First gaming rig build

[arbyXD]

This would be my first build and I was wondering if there was anything I should change. My budget is about 600-900 dollars.


CPU AMD FX-4170 4.2GHz Quad-Core $129.99

CPU Cooler Thermaltake Water 2.0 Performer 81.3 CFM Liquid $39.99

Motherboard Asus M5A97 ATX AM3+ $94.98

Memory G.Skill Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 $39.99

Storage Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM $74.99

Video Card XFX Radeon HD 6950 2GB $214.99

Sound Card Asus Xonar DG $19.99

Case Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower $39.99

Power Supply CoolMax 700W ATX12V / EPS12V $51.99

Optical Drive Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer $16.99

 

[TheBigTroll]

intel does much better in games and other tasks

check this one out.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/dUWa

 

[obsama1]

Get a different brand of PSU. I'd get the Phenom II x4 if I were you.

 

[arbyXD]

I kinda figured the FX was a bit unnecessary, but I don't particularly want an Intel because its a little too much and I've always preferred AMD, so I might end up with a Phenom.

 

[azeem40]

The Intel is leaps and bounds better than AMD.

 

[obsama1]

Also, the CPU cooler is mediocre. Get the Cooler Master Hyper 212. Just amke sure your case has enough clearance. Also, the 7850 is the same price as the 6950, but it smokes it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150617

 

[arbyXD]

Is this better?

CPU AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core $108.99

CPU Cooler Thermaltake Water 2.0 Performer 81.3 CFM Liquid $39.99

Motherboard Asus M5A97 ATX AM3+ $94.98

Memory G.Skill Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 $39.99

Storage Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM $74.99

Video Card Diamond Radeon HD 7850 2GB $229.99

Sound Card Asus Xonar DG $19.99

Case Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower $39.99

Power Supply Cooler Master 800W ATX12V / EPS12V $149.32

Optical Drive Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer $16.99

 

[obsama1]

Just change the cooler to a Hyper 212+.

Oh, and also, CoolerMaster makes terrible PSU's.

 

[azeem40]

Better, but not as good as Troll's build.

 

[dudewitbow]

drop sound card, drop cheaper water cpu cooler(if you want to liquid, its all or nothing, because cheap ones are a waste), heavily decrease psu cost ad amount, get a better case(low end coolermasters have bad cable management)

 

[arbyXD]

I've redone everything and chosen intel for a processor, is this a good build?

CPU Intel Core i5-2500 3.3GHz Quad-Core $198.99

CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing $23.99

Motherboard Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 $119.99

Memory G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (4 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 $53.99

Storage Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM $99.99

Video Card Zotac GeForce GTX 570 1.25GB $199.99

Case Raidmax ATX-298WY ATX Mid Tower $47.98

Power Supply Raidmax 730W ATX12V / EPS12V $53.99

Optical Drive Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer $19.98

Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) $88.73

 

[azeem40]

Drop the Z77 board. Not needed if you're not OCing. Get the H77 board in Troll's build. Raidmax makes crap PSUs. Get the one in Troll's build. Get the i5-3450 and no need for a cooler.

 

[nekulturny]

I've redone everything and chosen intel for a processor, is this a good build?

CPU Intel Core i5-2500 3.3GHz Quad-Core $198.99

CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing $23.99

Motherboard Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 $119.99

Memory G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (4 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 $53.99

Storage Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM $99.99

Video Card Zotac GeForce GTX 570 1.25GB $199.99

Case Raidmax ATX-298WY ATX Mid Tower $47.98

Power Supply Raidmax 730W ATX12V / EPS12V $53.99

Optical Drive Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer $19.98

Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) $88.73

Raidmax power supplies are absolute trash. Get a high quality power supply such as this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

No, you don't need a 730 watt power supply for a single GTX 570.

 

[arbyXD]

CPU Intel Core i5-3550 3.3GHz Quad-Core $209.98

CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing $23.99

Motherboard Asus P8H77-V ATX LGA1155 $127.55

Memory G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (4 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 $53.99

Storage Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM $99.99

Video Card Zotac GeForce GTX 570 1.25GB $199.99

Case Raidmax ATX-298WY ATX Mid Tower $47.98

Power Supply Corsair 600W ATX12V $71.99

Optical Drive Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer $19.98

Better?

 

[nekulturny]

You can drop the Hyper 212+ cooler, with a non-K CPU you can't overclock, and the CPU cooler that comes with the i5 is sufficient for a non overclocked CPU. But yes, much better.

 

[obsama1]

Get a 7850 or 560 Ti 448. Just as powerful as the 570, but they use less power.

 

[nekulturny]

At that price, even I who is hankering to get my first proper AMD video card, would be hard pressed to pass up a GTX 570 that cheap.

 

[obsama1]

I didn't see the price, but that is a one good deal.

 

[TheBigTroll]

CPU Intel Core i5-3550 3.3GHz Quad-Core $209.98

CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing $23.99

Motherboard Asus P8H77-V ATX LGA1155 $127.55

Memory G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (4 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 $53.99

Storage Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM $99.99

Video Card Zotac GeForce GTX 570 1.25GB $199.99

Case Raidmax ATX-298WY ATX Mid Tower $47.98

Power Supply Corsair 600W ATX12V $71.99

Optical Drive Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer $19.98

Better?

1: i swear gskill ripjaws x doesnt cost 53.99. pretty sure you got the cl8 version which isnt that much of a improvement. get gskill ares 8gb 2x4gb 1600mhz cl9 blue at newegg for 44.99

2:get a asus 7850. performs slightly under the 570 but draws half the power

3:get the case i suggested. the antec 302 has tons of room in the back for cables and has usb3. extremely good build quality for the price. its build quality is comparable to the 100 dollar cases

4: the unit i suggested is better, modular, and cheaper. it acutally has room for future crossfire


just go look at my build

 

[arbyXD]

What would be the absolute best nvidia card for under 175-200 dollars?

 

[obsama1]

Are you dead set on an Nvidia card? Because in the $100-$300 range, I'd go AMD. If you want Nvidia: 560 Ti. If you want AMD: 7850, or if that's out of your range, 6950.

 

[TheBigTroll]

the absolute best would be a 560ti but a 7850 beats it in about every aspect. or you could wait a couple of months after nvidia releases the 660. the 660ti will be 300+ dollars

 

[arbyXD]

Is the difference between the 7850 and the 7870 very noticeable?

 

[nekulturny]

Sapphire 7850. Smokes a GTX 560 TI 20 ways to Sunday, overclocks well enough to give the 570 a run for its money.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102999

 

[nekulturny]

Is the difference between the 7850 and the 7870 very noticeable?

The difference between the 7850 and the 7870 is such that basically the price to performance of the 7870 is on par with the extra performance it offers. You aren't really getting a better bang for your buck, its more of you're paying more and getting more. This would in contrast to something like a GTX 680 which costs a boatload more than a GTX 670 but doesn't really perform any better. If that makes sense.