Build for my friend

[gambitd]

Hello guys, you guys help a lot. I've got a build from you guys so thanks.

Now i have to build another computer but this time my friend wants to make a computer, so i lined up some stuff and I need some opinions please


Approximate Purchase Date: few weeks to a few months
Budget Range: 1300~1600
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming
Do you need to buy OS: no
Location: USA
SLI or Crossfire: no


PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Cd7F
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Cd7F/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Cd7F/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($50.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($295.66 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom (Black) ATX Full Tower Case ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($18.98 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Acer S220HQLAbd 21.5" Monitor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer S220HQLAbd 21.5" Monitor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Lite-On SK-1788/BS Wired Standard Keyboard ($13.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1354.51
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-08 09:54 EST-0500)

How does this look? His budget is around $1500, but needs to save some money for extra accessories. He'll get a free windows 7 operating system so don't have to worry about that.

 

[mikerockett]

For the most part i think this build is quite good, which makes a change

I would change the RAM for 1600mhz.
If he's planning to xfire in the future you should get a 850w PSU. If he's not xfiring then you can get a cheaper mobo i'd say.

 

[g-unit1111]

For gaming get one monitor or three, two won't get you very far in first and third person games. You should also get a 128GB SSD instead of a 64GB - that will barely hold OS these days.

Here's what I would suggest on your budget:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($60.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($123.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($369.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($85.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer G245HQLbd 60Hz 23.6" Monitor ($148.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1514.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-08 13:39 EST-0500)

 

[game junky]

I like your initial spec. Is he going to be using the SSD to hold the OS or is he just going to use it to cache for the HDD? If you're installing the OS on the SSD, I would double the capacity - you can hold Win7 on a 64GB drive but you will want to install your programs on that drive as well and that's going to fill up pretty quickly. I like the Samsung 830/840 Pro - good performance, good reliability, good $/GB for the performance.

I personally prefer Nvidia but I would go with what you're comfortable with.

Just my two bits...

 

[burntpizza]

R7970 is 10 dollars more than 670 but is on par with GTX 680. The best part is that it comes with 2 free games: CRYSIS 3 and BIOSHOCK Infinity. Much more Perf/$ especially AMD is going pretty hard on getting good drivers out.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Cfq1
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Cfq1/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Cfq1/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS9900NT Ball Bearing CPU Cooler ($67.24 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($72.51 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($379.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($82.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($18.98 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Acer G245HQLbd 60Hz 23.6" Monitor ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1398.61
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-08 14:07 EST-0500)

 

[g-unit1111]

R7970 is 10 dollars more than 670 but is on par with GTX 680. The best part is that it comes with 2 free games: CRYSIS 3 and BIOSHOCK Infinity. Much more Perf/$ especially AMD is going pretty hard on getting good drivers out.

The bad thing is they still have yet to get rid of that pesky micro stuttering issue that comes about when you Crossfire their video cards.

 

[burntpizza]

The bad thing is they still have yet to get rid of that pesky micro stuttering issue that comes about when you Crossfire their video cards.

Happens with Nvidia too. Radeon pro is a sort of must for crossfire

 

[g-unit1111]

Happens with Nvidia too. Radeon pro is a sort of must for crossfire

Never heard of it happening with NVIDIA but that doesn't mean that it couldn't.

 

[ikaz]

I does happen with Nvidia but from what I hear its just more obvious with AMD right now though I don't run CF/SLI so I can't say what it "feels" like when it does happen. Also they seem to be working hard ever since release 12.11 to improve the micro stutter problem with CF.

 

[burntpizza]

Never heard of it happening with NVIDIA but that doesn't mean that it couldn't.

SLI/ Crossfire are fickle beasts. And yea, it happens to both sides