Gaming build - opinions and help!

JustANewUser

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (€184.61 @ Amazon Espana)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (€89.09 @ Amazon Espana)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (€70.30 @ Amazon Espana)
Storage: Toshiba 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (€60.32 @ Amazon Espana)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (€134.00 @ Amazon Espana)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer (€23.90 @ Amazon Espana)
Other: Case: Zalman Z12 Plus (€66.00)
Other: OS: Microsoft Windows 8.1 64-bits OEM (€85.00)
Other: Video Card: Sapphire R9 270X Dual-X 2GB GDDR5 (€175.00)
Other: Monitor: Hanns.G HE225DPB - Monitor LCD 21.5" (€109.00)
Total: €997.22
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-15 06:18 CET+0100)

Zalman Z12 Plus, Windows 8.1 OS and R9 270X would be bought in PCComponentes, which is a Spanish web.

The monitor would be bought in Amazon Spain.

Any recommendation? Should I change any component? Is 650W enough?
 
Solution
ASUS monitors are better in general, but you won't notice the difference in quality or size. Get the cheaper one. Also, a 270x will fly through all those games without issue. All except for maybe Max payne 3 should run at 60FPS or more. L4D2 should get roughly 120+ FPS.

marshal11

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650w is more than enough. You can throw in another 270x/7870 for crossfire with at PSU as well. I would suggest getting a decent but cheap cooler for your CPU though, such as the famous Hyper 212 + or 212 evo. Other than that, I would recommend getting a Z87 motherboard with a 4670k if the price difference isn't too bad. Everything else is good.
 

marshal11

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The 4670k is about 400MHz faster than the 3570k. So a 4670k at 4.6GHz which seems to be the average overclock achievable, it will be equivalent to a 3570k at a crazy 5GHz which is near impossible without super high end cooling and you must delid. Also, the Hyper212+ and evo both come with some decent thermal paste. You need to apply it though, it isn't pre applied like it is on Intel stock coolers. You wouldn't have to purchase thermal paste separately. If you aren't planning on going passed 4.2GHz or so, which is about 4.6GHz on a 3570k, you will be fine on the stock cooler.
 

marshal11

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2p6Hk4IfqI here you go. Just put a line across the middle. As you can see in my profile picture, this is a 3570k without the metal plate, exposing the actual CPU. The 4670k is pretty much identical. You can see it's a rectangular shape, where as some are just a square. For the rectangular shaped ones, you want to do a line, AKA the grain of rice method. For the square CPUs, you want to use the dot method, AKA the pea method. The amount you use doesn't need to be exact at all. The Coolermaster thermal paste they include spreads extremely well and is super easy to apply. The IC Diamond used in this video is a lot thicker and doesn't apply as well, so it will be even easier than in the video.
 

marshal11

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You won't do it wrong, trust me. It doesn't need to be exact at all. As long as you don't use the whole tube or use too little, your temperatures will be fine. However, if you do manage to mess it up, your temperatures will be really high. A good way to test is when you get the PC built and running, download Prime 95 and Realtemp. Then open Prime 95 choose the Small FFTs stress test and then download and run Realtemp. It will give you your CPU's maximum temperature. Do this with the stock cooler to get an idea of how hot it runs, then when or if you do decide to get a aftermarket cooler, do the same again to compare temps. The Hyper 212+ should give you at least a 10-15c drop in temperatures. If it stays the same or gets higher, you probably used too much or not enough. If that's the case, take it off, and wipe off the thermal paste with some paper towel and 70% or higher isopropyl alcohol, just like in the video.
 

JustANewUser

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Thanks, those were my only concerns! I think I'm going to get an aftermarket cooler then!

I wonder if the R9 270X can play GTA:SA and L4D2 at +70FPS... And if it will be able to play PAYDAY 2 and MAX PAYNE 3 at +40FPS...
 

marshal11

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ASUS monitors are better in general, but you won't notice the difference in quality or size. Get the cheaper one. Also, a 270x will fly through all those games without issue. All except for maybe Max payne 3 should run at 60FPS or more. L4D2 should get roughly 120+ FPS.
 
Solution

JustANewUser

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Really? Wow, 60 FPS in Max Payne 3 and 120 in L4D2, that's awesome!

The ASUS monitor is €10 cheaper, I think I'm going for it then.

Thank you so much for your help! I hope I haven't disturbed you too much.