Final (but 1st) Build...Please rate!

linkgx1 · May 8, 2013

Okay, so I tried sticking with an $800ish budget. What do ya'll think of my build?

http://

Note that the motherboard should be cheaper @ Microcenter because of da combos. Mmm......

Anywho, this will be for school, some gaming and app creation.

ksham · May 8, 2013

Missing a few things:
1. A CPU Cooler if you plan to OC (which I assume so).
2. Storage drive(s).

Uther39 · May 8, 2013

Looking good, dont forget a Hard Drive..

scragnoff · May 8, 2013

I'd suggest you get an HDD for storage, and an SSD for your OS, programs, and games.

Otherwise, everything looks sweet.

Onus · May 8, 2013

^What they said; you've not listed any drives.
Also, your PSU is more powerful than it needs to be. You could run comfortably on 500W.

envy14tpe · May 8, 2013

That'll do awesome.
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 ($27.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.49 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer (Purchased For $0.00)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) (Purchased For $15.00)
Total: $782.41
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-08 12:33 EDT-0400)

or with SSD (which I recommend at your performance level):

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 ($27.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($117.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.49 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer (Purchased For $0.00)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) (Purchased For $15.00)
Total: $900.40
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-08 12:34 EDT-0400)

darkbooton · May 8, 2013

Looking around, your getting a good PSU at a really good price. Slightly more than a decent 500-600 would cost you. Plus I do like a bit of power "headroom"

linkgx1 · May 8, 2013

Lol, how did I forget the hard drive. Should I use an SSD for the boot drive?

linkgx1 · May 8, 2013

Onus :

The only reason why I got the power supply (and it was way more than I expected) was that I've been reading that it's an incredibly important part of the computer build and not to cheapen out. Someone told me that it's best to get a power supply with twice the power I need (something about effiency or something).

And toyftw in my other thread said:

Hi - The following are all very good/excellent. One comment tho, of your funds permit,
then regardless of which brand you select try to go above the budget/opening price point
series. For example, if you decide to go with Corsair, then select a TX/HX/ or AX series
unit as opposed to a CX or VS series unit.

Which is why I got a TX supply (also it's $59 with the rebate I think ). I tried getting a CX series 550w....but didn't want to regret.

Onus · May 8, 2013

High quality is indeed very important for a PSU, much more so than its size. The Corsair CX or "Builder" series is made by CWT (not Seasonic) using some inferior Samxon capacitors known for early failure. They're probably fine in low-power (i.e. office) builds, but I wouldn't put one in a gamer. CWT also makes the TX (Seasonic makes the TX2) but I don't recall what capacitors it uses. The XFX units are made by Seasonic; that's probably what I'd choose.
A good PSU should operate efficiently from 20% to 80% of its rated output, highest right at 50%.

linkgx1 · May 8, 2013

Onus :

Darn. This power supply manufacturer business is confusing. I read that article on it a month or so back...but still.

scragnoff · May 8, 2013

linkgx1 :

Yes, you should. Lightning boot-ups!

giltyler · May 8, 2013

Just 2 thoughts.

1-Do not skimp on the power supply.
2-See above.
Quite often the advice on power supplies are to small to allow head room or additional hardware.
A good 650 watt unit like in you first build is perfect.

Onus · May 8, 2013

Right now, I am running a HD7970 OC'ed to 1125MHz in a build that is bitmining (i.e. running the GPU at 96%-98%). This machine is pulling 311W from its UPS.
The HD7870 uses less power than that (50W less?). You would be operating in an efficient part of the range of a good 450W-500W PSU.

linkgx1 · May 8, 2013

Onus :

But what if I decided to SLI or CrossXFire?

Onus · May 8, 2013

If you plan to run two graphics cards, then 650W would be more reasonable, perhaps up to 750W. Do not use Crossfire though, until AMD releases drivers to fix it, hopefully by July. FCAT testing, discussed in great detail over at pcper.com, showed that Crossfire is currently broken. Brought to AMD's attention, they made no attempt to deny it, but got right to work on fixes.

giltyler · May 8, 2013

Learn all you want to know on power supplies here at this link.
Is it good? worth the price? who really built it and other facts.
They do more than just unboxing they fully load test and hot box test and tear down to see what is really there.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/

Onus · May 8, 2013

jonnyguru is good. HardwareSecrets is even better though, with really in-depth dissections. Jonnyguru does some additional tests like looking for power-on spikes, but the details of Gabriel Torres' dissections are great, especially if a PSU failed testing, or isn't good for its label. HardOCP does good load testing and waveform analysis too with a real-world "torture test" at 80% load for extended periods, but limited dissection.

Final (but 1st) Build...Please rate!

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