The Ultimate $3K Gaming Build?

Dylan Patel-1309083 · May 15, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($154.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($122.85 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($214.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($87.13 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($445.91 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($445.91 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF X ATX Full Tower Case ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic X Series 1050W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($216.82 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($56.23 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.94 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($277.58 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Corsair Vengeance K90 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($124.99 @ NCIX US)
Mouse: Logitech G500 Wired Laser Mouse ($50.54 @ Amazon)
Total: $2717.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-15 16:25 EDT-0400)

This is my build ^

Any suggestions? Feedback?

I want to keep it under 3K, also should I switch to water cooling as I do have 2 gpus

Should I want for Intel Haswell and can this build play Bf3 and Crysis 3 on high or ultra with the monitor in the build ^

Thanks

EDIT: If I get a case without usb ports can I add them to a case?

EDIT: Not doing xfire just one 7970 ghx vapor x 3gb

Jack Revenant · May 15, 2013

Dylan Patel-1309083 :

If you're looking at water cooling, drop the Vapor-X cards. The main draw of Sapphire's 7970 Ghz. Edition cards is their cooler. You'd want to go for stock, if you were using water blocks.

If you're willing to wait, Haswell is basically going to be a free +10% CPU performance at that price range (the 4670k is reportedly almost exactly the same price as the 3570k). That build will most definitely play BF3 at max at 1080p, and should be able to max Crysis 3 as well (though according to the benchmarks I've seen, you'll see drops below 60 FPS).

tinmann · May 15, 2013

I don't know if that motherboard supports this memory but I give it a consideration, the CORSAIR Dominator Platinum 16GB 1600 kits
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233286
are a bit more but it's an easier upgrade path if for any reason you might need 32Gbs of ram. But if you're just gaming then 16Gbs is more than enough and the Vengeance is more than adequate.

Dylan Patel-1309083 · May 15, 2013

Jack Revenant :

Dylan Patel-1309083 :

If you're looking at water cooling, drop the Vapor-X cards. The main draw of Sapphire's 7970 Ghz. Edition cards is their cooler. You'd want to go for stock, if you were using water blocks.

If you're willing to wait, Haswell is basically going to be a free +10% CPU performance at that price range (the 4670k is reportedly almost exactly the same price as the 3570k). That build will most definitely play BF3 at max at 1080p, and should be able to max Crysis 3 as well (though according to the benchmarks I've seen, you'll see drops below 60 FPS).

After researching, I decided to get rid of one of the 7970s and just have one.

I dont want to have to deal with the microstuttering so will it still be able to play Bf3 and Crysis 3 on max at 1080p?

Any other changes to the build except for the Intel 4670k?

redeemer · May 15, 2013

A $3000 build and no X79??

Dylan Patel-1309083 · May 15, 2013

tinmann :

I will only be gaming so I will stick to the Vengeance Thanks for the suggestion Any more?

Dylan Patel-1309083 · May 15, 2013

redeemer :

What is a x79 sorry I am a noob at this

EDIT: Sorry didn't realize it is intel core i7 I will be only using this for gaming so I dont need i7

jesot · May 15, 2013

I mean, if you were ready to drop that on GPUs, you could get two GTX 780's...

Dylan Patel-1309083 · May 15, 2013

jesot :

Are you talking about the two 7970s and I could get two 780s instead?

Jack Revenant · May 15, 2013

redeemer :

Why go for X79? He's gaming. No need for that kind of CPU.

Dylan Patel-1309083 :

If you can afford it, the (supposedly $500-600) 780s are looking to be rather good, though I would wait for benchmarks before I recommended them. They would also give you fewer issues, due to SLI being more stable than CrossFire at the moment. However, a single GPU cannot, at this juncture, give you max on Crysis 3. A Titan comes close, but it can't quite manage it. In your shoes, I would wait for the 700 series and see how they look.

Dylan Patel-1309083 · May 15, 2013

Jack Revenant :

redeemer :

Why go for X79? He's gaming. No need for that kind of CPU.

Dylan Patel-1309083 :

If you can afford it, the (supposedly $500-600) 780s are looking to be rather good, though I would wait for benchmarks before I recommended them. They would also give you fewer issues, due to SLI being more stable than CrossFire at the moment. However, a single GPU cannot, at this juncture, give you max on Crysis 3. A Titan comes close, but it can't quite manage it. In your shoes, I would wait for the 700 series and see how they look.

If they show to be worth it should I get two or one?

bryonhowley · May 15, 2013

I have read post on AMD/ATI Crossfire having stutter problems. I guess I must have got lucky with both of my AMD/ATI rigs because I have a FX-8120 with a Crossfire Sapphire HD 7950 and a Crossfire Sapphire HD 7970 and have not had any stutter problem with any game I have played both rigs run great.

Jack Revenant · May 15, 2013

Dylan Patel-1309083 :

Jack Revenant :

If they show to be worth it should I get two or one?

It would vary by how they actually perform. They were reported to be nearly as powerful as a Titan. If so, one should be fine. If they are less powerful, you may need two to max Crysis 3.

Jack Revenant · May 15, 2013

bryonhowley :

Indeed. Not everyone has problems. I myself use dual 7970s. However, the number of people having problems seems high enough to make me stop and consider before I recommend CrossFire to others.

Dylan Patel-1309083 · May 15, 2013

Jack Revenant :

Going to wait for the haswell processers and for the new mobos and graphics cards

Also what brand of 7970 do you use and how many gbs?

Jack Revenant · May 15, 2013

Dylan Patel-1309083 :

Jack Revenant :

Going to wait for the haswell processers and for the new mobos and graphics cards

Also what brand of 7970 do you use and how many gbs?

Sounds good. I strongly doubt you'll regret it.

Sapphire Vapor-X 7970 Ghz. Edition 3GB.

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