Gaming Build Help

[-Nort]

I am planning out a gaming build and am new to this, so I have a few questions.

Here is what I have planned: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/Ljlo

I chose the 3570K because I may overclock in the future. I may also CrossFire with another GPU.

My questions:

How many watts does my PSU need to be? I was originally going for a 600W, but I wasn't sure.

Is the motherboard going to cut it if I decide to overclock the CPU or CrossFire GPUs?

Thanks in advance.

 

[2fast4thetown_down]

To game well I would do this:
-same cpu
-GTX 670 gpu
-better motherboard
- you can't Overclock without a CPU cooler

 

[tenaciousk]

This is what i would suggest
Changed the motherboard
Added 2x4gigs of ram to make use of dual channel.
Changed your hard drive to one with 64 mb cache
Added Seasonic semi-modular 620watt psu

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($226.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H-MVP Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.00 @ Vuugo)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($103.50 @ Vuugo)
Case: Athena Power CA-GSB01DA (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Case Fan: Apevia CF12SL-UBL 57.7 CFM 120mm Fan ($6.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($93.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.79 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($80.99 @ Expansys US)
Total: $769.22
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-21 21:12 EDT-0400)

But if i were you instead of crossfireing, i would just get like a 7870 or something similar.

 

[properbuilds]

Hi, you're better off getting a good card now than crossfiring two low end cards.
If you don't plan to overclock, you can get the i5-3570 for same stock or turbo speeds and a cheaper motherboard, also you need a stock cooler for overclocking and a better motherboard is also recommended, so for this kind of budget, this will do the trick.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Memory Express)
Motherboard: MSI B75MA-P45 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.81 @ DirectCanada)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.00 @ Vuugo)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ Memory Express)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($30.88 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($62.50 @ DirectCanada)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.79 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($80.99 @ Expansys US)
Total: $720.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)


With a better case and a quality psu inluced
If you can afford a bit more, get the 660 gtx -> http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn660oc2gd

Or the 7870 tahiti le(better choice if you can afford it ) -> http://www.ncix.ca/products/?affiliateid=7474144&sku=78372&vpn=AX7870%202GBD5-2DHPPV3E&manufacture=PowerColor&promoid=1293

 

[-Nort]

Hi, you're better off getting a good card now than crossfiring two low end cards.
If you don't plan to overclock, you can get the i5-3570 for same stock or turbo speeds and a cheaper motherboard, also you need a stock cooler for overclocking and a better motherboard is also recommended, so for this kind of budget, this will do the trick.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Memory Express)
Motherboard: MSI B75MA-P45 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.81 @ DirectCanada)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.00 @ Vuugo)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ Memory Express)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($30.88 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($62.50 @ DirectCanada)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.79 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($80.99 @ Expansys US)
Total: $720.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)


With a better case and a quality psu inluced
If you can afford a bit more, get the 660 gtx -> http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn660oc2gd

Or the 7870 tahiti le(better choice if you can afford it ) -> http://www.ncix.ca/products/?affiliateid=7474144&sku=78372&vpn=AX7870%202GBD5-2DHPPV3E&manufacture=PowerColor&promoid=1293

I know I need a better CPU cooler, just didn't put it in there because I don't plan on doing it right away.

I like the builds suggested above, and I'd like to ask a few questions:

Is just buying a ~$200 card going to outperform two crossfired ~$100 cards?

Is the performance boost from OCing the 3570k enough to justify the ~$40 extra on the CPU + a better motherboard + an aftermarket cooler, or should I go with 3570 "non k".

 

[properbuilds]

Hi, yes it will, and without micro stuttering annoyance or need of waiting for the game to support crossfire or waiting for drivers.
For your budget, the i5-3570 will do the trick, it has the same speeds as the i5-3570k at stock or with turbo boost, you'll only take advantage of the i5-3570k with a good cooler and better motherboard, for this cards in question, the i5-3570k will not bring any gains, i recommend getting the best card possible, one of those three that i suggested.

 

[-Nort]

Hi, yes it will, and without micro stuttering annoyance or need of waiting for the game to support crossfire or waiting for drivers.
For your budget, the i5-3570 will do the trick, it has the same speeds as the i5-3570k at stock or with turbo boost, you'll only take advantage of the i5-3570k with a good cooler and better motherboard, for this cards in question, the i5-3570k will not bring any gains, i recommend getting the best card possible, one of those three that i suggested.

Ok, sounds great. Should I throw in a cheap case fan too?

Thanks

 

[properbuilds]

Hi, it's optional, but you can add more fans, i recommend this one -> http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/bitfenix-case-fan-bffblf12025brp

 

[-Nort]

Looks like this may be the final plan: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/LkVm

Is having the micro ATX going to be a problem in the future?

 

[tenaciousk]

The only problem would be if you ever plan to Sli/xfire some micro boards and have space for that. The one you have chosen does not. If you are going with just one gpu, then you will be fine. Then you still have the pci express and pcix16 to add audio card/network card ext..

 

[properbuilds]

Looks like this may be the final plan: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/LkVm

Is having the micro ATX going to be a problem in the future?

Hi, i recommend a better case, that one is crap, no cable management, no usb 3.0, very flimsy case.
I recommend going with the bitfenix merc alpha, nzxt 210 elite/nzxt 220 source, Corsair 200R.
Those are about 50$ cases

As for the crossfire support or SLI, you need a better motherboard, one that supports dual 8x 8x, but those ones are expensive and for a mid end card like the 7870, you need a quality 650W-700W psu, which adds up in the costs, and the thing is, you might not add a second one, most say to give that option, but in the end they don't add another one, when the time passes, there's new better single cards that are better option even with the two.
And for one single card a quality psu like the xfx 550 will do the trick, it will power any single card(single gpu on the pcb) in the market, with the trend of the cards getting low power consumption, you can expect the newer generations to draw even less, so the xfx 550 core edition is more than suffice, with your budget i recommend staying with the board that you had and spending it on the 7870, which you listed.