Advice on computer building

[SinisterPotato]

Approximate Purchase Date: July-August

Budget Range: $850 (€650-700)

System Usage: Gaming.

Parts Not Required: HDD, mouse, keyboard, monitor, speakers, OS, optical.

Preferred Website for Parts: amazon (using newegg for reference).

Parts Preferences:

-> CPU: Intel Core i5 3570k
Would you suggest another processor?

-> GPU: Can't decide between 7850, 7870 and 7770.
Is VRAM important when choosing GPU? Sapphire, ASUS, MSI or other manufacturers? Best performance to price ratio GPU? Should i chose an nVidia GPU instead of an AMD?

-> RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600MHz.

-> Mobo: ASRock Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77, 4xSATA 6 GB/s, 2xPCIe x16.

-> Case: Anything cheap and fancy (I like blue lights :>).

-> PSU/Cooling: Not sure yet... What is a "good" PSU?

-> Storage: Crucial 64GB SSD.

Overclocking: Most Probably.

SLI or Crossfire: Will add another GPU one year after build.

Monitor Resolution: Mostly 1080p.

Additional Comments: As efficient as possible.

Info:
I’ll be playing: WoW, Starcraft 2, Diablo 3, Portal 2, Crysis 1 and 2, Witcher 2: Assassins of kings, Skyrim, Bioshock 2 and Infinite, Assassins creed 2 and 3, Dishonored, Batman: Arkham city, GW2, and other 2012 releases.

Is this a compatible and powerful build? Would you suggest any other components?

Thanks in advance!

 

[kbafewx]

Case: HAF 932
CPU: New Ivy Bridge Processors are amazing!!
PSU: no need to go higher than 800 watts with a 850 dollar budget unless you were dual- GPU

 

[Merueth]

PSU: no need to go higher than 800 watts with a 850 dollar budget unless you were dual- GPU

What? You could get away with 3 7850s on 750 watts...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($142.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($256.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $836.79
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

Wouldn't reccomend an SSD, they are not worth it for builds under $1000, as the money is better put towards a graphics card. If you can go a bit over your budget, you can grab the XFX Double D 7870, which is $45 more than the 7850.

 

[serginho]

Corsair TX850M for SLI or Crossfire

 

[dudewitbow]

Corsair TX850M for SLI or Crossfire

if he wants to use a 7770/7850/7870, 850 already can run 3. I will bet that a 600w can already run 2 7850's


@OP, Vram is usually for Large Resolutions and multi screen setups. 1-1.5 is nice for one screen. as the 7850+ can easily run two safely without as much worry due to 2gb+ vram

 

[geofelt]

3570K is as good as it gets for gaming. The mobo is ok too.

For a case with blue lights, look at the antec 300 illusion model:
1300 reviewers will not be far wrong:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

The graphics cards you listed are OK, but realize that the graphics card is more important for gaming than the cpu.
See if you can't manage a GTX670 or 7950. The upcoming GTX660 might be a winner too.

I would not plan on sli as an upgrade. Here is my canned rant:
a) How good do you really need to be?
A single GTX560 or 6870 can give you great performance at 1920 x 1200 in most games.

A single GTX560ti or 6950 will give you excellent performance at 1920 x 1200 in most games.
Even 2560 x 1600 will be good with lowered detail.
A single 7970 or GTX680 is about as good as it gets.

Only if you are looking at triple monitor gaming, then sli/cf will be needed.
Even that is now changing with triple monitor support on top end cards.

b) The costs for a single card are lower.
You require a less expensive motherboard; no need for sli/cf or multiple pci-e slots.
Even a ITX motherboard will do.

Your psu costs are less.
A GTX560ti needs a 450w psu, even a GTX580 only needs a 600w psu.
When you add another card to the mix, plan on adding 150-200w to your psu requirements.
A single more modern 28nm card like a 7970 or GTX680 needs only 550W.

Case cooling becomes more of an issue with dual cards.
That means a more expensive case with more and stronger fans.
You will also look at more noise.

c) Dual cards do not always render their half of the display in sync, causing microstuttering. It is an annoying effect.
The benefit of higher benchmark fps can be offset, particularly with lower tier cards.
Read this: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-stutter-crossfire,2995.html

d) dual card support is dependent on the driver. Not all games can benefit from dual cards.

e) cf/sli up front reduces your option to get another card for an upgrade. Not that I suggest you plan for that.
It will often be the case that replacing your current card with a newer gen card will offer a better upgrade path.


Any of the newer cards I mentioned will need only a 550w psu. A bit more like 650w is ok too.
Buy only a Quality psu. My short list would include Seasonic, Antec, XFX, Corsair, and PC P&C.

64gb os ok for the os and a couple of games. 120gb would be better.
Intel and samsung are the brands to buy. They seem to be more reliable.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Skip RAM with those tall toothy heat sinks.....the only real cooling function they provide is "looking cool". Low profile versions wont interfere with ya CPU cooler.

Case:

$100 Antec 900 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
$125 Corsair 500R - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139010

Cooler - Hyper 612 PWM or Scythe Mugen 3 as a minimum for for Ivy Bridge....they run extremely hot when OC'd to 4.5 Ghz.....If ya want big OC's get SB.

SSD- 64 GB too small and too slow considering that for $20 more ya can get the fastest, longest lasting SSD made....Mushkin Chronos Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226318

Whoops....just went up $15 to $115

Many of the games you list favor nVidia GPU's. Might wanna consider he 900 Mhz 560 Ti gets just about the same fps as the 7850 ... and it's $50 cheaper.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121425

PSU - Yu can get buy w/ a 750 watter with twin 7850's, 560 Ti's or 670's .... go 850 if looking for big OC's on GPU's and CPU

 

[Polluted]

What? You could get away with 3 7850s on 750 watts...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($142.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($256.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $836.79
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

Wouldn't reccomend an SSD, they are not worth it for builds under $1000, as the money is better put towards a graphics card. If you can go a bit over your budget, you can grab the XFX Double D 7870, which is $45 more than the 7850.

I'll second this build, it is almost the same as my wife's except her cpu is a 2450P and a single Saphire 7850 2Gig (She doesn't OC) and she plays Diablo III and Witcher 2 no problem at 1920 X 1080.

As for power, I am running a power-sucking Phenom II X4 955 @ 4.1 GHz and two 6850s, also overclocked, on a 600w Antec power supply for over a year now with no problems. (The 7850s draw a little less and the Ivybridge proc draws a lot less, so you'll be fine.)

 

[SinisterPotato]

Thank all of you for the detailed replies!

Overall:
I'm changing RAM to G.Skill ripjaws (Merueth),
PSU to Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V (Merueth),
won't buy an SSD - maybe when i've got enough money i'll buy Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe 120GB (JackNaylorPE)
won't get CF/SLI since i'll be using one monitor at 1080p(geofelt)
case Anatec (geofelt)

However I'm still not sure which gpu i should get :/ GTX670 and 7950 are just too expensive. It thus comes down to these: 560ti vs 480, 6950 and 6870. nVidia GTX 480 is cheap and scores high benchmarks but consumes much more energy and gets warm. nVidia is also generally more pricy when it comes down to the 500+ and 600+ series compared to amd.

I appreciate your help

 

[Merueth]

The GTX 480 is the best out of those 4.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-6970-radeon-hd-6950-cayman,2818-9.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/338933-33-6950-unlocked

However, this 6950 comes with BF3 and Dirt 3, and is also cheaper than the 480, so I would go with that.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102987

All in all, I still think you should find the extra money for the 7850, it's on equal footing with the Nvidia Cards, and can beat them both once overclocked, making it the best value Imo, especially since the Sapphire model is now $240 at Newegg.

 

[SinisterPotato]

Well, I can't get the 6950 offer since I don't live in the US, and the gtx 480 gets really hot and consumes twice as much power as 7850, i'll most probably get the 7850 and OC later. Is there a big difference between ASUS, MSI, Sapphire etc?

 

[Merueth]

Well, I can't get the 6950 offer since I don't live in the US, and the gtx 480 gets really hot and consumes twice as much power as 7850, i'll most probably get the 7850 and OC later. Is there a big difference between ASUS, MSI, Sapphire etc?

ASUS, MSI, Sapphire=Best
XFX, Gigabyte, HIS=Solid
Powercolor=Terrible