Final Check 1200-1500 SWTOR/GW2/Gaming Build

[hmille0]

Approximate Purchase Date: September 15

Budget Range: 1200-1500

Are you buying a monitor: I have a HP w2207 (1680 x 1050 5ms) Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176079

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website for Parts: newegg.com

Location: Tennessee

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, NVIDIA GPU, ASUS Mobo

Overclocking: Not anytime soon, perhaps down the road but i'm clueless when it comes to overclocking
Your Monitor Resolution: 1680 x 1050

This build is exclusively for Star Wars: The Old Republic and Guild Wars 2. I want the most FPS I can get for both. I probably won't be overclocking these games, so please tell me if I should scratch the CPU and go with the i5-3570 instead. I would also need to buy the Non-OC MSI 660 Ti instead. However, I might overclock down the road, so spending an extra 20-30$ would be worth it. I'm not sure how reliable combo deals are, I don't want to buy one if they aren't. Not to mention, the 660ti bought solo comes with Borderlands 2.

CPU+GPU Combo Deal:
-Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000
-MSI N660 Ti PE 2GD5/OC GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
-http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1050224&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=1q7umzop22ko8
=520$ with 10$ MIR

Mobo: ASUS P8Z77-V LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - 190$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131820
+FREE RAM: G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231546

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM 100$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

PSU: SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold ((SS-650KM Active PFC F3)) 650W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply - 140$ (15% off with promo code SSPSUSEP12, ends 9/10) = 119$
-I agree it's slightly overpriced, but SeaSonic is by far the best brand for PSU, also has 5 year warranty

Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan - 31$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

Optical: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - 20$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=s3r4gszxtbea

Case: Corsair Carbide Series 500R Black Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009 - 115$(after rebate 95$)

SSD: SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147163 - 100$

Total: 1195$

 

[hmille0]

Will be getting the SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply instead of the 650 for future proofing. It's only an extra 9$ after promo code.

 

[azeem40]

If you won't CF/SLI, you are wasting $. There is no such thing as future proofing in PSUs since power requirements will continue to decline.

 

[TheBigTroll]

If you won't CF/SLI, you are wasting $. There is no such thing as future proofing in PSUs since power requirements will continue to decline.

still a killer deal

 

[TheBigTroll]

1: nice deal on the motherboard + ram
2:very good deal on the 750w psu
3:get this hard drive instead
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=63468&vpn=ST500DM002&manufacture=Seagate&promoid=1219
4:get this SSD instead. price match it at ncix and shipping will be free
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/845680-REG/Samsung_MZ_7PC128B_WW_128GB_830_Series_Internal.html
5:case. arguably the best one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352021&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

[TheBigTroll]

you might also need something like this given the 8pin could be a bit short

http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=62209

 

[azeem40]

As such, if cooling is your primary concern then the Corsair Carbide 500R remains our chassis of choice. If you’re less inclined to push your hardware to its limit though, or just want a case with a little more refinement to it, the Define R4 is a great choice and a worthy successor to the Define legacy.

So if you prefer cooling, choose the 500R, or if you care more about noise, choose the R4.

www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/07/20/fractal-design-define-r4-review/4

 

[azeem40]

still a killer deal

Seems stupid to me you'd buy a PSU just because of a deal. You should buy a PSU that meets your needs, not how little more it is compared to the one you will need.

 

[hmille0]

I'll be ordering this thing Monday afternoon. My last order of business is to figure out if I need to purchase Windows 7 or get it off the internet..

 

[hmille0]

Also, can I just scratch buying a HDD completely? Can I just instal Win 7 on my SSD, and put all of my games and apps on the External Hard Drive? Or would that be slow?

Lastly, how is the SSD I listed above? Good enough I hope.. Not looking to spend 200+
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-recommendation-benchmark,3269-6.html

 

[proton007]

Also, can I just scratch buying a HDD completely? Can I just instal Win 7 on my SSD, and put all of my games and apps on the External Hard Drive? Or would that be slow?

Lastly, how is the SSD I listed above? Good enough I hope.. Not looking to spend 200+
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-recommendation-benchmark,3269-6.html

If you want full benefit of an SSD, you need to get the games and apps in there along with windows.
As for the PSU, if you're getting a good deal, there's no harm in getting a higher wattage PSU. It'll still only consume what your PC needs. Also, most PSUs give you max. efficiency at 50% load, so in that sense you might end up getting the most out of it.

 

[TheBigTroll]

Seems stupid to me you'd buy a PSU just because of a deal. You should buy a PSU that meets your needs, not how little more it is compared to the one you will need.

if he says he is going to do some SLI in the future, then the 750w wont go to waste

 

[hmille0]

so I can just forget a HDD, and spend that 60$ on getting a 256GB SSD drive instead right? seems like a good idea, especially one of the top tier ones from the TomsHardware Benchmark Tests.

 

[TheBigTroll]

yes you could do that as well

 

[Tavo_Nova]

agreed ditch that HDD as you got some external ones for storage and get your self a kick ass SSD

getting the higher wattage psu with a good deal is great ^_^.

 

[hmille0]

Thanks TheBigTroll and Tavo_Nova. Will be ordering this thing today I think. I'm just going to have to buy Windows 7 because I doubt there are any legit copies out there. I don't want to fry my SSD with some garbage copy.

Tell me what you guys think about this case. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811320009&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

 

[hmille0]

oh and how is this MSI Z77 Board compared to the ASUS one I listed?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811320009&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

Hell I could go all out MSI If I wanted to...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827100058

 

[hmille0]

Lol scratch that idea. I just read some of this MSI stuff is made by Diablotek.
But how is this case? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811320009&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Cases+(Computer+Cases+-+ATX+Form)-_-MSI-_-11320009

 

[TheBigTroll]

dont bother with msi cases. they are junk. my friend has one

the only msi board id get as of now is the z77 mpower. the free ram doesnt match the colour though
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130660

this would
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131819

 

[hmille0]

COOLER MASTER Storm Sniper SGC-6000-KXN1-GP Black Steel, ABS Plastic, Mesh bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119194

OR

Corsair Carbide Series 500R Black Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009

I'm definitely picking from these 2.

And i'm dropping the HDD and getting a bigger SSD instead.
Now I got to figure out which is the best. Anyone?
I guess a 128GB will do since i'm only going to have SWTOR, Guild Wars 2 and Windows 7 on it
,but if you guys reccomend a 256GB..

 

[hmille0]

One more thing.. How will this 1680 resolution monitor do with the MSI 660ti I listed above. Do I need a DVI to HDMI Cord?

 

[hmille0]

I'm picking from the top 5 on this benchmark. The Plextor M3 Pro is out of stock though. So either the Samsung, Intel, or one of the OCZ's.

 

[TheBigTroll]

ok then get the corsair 500R

for the ssd, go to B&H and get a samsung 830 128gb SSD for 96.48

 

[hmille0]

Best answer selected by hmille0.

 

[oxidised]

I run a very similiar build for SWTOR (i5-3570k, Asus P8Z77, GTX670) at 1980*1200 and I get 100+ frame/sec, looks great. Your build will be more than capable.
Only thing I would advise is consider a larger SSD if the budget can stretch. With Win7, SWTOR, various applications etc I am already 70% full on my 120gb SSD, and you want to put GW2 as well, which I think requires ~20gb from memory (can't check at work, silly firewalls)