Final Check

[SpoodBeest]

Hi, this is what I've come up with - figured I'd check with you guys before I spend some money. A lot of it was on your advice anyhow but you might know of better deals


GPU:

Sapphire HD 6850 1GB GDDR5 PCIE Graphics Card
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0047D5S26/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

CPU:

AMD 960T Black Edition 3.0GHz Socket AM3 8MB L2 Cache Retail Boxed Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/311396-amd-96...-am3-8mb-l2-cache-retail-boxed-hd96ztwfgrbox]

Mobo:

AsRock 970 Extreme3 Motherboard
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ASRock-970-...RG8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325612661&sr=8-1]

Case:

Coolermaster Elite 430 All Black Interior Mid Tower Case with Side Window
http://www.ebuyer.com/233740-cooler...-mid-tower-case-with-side-window-rc-430-kwn1]
(This I'm not sure on, it may not be big enough or have enough cooling... Plan to OC etc - Will probably go with a 14cm fan on front intake and 2x12cm rear exhaust)

PSU:

Antec 620W High Current Gamer PSU - 80plus Bronze 13.5cm Fan 3x PCI-E 6x SATA
http://www.ebuyer.com/246651-antec-...-80plus-bronze-13-5cm-fan-3x-0761345-06209-1]
(A 520w may be enough but I wasn't sure, better safe than sorry I figured)

RAM:

G-Skill 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600Mhz RipjawsX Memory Kit CL9 (9-9-9-24) 1.5V
http://www.ebuyer.com/264750-g-skil...ory-kit-cl9-9-9-9-24-1-5v-f3-12800cl9d-8gbxl]

HDD:

Samsung HD103SJ Spinpoint F3 1TB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm 32MB Cache - OEM
http://www.ebuyer.com/173804-samsun...hard-drive-sataii-7200rpm-32mb-cache-hd103sj]
(Damned expensive, but they just are now I guess.)


Will I also need a CPU cooler? If yes recommendations please, along with any for fans. Anyhow, I believe that's all - look forward to feedback.

Spoiler

Fixed the links now, apologies

 

[g-unit1111]

Coolermaster Elite 430 All Black Interior Mid Tower Case with Side Window
http://www.ebuyer.com/233740-coole [...] -430-kwn1]
(This I'm not sure on, it may not be big enough or have enough cooling... Plan to OC etc - Will probably go with a 14cm fan on front intake and 2x12cm rear exhaust)

Go with the HAF 912 instead - it will run a few bucks more but it has far superior cable management and better airflow. The Elite 430 is meant for machines where you won't be doing a lot of upgrading or tweaking.

PSU:


Antec 620W High Current Gamer PSU - 80plus Bronze 13.5cm Fan 3x PCI-E 6x SATA
http://www.ebuyer.com/246651-antec [...] 5-06209-1]
(A 520w may be enough but I wasn't sure, better safe than sorry I figured)

Antec PSUs are OK - I'd recommend something like the Corsair CX600 instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

HDD:

Samsung HD103SJ Spinpoint F3 1TB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm 32MB Cache - OEM
http://www.ebuyer.com/173804-samsu [...] e-hd103sj]
(Damned expensive, but they just are now I guess.)

*SUPPOSEDLY* there's supposed to be a full recovery of the plants in Thailand by the summer so by then we should be seeing the prices drop, but yeah I agree they're ridiculous and right now there's no real alternative solutions unless you want to go with a low-capacity SSD but then there's not enough space for everything.

Will I also need a CPU cooler? If yes recommendations please, along with any for fans. Anyhow, I believe that's all - look forward to feedback.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to get an aftermarket cooler - the ones that AMD and Intel include with their CPUs are just pieces of aluminum with a plastic fan on top. The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo is always the best choice for the money, but also EVGA's Supercooler and the Noctua NH-U9B are good choices for a few bucks more.

You don't need any extra case fans - at least to start with, but you can always add those later. Otherwise your build looks pretty good - I say check the suggestions I have but definitely go for it.

 

[geekapproved]

Antec is just as good and imo better than Corsair, don't let the fanboys tell you different. Also the Antec is much more efficient than Corsair cx600.

Not to mention it's made by Seasonic, there is no better.

I certainly would go with a AM3+ motherboard for future upgradability.

You do not need a cpu cooler unless you plan to overclock.

Haf 912 or Antec 300 are both great budget cases with great cooling and cable management.

 

[SpoodBeest]

Antec is just as good and imo better than Corsair, don't let the fanboys tell you different. Also the Antec is much more efficient than Corsair cx600.

Not to mention it's made by Seasonic, there is no better.

I certainly would go with a AM3+ motherboard for future upgradability.

You do not need a cpu cooler unless you plan to overclock.

Like the Extreme 4 opposed to 3? I guess that would make sense, not a huge price difference.

The HAF 912 I find pretty ugly and, although I shouldn't and don't usually concentrate on aesthetics too much, I don't think I could live with looking at it. Is there anything less garish at a similar price point?

EDIT: Antec 300 looks good.

 

[geekapproved]

The 300 has good looks, nothing gaudy or cheesy, more professional looking. It comes with 120mm large fans with speed controls.

I see it on sale at newegg all the time for $44 w/free shipping.

People are gonna say forget AM3+ you don't want BD, but BD is gonna perform a lot better and be much more efficient with Win8. Also Piledriver and Steamroller will be next, hopefully on AM3+.

 

[g-unit1111]

Antec is just as good and imo better than Corsair, don't let the fanboys tell you different. Also the Antec is much more efficient than Corsair cx600.

Not to mention it's made by Seasonic, there is no better.

I certainly would go with a AM3+ motherboard for future upgradability.

You do not need a cpu cooler unless you plan to overclock.

Haf 912 or Antec 300 are both great budget cases with great cooling and cable management.

I'm not going to say I'm a fan boy but I definitely like Corsair better than a lot of the competition, although anything made by Seasonic is good, too.

The HAF 912 I find pretty ugly and, although I shouldn't and don't usually concentrate on aesthetics too much, I don't think I could live with looking at it. Is there anything less garish at a similar price point?

EDIT: Antec 300 looks good.

Antec 300 is a good choice for the money.

Like the Extreme 4 opposed to 3? I guess that would make sense, not a huge price difference.

There's not a whole lot of difference between the two - just maybe a few minor features here and there, the Extreme 4 I believe has more x16 slots as opposed to x8 but you only need that if you're going to use SLI or Crossfire.

 

[SpoodBeest]

I'm not going to say I'm a fan boy but I definitely like Corsair better than a lot of the competition, although anything made by Seasonic is good, too.

The HAF 912 I find pretty ugly and, although I shouldn't and don't usually concentrate on aesthetics too much, I don't think I could live with looking at it. Is there anything less garish at a similar price point?

EDIT: Antec 300 looks good.

Antec 300 is a good choice for the money.

Like the Extreme 4 opposed to 3? I guess that would make sense, not a huge price difference.

There's not a whole lot of difference between the two - just maybe a few minor features here and there, the Extreme 4 I believe has more x16 slots as opposed to x8 but you only need that if you're going to use SLI or Crossfire.

Don't really plan on crossfire so the only advantage would be the possibility of CPU upgrade which is something I can't be sure will happen. I think I'll avoid BD, if I was going to pay that I would most likely go intel.

Think I'll stick with the 3. I don't see myself affording any large upgrades in the next 3-4 years and there are plenty of games I have to catch up on anyway.

Thanks a lot for the help, will be ordering up soon after a final search for deals

 

[g-unit1111]

Don't really plan on crossfire so the only advantage would be the possibility of CPU upgrade which is something I can't be sure will happen. I think I'll avoid BD, if I was going to pay that I would most likely go intel.

Yeah and the only place to go up from AM3+ right now is the FX series and so far those have proven not to be of the best performers either.

Think I'll stick with the 3. I don't see myself affording any large upgrades in the next 3-4 years and there are plenty of games I have to catch up on anyway.

True - I definitely don't have the time to play games like I used to. :lol:

 

[geekapproved]

Remember a FX is going to throw the same framerates as the highest end Sandy Bridge cpu when your only using one video card, so cpu really isn't that important. The exception being some MMO's that are very cpu dependent.

Corsair shmorsair. The CX series was such crap when it came out it wasn't even 80+ rated. The failure rate was through the roof, so they had to come out with a CX V2 made by a different manufacturer. Yet you still recommend a 80+ Corsair over a 80+ bronze Antec? Sorry I call that fanboy.

 

[g-unit1111]

Remember a FX is going to throw the same framerates as the highest end Sandy Bridge cpu when your only using one video card, so cpu really isn't that important. The exception being some MMO's that are very cpu dependent.

Corsair shmorsair. The CX series was such crap when it came out it wasn't even 80+ rated. The failure rate was through the roof, so they had to come out with a CX V2 made by a different manufacturer. Yet you still recommend a 80+ Corsair over a 80+ bronze Antec? Sorry I call that fanboy.

Really? So SLI or Crossfire doesn't equal higher framerates with the FX series? Interesting.

As far as Corsair goes, say what you want about the CX600 - I have the CX430 and it's still been going strong after a few months and it was a bargain for what I paid for it ($40) compared to what I paid for the TX750 (nearly $110).

 

[SpoodBeest]

Remember a FX is going to throw the same framerates as the highest end Sandy Bridge cpu when your only using one video card, so cpu really isn't that important. The exception being some MMO's that are very cpu dependent.

Corsair shmorsair. The CX series was such crap when it came out it wasn't even 80+ rated. The failure rate was through the roof, so they had to come out with a CX V2 made by a different manufacturer. Yet you still recommend a 80+ Corsair over a 80+ bronze Antec? Sorry I call that fanboy.

I will probably play some MMO's, GW2 has to be given a chance, but surely they can't be THAT CPU dependant. I definitely am not considering Crossfire, at least not for a while and it may work out better just to upgrade the single GPU by then, so I guess BD is worth considering - especially if, as you say, it performs better with Win8. I don't think I can enter the Piledriver and Steamroller into consideration if we don't even know that it will use AM3+ though.


I had heard a bit about the CX series reliability and the Antec NEO ECO (which AFAIK is basically the same as the HCG) was almost always recommended, hence why I went with it.

 

[g-unit1111]

I will probably play some MMO's, GW2 has to be given a chance, but surely they can't be THAT CPU dependant. I definitely am not considering Crossfire, at least not for a while and it may work out better just to upgrade the single GPU by then, so I guess BD is worth considering - especially if, as you say, it performs better with Win8. I don't think I can enter the Piledriver and Steamroller into consideration if we don't even know that it will use AM3+ though.

AMD sockets haven't changed that much over the last few years. AM3 is the same as AM2, and AM3+ was just a guideline for motherboard manufacturers when producing new boards so they'd accept the FX series of CPUs.

I had heard a bit about the CX series reliability and the Antec NEO ECO (which AFAIK is basically the same as the HCG) was almost always recommended, hence why I went with it.

Fair warning - there's a *LOT* of personal preference on this board when it comes to brands and there's also a lot of passion when it comes to preferring one brand over the other. :lol:

Antec PSUs are good. For the money though you really need to watch out as to what a PSU has and what brands are considered really good, as the less expensive you get when it comes to PSUs, the more likely you are to encounter a lot of crap. Especially the Diabloteks, Ultras, Rosewill, Coolmax. and so on.

Antec is a good brand, Corsair is a good brand, so is Thermaltake, PC Power & Cooling, Seasonic, XFX, - it's pretty much take your pick, but this is one area where I'd heavily research before buying. Don't take our word for it.

 

[geekapproved]

Really? So SLI or Crossfire doesn't equal higher framerates with the FX series? Interesting.

As far as Corsair goes, say what you want about the CX600 - I have the CX430 and it's still been going strong after a few months and it was a bargain for what I paid for it ($40) compared to what I paid for the TX750 (nearly $110).

Version 1 or Version 2?

What makes you think sli and crossfire doesn't equal higher framerates with a FX ???

 

[g-unit1111]

Version 1 or Version 2?

What makes you think sli and crossfire doesn't equal higher framerates with a FX ???

Version 2. It's this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

And I think I misread that comment about FX.

 

[geekapproved]

Yeah V2 is a good one. V1 complete garbage. V1 not even 80+ certified.

 

[g-unit1111]

Yeah V2 is a good one. V1 complete garbage. V1 not even 80+ certified.

Yeah I always make sure to buy PSUs that are certified at least 80+ bronze or better. I've bought a couple that weren't although when I first got my system I didn't know about it - now I definitely know better. :lol:

 

[geekapproved]

Ok well the CX430 you have is not bronze.