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dhakon

dhakon

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Dec 30, 2011
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My younger brothers birthday is in a few days, so we're going to be ordering him parts for a new computer build. I had a few questions, along with a base build I kind of through together. Please rate, or alter/recommend suggestions and improvements for the build. Build requirements below, would like it to be ready for Crossfire/SLI in the future (build below is...or should be).

Budget: $1000 give or take a few dollars.

Need: Tower components and OS (see below).
Don't Need: Monitor, mouse, speakers, keyboard.

Plays: S.U.N., WoW, Guild Wars 2, Battlefield 3 potentially.
Mon. Resolution: 1920x1080

Rate/Improve this build:
CPU: Intel i5 3570K ($170 @ Microcenter)
http://www.microcenter.com/product/388577/Core_i5_3570K_34GHz_LGA_1155_Processor

Cooler: CM Hyper 212 EVO ($30 @ Microcenter)
http://www.microcenter.com/product/373900/Hyper_212_EVO_Universal_CPU_Cooler

Mobo: ASUS P8Z77-V LK ($135 @ Microcenter)
http://www.microcenter.com/product/393422/P8Z77-V_LK_LGA_1155_Z77_ATX_Intel_Motherboard

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB 1600 LP* ($45 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233196

GPU: Gigabyte HD 7870 2GB GHz Edition ($240 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125418

HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB ($90 @ Microcenter)
http://www.microcenter.com/product/331606/Caviar_Black_1TB_7,200_RPM_SATA_60Gb-s_35_Internal_Hard_Drive_WD1002FAEX_-_OEM

SSD: Mushkin Chronos 120GB ($105 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226236

PSU: XFX P1-750x 750W 80+Bronze/Modular ($110 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207023

Case: CM Elite 431 ($60 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119256

Optical: Lite-On/ASUS/Samsung/LG etc. Dvd/CD-R ($16 @ Newegg)
OS: Windows 7/8 64bit OEM ($100)


Total: $910***

*LP: Low Profile ram, to avoid clearance issues with the Hyper 212 EVO that non-LP Corsair Vengeance ram can have.

Questions:
1) I see that EVGA just came out with some new psu's, namely the SuperNOVA. Are they any good and reliable? I can't seem to find much on them. Would you recommend them for future builds, or should I just stick with known reliable units instead?

2) With Windows 8 now out, should I stick with 7, or get him 8. I currently use 7 and have had no issues. I haven't tested 8 out myself so I don't have much knowledge on it, or it's compatibility with games that he's playing.

3) I picked the CM Elite 431 (upgraded slightly over the Elite 430) because he likes flashy cases/windows. Basically I just need a case that'll fit the Hyper 212, and I'll just throw an USB LED strip on the top inside of it. Not really a question, but nobody seems to like this case (except my brother), figured I'd go ahead and explain why it's listed.

4) I'm buying his OS, probably his cooler/optical, and maybe his ram depending on how my bills look next week. So the cost of the above is at $910 (went ahead and subtracted ram from it too), so the budget is for everything else not listed in this remark.




 
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boulbox

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Apr 5, 2012
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get the asrock extreme4 if it is cheaper(usually is) and the i5 is instore buy only. If you do have on near you then also get the 8GB crucial ballistics over there for about $30-$40

The same PSU is about $20 cheaper on NCIX
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1750bnlg9

for win7 vs win8, just go for which ever one is cheaper

for the SSD, either go with sandisk extreme or crucial m4
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sandisk-internal-hard-drive-sdssdx120gg25
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct128m4ssd2

If getting an SSD you will not need the WD black, save some money and go for WD blue or seagate barracuda

with the extra money saved i would try to opt for a 670
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn670oc2gd
 
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nix327

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Nov 25, 2012
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a few other options for the case

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-rc912kkn1

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-case-z11

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/silverstone-case-ps06bw

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-sgc2000kkn1gp

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-csntalpwow

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-sgc1000kwn1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
 
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vtcramennoodle

vtcramennoodle

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Aug 25, 2012
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Go with windows 7, windows 8 isn't very user friendly. Go with an asrock extreme 4 mobo. As for ssd I prefer the Crucial M4, and go with a Seagate Barracuda. If you have the extra couple bucks with the money saved go for a Radeon 7950.
 
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TheBigTroll

TheBigTroll

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Apr 15, 2012
14,099
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-id rather not get evga's psus. cheaper options
-go download a 30 day trial of windows 8 to see if you like it or not. i dont. cant even find the shut down button -_-
-there are better cases out there at the same price range if you would like. and cheaper ram

heres what i would get
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vxjN

-get the CPU at micro if you have one nearby
-i chose a gtx 660 given that it performs around the same as the 7870 but is 20 bucks cheaper
 
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vtcramennoodle

vtcramennoodle

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Aug 25, 2012
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Bahaha I had to get an addon for a start button, I couldn't stand not having one.
 
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boulbox

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it will work but that is pretty much stressing the PSU, give it some room, the extra $10 for the extra 100W is worth it not to mention that it is not technically better because XFX PSU is made by Seasonic and at silver instead of the bronze
 
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quilciri

quilciri

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Mar 16, 2012
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Not true at all. A 7870 draws 144w at absolute max. A system with a pair of 7870's would draw ~450w before overclocking. On top of that, Seasonic always underrates its PSU's wattage.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7850_HD_7870/24.html
 
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boulbox

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Apr 5, 2012
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most high quality under rates their wattage for reasons that they don't want to put to much stress onto the PSU.
 
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quilciri

quilciri

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Mar 16, 2012
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the *main* point was that a dual 7870 system won't even come close to stressing what seasonic said the psu's wattage was, which is what you claimed.

realistically, that system will barely top 400w under full load before overclocking. that 144w max was only under stress testing software if you read the article. when running a demanding game in the review (crysis 2, 1920x1200 , extreme graphic setting) , the card only reached 115w.

the 620w has *plenty* of headroom for a dual 7870 system.

Admittedly, I am biased against PSU companies that simply commission PSU's from the actual manufacturers. I'm not saying that XFX PSU's are bad, since they're built by Seasonic, I just prefer to get my beef directly from the cow :).
 
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dhakon

dhakon

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Dec 30, 2011
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Thanks for all the replies guys. Quick question about the gpu's, and psu wattage.

1) How are the new 660's and 660ti's performing against say a 7870GHz or 7950? I've read that the 660's lower bus could restrict it in certain situations like multiple monitors or higher resolutions than 1920x1080, as well as people stating that it wasn't the "best" of cards to setup in SLI.

2) I always tend to leave some headroom with my psu's, and while shopping for components, and throwing build lists together I always stumble upon wattage calculators, such as the one at Newegg, among others, etc. I never really trust them too much though. Is there any reliability to these calculators, or are there any worth using?
 
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boulbox

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Apr 5, 2012
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just use the pcpartpicker one and leave a good amount of space(usually what i do)

I am in favor of the 670 but the 7950 is at a pretty good price too
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202006&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
 
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