Hi,
This is my first build, so any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.
Approximate Purchase Date: This week
Budget Range: $2000-$2300 before shipping
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (Skyrim, Civ V, Sims, Crusader Kings 2, etc...), Programming, Watching Movies
Are you buying a monitor: Yes
Parts to Upgrade: Everything
Do you need to buy OS: No
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.ca ncix.ca amazon.ca
Location: Canada
Parts Preferences: Intel CPU
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe
Your Monitor Resolution: 2560x1440
This is what I have so far:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.90 @ Amazon Canada)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP4 TH ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($184.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($93.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($129.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card ($399.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Antec P280 ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.98 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($129.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Monitor: Asus PB278Q 27.0" Monitor ($606.98 @ Amazon Canada)
Total: $2081.78
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-17 13:56 EST-0500)
My main concern with this build is whether it's worth it to get a second 7970. I currently have a 24" 1080p monitor, so the options I'm considering are to upgrade to the 1440p with a single 7970, splurge and get the 1440p and two 7970s (which I'd rather not do), or forget the new monitor and game on my 1080p with 2 7970s. My concerns are that one 7970 would not be sufficient for gaming at high settings on a 2560x1440 monitor but that two would be overkill for a single 1080p monitor. Any advice about this or any of the parts I've chosen would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
This is my first build, so any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.
Approximate Purchase Date: This week
Budget Range: $2000-$2300 before shipping
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (Skyrim, Civ V, Sims, Crusader Kings 2, etc...), Programming, Watching Movies
Are you buying a monitor: Yes
Parts to Upgrade: Everything
Do you need to buy OS: No
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.ca ncix.ca amazon.ca
Location: Canada
Parts Preferences: Intel CPU
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe
Your Monitor Resolution: 2560x1440
This is what I have so far:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.90 @ Amazon Canada)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP4 TH ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($184.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($93.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($129.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card ($399.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Antec P280 ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.98 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($129.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Monitor: Asus PB278Q 27.0" Monitor ($606.98 @ Amazon Canada)
Total: $2081.78
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-17 13:56 EST-0500)
My main concern with this build is whether it's worth it to get a second 7970. I currently have a 24" 1080p monitor, so the options I'm considering are to upgrade to the 1440p with a single 7970, splurge and get the 1440p and two 7970s (which I'd rather not do), or forget the new monitor and game on my 1080p with 2 7970s. My concerns are that one 7970 would not be sufficient for gaming at high settings on a 2560x1440 monitor but that two would be overkill for a single 1080p monitor. Any advice about this or any of the parts I've chosen would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!