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I need help choosing what ram to get

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June 23, 2013 4:55:28 AM

I am a complete newbie to building a computer but decided to build one as a sort of summer project so i would be ready to play Total War Rome II on highest settings when it comes out. So far i have decided upon the Intel I5-3570k processor and a Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H motherboard according to what i've found on this site. Now i need help deciding what memory and graphics card i should get. Also any recommendations about which case and power supply to get would be much appreciated. My total budget is around $1000.

More about : choosing ram

June 23, 2013 5:03:14 AM

Are you buying in the US?
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June 23, 2013 5:07:19 AM

Keep in mind that your selections are last generation technology and while \performance is not that much different, it's kind a like buying the left over 2013 car that's left on the lot after the 2014 models have arrived. With new sockets, your are that much closer to obsolescence.

There are some great deals ($90 off) on newegg right now on Haswell

In the build below, I chose to skimp on the GFX card a bit which at 1st may seem counter intuitive. Normally ya wanna max out GFX card performance but to fit your budget, I would have had to skimp on MoBo, RAM, CAse, PSU, HD and SSD. Instead, I gave you top end components in every category, so every one of them is good for a number of years.

However, adding a 2nd 650 Ti Boost in SLI for $155 later on (or now if ya can swing i\ the extra bucks) is faster than most any other single GPU card out there coming in just under the GTX 770. That includes the 680 (93% as fast as twin 650 Ti Boosts) and 7970 Ghz Edition (98%)

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_6...

Case - $124 - Corsair 500R White http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
$20 combo discount $25 coupon code for case, $16.50 coupon code for PSU, $45 MIR
PSU - incl. w/ above - Corsair TX750 included with above

MoBo - $370 - ASUS Z87 Pro http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
CPU - incl. w/ above - Intel Core i5-4670 Included w/ above and MoBo has built in wireless, $80 combo discount and $10 off w/ promo code Z87MB617, ends 6/30

RAM - $79 - (2 x 4GB) Muskin CAS 8 DDR3-1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Free $25 Hawken in game credit w/ purchase, limited offe
Cooler - $30 - CM Hyper 212 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


GFX - $155 - MSI GTX 650 Ti Boost http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
GFX - Later - MSI GTX 650 Ti Boost http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

HD - $95 Caviar Black 1TB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
SSD - $135 - Samsung 840 Pro 128GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

DVD Writer - $17 - Asus DVD Burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Total $1,005
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June 23, 2013 5:15:56 AM

envy14tpe said:
Are you buying in the US?

No i am Building in Denmark but prices are approximately the same

JackNaylorPE-
After what i've read so far i was lead to believe that the 3570k was pretty much the same as the 4670 and cost a lot less, and how is the ASUS Z87 superior to the Z77X? As i said i am quite a newbie so sorry if I am asking stupid questions.
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Best solution

June 23, 2013 5:16:34 AM

RAM: For gaming, 2x4GB is perfect with room to spare. 1600MHz is the sweetspot, faster RAM won't help gaming.
PSU: You only need 500W, but the XFX 550W is a great deal.
GPU: Asus 660ti is one of the best at sub $300.
Case: Corsair 300R is good. If you want next level, then NZXT Phantom 410 is awesome.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($130.91 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Extreme 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.00 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($65.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($262.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($45.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $977.79
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-23 08:16 EDT-0400)
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June 23, 2013 5:40:11 AM

Jens Peter said:
After what i've read so far i was lead to believe that the 3570k was pretty much the same as the 4670 and cost a lot less, and how is the ASUS Z87 superior to the Z77X? As i said i am quite a newbie so sorry if I am asking stupid questions.


Performance wise the overclocked 4670k is about the same as the overclocked 3570k cause the Ivy bridge CPU has more overclocking headroom, at stock the 4670k is faster in most benchies.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/837?vs=701
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2013/06/12/intel-core-...

As to the differences between the Z87 and z77 it's mostly the new socket and he soon to be obsolescence of the 1155 socket and Z77 chipset. Im in a spot now where a MoBo died just a few days after warranty expired and good luck finding a comparable 1156 MoBo. Now instead of a MoBo replacement, i also have to change out RAM and CPU, and with a new chipset, I'll also have to do a new Windows install. A 3570 board now puts you in the same boat.

As for the chipset differences:

2 SATA III ports on Z77 / 6 on Z87
4 USB 3 ports on Z77 / 6 on Z87
Higher supported memory speeds on Z87
Higher TDP on Z87
On board GFX improvements




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June 23, 2013 6:03:45 AM

JackNaylorPE-
Alright thank you, just one question, I can't seem to find the RAM that you listed above anywhere except on Newegg.com? Do you have any possible substitutes to that one?
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June 23, 2013 7:07:44 AM

Jens Peter said:
JackNaylorPE-
Alright thank you, just one question, I can't seem to find the RAM that you listed above anywhere except on Newegg.com? Do you have any possible substitutes to that one?

Look for Corsair or G.Skill, 2xGB, CAS 9 or 10, 1600.
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June 23, 2013 7:09:53 AM

Jens Peter said:
envy14tpe said:
Are you buying in the US?

No i am Building in Denmark but prices are approximately the same

JackNaylorPE-
After what i've read so far i was lead to believe that the 3570k was pretty much the same as the 4670 and cost a lot less, and how is the ASUS Z87 superior to the Z77X? As i said i am quite a newbie so sorry if I am asking stupid questions.

It is pretty much the same. If you buy a 3570k + Z77 then you are buying something that has been improved. New mobos are gonna have issues and the 4670k isn't leaps and bounds better than the 3570k. If you get a 3570k then get a mobo that gets good reviews.
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