$1100 Gaming Rig

wubadee

May 4, 2012 8:37:41 PM

Hey guys,

I'm looking to throw together a newer gaming rig and upgrade from my current one.

I need to fit this build into the $900-1100 range as closely as possible, but at the same time get the best bang for my buck. Here's the current rundown. I'd like to make it as futureproof as possible.

Case: HAF 912
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

MoBo: MSI Z77A-GD55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

PSU: COOLER MASTER Silent Pro Gold Series RS800-80GAD3-US 800W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CPU: Intel i5-3570k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Memory: 4x4gb Corsair Vengeance (Not sure I need this much, please leave a suggestion)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

SSD: Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2
https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.as...

Hard Drive: 500gb seagate (I already own this)

Optical Drive: LG 22X Super-Multi DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Case fan: 200mm Cooler Master
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CPU fan: Hyper 212+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Thermal paste: Arctic silver 5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

GPU: ????
I need help deciding on this one.

Sub-Total on Newegg: $989.90

I own a 22" ASUS IPS panel, 1920x1080, and I don't even plan on using more than one monitor to play games. This machine is primarily for gaming (80%), and watching movies(19.99%) (I don't do blu-ray/DVD, only Netflix/Hulu/YouTube). It needs to be able to run this year's games on ultra (Diablo Tres, Guild Wars 2, Crysis 3, etc.), and still fit my budget. I've been thinking about the difference between an older Sandy processor and a newer Ivy one (other than the $30-50 price range), and really can't decide what I want more. If I do go with ivy, I'll want a 600 series GPU. If I go with sandy, I'll want whatever gpu is the best and still fits the bill. I have nothing against ATI, but I've had great experience with EVGA/Nvidia in the past.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Forgot one more thing: I'd like it to be quiet! Power efficiency isn't imperative, but sound is. Thanks again!

More about : 1100 gaming rig

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jthomas666

May 4, 2012 8:48:34 PM

If you go Ivy Bridge and a 600 gpu, an 800w psu might be overkill. I'm finalizing a build of my own w/ a Intel i5-3570k and an AMD 7870 card, and all the info I can find says that 650-700 watts is more than sufficient.

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wubadee

May 4, 2012 8:50:53 PM

jthomas666 said:

If you go Ivy Bridge and a 600 gpu, an 800w psu might be overkill. I'm finalizing a build of my own w/ a Intel i5-3570k and an AMD 7870 card, and all the info I can find says that 650-700 watts is more than sufficient.

Hm... I just realized I forgot to take lower power consumption into the picture. Thanks for the advice! I might be able to slot in a 670/680 if I also cut the SSD out of the picture.

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darkclownjoe

May 4, 2012 9:02:51 PM

Here we go. I changed a couple things for your build.
-16GB RAM is overkill for gaming. 8GB is sufficient and even a little futureproof.
-PSU is overkill at 800W. I put in a 750W, so you can even CF down the road and have headroom.
-For a silent case, I put the Fractal Design R3. It has sound dampening features and should be MUCH quieter than the HAF 912.
-I couldn't see your SSD choice (link doesn't work) , but I put in a 128GB assuming you wanted one.
-I didn't include the extra case fan.

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 ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($147.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($116.95 @ B&H)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R3 Titanium Grey ATX Mid Tower Case ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony DDU1681S-0B DVD/CD Drive ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1083.74

EDIT: I just saw you didn't want an AMD GPU. I don't know whether you want to wait to see what Nvidia releases it's new line, or head with a previous gen model.

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g-unit1111

Gaming Authority

May 4, 2012 9:03:18 PM

wubadee said:

Hm... I just realized I forgot to take lower power consumption into the picture. Thanks for the advice! I might be able to slot in a 670/680 if I also cut the SSD out of the picture.

I agree that a low PSU is a good thing - but Cooler Master doesn't have the best reputation as they slap a lot of fake labels and certifications on their PSUs and heat sinks, try this one instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I also agree about dropping the SSD - put that money in the GPU, you can always add an SSD later, most cases make it really easy to add / remove HDs.

I'd switch out your motherboard - I'm not the biggest fan of MSI but this would be better: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

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wubadee

May 4, 2012 9:15:28 PM

darkclownjoe said:

Here we go. I changed a couple things for your build.
-16GB RAM is overkill for gaming. 8GB is sufficient and even a little futureproof.
-PSU is overkill at 800W. I put in a 750W, so you can even CF down the road and have headroom.
-For a silent case, I put the Fractal Design R3. It has sound dampening features and should be MUCH quieter than the HAF 912.
-I couldn't see your SSD choice (link doesn't work) , but I put in a 128GB assuming you wanted one.
-I didn't include the extra case fan.

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 ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($147.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($116.95 @ B&H)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R3 Titanium Grey ATX Mid Tower Case ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony DDU1681S-0B DVD/CD Drive ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1083.74

EDIT: I just saw you didn't want an AMD GPU. I don't know whether you want to wait to see what Nvidia releases it's new line, or head with a previous gen model.

I really wish I lived near a Microcenter, but the nearest one is about 3 hours away. Solid state drive is definitely not required, so I cut it out and was able to fit a 7970 (same price as the 670 is reported to be released at). I picked out some G.Skill 1600 2x4Gb instead of 1333 (It's only $6 more). All of this taken into consideration, build is down to $1080 without swapping the case.

Changed the PSU, and Mobo to your suggestion, thanks!

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wubadee

May 4, 2012 9:58:14 PM

Why_Me said:

You don't need thermal compound. CM cpu coolers come with a small tube of MX-4 thermal paste which is about as good as it gets. Here's a case with front 3.0 USB ports.

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Carbide-Series-Mid-Tower-... $79.49 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Corsair Carbide Series 300R Mid-Tower Gaming Case - CC-9011014-WW

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

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PRO650W-Edition-Bronze-Certif... $84.59 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
XFX PRO650W Core Edition 80+ Bronze ATX 650 Energy Star Certified Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... $379.98
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX806237I53570K

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

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-RR-212E-2... $34.95 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R2)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $44.99 FREE SHIPPING
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 997002

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SH-222BB-BEBE-Internal-So... $16.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25
Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE 22X SATA DVDRW Internal Drive (Black), Bulk without Software

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007JCNOZK/ref=pd_lpo_... $259.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2 GB DDR5 HDMI/DVI-I/Dual Mini DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 11200-00-20G

Total: $900.98 *not including shipping and rebates

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

Thanks for the info on the thermal compound, I didn't know that. I really like the way that case looks, and the PSU is a lot better priced than the other ones.

Here's what the current build looks like:
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx...

I'm also considering swapping that case for the Antec P280:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Would you recommend one GPU brand over another? It's getting really hard to tell which is the better buy these days.

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wubadee

May 4, 2012 10:35:18 PM

If anyone is still sticking around in this thread, is it worth it to wait for the 670 before jumping on a 7950?

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g-unit1111

Gaming Authority

May 4, 2012 10:40:01 PM

wubadee said:

If anyone is still sticking around in this thread, is it worth it to wait for the 670 before jumping on a 7950?

Not sure - I was hanging around for the 670 but the other forums I've checked including EVGA's official forums state no release date for the 670 as of yet - I'm guessing July - August at the most but I'm not positive.

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wubadee

May 4, 2012 10:56:41 PM

I just got done reading a buttload of reviews for various 7950s, and it's pretty saddening to say the least. Driver issues, cooling issues, many DOA/dying within 1-2 weeks, "loud as a train," etc. I'm going to hold out for the 670ti, that way I can save some money and focus on my current PC for another couple of months.

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azeem40

Gaming Expert

May 4, 2012 11:55:12 PM

I have had the 7950 for 1 month, and have had zero problems. Honestly, with all components, it is the luck of the draw.

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g-unit1111

Gaming Authority

May 5, 2012 1:11:26 AM

wubadee said:

I just got done reading a buttload of reviews for various 7950s, and it's pretty saddening to say the least. Driver issues, cooling issues, many DOA/dying within 1-2 weeks, "loud as a train," etc. I'm going to hold out for the 670ti, that way I can save some money and focus on my current PC for another couple of months.

Well most of the driver issues have been fixed - AMD doesn't screw around when it comes to driver issues, everything else varies on the manufacturer. My advice is to find a manufacturer you like and stick with them - I've used that strategy before and it's paid off, I have a Sapphire 7870 and it's been an amazing card, I'd buy another one in half a second.

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wubadee

May 7, 2012 3:24:27 PM

Apparently the 670 outstrips the 7970 (no OC), and is set to release May 10, '12. Price should be $400-$450, which makes it a hell of a deal if the rumors are true.

Source: http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/News/299711,nvidia8217s-gtx...

Thanks for the comments, guys. I deem this thread CLOSED!