$1300 Build

[ninjarubberduck]

Approximate Purchase Date: June 2012

Budget Range: $1200-$1400

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, web browsing, etc.

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Nvidia GPU, Intel Processor

Overclocking: Maybe in the future

SLI or Crossfire: Yes, just not now

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments:

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Alright, guys, it's been a while since I posted last time but lots of new parts came out so I changed it up a bit. I switched out the 680 for the 670 since from benchmarks the 670 performed almost as well, and it costs $100 less. I need some advice/criticism on this new build. Thanks!

Here's the parts that I've picked:

Case: Corsair 400R - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139008

CPU: Intel i5-3570K + MOBO: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 - $399.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.910383

PSU: Corsair HX750 + RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) - $183.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.917456

Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - $34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

GPU: EVGA Geforce GTX 670 - $399.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130782

Hard Drive: Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3 500GB - $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

OS: Windows Home Premium OEM - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

DVD: Asus DVD Burner - $17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

This comes out to a total of $1,316.90, prior to $20 from MIR's and a $20 promotional gift card.

EDIT: Yeah, I really have no knowledge about motherboards, so knowing me, the motherboard probably isn't that good. I'm open to whatever suggestions you guys have! I just want a motherboard that supports SLI, and I heard with the new Z77 boards, some have Virtu MVP which helps with performance which I would like. Correct me if I'm wrong, and thanks in advance!

 

[alvine]

looks good, change out the hard drive for sata 6

 

[ninjarubberduck]

Okay, I chose a Seagate SV35 500GB hard drive and paired it with my case. It ended up being cheaper than the previous total . Is that hard drive good?

Case: Corsair 400R + HDD: Seagate SV35 500GB - $171.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.939068

CPU: Intel i5-3570K + MOBO: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 - $399.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.910383

PSU: Corsair HX750 + RAM: Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 8GB (2x4GB) - $189.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.917432

Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - $34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

GPU: EVGA Geforce GTX 670 - $399.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130782

OS: Windows Home Premium OEM - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

DVD: Asus DVD Burner - $17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204


Total of $1,298.40, prior to $20 from MIR's and a $20 promotional gift card.

Under budget and $40 back, I'll take it.
Is everything all good now?

 

[ninjarubberduck]

Is there anything else that I should change/replace?

 

[Why_Me]

Is there anything else that I should change/replace?

Unless you plan on using that RAM up top for a hair comb, those tall cake cutter heat spreaders are going to kill you when you go to install your cpu h/s.

Try this combo...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.917432 $189.98
CORSAIR Professional Series HX750 (CMPSU-750HX) 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.910431 $374.98
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 BX80637I53570K

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/asrock_z77_extreme4_review,1.html <----- review of that board w/benchmarks

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

 

[ninjarubberduck]

Unless you plan on using that RAM up top for a hair comb, those tall cake cutter heat spreaders are going to kill you when you go to install your cpu h/s.

Try this combo...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.917432 $189.98
CORSAIR Professional Series HX750 (CMPSU-750HX) 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.910431 $374.98
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 BX80637I53570K

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/asrock_z77_extreme4_review,1.html <----- review of that board w/benchmarks

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

Is there any reason to choose the Extreme4 over the 6? I remember looking up the difference between the two besides price, and the Extreme6 has some extra ports, but it's mostly the Extreme4 having a strange size for a motherboard. Would this pose as a problem? Also, great call on the low profile RAM, thanks! Apologies for my subpar tech knowledge, but is there any impact in performance by choosing low profile RAM?

 

[TheBigTroll]

a msi 77a-gd65 is also great as it has man high-end features at a good cost

 

[Why_Me]

Is there any reason to choose the Extreme4 over the 6? I remember looking up the difference between the two besides price, and the Extreme6 has some extra ports, but it's mostly the Extreme4 having a strange size for a motherboard. Would this pose as a problem? Also, great call on the low profile RAM, thanks! Apologies for my subpar tech knowledge, but is there any impact in performance by choosing low profile RAM?

I threw the board in there as a cost cutter. The only draw back is the board flexes a bit when you mount it to the placement of the standoffs.

That RAM with the tall heat spreaders is nothing more than looks (gimmick). People see it and they think gaming when actually it does nothing more than impede any decent size after market cpu heat sink. Low profile ftw.

 

[ninjarubberduck]

I threw the board in there as a cost cutter. The only draw back is the board flexes a bit when you mount it to the placement of the standoffs.

That RAM with the tall heat spreaders is nothing more than looks (gimmick). People see it and they think gaming when actually it does nothing more than impede any decent size after market cpu heat sink. Low profile ftw.

Alright sounds good! I think I'll keep the Extreme6, no need to cut costs, it's under my budget and I would like having the piece of mind. It's all under the budget.

Case: Corsair 400R + HDD: Seagate SV35 500GB - $171.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.939068

CPU: Intel i5-3570K + MOBO: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 - $399.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.910383

PSU: Corsair HX750 + RAM: Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 8GB (2x4GB) - $189.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.917432

Case: Corsair 400R + HDD: Seagate SV35 500GB - $171.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.939068

Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - $34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

GPU: EVGA Geforce GTX 670 - $399.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130782

OS: Windows Home Premium OEM - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

DVD: Asus DVD Burner - $17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Total of $1,298.40, prior to $20 from MIR's and a $20 promotional gift card.

Under budget and $40 back, I'll take it.
Is everything all good now?

 

[Azok]

Get the Extreme4. It's practically the same board w/o the front panel USB3.0

The AsRock boards are nice when using a upgraded heatsink and only 2 sticks of RAM, since they use the further slots.

It's good you switched to low profile Vengeance, those "heat spreaders" are useless and take up unnecessary space.

You may want to read up on or compare the EVGA 670 with the EVGA 670 OC. Only $20 more. Or if you want, Gigabyte and MSI have about the same stock speeds as the EVGA 670 OC for $399.99

About your HDD- "The cache misconception prevails.. Well actually, 500GB driver employ a single platter with 16MB cache.. A 1TB drive employs two 500GB platters with 16MB cache each resulting in a total 32MB cache size.. Technically, a 500GB drive will be faster as it has to access data from a single platter only.. Talking about RAM, it has to be matched with the kind of file sizes you work upon.. " -Emperus

This looks like a solid build... for a good price too. Props.

 

[ninjarubberduck]

Alright, sounds good, I'll get the Extreme4. I really didn't know much about the variants, and I always figured that EVGA was the go-to brand. Couldn't I overclock to or close to those speeds with PrecisionX manually? Well I could, but rather, would that void the warranty?

 

[ninjarubberduck]

Okay, here's the final list of parts bar maybe swapping out the EVGA to the EVGA Superclocked.

Case: Corsair 400R + HDD: Seagate SV35 500GB - $171.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.939068

CPU: Intel i5-3570K + MOBO: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 - $374.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.910431

PSU: Corsair HX750 + RAM: Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 8GB (2x4GB) - $189.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.917432

Case: Corsair 400R + HDD: Seagate SV35 500GB - $171.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.939068

Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - $34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

GPU: EVGA Geforce GTX 670 - $399.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130782

OS: Windows Home Premium OEM - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

DVD: Asus DVD Burner - $17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Swapping out the Extreme6 for Extreme4 brought the price down by $25 to $1,273.40.

 

[ninjarubberduck]

Alright, I ordered all my parts besides the graphics card because it was out of stock . Well that gives me more time to decide which manufacturer to go with. I was wondering whether to go with Gigabyte because it comes higher clocked and with better cooling with its 3 fans, or to go with EVGA for the sake of their reputation.

Also, I was watching the tutorial on how to build a computer on Newegg's YouTube, and they said OEM products don't come with wires. The DVD drive and hard drive I ordered were OEM and I had already ordered, so I'm wondering what wires I will need to buy. The hard drive is different from the one above, but everything else is the same, so I'm hoping I won't need to purchase anything else.

DVD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

Lastly, I was wondering if the thermal paste that comes with the Hyper 212 EVO is good, or should I buy some Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste.

 

[ninjarubberduck]

Best answer selected by ninjarubberduck.