Does this build look good for gaming?

Kameronk · May 23, 2013

Mostly going to use for gaming but will also do homework and stuff on it. I would say 65% gaming 35% other. I have a hard drive, monitor, keyboard, mouse and optical drive already. http://pcpartpicker.com/user/kameronk/saved/1DuN . Tell me what you think.
CPU: Intel i3 3220 3.3ghz
Mobo: MSI B75A-G43 LGA 1155 Intel B75
Video card: Radeon HD 7950
Psu: Rosewill green series 80+ bronze 630w
Ram: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8gb (2x4g)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER

sharingan5 · May 23, 2013

All in all a well rounder build. Will serve your gaming need quite well as long as you don't expect any ultra performance from it.

AxlFone · May 23, 2013

Take 4 core CPU if you can.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i53350p
If not then take i3 3225 I think it is bit faster.

Transmaniacon · May 23, 2013

AxlFone :

This. If you need to, drop down the the GTX 660 Ti, you can put the savings towards an i5, and I think it will produce a more well-rounded build. The 660 Ti is pretty close to the 7950 and the i5 will last you a lot longer than the i3.

Kameronk · May 23, 2013

Ok, I went ahead and replaced the i3 with the Intel i5 3570k. This is overclockable, correct?
Edit: I also added a cooler master hyper 212 cpu fan. http://pcpartpicker.com/user/kameronk/saved/1Dv9

AxlFone · May 23, 2013

That is too low end cooler. Take this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608041&Tpk=Noctua%20NH-U14S&IsVirtualParent=1

Kameronk · May 23, 2013

I added it Axl. My goal is to pack as much power into a build under $1000. Have I achieved that yet? Anymore tweaking?

Transmaniacon · May 23, 2013

You don't need a $75 cooler... The Hyper 212 EVO is a fantastic cooler and will handle light to medium overclocks very well. If you want to push your i5, then you would be wise getting something like the Noctua D14.

J_E_D_70 · May 23, 2013

Agree - absolutely no reason to spend twice as much on a CPU cooler unless you are going for a max overclock. The Evo should get you in the 4.3-4.5GHz range comfortably.

Also, your mobo isn't good for overclocking the -K model. Look at the ASRock Z77 Extreme4 or the Asus P8Z77-LK.

Kameronk · May 23, 2013

Ok. I thought the hyper 212 evo was pretty good, seeing as so many people recommend it. Is there anything else you guys would change? Again trying to max this build out at under $1000 And I might change the build completely for haswell. Haven't decided yet.

Kameronk · May 23, 2013

This is what I've got so far http://pcpartpicker.com/user/kameronk/saved/1DvJ

AxlFone · May 23, 2013

That new Noctua NH-U14S is much better than old D14
You can use high memory and it is much better for cooling.

Read test http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/noctua_nh_u12s_u14s_review,1.html

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/5434/noctua-nh-u14s-cpu-cooler-review/index.html

other good option is corsair H100

Transmaniacon · May 23, 2013

Again, OP unless you are trying to go for 4.5+ GHz, you don't need a Noctua cooler or H100. That is wasted money to gain a few degrees...

To your build, I would swap the PSU for a XFX 650 watt, and then with the last bit of budget you can probably squeeze in a 7970.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.98 @ Outlet PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Mushkin Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($379.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.89 @ Amazon)
Total: $1017.80
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-23 13:53 EDT-0400)

AxlFone · May 23, 2013

ETREME 4 is then waist of money too.
Because you can buy cheaper mobo $114.99
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz77xd3h

Transmaniacon · May 23, 2013

Yeah but he is planning on overclocking, it would be worth it to spend a little more on the motherboard. Something like that Noctua cooler, while a great product, is like buying a Asus Formula motherboard for a medium overclock, its not worth it.

Kameronk · May 23, 2013

Thanks everyone! I think I'm going with Transmaniacon's last build unless I decide to wait for haswell chips.

AxlFone · May 23, 2013

Transmaniacon :

With CM 212 EVO you can not overclock over 4.2GHz Then extreme 4 and all overclock able motherboards is now not worth that money if you put CM 212 EVO on them. If plan is overclock do it properly or buy cheaper H77 mobo.
btw that gigabyte overclocks any 3570k or 3770k over 4.7GHz. So is CM 212 EVO enough for that? I do not think it is.

Watch and learn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8HsjgtMzEg

Transmaniacon · May 23, 2013

He can always upgrade the cooler later if he wants to overclock higher. At this budget, I would take a 7970 and a 4.2 Ghz OC over a 7950 and 4.5 Ghz OC. You need to spend the money where it will actually matter.

J_E_D_70 · May 23, 2013

No, that mobo cannot OC any IB to those levels - it's the silicon lottery on the CPU itself.

It's also false about the Evo. I had mine at 4.4GHz under 70C with a single fan in push during OCCT testing. 4.5 BSOD'd but not because of heat, but because I wasn't interested at the time in fiddling with voltage.

Does this build look good for gaming?

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