Budget RIG for overall performance and gaming

redh4t

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Jan 16, 2013
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Hello everyone,

So my old laptop crashed - it is time to buy a new PC.

I am living in eastern european, so there isn't much cheap e-stores like in US. So don't blame me for parts, because in my country they cost little different.
I am thinking of this:

MB: Gigabyte Z77 GA-Z77X-UD3H
CPU: i5-3570K
COOLER: ZALMAN CNPS9900 MAX
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870
RAM: DDR3 Kingston HyperX Predator 8GB (2x4GB) 2400MHz CL11 1.65V (cuz 60$, same price as Corsair V 1600).
PSU: OCZ ZT Series 750W fully Modular 80 Plus Bronze
CASE: Enermax Hoplite ST White
HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F3
SSD: prob Corsair Force 3, didn't decided yet (will be using for system only)

For about 1200$ in my country. Any suggestions? I thought spend less on MB, CASE and get 7950. But in the end i realised that 7870 is more than enaugh with OC for my needs. Maybe i'll buy second in the future for CF.
 

redh4t

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Jan 16, 2013
31
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18,530
So i changed something:

MB: Gigabyte Z77 GA-Z77X-UD3H
CPU: i5-3570K
COOLER: ZALMAN CNPS9900 MAX
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870
RAM: DDR3 Corsair Vengeance 1600mHz 8GB
PSU: Corsair GS 800W
CASE: Enermax Hoplite ST White
HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F3
SSD: prob Corsair Force 3, didn't decided yet (will be using for system only)

How about mobo? Should i go for ASUS P8Z77-V or cheaper Asrock EXTREME4? Anything else i could modify for better performance? :)
 

Traciatim

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This is a pretty serious gaming rig... I would hardly call it a budget rig . . .

But anyway, I just thought I would pop in and mention that I have a 3570K@4.1Ghz, 8GB, 7850 OC, 2 1TB HDD's and an SSD . . .

If I run Prime 95 (4 thread - High CPU), FutureMark 3D, and Passmarks HDD test on all three drives at the same time I barely pull more than 200 watts (about 210) from the wall. My PSU is about 80% efficient (80% bronze) meaning the PSU is actually only supplying about 168 watts to the PC.
Regular usage like gaming it's far less.

Even if you want room for SLI/Crossfire in the future you could shave off some cash by just buying a 600w PSU. For instance on NewEgg the CORSAIR CX600M 600W has a mail in rebate making it 59.99 . . . 50 bucks less than the 109 you are spending on the 800w one.

I also agree on the 1.5v RAM. I always view 1.65v RAM as the company saying "We couldn't get it to run properly, so we just crank the voltage!".

edit: I actually do have the GA-Z77X-UD3H, and have been very happy with it. I'd only recommend changing that out if you have some very specific feature it's missing that's available on another board.
 

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