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Review $1200 build please

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I decided to up my budget a little bit, and would like to know if this setup would be okay? I mainly use it for work, some light gaming, and web surfing. I'm open to any input and thank you all very much!

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/De5g
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/De5g/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/De5g/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($148.98 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($48.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($76.97 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Corsair Accelerator Series 60GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($91.12 @ Mwave)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($224.98 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($21.70 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($95.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($21.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1220.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-13 01:06 EST-0500)

More about : review 1200 build

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^ Build intergrating dj's advice and bit of mine, you can drop the cooler to a 212 EVO and save some money

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($80.26 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($148.98 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.48 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($75.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Plextor M5S Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($244.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($21.70 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($70.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($21.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1176.31
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-13 01:30 EST-0500)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Azza Toledo 301 ATX Mid Tower Case ($57.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1163.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-13 03:59 EST-0500)

Best bang for 1200$ budget, period. And for the lulz, here's some graphs



SLI 660Ti nom nom


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^ 660ti and 7870xt are on par (trade small blows depending on the game) with the 7870xt with more bandwidth and $10 cheaper
but as prax will point out, nvidia usually has better drivers though amd has been getting a lot better (cf scaling is related to drivers)
wish you would use recent benches instead of launch ones since a lot has changed since then

500W psu will limit Sli/cf opportunities and the msig45 while good is not as good as conparable priced gigabyte/asus ones (i regret a bit getting mine though I only paid $80 for it so its okay :) ]

review of the 7870xt
http://www.techpowerup.com/mobile/reviews/VTX3D/Radeon_...

Pushing your $1,200 budget, but well worth it!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($223.79 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($50.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($75.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($179.45 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($295.66 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($91.17 @ Amazon)
Total: $1207.01
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-13 04:48 EST-0500)

* CPU best for the $.
* Mobo has all options one would want for the $
* RAM has low profile heat spreaders for more CPU HSF options (doesn't get in the way).
* Case has 2 x USB 3.0 Front ports and good cooling. Also can support up to 12" GPU's!
* GPU one of the best for the $!!!
* SSD is good for the $ and allows plenty of room for games and applications, so you can use the 1 TB HD for just data!
* PSU has 48A on the 12v rail for your GPU! You will need a power cord, but you can just use one lying around the house or buy one cheaply.
* OS is good, you can get Windows 8 if you prefer.

stickmansam said:
^ 660ti and 7870xt are on par (trade small blows depending on the game) with the 7870xt with more bandwidth and $10 cheaper
but as prax will point out, nvidia usually has better drivers though amd has been getting a lot better (cf scaling is related to drivers)
wish you would use recent benches instead of launch ones since a lot has changed since then

500W psu will limit Sli/cf opportunities and the msig45 while good is not as good as conparable priced gigabyte/asus ones (i regret a bit getting mine though I only paid $80 for it so its okay :) ]

review of the 7870xt
http://www.techpowerup.com/mobile/reviews/VTX3D/Radeon_...


It is 150 dollars your gigabyte board http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

vs 129, and it has does the same thing, for a higher price, with less 5 star reviews, and less overall buyers. Not to mention the g45 MSI board comes with OC Genie.

Trust me the gigabyte boards have a better power delivery section if you want a higher OC for long term use
This is from someone who is using the msi z77a g45

I would say the gigabyte board has a higher build quality though it is more expensive

I would not use the out of the box OC software unless you had to

Higehr end boards have less buyers due to their higher cost as you can see higher end MSI boards have less buyers too

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z77-express-ivy-bri...

if you want a cheap board grab this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

this board will ahve the same quality and power delivery as the gigabyte one

For a low OC the g45 will do fine



shields1987 said:
I decided to up my budget a little bit, and would like to know if this setup would be okay? I mainly use it for work, some light gaming, and web surfing. I'm open to any input and thank you all very much!

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/De5g
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/De5g/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/De5g/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($148.98 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($48.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($76.97 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Corsair Accelerator Series 60GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($91.12 @ Mwave)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($224.98 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($21.70 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($95.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($21.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1220.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-13 01:06 EST-0500)


I highly reccomend you get a USB based Wi-fi dongle instead of the PCIe based one, a Wi-fi one will give you better connection, especially over that Rosewill that has documented issues with Windows 7.

You are overpaying for that PSU(also it uses very cheap components compared to the Seasonic Corsairs), a LOT, on newegg that PSU is 70 dollars, use that money to upgrade to an HX650, it's superior to the CX in almost every way, it is modular, Seasonic, not CWT made, etc.

You don't need an H100i, your 400R can easily fit a NH-D14 and if you want a smaller heatsink the Hyper 212/Xigmatek Gaia is good.

I'd reccomend a WD Black if not WD RE4 or Velociraptor, Seagate and WD Consumer drives have nosedived in terms of quality ever since the Thailand Floods.

Spend the extra couple bucks for the Asus DVD reader/burner, it's quieter, and has 5 star reviews even after 2000+ reviews on Newegg.

Plus the 7870XT is better than a normal 7870 for 20 bucks more, it's the best bang for buck GPU out there right now.
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