Building New PC <$1000, Motherboard/Case/GPU Questions

compbuilder001 · May 23, 2013

Currently I have this build*Updated*, and was wanting some advice and input on it. As well, I have some specific questions, which I will ask near the end.

Approximate Purchase Date: Possibly within 1 month

Budget Range: Nothing set in stone, but ~1000 total (also need to buy other stuff too so mouse/headphones etc, but I already have those picked out)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming mostly

Are you buying a monitor: Not now

Parts to Upgrade: Everything

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg/amazon

Location: City, State/Region, Country - Oklahoma (doubt there will be any nearby stores)

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Yes, eventually but not now, would like to buy a second 7950 when needed.

Your Monitor Resolution: Not sure, but would like to eventually get multiple monitors, eventually running Eyefinity.

Why Are You Upgrading: Currently using a laptop with integrated graphics (useless) and a very old computer that needs updating.

Questions:
1. Which Radeon HD 7950 should I choose? http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/video-card/#sort=d5&c=71
I am asking because the one in my build currently is a Gigabyte and thus is not overclockable.

2. MSI Z77 MPower vs ASRock Z77 Exteme4?
What's the difference? What should I look for in terms of motherboards?

3. What kind of case should I buy? I kind of just picked at random on the build posted above, and I'm not sure how to choose.

Any in general critiques or comments are also greatly appreciated.

Thank you

smorizio · May 23, 2013

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139018
The newer cases like this one have better airflow and cable management.
You can also drop down to 8g of ram unless you doing video editing or other high end stuff. On your power supply swap it for a cosair power supply or seasonic unit or another know better brand. Cheap unknown power supply can come back and cause issue on gaming build. I seen cheep ps. Pop and take out a whole gaming rig.

Someone Somewhere · May 23, 2013

Don't see why the Gigabyte isn't OCable. Source?

I'd suggest getting a GA-Z77X-D3H or the Extreme4. Anything over that is seriously into diminishing returns territory.

From about now on, I'd say you definitely want front panel USB3.0. It's going to get more common on devices I expect.

You'll want an aftermarket cooler to OC.

Your RAM is DDR3-1333 and you don't need 16GB if gaming. Try: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-ble2kit4g3d1608de1tx0

How does this look: PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($51.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($62.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: BitFenix Shinobi ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $953.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-23 03:31 EDT-0400)

EDIT: The Hive series is perfectly good: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Rosewill-HIVE-650-W-Power-Supply-Review/1460/11

Jack Revenant · May 23, 2013

How's this for an alternative:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($154.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card ($443.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 850W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($108.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $997.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-23 03:34 EDT-0400)

*More powerful GPU
*CrossFire ready PSU
*Case with excellent cooling and fairly good noise levels

Edit: Mobo comes with free 8GB of 1600mhz low profile Crucial RAM. Also, these were the only parts you needed, right? Or did you need a whole build for this price?

Someone Somewhere · May 23, 2013

Damn. Just realised PCPartPicker is still microcentering me even though it doesn't show it on the build page...

This could be a good deal then: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1322592

compbuilder001 · May 23, 2013

So after your input I have come up with the following: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ZiRY

I'm liking the mobo because of the memory offer. Also, I'll probably stick with the 7950 instead of the 7970 since I'd like to keep the price lower. Not sure what power supply I should go for though. I will also need a HDD, but I'd probably go with a 2TB HDD, and not worry about the SSD.

Also, not sure how to reply without making this a solution... Still want more input

Someone Somewhere · May 23, 2013

Actually, at that price, with RAM, the Z77 Extreme6 is a good deal. Might want to take the other RAM out of the list.

This:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Microcenter) <<Get from OutletPC. Can't find how to stop it giving me instore-only prices.
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($154.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($87.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: BitFenix Shinobi ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $862.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-23 04:25 EDT-0400)

compbuilder001 · May 23, 2013

Looks pretty good to me.

When I go to newegg to see what kind of memory is offered with the mobo, I can't seem to find where it tells me. Can you?

Someone Somewhere · May 23, 2013

I can't - usually it's on the MB page somewhere. It's generally 2x4GB DDR3-1600 CL9 1.5V - they know what is decent stuff.

compbuilder001 · May 23, 2013

So even if I can't see the offer, do you think I'd end up getting it or seeing it in my cart or something if I ordered it now?

Thanks a lot for your help! I really appreciate it.

Jack Revenant · May 23, 2013

compbuilder001 :

Looks like the deal expired at midnight. Sorry, I wasn't aware that it was on such a short time limit. Also, Someone's build looks absolutely excellent. I would recommend going with it (with a motherboard alteration, due to the deal expiring).

Someone Somewhere · May 23, 2013

OK, looks like it may have ended. It was on a banner in the motherboards section, and in text at the top of every applicable board. Can't find any references now.

Suggest shifting to that combo I linked earlier. EDIT: Or not. On closer checking, the pricer MB negates any combo savings. Buy them separately, with the Ballistix RAM in my earlier builds.

Jack Revenant · May 23, 2013

Someone Somewhere :

+1.

compbuilder001 · May 23, 2013

Okay, I think I'm all set now, thank you so much for taking the time to help me.

Jack Revenant · May 23, 2013

compbuilder001 :

There's only two things I would tweak on the updated build: I'd use this PSU, instead of the Corsair one: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9 and this RAM in place of the Crucial (mostly because I don't trust the size of those heat spreaders): http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cml8gx3m2a1600c9b

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Building New PC <$1000, Motherboard/Case/GPU Questions

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