Final Notice, Please Grade This Build

TAC93

Honorable
Nov 12, 2013
21
0
10,510
I received this build last night, and I just want to put it out there and get a little more feedback on it. I'm a casual gamer, so I'm looking for decent specs at a good value. I also plan on upgrading in the future, so I'm trying to keep an eye towards future-proofing. My budget is ~$1200.

With all that in mind, what are general thoughts on this build? Good specs for the money? Shouldn't need to be upgraded for 3-4 years?

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.97 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($35.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston HyperX 3K 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card ($389.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($92.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit)
Total: $1183.90


Thanks in advance for any input, I really like the look of this build, just want to get as much advice as possible before committing myself to purchase.
 
Solution
I aim to be ridiculous.

$1000 is a decent amount to spend. If you want a GTX770 it's probably going to mean a concession somewhere else to keep it under budget, I ditched the SSD.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($53.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive...

Reikokuna

Honorable
Sep 20, 2013
34
0
10,540
I would change the cpu to a 4570k, putz a z87 mobo (asus gene/hero), 1600Mhz memory (gskill), samsung ssd (get away from that kingston, I have one and it gets demolished by the samsung 840). Other than that I also have a 770 but since you are a casual gamer you can downgrade it to a 760 if the budget doesn't allow.
 

TAC93

Honorable
Nov 12, 2013
21
0
10,510


I plan on overclocking, so wouldn't the 3570K be better? Also, my understanding is that there's really not much difference between the Z77 and Z87. Why would I want a Z87 instead?
 

Rammy

Honorable
I'd agree about changing the ram and SSD.
The HCG620 is a good PSU, but the very similar Seasonic M12 II 620 is cheaper (though shorter warranty). Also worth a look are the Antec TP-650C offers you 80Plus Gold efficiency but no modular cables ($60) or the EVAG Nex650G which gives you both for $80.

Re: 3570K vs 4670K. You can make arguments either way. Neither is going to underperform really. Z87 gives a few newer features and upgrade path potential, Z77 is likely to be a bit cheaper. With a Hyper 212 Evo you aren't going to be going for record breaking overclocks, so I wouldn't have concerns about the 3570k being a better overclocker.
I disagree with the poster above about motherboard spending. I reckon $150 is plenty for Z77orZ87, the Asus Gene/Hero are very nice but don't really offer good value for money. Gigabyte, Asus and ASRock all have very commendable boards for both chipsets in that bracket.

I'm not sure a 4Gb GTX770 is a good investment. It's up to $80 more than a 2Gb GTX770, and in the vast majority of applications, no better. If Vram is a genuine concern (high resolutions, more demanding games on the horizon) then an R9 280X or R9 290 might be a better choice.
 

TAC93

Honorable
Nov 12, 2013
21
0
10,510


Thanks so much for the recommendations!

A couple quick questions, if you don't mind. In regards to the PSU, do you think the Seasonic M12 II 620 will age well? I wanted a slightly better PSU than necessary, because it seems like an easy part to future-proof (ie, save money down the road when upgrading the CPU and VC). Unless maybe you would advise against this?

Regarding the CPU, what do you believe is best in terms of cost/performance? Is overclocking really not cost effective for this build? (I was looking at overclocking as a way to squeeze a bit more life out at the end of its lifespan, thought it would be more economical)

As for the VC, I'm mostly just concerned with getting the best value over the long haul. Basically, I'm trying to find the perfect balance between current specs, price, and future-proofing. Would the R9 280X or 290 be better suited to that?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, but I've been looking all over for this kind of information and have found very few answers. Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.
 

Rammy

Honorable
There's nothing wrong with the HCG620 or M12 II 620. Both are made by Seasonic, both are 80Plus Bronze rated, and both have similar configurations. If they were a bit cheaper, they'd be a conclusive winner.
The TP-650C I mentioned above is also made by Seasonic, 80Plus Gold rated, Haswell certified, and has a 5 year warranty. For $60 its an absolute steal.
If modular cables are important, the EVGA model I mentioned is probably better value than either of the first two.

In terms of cost/performance, the 3570K is almost undoubtedly better. Its cheaper to buy, and the motherboards to fit it are generally a bit cheaper too. That's around $40-50 saved. The 4670K on the other hand, uses a newer CPU socket that will see future upgrades, and numerous minor advancements in tech. It's not the value winner, but if covering your bases for the future is important, it's perhaps the one to go for. If your needs change, the ability to fit a next generation i7 has inherent value.

Given the various issues with the R9 290 and 290X I wouldn't be in a massive rush to jump on that bandwagon yet. Once non-reference cards start arriving the 290 will probably be worth serious consideration. A few applications can currently use more than 2Gb of Vram, but they are fairly niche (the most widely cited examples are BF4 and Skyrim mods) and limited to very high texture qualities or resolutions. In the case of BF4, the GTX770 still performs absolutely fine, it doesn't get bottlenecked by only having 2Gb of vram, even when running at 2560*1440.

"Future proofing" in general is a fools errand. Spending extra money on the logic you might save some at an indeterminate point, if something else you can't predict might happen, is basically gambling. I've seen people on here suggest buying PSUs dramatically larger than needed on this logic, despite the fact that CPUs and (to a degree) GPUs are all becoming more efficient, or to cover a future multiple GPU setup which very few people need.

If I was buying today, I'd have no issues with getting a 2GB GTX770.
 

TAC93

Honorable
Nov 12, 2013
21
0
10,510


This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you!

So if future-proofing is a fool's errand, any suggestions how to find the best performance/cost? What kind of price range should I look to buy in?

Also, if you have the time and inclination, would you be willing to suggest a build for me here? If not, that's fine.

Thanks again for everything, you've provided a ridiculous amount of useful information.
 

Rammy

Honorable
I aim to be ridiculous.

$1000 is a decent amount to spend. If you want a GTX770 it's probably going to mean a concession somewhere else to keep it under budget, I ditched the SSD.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($53.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($329.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($42.83 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec TruePower Classic 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.00 @ Amazon)
Total: $1005.72
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-19 06:43 EST-0500)
 
Solution

TAC93

Honorable
Nov 12, 2013
21
0
10,510


Thanks so much for the build!

I've already asked so much from you, so I hesitate to inquire further, but if you still feel like indulging my questions then I have a few more. If not, I'll ask around elsewhere. Either way, I'll mark this as the solution.

Is the i5 3570K the best for the money, considering its unlocked? Do I need anything more than the stock cooler if I'm not overclocking?

I was originally planning on getting the GTX 760, but I heard from others here that the 770's performance was worth the increased price (despite what I found here). Is that not the case? What would you recommend for a budget build?

Thanks again, and sorry for all the bumbling on my part.
 

Rammy

Honorable
If you decide you don't want to overclock, then you can downgrade both the processor, the motherboard and the cpu cooler.
An entry level i5, probably the 3470/3350P or 4430/4440/4570 is a better value solution as they are around $30-40 cheaper than the k-series variants, and out of the box are very similar in performance.
These can be paired with either a cheap B75/B85 chipset for the best bang/buck OR a H77/H87 board for a better quality solution. This could save at least another $50-70.
As for coolers, the Intel stock cooler works fine, but in my mind is a little whiney as I could hear mine quite clearly above the 120mm and 200mm case fans I have. There's no real incentive to replace it though.

Every computer component (especially graphics cards) are subject to diminishing returns. The GTX770 is significantly better than a GTX760, but it is also a lot more expensive. Whether or not the cost is truly justifiable is up to you. An $800 build is going to play the same games perfectly well, so the extra you spend is really extending the period you are likely to be able to play at maximum settings. There isn't really a sweet spot in terms of performance, but I'd imagine that the best value is somewhere around the HD7870/GTX660 level, as they can play all the current games at 1080P without any real issues.
 

TAC93

Honorable
Nov 12, 2013
21
0
10,510




I decided overclocking wasn't a big issue because of your recommendation regarding the economic viability of overclocking, and because I only really wanted overclocking as a way to extend the lifespan of the gaming rig another half a year. I apologize for not making that more apparent, I really should have stated that more clearly.

Regarding the CPU, what exactly would you recommend? All the ones you recommended appear to be about the same price, any of them stand above the rest? I'd also probably prefer a B75 or B85, but between the two which would you suggest?

I think I'd like to go with the GTX 760. From all the benchmarks I've seen its a good value, and should be able to run all upcoming games quite well. Would you agree with that assessment?

Thank you so much for all of your help, I only hope I haven't caused you too much trouble or frustration. I wasn't really sure if I should ask for a build on a thread where I was only asking for a grade on an existing build, so I made a new OP. It's obvious now that I shouldn't have, and I'm sorry for any hassle it created.