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SUB $1000 Gaming pc build!

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July 8, 2013 9:32:25 PM

Lately i've been planning to buy parts to build a custom pc to play newer video games like Rome 2 total war and battlefield 4. My current pc uses a old athlon xII 2.8 GHz quad core and a hd 6850. My budget would be $1000-1100 after i sell my current computer. This is the build i have selected for now. I would like some advice on parts that i can get similar performance for a lower price etc. I also want to try overclocking for the first time, is this motherboard suitable? I still have some space in my budget for better upgrades. I did not include a optical drive in the build as i have 2 old ones. ( though you can recommend one as i'm not sure if these will work) Some people are telling me to get a SSD but i don't really understand what a SSD is. Can someone be kind enough to explain it to me? Thanks!

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 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($23.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($265.91 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 300R Windowed ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($43.00 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $947.82
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-09 00:26 EDT-0400)

More about : 1000 gaming build

a c 287 4 Gaming
July 8, 2013 11:52:10 PM

You may want a better board: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-p8z77vlk
Higher quality psu (Corsair CX psus are only meant for low-budget builds): http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb...

A SSD is basically a HDD, except its more expensive for a smaller storage but it runs much faster. It can bring boot times from 20-30seconds to 5-10seconds. Since it's so small (120/128gb for $100-120), you generally only want to put the OS and other daily programs in it and use the HDD as a mass storage drive.
Some people find the SSD necessary in your budget, because it gives your computer the snappier feel.
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Related resources
July 9, 2013 4:55:28 AM

realchaos said:
You may want a better board: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-p8z77vlk
Higher quality psu (Corsair CX psus are only meant for low-budget builds): http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb...

A SSD is basically a HDD, except its more expensive for a smaller storage but it runs much faster. It can bring boot times from 20-30seconds to 5-10seconds. Since it's so small (120/128gb for $100-120), you generally only want to put the OS and other daily programs in it and use the HDD as a mass storage drive.
Some people find the SSD necessary in your budget, because it gives your computer the snappier feel.



What's the difference between the 2 motherboards?
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July 9, 2013 12:59:38 PM

1. What are some other good alternatives to the corsair 300r case? I am really liking the looks of the NZXT Phantom 410 case.
2. Should i include a sound card in my build?

Updated my build, these are it's current parts

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 ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Cooling MX4 4g Thermal Paste ($9.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($104.46 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($265.91 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 300R Windowed ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1112.24
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-09 16:32 EDT-0400)

I will start buying the parts by the end of july. Feedback?
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a b 4 Gaming
July 9, 2013 5:42:50 PM

1. NZXT 410 is one of the best cases on the market. Awesome cooling. The 300R was on sale for $60, I guess sale is over.

2. Don't buy a soundcard. The onboard sound is great. If you are an audiophile then you might want to consider one. However, cheap ones suck. You gotta spend at least $50ish to get one that could sound better than the one on your mobo.
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a c 287 4 Gaming
July 9, 2013 5:55:55 PM

The 300R is still on sale for $60. However, that's only for the non-window version. The OP listed the windowed version, which is more expensive.

If you're fine without a side panel window, this is one of the best case on the market and arguably the best case for its price (if your fine with the clean, slick look): http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcade...
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July 9, 2013 6:32:25 PM

I plan to buy the NZXT 410 instead. All the parts are compatible and i can overclock the cpu right?
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a c 287 4 Gaming
July 9, 2013 6:52:49 PM

Yes everything is compatible and the cpu is overclockable.
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July 9, 2013 7:10:18 PM

Is it true that you can't really overclock the GTX 760? Would you still recommend it or would you suggest something else such as the HD 7950 which you can overclock for better performance.
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a c 287 4 Gaming
July 9, 2013 7:12:39 PM

You could overclock the GTX 760, but not by much.
The 7950 can overclock more and surpass the 760 in performance.
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July 9, 2013 7:33:26 PM

realchaos said:
You could overclock the GTX 760, but not by much.
The 7950 can overclock more and surpass the 760 in performance.


So should i buy a HD 7950? If yes which brand I see some sapphire HD 7950s for around $270, a gigabyte version for $300, powercolor version for $270, a xfx version for $300 and a msi version for $320.
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a c 287 4 Gaming
July 9, 2013 8:00:55 PM

Sapphire is a very well known and reputable brand that has great cooling.
Other than the price, its about the same as other models.
I don't really like trixx, because sometimes it doesn't load the overclock when you restart your computer. MSI Afterburner is a very popular program for overclocking (And yes, it does work with Sapphire cards).
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a b 4 Gaming
July 10, 2013 2:18:46 AM

You could get a $320 7950 or a $250 760. I'd buy the 760 over the 7950.

The MSI 760 is a beast. It saves $70! That's almost the price of a 120GB SSD. In $1000 gaming rigs, a SSD is necessary. Save the $70 and get a Samsung 840 or Crucial M4.
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a b 4 Gaming
July 10, 2013 3:06:10 AM

The Samsung 840 is a good recommendation. The Crucial m4 not so much. The m4 and Intel 330 are both significantly slower yet cost more. Go with the 840 or the Sandisk Ultra Plus if you want more durability (MLC NAND instead of TLC). Both options are below $100 for a 120GB and both are faster than the m4 and 330.
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July 10, 2013 4:15:29 AM

envy14tpe said:
You could get a $320 7950 or a $250 760. I'd buy the 760 over the 7950.

The MSI 760 is a beast. It saves $70! That's almost the price of a 120GB SSD. In $1000 gaming rigs, a SSD is necessary. Save the $70 and get a Samsung 840 or Crucial M4.


I have already included a SSD in my build and why choose a 760 over a 7950 when overclocked the 7950 blows the 760 out of the water? Or am i wrong. The sapphire HD 7950 is$ 257 not $320.
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July 30, 2013 7:52:04 AM

There is a sapphire hd 7970 on amazon for $320, if i overclock it to maxium of the cards ability will the performance be able to match a gtx 770. Editing my build once again will post soon. I will be buying my parts in 2 weeks.
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July 31, 2013 4:08:24 PM

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Extreme 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.91 @ Amazon)
Total: $1047.82
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-31 19:00 EDT-0400)

I swapped to a different SSD since this was cheaper. I want a 750W psu in case i sli the gtx 760 in the future. I also took out the Ram since i bought G.SKILL RIPJAWS X 8GB 1600Mhz for $37. I'm planning to overclock the cpu to at least 4.2Ghz and slightly overclock the GTX 760 as well. Opinions?
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a c 287 4 Gaming
July 31, 2013 6:47:43 PM

I'm assuming the OP wants everything from Newegg/Amazon, which is why the stuff costs more.
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a b 4 Gaming
July 31, 2013 7:05:09 PM

realchaos said:
I'm assuming the OP wants everything from Newegg/Amazon, which is why the stuff costs more.


If you click on OP's lastest build link you'll see the price is actually lower. At first I thought $108 for a XFX 750W!! But the link has the price as $78. Also, the Asus mobo isn't $140, it's $125. So, the prices aren't bad.
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July 31, 2013 7:12:50 PM

envy14tpe said:
The XFX 750W should be $90 for Gold:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1750bbef...
or $78 for Bronze:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1750xxxb...

Noticed the actual price is $975 , not $1047. Build looks solid.

Could get the Kingston Hyper X 3K for $10 more than the Sandisk. Kingston seems to get better feedback and less complaints on forums.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-internal-hard-dri...


realchaos said:
I'm assuming the OP wants everything from Newegg/Amazon, which is why the stuff costs more.


envy14tpe said:
realchaos said:
I'm assuming the OP wants everything from Newegg/Amazon, which is why the stuff costs more.


If you click on OP's lastest build link you'll see the price is actually lower. At first I thought $108 for a XFX 750W!! But the link has the price as $78. Also, the Asus mobo isn't $140, it's $125. So, the prices aren't bad.


Yes i do prefer newegg/amazon but if other sites like ncix has way better prices i'll buy from there as well.
What's the difference between Gold and bronze psus?
And how long should i recieve back the money from rebate? I have never done this before.
The 2 SSDs are $10-15 more than the sandisk, are there any differences in performance between the ssds?
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a c 287 4 Gaming
July 31, 2013 7:20:42 PM

He listed the link above. $78 after rebates for a 750w 80+ bronze xfx psu at NCIX.

The difference between gold and bronze isn't that much. You get better efficiency, which therefore saves a bit more energy, but it's not really noticeable.

Rebates usually take about 6-8 weeks.
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July 31, 2013 7:22:37 PM

realchaos said:
He listed the link above. $78 after rebates for a 750w 80+ bronze xfx psu at NCIX.

The difference between gold and bronze isn't that much. You get better efficiency, which therefore saves a bit more energy, but it's not really noticeable.

Rebates usually take about 6-8 weeks.


Will it lower my electricity bill?
I'm buying my parts in 2 weeks hopefully the discounts will still be there.
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a b 4 Gaming
July 31, 2013 7:23:49 PM

I clicked on your PCpartpicker link that you provided:


Gold vs Bronze: Gold is more power efficient. (doesn't waste as much) and it runs cooler.

Not sure about rebates, you gotta look at the dates. I too have never built and dealt with that many rebates and whatnot.
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a c 287 4 Gaming
July 31, 2013 7:23:50 PM

Barely. It will take a long time for it to save you a decent amount.
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July 31, 2013 7:39:21 PM

envy14tpe said:
I clicked on your PCpartpicker link that you provided:
IMG

Gold vs Bronze: Gold is more power efficient. (doesn't waste as much) and it runs cooler.

Not sure about rebates, you gotta look at the dates. I too have never built and dealt with that many rebates and whatnot.


Ahh i see now. On my screen the pcpartpicker isn't updating rebates.

realchaos said:
Barely. It will take a long time for it to save you a decent amount.


How long would it take to make up the difference in price between the gold psu and the bronze psu? ( You probably can't answer this.. just a guess to give me a idea? )

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a b 4 Gaming
July 31, 2013 7:42:28 PM

Choosing Gold over Bronze isn't really about saving money. I don't think you would really save much if any over the lifetime. However, the Gold will add less heat to your case and if it's only a little more...I'd go Gold.
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July 31, 2013 7:54:50 PM

envy14tpe said:
Choosing Gold over Bronze isn't really about saving money. I don't think you would really save much if any over the lifetime. However, the Gold will add less heat to your case and if it's only a little more...I'd go Gold.


The difference in prices after rebate is $12. since i would be buying the cpu cooler on NCIX, the order will be free shipping. Would gold make a huge difference in amount of heat in my case? ( Well enough so that the $12 more is worth it in your opinion ) I still can't decide which case to get the NZXT phantom 410 or the corsair 300R.. The corsair is cheaper but the phantom looks better imo. Can you tell me about the airflow in these 2 cases and other suggestions around $50-75? I'm stumped..
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July 31, 2013 9:08:25 PM

This is my 2nd build with changed psu and gpu

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Extreme 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($318.49 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.91 @ Amazon)
Total: $1045.32
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-01 00:07 EDT-0400)

Won't be able to xfire probably but has better performance than the gtx 760.
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a b 4 Gaming
July 31, 2013 9:20:18 PM

The 7970 is a great deal. It'll play all games on Ultra and I'm sure BF4 too. (can't wait) However, 550W for a 7970 + overclocked 3570k is cutting it close. I'd get at least 600W to be safe.
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

I'd get the Antec HCG 620, which is fully modular, and costs about $70. It's $15 more but you won't be worried about supplying enough power. BTW, I like that you changed your mind about SLI/Crossfire. It's not really worth it unless you game on a 144Hz monitor or 3 monitors.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg620m

300R vs Phantom 410? Comes down to looks. I'm sure both cool well. I know the NZXT fans are really good.
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August 1, 2013 4:49:42 AM

envy14tpe said:
The 7970 is a great deal. It'll play all games on Ultra and I'm sure BF4 too. (can't wait) However, 550W for a 7970 + overclocked 3570k is cutting it close. I'd get at least 600W to be safe.
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

I'd get the Antec HCG 620, which is fully modular, and costs about $70. It's $15 more but you won't be worried about supplying enough power. BTW, I like that you changed your mind about SLI/Crossfire. It's not really worth it unless you game on a 144Hz monitor or 3 monitors.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg620m

300R vs Phantom 410? Comes down to looks. I'm sure both cool well. I know the NZXT fans are really good.


Well the HD7970 rose back up to $354... That's pushing the budget abit.
I hear when sli gtx 760 the performance is better than gtx 780 so i wanted the option open for the future when i needed the upgrade. Due to the price changes i have switched back to gtx 760 where i can sell the game for around $20-30 and the 750W so i can sli in the future..
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a b 4 Gaming
August 1, 2013 7:34:49 AM

I won't advise SLI/Crossfire for your build. You are gaming at 1080p with one monitor. Any $250 GPU will max out games that are out today. I don't advise 2xGPUs cuz it creates issues that 1 GPU doesn't...microstuttering. Also, it requires more power. You're better off saving the money (you would have spent on higher wattage PSU) and putting it towards a better GPU.

Keep watching prices..they change and you might still get a 7970. It's an awesome GPU but it has to be priced right.
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August 1, 2013 9:45:18 AM

envy14tpe said:
I won't advise SLI/Crossfire for your build. You are gaming at 1080p with one monitor. Any $250 GPU will max out games that are out today. I don't advise 2xGPUs cuz it creates issues that 1 GPU doesn't...microstuttering. Also, it requires more power. You're better off saving the money (you would have spent on higher wattage PSU) and putting it towards a better GPU.

Keep watching prices..they change and you might still get a 7970. It's an awesome GPU but it has to be priced right.


What is microstutter? I have heard of it but don't know what it is. I thought sli doesn't have much microstuttering but xfire does.
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August 1, 2013 8:31:12 PM

I have pretty much decided on all my parts except the gpu. I will be watching the prices on newegg, ebay, amazon, etc. for 2 weeks. If i see a good deal i will go for it!
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a b 4 Gaming
August 2, 2013 1:09:30 AM

LeFaust said:
I have pretty much decided on all my parts except the gpu. I will be watching the prices on newegg, ebay, amazon, etc. for 2 weeks. If i see a good deal i will go for it!


Sounds good. Prices do fluctuate. Checking once a day will suffice...although I'm sure you'll look a couple times.
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August 2, 2013 5:05:56 AM

envy14tpe said:
LeFaust said:
I have pretty much decided on all my parts except the gpu. I will be watching the prices on newegg, ebay, amazon, etc. for 2 weeks. If i see a good deal i will go for it!


Sounds good. Prices do fluctuate. Checking once a day will suffice...although I'm sure you'll look a couple times.


I have bought my cpu and mobo yesterday. However i am now once again stuck on psu.... I hear the xfx 550w is more than enough for stock i5 and 7970/7950 but i want to overclock both my cpu and gpu.
I will likely overclock my cpu to 4.2 Ghz~4.4 Ghz
I will try to get the maximum overclock for the video card i get.
So.. i hear you should add 200 watts to normal power to overclock

pcpartpiker tells me my current estimated wattage is 441 so if i overclock both my gpu and cpu will this psu work?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
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a b 4 Gaming
August 2, 2013 5:59:49 AM

I advised the Antec HCG 620W cuz that for sure will be enough for a 7950 or 7970. I too have used the calculators but most people like extra reassurance so they don't have issues and get a bigger PSU.

Overclocking won't add an extra 200W, that's insane. It'll add more, but no where near 200W.

If you get a 760 or 7950 then 550W is enough. If you want a 7970 then I'd advise getting at least 600W to be safe. Just make sure it is modular or semi modular. I bought a non modular PSU (trying to stay in budget) and the cables are a nightmare.
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August 2, 2013 7:25:15 AM

envy14tpe said:
I advised the Antec HCG 620W cuz that for sure will be enough for a 7950 or 7970. I too have used the calculators but most people like extra reassurance so they don't have issues and get a bigger PSU.

Overclocking won't add an extra 200W, that's insane. It'll add more, but no where near 200W.

If you get a 760 or 7950 then 550W is enough. If you want a 7970 then I'd advise getting at least 600W to be safe. Just make sure it is modular or semi modular. I bought a non modular PSU (trying to stay in budget) and the cables are a nightmare.


The antec 620w is $80 the seasonic i listed is $70 the modular version is 90.
The hd 7970 just rose to 380 so its unlikely i will buy a hd 7970 unless i find a cheap one on ebay. I'm currently looking at a vapor x 7950 auction atm for 270 which i feel is quite a good price. ( Just so you know im only looking at new cards in ebay )
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a b 4 Gaming
August 2, 2013 11:12:21 AM

The Seasonic you listed is non modular. Cables are all stuck together. As someone that bought a non modular PSU I don't suggest it. My case has issues with cables and it cuts the airflow down. As a result I spend more money on my case fans then I did on my case.

The Antec PSU is semi modular so it should be good. If you do get a 7950 then you could get a 520W Seasonic "M" not "S" PSU. I run a 2500k (overclocked) and a 660ti on a 520W PSU and it's enough.

I checked 7970 prices. Best one I found was a MSI 7970 for $345 (after rebates)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CAN84OY/?tag=pcpapi-20
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August 2, 2013 11:36:29 AM

envy14tpe said:
The Seasonic you listed is non modular. Cables are all stuck together. As someone that bought a non modular PSU I don't suggest it. My case has issues with cables and it cuts the airflow down. As a result I spend more money on my case fans then I did on my case.

The Antec PSU is semi modular so it should be good. If you do get a 7950 then you could get a 520W Seasonic "M" not "S" PSU. I run a 2500k (overclocked) and a 660ti on a 520W PSU and it's enough.

I checked 7970 prices. Best one I found was a MSI 7970 for $345 (after rebates)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CAN84OY/?tag=pcpapi-20


i'm most likely gunna buy a 7950 due to prices, but we'll see in 2 weeks.. I'm buying my video card last
so the modular seasonic 520w can power up both a 7950 and a i5 3570k overclocked?
really wish the amd cards still came with free games :( 
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a b 4 Gaming
August 2, 2013 12:00:27 PM

yes, the 520W PSU can easily handle a 3570k overclocked + 7950. If you do get a 520W PSU then don't get the 7970. That's not a bad thing. At 1080p gaming a 760/660ti/7950 can handle everything at extreme.
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August 2, 2013 12:55:22 PM

envy14tpe said:
yes, the 520W PSU can easily handle a 3570k overclocked + 7950. If you do get a 520W PSU then don't get the 7970. That's not a bad thing. At 1080p gaming a 760/660ti/7950 can handle everything at extreme.


Do you know how the hd 7950 compares to a 7970 when the 7950 is overclocked? Does the overclock create a huge amount of heat/noise?
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a b 4 Gaming
August 2, 2013 9:00:58 PM

There is a $240 7950 Boost model made by Powercolor. Awesome deal. It's a great option, especially for the price. In testing, this model sits in the middle between the 7950 and 7970.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-ax79...
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7950_Boost_BI...

Overclocking will increase the fan speed but it shouldn't be noticeable unless you got bad luck with the one you got. Also, there is an increase in heat but it isn't significant. The Boost model runs faster and cools well. If you do a mild overclock then the heat/noise isn't an issue.
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August 2, 2013 10:17:41 PM

I have though about this for a long time.. I will most likely remove the ssd to save some money or put it towards the gpu/psu . I made this descision seeing that i am fine with my current boot sped i will most definitely be fine without a ssd which saves me $85-90
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a b 4 Gaming
August 2, 2013 10:25:43 PM

LeFaust said:
I have though about this for a long time.. I will most likely remove the ssd to save some money or put it towards the gpu/psu . I made this descision seeing that i am fine with my current boot sped i will most definitely be fine without a ssd which saves me $85-90


At a $1000 build I'd keep the SSD. You can buy a 7950/7950boost/660ti/760 and they'll play almost all games on Ultra at 1080p. So, a SSD will only improve other aspects of the system.

My original build didn't have a SSD and I liked it, but then I added a SSD after 4 months. The difference was night n day. Everything I did was snap quick. I never realized this could be done.

If your budget was around $800 then I'd say don't get a SSD especially if you want a gaming build. But you aren't at that price range. Keep the SSD.
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August 3, 2013 12:22:49 PM

envy14tpe said:
There is a $240 7950 Boost model made by Powercolor. Awesome deal. It's a great option, especially for the price. In testing, this model sits in the middle between the 7950 and 7970.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-ax79...
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7950_Boost_BI...

Overclocking will increase the fan speed but it shouldn't be noticeable unless you got bad luck with the one you got. Also, there is an increase in heat but it isn't significant. The Boost model runs faster and cools well. If you do a mild overclock then the heat/noise isn't an issue.

How does this compare to other 7950s? Seeing as this one only has one fan i'm afraid it won't cool enough when overclocked. The sapphire dual-x 7950 is also $240 after rebate. The 7950 vapor-x is 260 after rebate

envy14tpe said:
LeFaust said:
I have though about this for a long time.. I will most likely remove the ssd to save some money or put it towards the gpu/psu . I made this descision seeing that i am fine with my current boot sped i will most definitely be fine without a ssd which saves me $85-90


At a $1000 build I'd keep the SSD. You can buy a 7950/7950boost/660ti/760 and they'll play almost all games on Ultra at 1080p. So, a SSD will only improve other aspects of the system.

My original build didn't have a SSD and I liked it, but then I added a SSD after 4 months. The difference was night n day. Everything I did was snap quick. I never realized this could be done.

If your budget was around $800 then I'd say don't get a SSD especially if you want a gaming build. But you aren't at that price range. Keep the SSD.


Will i be able to add a ssd later on and put my windows over to the ssd or complete reinstall?
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