New rig, <$2k, checking compatability or parts suggestions

[drifteractual]

Hi there, I'll be returning from Afghanistan in about a month or so, and plan on using some cash to build a new rig for the home. This will be mostly used for gaming, as well as the media server for the home theater. This is my 4th build.

As of right now, trying to stay under $2k, when all is said and done. I'm just looking to the community to make sure I'm not missing anything, or if you see some serious compatibility issues/suggestions. Also, the monitor was an afterthought, since I have a 22" at home, I just felt like upgrading and the price seemed good These are all based on current Newegg availability and pricing:

CASE: COOLER MASTER HAF 912: $60.00
MOBO: ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard: $240
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor: $230
MEM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800): $105
HHD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s: $110
GPU: GA 02G-P4-2678-KR GeForce GTX 670 FTW 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready: $408
PSU: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE: $110
HS: Thermaltake Frio Overclocking-Ready Five 8mm Heatpipes Dual 120mm: $60
OPTIC: ASUS Black Blu-ray Drive SATA Model BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS: $53
MONITOR: ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor: $200
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit - OEM: $190
COOLER MASTER R4-S2S-124K-GP 120mm Case Fan 4 in 1 pack : $14

Total: ~$1750, less if I decide against the monitor.
I have a builders copy of Windows Home I can use, but the Ultimate seemed a little more Ultimate-y, so I figured why not.

Thanks, greatly appreciate your guys' help!

 

[Beitzel15]

If you're going to spend that much, you should really consider spending $90 more and get a 90gb corsair SSD.

If you went with the ASROCK extreme 6 mobo, itd save you $70 and is an awesome mobo. And for $52 more, you can get a EVGA GTX 670 with 4gb of ram instead of 2.

Idk how well that heatsink is, but for the same price, you can get a Antec Kuhler 620 and put 2 fans on it and will most likely have better temps.

 

[Beitzel15]

BTW, im in Kuwait now, going to Afghan in a few days, so I feel ya on that and going to build me a new pc when Im back home in 8 months

 

[drifteractual]

Yea I've been away about 13 months now, Infantry, I don't recommend it. I hope to never get back to this place if I can help it.

I've never used an SSD in any of my previous builds before, due to price many years ago, I don't suppose it's difficult to run in tande with an HHD? Programs/OS on one, data/music/movies on the other?

 

[jsrudd]

You could save a little by going with 8GB of RAM and a less than 750w power supply. You will never use 16gb of RAM while gaming and your computer should be able to run on a 650w power supply (and probably 550w).

 

[hellfire24]

here's a better build-
Asus 24x burner-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
NZXT Phantom newegg exclusive-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146073
Samsung F4 2TB-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152245
Asus VS 23" 1080p-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236175
Gigabyte tx 670 2GB-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125423
Corsair TX750 v2-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021
Crucial 8GB 1600mhz-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544
Gigabyte Z77 UD5h-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128545
i5 3570k-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
NZXT 200mm case fan-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835146007
Cooler master Hyper 612 PWM-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103106
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe 240GB ssd-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226226
total: $1,665.88 before rebates.
notes:
no use of blu ray unless you are a movies addict.
F4 2TB may not be very fast but for speed you have a 240GB ssd.
8GB is more than enough for gaming and other daily stuff.
put that 200mm fan on top of the Phantom for better ventilation.

This rig can:
SLi
Overclock very well
max out almost any game at 1080p or even higher in many cases
much more.
Enjoy

 

[farsuka]

The above looks good, obviously add the monitor to that and windows.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Well balanced build except for the case. No USB 3.0 on a modern case is unforgivable.

Corsair 500R would be an ideal choice
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006644&IsNodeId=1&Description=500r&bop=And&CompareItemList=-1|11-139-010^11-139-010-TS%2C11-139-009^11-139-009-TS

The TX750 V2 is a great choice for twin 670's with CPU and twin GPU's moderately OC'd. I'd want more headroom and better voltage stability if going for maximum overclocks. In that case, I'd suggest HX850.

Make sure the RAM choice is low profile w/ no tall toothy heat sinks.

Consider......

http://www.guru3d.com/article/evga-geforce-gtx-670-sc-review/23
EVGA SC Boost Clock is 1046 outta the box....stable at 1200 Mhz
EVGA SC gets 3DMark Score of 8691 outta the box and 9443 OC'd
Idle temp is 29C / load temp is 78C
Noise is 37 dBA Idle / 43 dBA under load

http://www.guru3d.com/article/asus-geforce-gtx-670-directcu-ii-top-review/23
Asus TOP Boost Clock is 1137 outta the box .... stable at 1280 Mhz
Asus gets 3DMark Score of 9340 outta the box and 9839 OC'd
Idle temp is 30C / load temp is 72C
Noise is 37 dBA Idle / 38 dBA under load

That makes the Asus 7% faster outta the box than the EVGA SC, 6C cooler and almost 1/4 as loud under load (every 3 dBA is a doubling of sound level). The FTW is slightly faster than the SC, leaving the Asus model w/ just a 5% performance advantage

Asus 670 TOP - 10.0 rating
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GeForce_GTX_670_Direct_Cu_II/33.html

Gigabyte Windforce SC 670 - 9.8 rating
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Gigabyte/GeForce_GTX_670_Windforce/33.html

MSI Twin Frozr IV 670 - 9.7 rating
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_670_Power_Edition/33.html

Palit Jetsteram 670 - 9.7 rating
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Palit/GeForce_GTX_670_Jet_Stream/33.html

Zotac AMP 670 - 9.6 rating
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zotac/GeForce_GTX_670_Amp_Edition/33.html

For the cooler, I'd suggest the Hyper 612 PWM or Scythe Mugen 3 in the$50 range .... if ya willing to spend $80ish, the Phanteks will give ya 2-3C more cooling
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103106
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185175
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709015

Since budget allows, I'd suggest 120 Hz monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236092

And Windows 7 Pro .... doubt you need bitlocker

SSD - Chronos Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226226

 

[hellfire24]

The TX750 V2 is a great choice for twin 670's with CPU and twin GPU's moderately OC'd. I'd want more headroom and better voltage stability if going for maximum overclocks. In that case, I'd suggest HX850.

GTX 670 SLi and 850w? big overkill,750w is more than enough-
http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-670-review/8
note:guru3d use a very power hungry system and they also say-

Our test system is based on a power hungry Core i7 965 / X58 system. This setup is overclocked to 3.75 GHz. Next to that we have energy saving functions disabled for this motherboard and processor (to ensure consistent benchmark results). On average we are using roughly 50 to 100 Watts more than a standard PC due to higher CPU clock settings, water-cooling, additional cold cathode lights etc.

i hardly doubt we need 850w here.

 

[azeem40]

I think he is forgetting that current gen SINGLE cards don't need more than 750W to CF/SLI.

 

[drifteractual]

Thanks for all your help guys, my cart is slowly morphing into what I think I'm looking for. First off, dropping Ultimate for Pro simply to save a couple $ and I can't imagine using all the features; Picking up the SSD that was twice-recommended; since I wasn't planning on SLI anytime soon, I can probably sneak by with the TX650; I really like that Phantom case since I've been a "rectangle" man all my life, maybe time for something new, and definitely going with the Sniper series since they're lowpro and wont interfere with these massive cooling systems (probably go with the 612)

 

[azeem40]

If you're not CF/SLIng, get 550W. Even if you are slightly considering CF/SLI, get the 750W. No reason to waste $ later buying a PSU.

 

[emperor piehead]

how does this build sound just add your monitor to it
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/e8TY

 

[azeem40]

The motherboard is ridiculously overkill. Get the Z77 Extreme4 suggested earlier.

 

[drifteractual]

Ok folks, again thanks for the extremely helpful input, here's where we stand right now (omitting monitor)

NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Steel / Plastic Enthusiast ATX Full Tower Computer Case
GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H 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
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO
G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5"
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe MKNSSDCR240GB-DX 2.5" 240GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
ASUS GTX670-DC2-2GD5 GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16
ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit

Total: $1620

I think we're getting there.

 

[hellfire24]

^get 750w for SLi and overclocking room.
why 110 bucks for 1TB when 2TB is just $10 more? the speed difference is negligible.you have a large ssd for speeds.
home premium comes with enough features and is cheaper too.

 

[netcommercial]

Have you thought about snagging a TV like a 32" with HDMI and PC connect on sale? You get a tuner in the TV, bigger screen and kinda doubles for something else besides a computer screen.
I just bagged a 40 inch for $300 LCD with HDMI, PC, and component along with usb in....Just something to consider...You can plug more stuff into it. Plus get a TV tuner for network TV if you wanted or hook up a game station if you wanted too.

 

[hellfire24]

for gaming, monitor>>>>>>>>>>>>>>TV.
no matter how big a TV is,it's no more than 1080p plus the monitor has faster response and overall better,you can get a top notch quality monitor for $300.

 

[drifteractual]

If I downgrade to the Home Premium, will it still recognize all 8GB from the sticks? I thought Home only registered 4gigs of memory in your board, hence the need to upgrade to Pro/Ult, or am I flatout wrong?

 

[hellfire24]

^no,you need 64 bit version(home premium)

 

[drifteractual]

Oh well damn, I already have a copy at home... slash another 80bucks off that haha. That leaves me with about 300-400 bucks of wiggle room for anything fun/toys we could add to this. Any further thoughts, you guys are great

 

[hellfire24]

400 bucks? add another 670 ASAP!!!