Gaming and silent PC build ($1200)

Seuv

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Feb 11, 2013
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Good everning everyone,

I need your advises on a possible purchase.
Basically I want to build a gamer PC that I could use for 5/6 years, and that would be quiet (I know, gaming and silence are not good match).
I have already created a build, but I need to know if I picked up the right peaces.

Approximate Purchase Date: probably in a week or two

Budget Range: around $1200

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming/Movies/Internet/Photoshop

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Location: Toronto, Canada

Parts Preferences: (sorry, because I'm kind of a noob, I have just copy/past the names of the parts, perhaps this is too much information )
Processor : Intel Core i5 3570K Unlocked Quad Core Processor LGA1155 3.4GHZ ( http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=70541&promoid=1382 )

Motherboard : ASRock Z77 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI SATA3 DVI HDMI USB3.0 ( http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=70902 )

Memory : G.SKILL TridentX F3-2400C10D-16GTX 16GB 2X8GB DDR3-2400 ( http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=70850 )

Video Card : Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 925MHZ 3GB GDDR5 ( http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=79472 )

SSD : Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5in SATA3 MDX ( http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=77218&promoid=1382 )

Hard Drive : Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB SATA 6GB/S 7200RPM 64MB ( http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=74462&promoid=1312 )

DVD Drive : ASUS DRW-24B1ST 24X SATA DVD Writer ( http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=49597 )

Case : Fractal Design Define R4 ATX Mid Tower Window Case Titanium ( http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=75046&promoid=1382 )

Power Supply : Antec HCG-520M 520W ATX12V Modular SINGLE-RAIL 40A 80PLUS ( http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=67324&promoid=1305 )


Here we go !

I have a couple of questions :
- Is the Video card ok ?
- Do I need to add an additional fan, or the ones in the case should be ok ?


Thanks for your help !!

 

cutebeans

Distinguished
Everything is good to go.

You can probably save alot if you're not going to OC/Crossfire.

A 7970 is overkill for a single monitor. Best get a 7950 and you really won't notice a difference.

8gb is more than enough for games and I really doubt in the next few years that you're going to need more.
 
G

Guest

Guest
I have an R4 and I love it. I will say, however, if your GPU speeds up, you will hear it scream, even if it's not terribly that loud normally (It will seem this way, because you will notice it, as it will be your loudest part). You'll always hear the loudest sound in your case, and it will annoy you if you're expecting this case to be anything even remotely close to silent. You can't go in with the expectation that this case will be very quiet if you pressure the card too much ( too much being dependent on the games you play of course ).

I hear coil whine from one of my parts I haven't heard before. Things will pop up that will irritate you if you are sound anal. Just something to keep in mind. That being said I don't regret it at all. It's more of a "because i/you can" sort of thing ( It should be, as a silent "gaming" setup doesn't work well unless you're playing maplestory :D )
 

boulbox

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Apr 5, 2012
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU Cooler: Xigmatek Dark Knight II SD1283 Night Hawk Edition 89.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 EG 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.88 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Plextor M5S Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($379.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF XM (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($113.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Kingwin Lazer Platinum 850W 80 PLUS Platinum Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($144.00 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $897.80
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-11 22:02 EST-0500)

went a bit over(about $50-$60 including the NCIX bundle)
i added a plat PSU because it is fairly cheap right now and by a reputable brand.

CM Haf XM because of big 200mm fans meaning it can be quiet(spinning at low RPMs) and push loads of air

Xigmatek dark knight because it is a great cooler, it may not be the most silent but it can be changed in an instant by replacing the fans(they are not that loud anyways, also keep the rubber parts incase you want to add a second fan in the future for better temps/overclocks)
 

hero1

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May 9, 2012
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I would not get the Haf XM. The fan filters are horrible. I had to buy 2x140mm fan filters to add on top of the one that comes with the side panel. I'm currently waiting for the release of the 900D and go from there. I would avoid Haf XM as much as I can if I were you. I plan on modifying it and using the parts for an HTPC.
 

hero1

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May 9, 2012
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For your budget go and get the Antec P280, stick with the same mobo, cpu and everything else you have. Come and see me I can sell you one of my GTX 670 and SSD for a resonable price if you want seeing that you are from my hometown.
 

hero1

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May 9, 2012
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He has the windowed version picked which makes it more likely to be a bit loud compared to non-windowed version. If he goes for the original then yeah but with this one, I'd go for P280.
 

boulbox

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Apr 5, 2012
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I just read the stupidest thing in the world right now....

fan filters on the top?
are you trying to trap dust inside!?!

top fans are exhausts not intakes, there is no need to put fan filters on exhausts unless you want to keep dust on the inside.
 

hero1

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May 9, 2012
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How about you read the whole post before calling people stupid. I clearly stated side panel, not the top panel. I had to add a fan filter "on top" of the one that comes with the side panel. I do take that english is your first language and should have better reading comprehension.
 

hero1

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May 9, 2012
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How about you read the whole post before calling people stupid. I clearly stated side panel, not the top panel. I had to add a fan filter "on top" of the one that comes with the side panel. I do take that english is your first language and should have better reading comprehension.
 

verbatimline

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Feb 12, 2013
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your links don't work. They are too long and are being abbreviated :(
 
Video card?
There are a few choices, depending on budget and whether you want NVidia/AMD (Pros and Cons).

*Please note that different cards have different GAME COUPON DEALS!

This Sapphire HD7950:
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=79518&vpn=11196-09-40G&manufacture=SAPPHIRE
(Crysis 3 and Bioshock Infinite! plus a Vapor-X cooled HD7950 for $330)

**This 3-slot Asus HD7950 is $400 but you need to factor in the THREE GAMES!
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7369704&SRCCODE=CANWSHOPBOT&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCmtB5_BfCjCVqHCjCdwwp&cpncode=30-114581622-2

Games for the above card:
SLEEPING DOGS
HITMAN
FAR CRY 3
(20 % Off MEDAL OF HONOR)

Game coupon info:
*Since the games are digital coupons:
- REDEEM online as SOON as receiving.
- verify the dates haven't expired before buying card
- double-check that the card you buy has the best games deal
- investigate the STEAM value of the games (plus many can be had for $30 in a year)

Other game info:
- Far Cry 3 is very demanding and still has graphical issues
- I prefer the Crysis 3 and Bioshock Infinite deal
- PHYSX isn't a huge deal. I have it OFF in many games even with my GTX680 due to the performance hit.
- MOST GAMES can be run at 60FPS at full or near full quality with an HD7950 (do yourself a favor and TWEAK to maintain 60FPS rather than just run at the highest quality setting.)