Final Compatibility Check + Suggestions

[TheRandomWookie]

Approximate Purchase Date: This weekend

Budget Range: ~$1000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, gaming, lame homework

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: All but case

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg or any trusted website with a good deal

Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin (Go Packers!)

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, SSD, Parts that are black or green (going with black and green theme)

Overclocking: Maybe, idk how though, a guide link would be appreciated

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in future, but would like to stay in budget ATM

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: See Below

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: my laptop is lame

I have picked out the following parts for my build: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hMY0
Note: I already have a Cooler Master HAF 912 case

1. In your opinion, does this build look good? If not, why?
2. Is there anywhere I could save cash while still getting a same quality build? I would like some extra cash for accessories. Ex: case fans
3. Is it hard to install an after-market heatsink? Specifically applying thermal paste. (A friend of mine had a fire start because of it)
4. There was a forum, I think on here, where people would post pics of there builds. Can someone give me a link where it is? I enjoy seeing other people's builds.

 

[Xlerator]

Its good,
Watch this on how to apply thermal paste:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3gx6c62D7I

 

[g-unit1111]

2. Is there anywhere I could save cash while still getting a same quality build? I would like some extra cash for accessories. Ex: case fans

No. The extra case fans will not be needed until you get your build up and running. You can only purchase as many fans as your case has mounts for and the size and placement of the fans matter.

1. In your opinion, does this build look good? If not, why?

I learned the hard way today that the Corsair CX series is overrated junk. If you're getting a PSU in that class go with a Seasonic S12 620W. The Corsair Tx650 is also a far better bet.

On that kind of build I'd drop the SSD for now and upgrade your GPU to the GTX 670 or Radeon 7950, otherwise it looks good.

3. Is it hard to install an after-market heatsink? Specifically applying thermal paste. (A friend of mine had a fire start because of it)

Easy if you install it before you put your motherboard in the case, incredibly difficult if you put the fan on afterward.

 

[Why_Me]

@ the Packer fan (OP). You have a motherboard meant to run dual cards and a psu that will only run a single card with no option for a second card later on.


This build allows for the option to add a second card later on for a dual card configuration. There isn't any reviews on that board down below for the fact it was just recently released.


http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-80PLUS-Certified-Modular-CP-9020015-NA/dp/B008RJZQSW/ref=sr_1_24?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1346646210&sr=1-24 $86.00 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Corsair CX 750 Watts 80PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V/EPS12V Power Supply CP-9020015-NA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1061098 $152.98 save: $8.00
ASRock Z77 Extreme3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT4G3D1609DS1S00

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i5-3570K-Quad-Core-Processor/dp/B007SZ0E1K/ref=pd_ts_zgc_e_229189_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&pf_rd_p=1381382962&pf_rd_s=right-10&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=193870011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0BQYHFW588E8K345VTZK $215.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 - BX80637I53570K

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005O65JXI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A2EUTVCJXLAJ4K $32.42 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan (RR-212E-20PK-R2)

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST1000DM003/dp/B005T3GRNW/ref=sr_1_10?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347945705&sr=1-10 $74.98 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Seagate Barracuda 7200 1 TB 7200RPM SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive ST1000DM003

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SH-222BB-BEBE-Internal-Software/dp/B006B7R9PU/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347869900&sr=1-2 $16.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25
Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE 22X SATA DVDRW Internal Drive (Black), Bulk without Software

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-64bit-System-Builder/dp/B004Q0PT3I/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_z $91.05 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder DVD 1 Pack

Total: $579.26*not including shipping & rebates


http://www.amazon.com/MSI-Overvoltage-N660TI-PE-2GD5/dp/B008SBX6GI/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347927302&sr=1-2&keywords=gtx+660+ti $309.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping | Price after rebate: $299.99
MSI GTX 660 Ti Power Edition Graphics Card with Triple Overvoltage and Enhanced PWM Design (N660TI PE 2GD5/OC)

or...

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-R7870-Twin-Frozr-2GD5/dp/B007NG3WRC/ref=sr_1_13?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347928039&sr=1-13&keywords=7870 $259.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping | Price after rebate: $244.99
MSI Radeon HD7870, 2GB GDDR5, Mini DisplayPortx2, DVI-I, HDMI, PCI Express 3.0 Graphics Card R7870 Twin Frozr 2GD5/OC

or...

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-PCI-Express-Displayport-Graphics-GV-N660OC-2GD/dp/B00942TK8I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1347928241&sr=8-3&keywords=gigabyte+gtx+660 $229.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 OC 2GB GDDR5 PCI-Express 3.0 DVI-I/DVI-D/HDMI/Displayport SLI Ready Graphics Card GV-N660OC-2GD

or...

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-mini-Displayport-PCI-Express-Graphic-GV-R785OC-2GD/dp/B007PJTNYS/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1347946683&sr=8-10&keywords=7850 $219.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping | Price after rebate: $199.99
Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7850 2 GB GDDR5 DVI-I/HDMI/2x mini-Displayport PCI-Express 3.0 Graphic Card GV-R785OC-2GD


http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-2-5-Inch-Solid-SDSSDP-128G--G25/dp/B007ZW2LY4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1347126230&sr=1-1&keywords=sandisk+128+gb+ssd $89.95 + $0.00 shipping
SanDisk 128 GB 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive (SDSSDP-128G- G25)

 

[Why_Me]

2. Is there anywhere I could save cash while still getting a same quality build? I would like some extra cash for accessories. Ex: case fans

I learned the hard way today that the Corsair CX series is overrated junk. If you're getting a PSU in that class go with a Seasonic S12 620W. The Corsair Tx650 is also a far better bet.

On that kind of build I'd drop the SSD for now and upgrade your GPU to the GTX 670 or Radeon 7950, otherwise it looks good.

CWT just recently reworked the entire line of CX psu's for Corsair hence the reason Iv'e been recommending them on here for the first time ever. CWT also revamped the Corsair HX750...another psu that's manufactured by CWT for Corsair. These new model CX series psu's (bronze rated/active PFC), aren't anything like the older CX line ...which was junk.

 

[g-unit1111]

CWT just recently reworked the entire line of CX psu's for Corsair hence the reason Iv'e been recommending them on here for the first time ever. CWT also revamped the Corsair HX750...another psu that's manufactured by CWT for Corsair. These new model CX series psu's (bronze rated/active PFC), aren't anything like the older CX line ...which was junk.

So will they be branded as V3 then? I discovered that the voltages weren't compatible with Intel Sandy Bridge on my home theater build - I swapped the CX430 for the Seasonic S12 II 430W and it's been problem free. Now the weird thing is that I discovered that the CX430 worked on an older PC I had perfectly fine - and that was running an AMD CPU.

 

[Why_Me]

So will they be branded as V3 then? I discovered that the voltages weren't compatible with Intel Sandy Bridge on my home theater build - I swapped the CX430 for the Seasonic S12 II 430W and it's been problem free. Now the weird thing is that I discovered that the CX430 worked on an older PC I had perfectly fine - and that was running an AMD CPU.

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Certified-Compatible-Platforms-CMPSU-600CXV2/dp/B004W2T2UQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347994797&sr=1-2 <----- That's a CX V2 and when you click on that link there's a link to a new version although that 'newer version" hasn't hit the market yet but it should be out any day now. The 750w just came out a few weeks ago...the Bronze rated one.


http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CX600-CrossFire-Certified-CP-9020048-US/dp/B0092ML0OC/ref=dp_ob_title_ce <---- that's where that link goes...the newer version.

 

[TheRandomWookie]

What's the main differences between the Extreme3 and the Extreme4? Also, are SanDisk SSDs good quality? I picked the M4 because it's cheap and has the best reviews. How do they compare?

 

[Why_Me]

What's the main differences between the Extreme3 and the Extreme4? Also, are SanDisk SSDs good quality? I picked the M4 because it's cheap and has the best reviews. How do they compare?

In no particular order... Samsung, Kingston HyperX series, Crucial, and Sandisk are all solid SSD's due to the controller they use and their firmware support for their products. Sandisk uses a SF Toggle NAND controller, Samsung uses a Toshiba Toggle NAND controller, Kingston HyperX series uses a SF Toggle NAND and Crucial uses a Marvell controller. You can't go wrong with any of those SSD's just mentioned.


The difference between the extreme3 and extreme4 is minor. The extreme3 only has two SATA 6Gb ports which is what the average PC owner uses....one for SSD and one for the hard drive (storage) and the extreme4 has 4 SATA 6Gb ports. Also the extreme3 uses a 8+3 power phase configuration and the extreme4 uses a 8+4.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77%20Extreme3/ <----- extreme3

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77%20Extreme4/ <---- extreme4