New computer build

[jbird361]

Hi guys.

I'm currently looking at upgrading my aging PC... and due to the student budget I'm on, I've found two (fairly reasonably priced) deals which are similarly priced. I use my current computer for work and gaming, but I've found my current set up is a bit inhibited when it comes to graphic settings of newer games. I'll be re-using my PSU, a 600W Gigabyte PSU. I'm still indecisive about SLI or crossfire, as i don't need to play games on the full graphics setting (as much as I'd like to!)

Deal 1
MSI Z77 G43 motherboard
i5 3570
Corsair 4GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM
Nvidia Geforce GTX 650 Ti

Deal 2
ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Performance
i5 3570
Corsair 8GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM (2x4GB)
Radeon HD 7770

Which deal would you guys suggest?
many thanks in advance.

 

[sanilmahambre]

I would suggest you Deal 1.
Swap that processor with i5 3570K

 

[stickmansam]

Depends if you can get a buyer for the 7770

Because the Deal 2 has more ram and better mb

The cost difference between an 7770 and 650ti is the same as getting another 4gb of ram. You can also opt for getting a higher end GPU

What is your total budget and what parts do you need?

So for the same price, you get a significantly better featured motherboard
Of course if you don't need the extra IO and all that, then deal 1 is better performance with the least amount of hassle

Whats the pricing on those bundles as bundles may not always be cheaper than other vendors you can buy from

What store was this from and what country? (so we can gauge pricing)

 

[jbird361]

I'm shopping in South Africa, and computer parts are usually over priced, something to do with import tax...
My budget is about 700$

Deal 1 costs about 650$ (R5900)
Deal 2 costs about 730$ (R6600)

I can purchase parts individually as well.
The MSI Z77 G43 motherboard costs about 130$ (R1200), and the ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Performance motherboard costs about 210$ (R1900)
The GTX 650 Ti costs about $210, where as the Radeon HD 7770 costs $165 (although theres a GTX 650 at the same price)

 

[stickmansam]

$700 USB should be about 6300 rand right?

I think the best option price/perf IMO is to save up about 6600 rand

Then you can get the i3 kit and upgrade it with the i5 3570 and 8gb of ram, the z77 g43 is the cheapest intel mb
[can't seem to find cpu's on sale individually]

http://www.evetech.co.za/PC-Hardware/intel-core-i3-upgrade-kit-msi-z77-motherboard-intel-core-i3-cpu-4gb-ddr3-1600mhz-ram-231.aspx

You then get this 7850 2GB
http://www.evetech.co.za/PC-Hardware/sapphire-radeon-hd-7850-2gb-256-bit-gddr5-overclocked-edition-pci-express-3-0-x16-crossfirex-support-graphics-card-369.aspx

A more budget option would be to pair the i5 with the 650ti or pair an i3 with the 650ti/7850

 

[jbird361]

What will the performance difference be between a 650 Ti and the HD 7850?

I found a 3570k for 275$
http://www.comx-computers.co.za/BX80637I53570K-Intel-Core-i5-3570K-Quad-Core-3-40GHz-Socket-1155-Processor-Information-Price-Buy-Cheap-p-70043.php

Would it be worth paying an extra 15$ for a 3570k, compared to the standard 3570?

 

[need4speeds]

Total R5275

http://www.comx-computers.co.za/AD3870QC-FM1-Amd-Socket-FM1-A8-Quad-Core-3870K-with-GPU-Information-Price-Buy-Cheap-p-65184.php

http://www.comx-computers.co.za/ME-C2G3X16X9x2-Corsair-CMX4GX3M2A1600C9-XMS-3-with-heatsink-2-x-2Gb-2048mb-kit-Information-Price-Buy-Cheap-p-28597.php

http://www.comx-computers.co.za/CC-CBT2-Coolermaster-Blizzard-T2-CPU-Cooler-Information-Price-Buy-Cheap-p-60959.php

http://www.comx-computers.co.za/MS-A75A-G35-MSI-A75A-G35-FM1-Motherboard-Information-Price-Buy-Cheap-p-56754.php

http://www.comx-computers.co.za/SC-S78702GoC-Sapphire-HD7870-O-C-edition-2Gb-256bit-4-channel-DDR5-Graphics-Card-Information-Price-Buy-Cheap-p-57344.php

-The A8-3870K should overclock to 3.3ghz or higher.

Later on the A8-3870k has a built in 400 shader gpu, and it's paired with a micro-atx board that fits in most package system cases, and runs ok on most oem power supplies. This should make it easy to sell used later on if you want to upgrade the cpu and get a second hd-7870 and a crossfire board.

In some games the system will be cpu limited, in others that hd-7870 should do well.

 

[need4speeds]

The i5-3570k is really the only intel cpu worth buying. It is expensive where you are.
I seen also amd is charging alot for their fx8350.

 

[need4speeds]

If you can find amd's new FX6300, it hits a sweet spot in price and speed between the I5-3570K and the A8-3870K.

 

[need4speeds]

http://www.comx-computers.co.za/CGAX-7852O-Club-3D-Radeon-HD-7850-RoyalKing-1024MB-GDDR5-256-bit-Graphics-Card-Information-Price-Buy-Cheap-p-71273.php

R2,270 for this club 3d hd-7850.

R2,980 for the sapphire HD-7870 oc

The HD-7850 is a better match with the A8-3870K if you have no plans on going to crossfire and a new cpu+board later on. Two hd-7850's do well in crossfire too.


Total with the HD-7850 instead is R4,565

A A8-3870K with a hd-7850 is faster in most games than a i5-3570 with either a hd-7770 or 650ti.

 

[stickmansam]

I would take the i3 rather than the a8, the i3 will win out in most situations and just grab a 7850 to pair with it