$1300 Gaming Rig Looking for Input

purgeofdarkness

Honorable
Oct 11, 2012
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10,510
Between asking questions, finding a similiar build and learning more as I ask questions, Here's my build
Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: this week (the closer the better)

Budget Range: $1300

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, dvd ripping

Are you buying a monitor: Yes and I would like your input on that as well.


Parts to Upgrade: No real upgrades, after a year or two I plan to overclock and go SLI

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: One or two vendors.

Location: City, State/Region, Country - Chicago il

Parts Preferences: Intel and Nvidia

Overclocking: Yes (Future)

SLI or Crossfire: Yes (Future)

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Looking foward to your input. Thank you.
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Here is what I would get for $1300:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($215.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($55.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP4 TH ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($180.48 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F4 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($357.91 @ CompUSA)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($67.46 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($92.11 @ Amazon)
Total: $1315.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
 

excella1221

Honorable
Aug 23, 2012
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I wouldn't suggest the Hive. :\
It cheaps out on amperage on the +12v rail too much. You're like paying for 650w.

Alternatives:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703027&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139040&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=64382&vpn=OCZ-ZT750W&manufacture=OCZ%20Technology
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207015&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
 

purgeofdarkness

Honorable
Oct 11, 2012
21
0
10,510
I'm sticking with the Gtx 680. I've read the benchmarks and the games I plan on playing are the ones that the 680 did better in. Also my past experience with ATI hasnt been a pleasant one. I appreciate the suggestion on that part of the build but I would like to stick with Nvidia. Or better yet if the motherboard will support SLI and Crossfire then If I decided to switch later on I could. Thank you all again for your recommendations on that part of the build.



Also wondering why the powersupply was changed.

Is the monitor Good for gaming?
 

boulbox

Honorable
Apr 5, 2012
1,880
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11,960


well you would already be able to run SLI with an i5 so it wouldnt really matter....

would do this build

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($215.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($27.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($127.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($376.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF XM (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($81.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1166.74
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

you can upgrade 670 into a 7970 GHz but that also means you need to upgrade PSU into a 850W for SLI

a 670 only needs about 550W for SLI so i put inside a 620W for overclocking needs
 

CaptainTom

Honorable
May 3, 2012
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11,960


LOL a 7970 CAN run crossfire on a 620w just like a 670 can! I have 2 x 6950 OC editions running on a 600w and I have no problems. Oh and 850w is only needed for GTX 480 SLI...
 

purgeofdarkness

Honorable
Oct 11, 2012
21
0
10,510
icked up the CPU for $179.99 and the mobo for $84.99. The ssd for 99.99-20 mail in rebate. Also picked up the Cooler for 29.99. Picked up the storage drive for 99.99, I ended up going for a 2tb seagate, It was only a $20 difference so I decided might as well, one less thing to ship.

 

purgeofdarkness

Honorable
Oct 11, 2012
21
0
10,510
In case you want a review of the 7970 vs Nvidia after the new drivers it's here.. So i'm kinda sold on the 7970 and I guess I'll give ATI another shot.

Now I just need to know what brand, My old 8800gts was an xfx and It's been good for me. I checked out tigerdirect and found one thats pretty cheap and comes with games but i'm not sure if it supports crossfire-x or not. . And then theres this one. The only difference I see is one supports crossfire and comes with games. The other supports crossfireX but doesnt come with games. But is there a way to double check incase tigerdirect made and oopsie?
 

excella1221

Honorable
Aug 23, 2012
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12,160

It does. I didn't deny that.
All I said was I wouldn't suggest it since it cheaps out amps and you're paying 750w price for what actually is a 650w.
If he was to attempt to do something that would go over 648w thinking he had enough for 750, it could/would cause complications.
 

Seeing how you live in Chi Town then stick to Microcenter and Amazon.


http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Carbide-Black-Computer-CC-9011011-WW/dp/B0055Q7BR4/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1350202440&sr=1-5 $87.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Corsair Carbide Series Black 400R Mid Tower Computer Case (CC-9011011-WW)

http://www.microcenter.com/product/361181/High_Current_Gamer_750W_Gamer_Power_Supply_HCG-750 $89.99
Antec High Current Gamer 750W Gamer Power Supply HCG-750

http://www.microcenter.com/product/387554/Z77_Extreme4_LGA_1155_Z77_ATX_Intel_Motherboard $134.99 ($84.99 when bundled with 3570K cpu)
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.microcenter.com/product/388577/Core_i5_3570K_34GHz_LGA_1155_Processor $179.99
Intel Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Processor

http://www.microcenter.com/product/373900/Hyper_212_EVO_Universal_CPU_Cooler $29.99
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO Universal CPU Cooler

http://www.microcenter.com/product/382101/Ballistix_Sport_8GB_DDR3-1600_(PC3-12800)_CL9_Dual_Channel_Desktop_Memory_Kit_(Two_4GB_Memory_Modules) $39.99
Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB DDR3-1600 PC3-12800) CL9 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit Two 4GB Memory Modules)

http://www.microcenter.com/product/392825/24x_DVD%C2%B1RW_Burner_-_OEM $15.99
LG 24x DVDRW Burner - OEM

http://www.microcenter.com/product/391067/SDSSDP-128G-G25_128GB_SATA_60Gb-s_25_Internal_Solid_State_Drive_(SSD) $79.99
SanDisk SDSSDP-128G-G25 128GB SATA 6.0Gb/s 2.5" Internal Solid State Drive SSD)

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Cache-Desktop-Drive/dp/B0088PUEPK/ref=sr_1_14?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1350201970&sr=1-14 $83.57 & 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.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-WINDFORCE-PCI-Express-Graphics-GV-N670WF2-2GD/dp/B008LZKLF0/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1350202092&sr=1-2&keywords=gigabyte+gtx+670 $399.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping | Price after rebate: $379.99
GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 670 WINDFORCE 2X OC Edition 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express 3.0 2x DVI/HDMI/DP SLI Ready Graphics Card GV-N670WF2-2GD

Total: $1,092.48 *not including rebates


http://www.amazon.com/VS228H-P-21-5-Inch-Full-HD-Monitor-Black/dp/B005BZNDOO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1350202540&sr=1-1&keywords=asus+21.5+led+monitor $138.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
ASUS VS228H-P 21.5-Inch Full-HD LED Monitor (Black) | 50,000,000:1 ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio; Full 1080P with HDMI
 

purgeofdarkness

Honorable
Oct 11, 2012
21
0
10,510
from what i've read the ghz edition is just a factory overclock. So for less than $20 i'm getting a few games and the same card with a slower speed. I could always just overclock it myself, or buy another 7970 card. So 2 years from now gotta buy 2 more monitors and another 7970 card. I forgot how much fun technology is. This is almost as fun as working on cars.