~$1850 gaming build, built for a friend.

[baconizer]

Hi,
This build is not exactly mine, but my friend's. He gave me the money to buy all the parts since he was a complete newbie at building computers, I asked this website before for my personal gaming thread:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/360297-31-1200-gaming-build

I just wanted to gather some opinions about this build as I will be building it pretty soon.
Approximate Purchase Date: *edit: whenever my friend finishes his semester... (dec~)

Budget Range: $1850~

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, photoshop, dreamweaver etc...

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Location: New York.

Parts Preferences: Intel, Nvidia

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Photoshop Extended CS6, Battlefield 3.





CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($215.98 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ B&H)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($359.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Monitor: Asus VS247H-P 23.6" Monitor ($176.44 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (64-bit) ($128.08 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($47.52 @ B&H)
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Wired Optical Mouse ($48.93 @ Amazon)
Other: steelseries Siberia v2 3.5mm Connector Circumaural Full-size Headset - White ($90.00)
Other: Logitech S-220 17 Watts 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System - OEM ($33.99)
Other: steelseries 63004SS QcK Mouse Pad - OEM ($17.00)
Total: $1807.84

 

[azeem40]

No CF/SLI = no MOBO that can. Get the Gigabyte DS3H.

 

[baconizer]

Oh, sorry about the confusion, my friend *may* be SLI'ing in the future, and he needs those additional power phases to OC.

 

[azeem40]

You don't need extra phases to OC. 4.2 Ghz on a Z75, which has less phases, is just as good as on a Z77, for example.

 

[baconizer]

bump~~

 

[azeem40]

You're good mate.

 

[baconizer]

meh, can't decide over the 660ti or 670.
heard that you can OC a 660ti to 670 stock speeds, correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[azeem40]

The 192-bit memory bus really limits it in OCing.

 

[baconizer]

considering my friend is still @ uni w/ 1 semester to go, should I wait for DDR4 and 4th generation (haswell) architecture?

 

[baconizer]

suggestions guys?

 

[Kamen_BG]

First ill cirtuque the build you made and then ill make a better one.

First you don't need quad channel RAM.And even if you did 8GB would be enough.Quad Channel RAM makes overclocking that much harder and brings no performance boost.
The motherboard you included in the build is made for really hardcore overclocking.Im sure you'r friend wouldn't mind downgrading it to something more reasonable.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare
Also according to this there is no reason to buy Windows 7 Professional over Windows 7 Home Premium

Also a good monitor is a must for Photoshop.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($269.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($27.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Agility 4 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($149.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: OCZ Agility 4 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($149.98 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus PA238Q 23.0" Monitor ($229.98 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($90.33 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($47.52 @ B&H)
Mouse: SteelSeries Kana Wired Optical Mouse ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1741.54
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-16 01:47 EDT-0400)

Here's the build i made you it doesnt include headphones or a mousepad so you can add them yourself.
This build basicly improves on everything.

 

[azeem40]

Quad channel RAM only acts as quad channel ram on quad channel motherboards. 4 sticks on LGA 1155 is still dual channel. There are 8 RAM slots on such motherboards.

This is just fyi, and your suggestion is still valid. He still should get 2x4GB because it is cheaper and puts less strain on the memory controller.

 

[baconizer]

First ill cirtuque the build you made and then ill make a better one.

First you don't need quad channel RAM.And even if you did 8GB would be enough.Quad Channel RAM makes overclocking that much harder and brings no performance boost.
The motherboard you included in the build is made for really hardcore overclocking.Im sure you'r friend wouldn't mind downgrading it to something more reasonable.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare
Also according to this there is no reason to buy Windows 7 Professional over Windows 7 Home Premium

Also a good monitor is a must for Photoshop.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($269.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($27.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Agility 4 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($149.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: OCZ Agility 4 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($149.98 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus PA238Q 23.0" Monitor ($229.98 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($90.33 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($47.52 @ B&H)
Mouse: SteelSeries Kana Wired Optical Mouse ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1741.54
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-16 01:47 EDT-0400)

Here's the build i made you it doesnt include headphones or a mousepad so you can add them yourself.
This build basicly improves on everything.

Don't you think the 2 SSD's is a bit of a waste? Also the 7970 3GB memory won't really benefit a 1080p monitor.

 

[baconizer]

bump.