Cases Suggestions and Build Advice

[JWilson18]

I am in the process of choosing which parts I want to build a new Gaming PC from.

Approximate Purchase Date: By the end of May 2012

Budget Range: 900-1100

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Browsing, Music

Country: US

Parts Preferences: None

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in the future

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

So far this is what I've been able to come up with on my own:

mobo:
P8Z77-V LX Socket 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0387156

HDD:
Barracuda 1TB 7,200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0334293

CPU:
Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Processor
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388577

Drive:
22x DVD±RW Super Multi Dual Layer Burner - OEM
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0382272

Power:
Gold Series ILG-600 600 Watt ATX Power Supply
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0346857

Memory:
HyperX blu 8GB DDR3-1333 (PC3-10600) CL9 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit (Two 4GB Memory Modules)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0360526

GPU:
7970PE53G AMD Radeon HD 7970 3072MB GDDR5 PCIe 3.0 x16 Video Card
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0382945

Cooler:
Hyper 212 Plus Universal CPU Cooler
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0315397

My concerns are:
1. Will I need a larger power supply?
2. Do I need a full case, or will something like a Rosewill mid-size work?
3. Do I need to purchase cables to hook things up?
4. Is it necessary to get a SSD as well?

Any other suggestions and help would be appreciated.

 

[rangingwarr]

You would not necessarily need a larger PSU, but I would recommend a better one. The one I was recommended for my new build is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341049 but you could also go with a comparable smaller one if you don't intend on SLI or overclocking in the near future.

For the case you probably wont need a full tower, but if going with a mid tower make sure there is enough room for that GPU (its 12in). I was looking at the HAF 912 for my build, but if you went with that you would have to remove the upper HDD cage to fit that card (there would still be room for 3 HDDs in the lower cage.)

As far as the cables, some things include everything, some don't. If you end up missing one you could find a store in your area to pick up anything that's missing.

A SSD is not a necessity, but it would improve load times significantly and somewhat increase overall performance. That said, in your budget a standard HDD would be fine until the SSD prices become more reasonable.

Missing things:
OS
Heatsink(if overclocking) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Other than that everything looks ok. If you would like to take a look at the one I am planning (still deciding on some things, so a few of them might change) you can look at http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=26942628

 

[Why_Me]

That motherboard you have isn't meant for dual video cards. It runs dual cards @ x4.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293 $139.99
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z77%20Extreme4 <----- another look at that board

That old school 1.65v Kingston RAM you have up there isn't recommended for 1155 boards. You want 1.5v RAM for these boards.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0382101 $39.99
8GB DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800) CL9 U-DIMM Desktop Memory Kit (Two 4GB Memory Modules) 1.5V

That psu you have up there is an over priced paperweight.

http://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-Enthusiast-Series-Certified-Performance/dp/B004MYFODI/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1336081048&sr=1-3 $89.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX 12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply - CMPSU-750TXV2

Better cpu cooler down below.

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-RR-212E-20PK-R2/dp/B005O65JXI/ref=pd_cp_e_0 $34.95 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R2)

With your budget your looking at a 7870. This one down below beats out a gtx 570 and AMD 6970 and runs even with a gtx 580.

http://www.amazon.com/HD7870-DC2-2GD5-DisplayPort-Utilities-PCI-Express-Graphics/dp/B007JLFVNO $349.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
ASUS HD7870-DC2-2GD5 Radeon 2GB DDR5 VGA/DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort GPU Tweak Utilities PCI-Express 3.0 Graphics Card HD7870-DC2-2GD5

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/HD_7870_Direct_Cu_II/ <----- review w/benchmarks of that Asus 7870

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0366600 $89.99
Carbide Series 400R Mid Tower ATX Gaming Computer Case

http://www.corsair.com/pc-cases/carbide-series-pc-case/carbide-series-400r-mid-tower-case.html <----- another look at that case

or...

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0379532 $69.99
Carbide Series 300R Mid-Tower ATX Gaming Computer Case

http://www.corsair.com/us/pc-cases/carbide-series-pc-case/carbide-series-300r-compact-pc-gaming-case.html <----- another look at that case


http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-64bit-System-Builder/dp/B004Q0PT3I/ref=pd_cp_e_2 $99.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder DVD 1 Pack

 

[JWilson18]

That motherboard you have isn't meant for dual video cards. It runs dual cards @ x4.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293 $139.99
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z77%20Extreme4 <----- another look at that board]


I've made a few changes including adding a case you suggested, switching the memory, as well as a better PSU and adding an OS. Could you explain to my what exactly is wrong with the motherboard I had listed? It says that it supports both AMD CrossFireX and AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX, so I guess I am just wondering what makes the one you have listed better since I am new at this?

Also, if I really wanted the 7970, did you only suggest I go with the 7870 because of my budget?

 

[Why_Me]

That motherboard you have isn't meant for dual video cards. It runs dual cards @ x4.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293 $139.99
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z77%20Extreme4 <----- another look at that board]


I've made a few changes including adding a case you suggested, switching the memory, as well as a better PSU and adding an OS. Could you explain to my what exactly is wrong with the motherboard I had listed? It says that it supports both AMD CrossFireX and AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX, so I guess I am just wondering what makes the one you have listed better since I am new at this?

Also, if I really wanted the 7970, did you only suggest I go with the 7870 because of my budget?

That Asus board you have up there doesn't run dual cards x8. It runs them @ x4 which means you would have a major bottleneck. Technically it does support Crossfire, but not as it should. Notice how it doesn't say it supports "SLI"? You want a board that runs dual cards x8 & x8.

The 7970 is a great card, but trying to fit that card in your budget and have a quality case, psu to run two of those cards, etc... is pretty much impossible with that budget.

Look at it like this. The 7870 is a great card. Add another one later on and you have a system that mops the floor with most peoples rigs out there atm. For your budget that card is realistic, and it's no slouch. It out performs the 6970, gtx 570, and runs on par with a gtx 580. Those 580's were going for $500 just a few months ago. A 750w psu will let you push two of those cards and leave you some headroom for extra drives, over clocking, fans, etc...


http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8Z77V_LX/#specifications

ASUS P8Z77-V LX

1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (blue)
1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4 mode, black)