Seeking Help w/ High Quality, High Value Build

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froyman

froyman

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Jan 11, 2012
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Approximate Purchase Date: 06/25 - 06/26

Budget Range: $1100-$1300 After Rebates/Discounts

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Speakers, Ethernet card, Sound card, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, NCIX

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Intel, Nvidia

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Would like to keep possibility open

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: Quiet and cool-running

Replaced parts due to user feedback

Replaced i5-2500k with:
Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K - 229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

Replaced GIGABYTE P67 LGA 1155 with:
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - 134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL - 46.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Upgraded USB 3.0 - 79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

Replaced SeaSonic X Series X650 GOLD with:
PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II 750W High Performance 80PLUS Silver SLI CrossFire ready Power Supply - 89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703027

Replaced Cooler Master TPC 812 with:
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler - 34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

Replaced ZOTAC GeForce GTX 670 with:
EVGA 02G-P4-2670-KR GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - 399.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130782

Anyone recommend Western Digital over Seagate or vice versa?
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - 94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795
OR
Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - 79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM - 16.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Last step seems to be choosing a case. What does everyone think? Most importantly I want a cool and quiet case, looks do not matter!
Antec Eleven Hundred - 79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129178
or
Corsair Carbide Series 500R Black Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - 129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811139009
or
COOLER MASTER HAF XM RC-922XM-KKN1 Black Mesh, Plastic, Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - 129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] k=HAF%20XM
or
Lian LI PC-9F
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811112304
or
Corsair 650D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6&Tpk=650d

THANK YOU for all the great advice!!
~Froy
 
Solution
inzone
A monitor that gets a resolution of 2560x1600 is going to cost about $1000 so that would take up almost all of your budget , unless you have a seperate budget for that.
The western Didutal RE4 is a hard drive that is mostly used for raid configurations, for the same price you can double the capacity with this drive.

Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

For the video card I would go with a better brand and it's actualy the same price.

EVGA 02G-P4-2670-KR GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
$399.99...
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O

Outlander_04

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Use a mb with a Z68 or Z77 chipset . Preferrably Z77 . Asrock have good prices

You can save on the case by using the Antec 300 two

Those processors run cool anyway . A $34 Hyper 212 evo makes more sense than the cpu cooler you have selected


The RE 4 is not a desktop hard drive . Its a server RAID drive. Use a WD black or samsung F3 instead
 
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Patflute

Patflute

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I suggest a small Crucial M4 64gb SSD, just to make Windows snappier.

I like to have a little more headroom with the power supply so I would go with a 650watt.

Go with an i5-3570k instead and a Z77 motherboard.

600/650 watts would be cutting it close if you're going to sli in the near future


I don't know about the warranties.

 
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inzone

inzone

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Mar 12, 2011
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A monitor that gets a resolution of 2560x1600 is going to cost about $1000 so that would take up almost all of your budget , unless you have a seperate budget for that.
The western Didutal RE4 is a hard drive that is mostly used for raid configurations, for the same price you can double the capacity with this drive.

Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

For the video card I would go with a better brand and it's actualy the same price.

EVGA 02G-P4-2670-KR GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
$399.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130782

You can save about #30 with this heatsink/fan for the cpu. You can only get so high of an overclock on air and this cooler will get you there.

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+
$34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

This motherboard will be better than the one you chose.

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

With about $200 left on the budget you have enough for a SSD.

SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128D/AM 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) Desktop Upgrade Kit
$149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147134

This power supply is one of the top quality brands and will be a good dependable psu in the event you add a second GTX 670 you won't have to upgrade this psu where with the other one you chose you would.

SeaSonic M12II 650 SS-650AM 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Semi-modular Power Supply
$119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151106

The total for this build with parts swapped out for better parts is $1289.90. The choice is yours to make if you would like to go with these changes or keep what you have listed.
 
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Solution
froyman

froyman

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Updated parts-list.
Curious whether I should be getting 4 sticks of RAM for the 4 slots on the new MOBO, and what brand is recommended.
Also, if a SSD is suggested and if so, which one.
Are warranties a good idea, if even for just the graphics card?
Other than that, should be good to order soon.
 
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Ragnarok666

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As told from above, swap to a I5 3570k (k for if overclocking it), i would suggest a Z77 Asrock Extreme4/6 depending on your needs. Also would suggest M4 64gb SSD for quick start as suggested by Patflute.
 
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nafoni

nafoni

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I'd swap that WD drive for a Seagate Barracuda drive.

5$ more, but 2x storage space. 500GB seems a bit small, at least to me.

-----

Also, 650W may not be enough for 2x 670s. I'd go for a 700-750W PSU.

If you don't care too much about having a modular PSU, I would get this Corsair TX750W. Will save you some $ as well.

-----

Go for 2x4GB RAM. 16GB is overkill for gaming.

-----

+1 for the i5-3570K
+1 for the ASrock Extreme4
+1 for the G.SKILL
+1 for the EVGA 670
+1 for the CM Hyper 212

Your case? I don't like it, but I guess you do ;)

 
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nafoni

nafoni

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I wouldn't spend that much on a case. You get a Cooler Master HAF 912for 60$, a case that is fine for pretty much everyone as long as you're not going to be running 3 or 4 GPUs in it.
 
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eqwoody

eqwoody

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Agree to disagree. A case is an investment. Lian Li cases will last for years and years. Low end HAF cases are made to be a one build case. Not to mention any problem I've had with my Lian li (mainly due to modding messups) they've shipped replacements for free to me strait from Taiwan. Not to mention I think the HAF cases are ugly =(
 
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Merueth

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Cases over $150 are generally reserved for $2000+ builds. At this price point, your main focus should be the hardware. A GTX 670 will do a lot more for you than a ~180 case. That being said, the HAF 912 is an excellent choice, but an extra $20 will get you the Corsair Carbide 400r, which comes with a $10 promo code and is a significant improvement.
 
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eqwoody

eqwoody

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Saying that a case over $150 is reserved for a $2000+ build is a pretty broad statement. But you are entitled to your opinion. A 670 is a great investment indeed. I never said it wasnt. Call me crazy but I like a nice looking case. The 900 and the 912 are in my opinion some of the worst out there in looks.
 
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Merueth

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Imo, $2000 is where you start to stray from functionality to looks, aesthetics, etc. A $120 case like the HAF XM or the Carbide 500r is more than enough for anything other than maybe a Quad SLI/Xfire setup with liquid cooling. I'm not saying you shouldn't spend a lot of money on a case; just that it isn't necessary, and that an Antec 900 is a perfectly acceptable case to house a GTX 670+i5 setup (though I'm not a fan of it myself), you can't deny that is has some solid airflow, despite the fact that the cable management is quite atrocious, which is why I would suggest a different case.
 
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eqwoody

eqwoody

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The 900's airflow is good correct. But like you said, it's cable management doesnt exist and with a rookie builder they're going to leave cables everywhere whether they like it or not. But it would work. The HAF 912 is an upgrade to the 900 for sure. But even a $1300 budget I think deserves a better case than them. The carbide series are a good choice like you said. Hell I even am a fan of the new Vengeance series case. They look pretty cool for gamers =D

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139013&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-NA-_-NA
 
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eqwoody

eqwoody

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We're not bickering, we're sharing our opinion on what we think a better option would be for OP. Case aesthetics are always going to be a personal choice. But getting him away from the 900 for me now is more about cable management and airflow.
 
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froyman

froyman

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Thanks so much for the heads up!
 
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inzone

inzone

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As far as the SSD choice goes I can tell you that I have used all the different sizes , 64gb 120gb 180gb and 240/256gb. I have found that while the 64gb is less expensive it will tend to fill up fast if your not careful and paying attention to where things are being loaded. Most files and programs will default to the C drive and you have to change the destination to the larger drive. If you have the budget room I would go with the 128gb Samsung or Crucial.
I noticed that you cahnged the HDD to a 500gb WD black for $94.99 and for another $5 you can get the 1TB;

Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148840

 
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froyman

froyman

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I chose the Antec Nine Hundred for it's 200mm top case fan, and the 3 other 120mm fans. I imagine I'm going to have enough trouble building the computer and I don't want to have to install case fans. Plus, I'm anxious to get it together and start playing! :)

I do not care at all about aesthetics, I'm interested solely in quality, value, and airflow.

Thanks so much for everyone's suggestions; I'm reevaluating my HD, case, and power supply.
 
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