1500-2200$ Gaming build suggestions, buying next week.

[jokimazi]

Thank you for taking your time and reading this. I spent last 3 weeks researching on these forums and different reviews around google. Need a final approval.

Gaming PC 1500-2200$

Approximate Purchase Date: 1st of August
Budget Range: 1500-2200$ or 960-1410 GBP

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (GW2, BF3, Metro 2033), Fraps, HD movies, Might use as console for 42 inch FULL HDTV in a distant future. Everything Else.

Parts Not Required: OS on a question mark.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: pcpartpicker.co.uk

Country: UK

Parts Preferences:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£176.60 @ Scan.co.uk)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£26.65 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£119.71 @ Amazon UK)
Open for suggestions. Any good feedback about Asrock Extreme series maybe?

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£42.38 @ Amazon UK)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£65.87 @ Ebuyer)
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (£81.99 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 4GB Video Card (£370.75 @ Scan.co.uk)
Considering getting Gygabite GTX 670 OC or EVGA GTX 670 2GB, or the dark side HD7970.

Case: Fractal Design Define R3 Arctic White ATX Mid Tower Case (£79.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
I want case with good cooling.

Power Supply: XFX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£73.99 @ Amazon UK)
Is it good for my Case beeing non-modular. Or should I spend extra and get Modular. Is 750W overkill or should I get 700W?


Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer (£13.21 @ CCL Computers)
Monitor: Dell U2412M 60Hz 24.0" Monitor (£221.76 @ CCL Computers)
I want good pixel density. I come from 15.6" 1366x768 monitor. Should I go for a full HD 22-23" and forget about 1200p? Is 60 Hz a problem and I should be looking at 120 Hz monitors?

Other: Razer Sphex Gaming Mouse Mat - Hard Surface 9.99 GBP
Other: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard (UK Layout) 34.49 GBP
Total: £1317.38
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-07-24 02:23 BST+0100)

OS: I have an option to get and not sure if a legal version of Win 7 Ultimate for 10 GBP from a guy in this local tech shop. Most likely torrented. Is it worth paying the full price for Win 7 Home Premium or take the risk and save 70 gbp?


Overclocking: Yes, the best OC for gaming. I read most of you guys OC to 4.0-4.5 Ghz. I have never done OC but it was said to be fairly easy with my mobo and it's BIOS.

SLI or Crossfire: Yes in 2-3 months if needed.

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200.

Additional Comments: I have this budget of 1500-2200$ but I don't want to throw it all out on gaming rig if the increase in gaming performance is like 2-3% compared to 1000-1500$ machines. I want to invest smart.


Thank You very much for reading through,


I might get a second Video Card for SLI in 2-3 months, I am still a bit afraid of stuttering that may occur from SLI or XFire.

I can't decide on nice Mouse. Any suggestions? About Razer Death Adder I have a feedback about the rubber finish getting all sticky and greasy fairly quick. Your thoughts guys?

Thank You!

 

[TheBigTroll]

you will need the modularity

i can suggest parts right now but there will be one thing to keep in mind. the fractal design define R4 was just released but you will have to wait for the stores to get it in stock. the fractal define r series arent the best for cooling but the best for silence

http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/cRSF

make sure that you get the psu from overclockers.co.uk as the amazon one is not the correct model

 

[TheBigTroll]

for overclocking, id suggest 4.2ghz since it is pretty much the highest you can go without raising voltages (raising voltage on ivy bridge=lotsa heat) and that 4.2ghz is more than enough performance

 

[jokimazi]

you will need the modularity

i can suggest parts right now but there will be one thing to keep in mind. the fractal design define R4 was just released but you will have to wait for the stores to get it in stock. the fractal define r series arent the best for cooling but the best for silence

http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/cRSF

make sure that you get the psu from overclockers.co.uk as the amazon one is not the correct model

Asus GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card = best bang for buck? evga 4gb is an overkill?

Any reasoning behind asus monitor?

Regarding cases I checked NZXT Phantom, CM Storm Enforcer and Storm Scout. I honestly don't care about looks as long as it doesn't look like big fat gypsy wedding.

Thank you for and advice on OC.

 

[TheBigTroll]

the asus gtx670 is higher clocked and has a much better cooler and PCB. warning is that there have been a bad batch and you might get one of them. update the bios if their is a problem with red screens

for the monitor, i am recommending it because im using it right now and its amazing. plus, its also cheaper than the dell for about the same level of quality


if you would like good cooling performance in a case, a corsair carbide 500r would suit you fine. if you want silence, get the fractal define r4 when it comes out or the corsair 550d.

 

[TheBigTroll]

at ncix.com, nobody seemed to get a bad card

 

[jokimazi]

@jallenlabs, thank you for feedback on SLI and Crossfire.

If get ASUS GTX670 from a bad patch and it dies within few weeks can I return it to merchant? Now you got me worried about bad patches, have to do a research where in UK i have abetter chance of buying a good patch.

I might consider HD 7970 which company i should be looking at? I read that DCU II 7850 is a decent card for 250$ and performs good at 1080p. All games maxed, am I mistaken? I don't want to save on GPU but don't want an overkill.

 

[TheBigTroll]

im pretty sure you can return it or get a RMA on the card

if you get a 7970, the xfx double dissipation (2 fans) is the one to go to.

the 7850 plays games at ultra settings with 50+fps. if you max out settings, you probably wont get 35fps

 

[jokimazi]

I'm going to take a gamble and go for ASUS GTX 670 and hope for the best. As I am in UK we have pretty good laws about returning bought merchandise even if it's not faulty within 28 days.

Any advice on corsai 500R positive air pressure? Will stock fans + hyper EVO and fans from my ASUS GTX will create positive airflow or should I get extra fans? I read I should put my PSU upside down to get a positive air pressure.

 

[TheBigTroll]

there is no problem with the 500r's airflow since there is a 200mm fan on the side panel blowing onto the graphics card