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First timer build feedback

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Budget Range: under $1k
System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming (slightly older games but preferrably in high settings...Assasins Creed, L4D, DeadSpace, TF2, Bioshock2, and the venerable EverQuest), internet/video, home use (office)
Parts to Upgrade: new build
Parts Preferences: no preference, reliable and economical
Overclocking: not yet, but maybe
SLI or Crossfire: not yet, but maybe
Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200
And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: because my old Dell Dimension 8200 machine used to rock; now it IS a rock. P4, RAMBUS and AGP are pretty archaic, don't you think?

This is my first attempt at building a box myself. Looking for any advice on the setup below. Am I too ambitious for a first timer? Am I overbuilding for what I'm using it for? Can I get away with stock CPU cooler or need to go aftermarket? I want the capability to upgrade over the next several years which is why I chose newer technologies on most of the items...

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Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Upgraded USB 3.0

PSU: Rosewill LIGHTNING Series LIGHTNING-800 800W ATX12V/EPS12V 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active-PFC Power Supply

Mobo: ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

CPU: AMD FX-4170 Zambezi 4.2GHz (4.3GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4170FRGUBOX

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9Q-16GBXL

GPU: MSI R7770-PMD1GD5 Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card


SSD: Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2BAA 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

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You cold do better.

Do not get the FX or the Sabertooth. Get an i5-3570K and ASRock Extreme 4. Get 8GB of 1600 RAM. You're overspending on the mobo and RAM.

Get a 550w-600w PSU from Corsair or Antec. And where's the GPU?

I'd completely ditch that whole build, for $1K you can do way better. You're overpaying in some areas for not good hardware (PSU, motherboard) and underpaying where it really counts. I really question that PSU choice and I wouldn't get the SSD initially - on a gaming rig - spend it on the GPU. I cannot stress that enough.

Try this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($307.86 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($24.97 @ Newegg)
Total: $884.32
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
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I admit PSU is my least knowledgable area. I was looking for enough power with the option to bump up to Crossfire someday, and modular.

The 7950 is nice, but I figured for the games I play (couple years old) it would be overkill, and I could get substantial performance from the 7770 (which I fixed in the orignal).

Best solution

obsama1 said:
His budget is $1K. I'd get a 3570K and ASroxk Extreme 4 for his budget. And 750w is a bit too much. 600w is good enough for this build.


That depends if overclocking is going to be involved. If yes then it's 3570K or bust, if not than the 3450 will handle just fine. I know that PSU is overkill but it's a good bang for buck option especially for SLI/Crossfire in the future.

Considering the games you play, Crossfire is absolutely overkill. In my opinion, SLI/CFX is something you do on day one, or shortly after you build it. When you need the power of Crossfire, the exact model of card is going to be hard to find, and and will probably be discontinued.

The 7770 is a bit low-end and the 7950 is a bit too much. Get the 7870 and a 600w PSU, and you'll be good.

obsama1 said:
Considering the games you play, Crossfire is absolutely overkill. In my opinion, SLI/CFX is something you do on day one, or shortly after you build it. When you need the power of Crossfire, the exact model of card is going to be hard to find, and and will probably be discontinued.

The 7770 is a bit low-end and the 7950 is a bit too much. Get the 7870 and a 600w PSU, and you'll be good.


I certainly can't disagree there - but at the same time I'd personally rather put my money in the GPU. That's usually the way I build my builds.

cpokey26 said:
Oh yeah. Crossfire is a definitely "someday" upgrade. if I ever need it. Seems single card options do pretty good for the most part.


I only recommend Crossfire / SLI as either a last resort - or you're buying the latest and greatest. There's not a lot of in between.

http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Three-Hundred-Two-Gaming/dp... $59.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Antec Three Hundred Two Gaming Case, Black

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $54.99 $10 off w/ promo code CollegeSave10, limited offer
Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $84.99 FREE SHIPPING
ASRock Z75 Pro3 LGA 1155 Intel Z75 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $38.99 FREE SHIPPING
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... $206.98 save: $10.00
Intel Core i5-3470 Ivy Bridge 3.2GHz (3.6GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2500 BX80637i53470
SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE - OEM

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Cache-Desktop-Dri... $84.79 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $94.99 FREE SHIPPING
SanDisk SDSSDP-128G-G25 2.5" 128GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-PCI-Express-Displayport-... $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
Core Clock 1032MHz
Boost Clock 1111MHz

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-64bit-System-Buil... $90.70 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder DVD 1 Pack

Total: $946.41 *not including shipping, rebates & promo code (psu)

http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Tricool-Speed-120mm-Case/dp... <---- additional case fans for that Antec case up above.
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