HD 7950 instead of the 660ti?
 
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L

l3radrocks

Honorable
Apr 6, 2013
14
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10,510
Ok so, let's say I do go with Emelth's reccomended rig. First off, would I be able to switch the case to a Bitfenix Shinobi XL? My second question is how much better would it perform over the builds I posted at first? Lastly, I have decided to OC, would his build be able to support it?
 
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J

Jack Revenant

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Apr 16, 2013
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You could use this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202003&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
It's also a 7950, and it has a very solid cooler.

Edit: It is, however, out of stock. Was that what you meant?

Edit 2: Found a 7950: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202007&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
 
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l3radrocks

Honorable
Apr 6, 2013
14
0
10,510

Nah, what I meant was that the one I was looking at was discontinued everywhere.
I'll keep an eye out for this one though.


Yea, I found this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130809&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 
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J

Jack Revenant

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Apr 16, 2013
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Ah. Are you shopping online, or at a brick and mortar store?

The 660 you linked uses the reference model cooler, so I wouldn't advocate it. If you can find one with a better cooler, it may well be worthwhile.
 
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L

l3radrocks

Honorable
Apr 6, 2013
14
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10,510

Well I can shop at both types. I have a Microcenter nearby and a Tiger Direct store too I believe.

And what's wrong with the cooler?

 
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J

Jack Revenant

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Apr 16, 2013
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Ah. Well, that being the case, you shouldn't have too difficult a time finding any card that hasn't been discontinued.

It's a single radial fan. Good for sucking heat out of a poorly-ventillated case, bad for actually cooling your card. You want something that looks more like this, if you're going for GPU cooling in a case with good airflow: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121653
 
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