Need Advice on this gaming/rendering build

[HeXp Renegade]

Hi. Im buying a new computer for rendering youtube videos in 1080p, livestreaming in hd, and gaming. My budget is around 1200. The games I play are LoL, SC2, Assassins creed 3, and maybe bf3.

Here is the build I was looking at:

Processor:

- Intel core i7 3820

GPU:

- EVGA Superclocked GTX 660 2GB

Case:

- Antec 900 Two V3

Motherboard:

- ASUS Sabertooth XZ9

Memory:

- Cosair Vengance 16gb (2x 8gb 1600mhz)

Hard Drive:

- Seagate Barracuda 1TB SATA 6.0 7200 RPM

Power Supply:

- Antec EarthWatts Series EA-750 Green 750W

 

[excella1221]

I think too much money is being put on the CPU and especially the motherboard. The casing as well; and too little on the GPU.

The Sabertooth is an overpriced gimmick btw.

 

[HeXp Renegade]

Okay what cpu then 3770k? and idk what motherboard to pick i liked the sabertooth cuz of the 5 year warranty and good overclocking. The GPU is fine for me i think because I dont game hardcore. But if I were to upgrade I think I would get the 670.

 

[excella1221]

The recently released AMD Piledriver series has great performance in rendering(relatively close to the i7) and decent in gaming.
The 7950 outperforms both the 660 and 660Ti by quite a margin and is at the same price as the latter.
I would do something like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.22 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($127.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1011.69
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

If you really want an Intel build.. here.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($319.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.22 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1172.13
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Notice I didn't recommend either the 660 Ti or a 670 in both builds.
This is because as of the current pricing, no nVidia card in that price range wins on price : performance value.

At the 670's pricing, the 7970 is already sitting there.

 

[brandon402]

This would be a good a motherboard for the 3770k if you're just using one graphics card. Micro Atx boards are not as "micro" or small as you'd think though. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131832

 

[excella1221]

There's no point in going micro with his budget.
They're not small, but it has less PCI slots and little to no room for upgrades.

 

[aramisathei]

I'd look at trading up for a 256gb Samsung 830.
Double the write speed of a 128gb, and still wicked good pricing right now.

 

[HeXp Renegade]

The recently released AMD Piledriver series has great performance in rendering(relatively close to the i7) and decent in gaming.
The 7950 outperforms both the 660 and 660Ti by quite a margin and is at the same price as the latter.
I would do something like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.22 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($127.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1011.69
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

If you really want an Intel build.. here.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($319.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.22 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1172.13
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Notice I didn't recommend either the 660 Ti or a 670 in both builds.
This is because as of the current pricing, no nVidia card in that price range wins on price : performance value.

At the 670's pricing, the 7970 is already sitting there.

I think I am going to go with the intel build. But why the 3770k over 3820 since its $30 cheaper? Also is the motherboard you listed good for overclocking?

 

[excella1221]

'cause LGA2011 motherboards are expensive atm and there are no real performance differences between the two.
Hell, the 3770K is shown to even be faster on some benchmarks.

Also, I don't think you can OC on the 3820. I believe you need to mess with the BLCK for that.

Depending on how much OC you'll do, you might want to change the cooler to a Silver Arrow or NH-D14.

 

[HeXp Renegade]

Also the two games I play most (LoL and SC2) are not very demanding in terms up gpu i heard. All I need is a GPU that can run those games at least at 60fps on high settings and will also speed up my rendering. What is the cheapest GPU would you reccommend for that if I dont get the radeon 7950? I dont want to upgrade in the near future. My budget for the build is now a little lower then I thought. So If I could improve on the build $100 less would be great (without sacrificing 3770k).

 

[excella1221]

I would get this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150605&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Nothing can beat that at current prices. Cheapest 7870 in the market, performs close to the 7950 and has Double Dissipation(custom cooler). It also has 3 free games that totals to $160. Grab it while you can.