Rate these 3 builds - organized and easy!

[vmartelle]

Will be building my first computer soon. I've been stalking these forums and have found these 3 builds, so let me know what I should pick. I plan to do some gaming. I prefer to run high demand games like battlefield 3, but it does not have too.


Some questions I have:

Do I need a sound card and cpu cooler?

Are these builds good?

What build should I pick or edit to make perfect?




Build #1
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/knNG
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/knNG/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/knNG/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($289.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.52 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 520W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($46.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $693.44
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)










Build #2
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/knNW
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/knNW/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/knNW/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($186.97 @ CompUSA)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Apex PCV-588 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.42 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 550W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $703.33
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)










Build #3
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kg8j
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kg8j/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kg8j/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA SD1283 56.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Kingston Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 330 Upgraded ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $681.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[excella1221]

Build #1 looks great, tbh. It has a really powerful GPU.
But I personally won't get it simply cause it cheaped out on every other component.

No real comment on Build#2.

Build #3 looks the most appealing to me. Well balanced.

P.S - You're wasting money on the 1866MHz RAM. There is no visible difference in performance between that and 1600MHz.
- The Kingston Blu runs at 1.65v, that will void your CPU's warranty and put a lot of unwanted strain in it.

 

[manofchalk]

Would go for the 1st build, then upgrade the CPU later (Haswell maybe).

No need for a sound card. Onboard is enough, and a soundcard worth getting is going to be $200 or more.
CPU cooler depends if you are going to overclock or want it to run quieter and cooler.

 

[vmartelle]

Would go for the 1st build, then upgrade the CPU later (Haswell maybe).

No need for a sound card. Onboard is enough, and a soundcard worth getting is going to be $200 or more.
CPU cooler depends if you are going to overclock or want it to run quieter and cooler.

I'm just scared of the I3...it seems so low :\. Whats haswell?

 

[excella1221]

The next line of Intel CPUs.

 

[manofchalk]

Haswell is the next generation of Intel mainstream CPU's. Releases some time 2nd quarter next year. You will have to get a new mobo as well if you get that.

An i3 is enough for gaming, though an i5 would be better.

 

[vmartelle]

Haswell is the next generation of Intel mainstream CPU's. Releases some time 2nd quarter next year. You will have to get a new mobo as well if you get that.

An i3 is enough for gaming, though an i5 would be better.

Seems like every year new parts are released and upgraded...ahhhh >_<

Do you think build #1 or the other builds could run high demanding games?

 

[manofchalk]

Yep, thats exactly what happens. New parts to make us enthusiasts drop more money. I only recommend upgrading because its an i3, if it was an i5 I would suggest waiting for Skylake (the next architecture upgrade over Haswell/Broadwell. 2yrs or so from now), which is what I am planning to do.

Depends on the game really. If its CPU intensive (like large BF3 multiplayer matches), the i3 will bottleneck.
But if its more dependent on the GPU, you will see better performance over the other builds.

But in a nutshell, yes.

 

[vmartelle]

Yep, thats exactly what happens. New parts to make us enthusiasts drop more money. I only recommend upgrading because its an i3, if it was an i5 I would suggest waiting for Skylake (the next architecture upgrade over Haswell/Broadwell. 2yrs or so from now), which is what I am planning to do.

Depends on the game really. If its CPU intensive (like large BF3 multiplayer matches), the i3 will bottleneck.
But if its more dependent on the GPU, you will see better performance over the other builds.

But in a nutshell, yes.

So should I upgrade to the entry level I5 card or stick with the i3? Would either be good for bf3 or other games?...heck, can build #1 even run Bf3 do you think - low graphics, mid or high?

 

[manofchalk]

A 7950 will power high/ultra graphics settings in games without doubt. But if anything CPU intensive to come along, it will chug a bit.
This was on a 7970, so you can expect a bit less performance. But it shows that you wont be CPU bottlenecked most of the time. And I suspect when you are it wont be by much.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/fx-4170-core-i3-3220-benchmarks,3314-6.html

It really depends on which you would prefer to upgrade first.
If you go with an i3 and a 7950, you will likely have to replace the CPU before graphics card. If you go 7850 and an i5, you will replace the GPU first.

 

[vmartelle]

What do you think about upgrading to the Intel Core i5-2300?

 

[manofchalk]

Should be good.

 

[vmartelle]

...hopefully people will vote more and give me more opinions....only 2 votes :|

 

[vmartelle]

...?

 

[manofchalk]

Usually around this time there isnt a lot of forum activity. America is only waking up (8AM), Australia/Asia is currently 11-12PM and Europe/UK is around midday.
The majority of the people on the forum are from America, should be active in an hour or two.
Australians (Like me!) and those in Asia should be asleep right now.
And the Europeans and Englishmen are having lunch.

 

[vmartelle]

Damn...at least we got Australians !

 

[vmartelle]

bump

 

[vmartelle]

bump

 

[mohit9206]

i5-3570k + 7870 is a great combination. i suggest you go for that. also a cheap Z77 mobo instead of H77. keep the rest. dont get i3+7950. i5-3570k + 7870 would come to be about the same

 

[g-unit1111]

I'd go with build #3 if you want to overclock but Xigmatek coolers are horrible, go with a Hyper 212 instead. And for $5 more the HAF 912 is a far better case than the Elite 334.

Build #2 is also good but Apex cases suck. Cheap cases are just that - cheap.

 

[vmartelle]

Hmm :O so many different opinions lol

 

[vmartelle]

i might upgrade the I3 to the Intel Core i5-2300 if that makes a difference...

 

[g-unit1111]

i might upgrade the I3 to the Intel Core i5-2300 if that makes a difference...

If you went with build #2 switch out the RAM (rated at 1.65V - unsafe for Ivy) , and get a different case - the HAF 912 is only $5 more and is far better all around.

 

[lighter17]

The first build would be the best for most games, but the third build would be best for multiplayer BF3 (althoug I would point out that the price of the third build will be higher if you don't have a Microcenter nearby).

The second build doesn't make sense since the savings from using a locked i5 is squandered updating components that don't improve performance. The second build should be the same as the first with the CPU swapped out for and i5 and GPU swapped out for a 7870. That would be about the same price as the other two and would probably be the best compromise if you are going to spend a lot of time playing BF3 multiplayer.

If you can afford to raise your budget then adding an i5 to the first build would be the best solution.

 

[vmartelle]

Thanks for the replies. I also need to look into a fan as well and sound card? I don't know :O