Gaming rig build advice needed

[harrisonk]

Below is a list of components I'm
looking at and I would just like advice
on what's good and or other items to
replace ones on my list:

Intel core i5 3570k combo with
gigabyte ga-77-hd3 motherboard
($275 for the combo)

Cheapest radeon hd 7950 I can find
(around $280 before $20 rebate and comes with crysis 3 and bioshock infinite) specific brand recommended?

Case: nzxt phantom 410 ($99)

PSU: cooler master silent pro m700 700 watt ($99 before $40 rebate)

Corsair vengeance 2 x 4gb sticks of ram ($55)

Western digital blue 1tb hdd ($75)

Ill be using steam for games so i don't really need a disc drive at this time.

The total comes out to around 800-830 with rebates any recommendations welcomed.

 

[g-unit1111]

Don't purchase a Cooler Master power supply - they are not a trusted manufacturer as they lie about their PSU's advertised output and also make false claims about the quality of components used. Get this instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094

Otherwise that all looks good to me.

 

[realchaos]

Just a reminder that you would need to buy an aftermarket cpu cooler to overclock your cpu as the stock cooler will barely get you anywhere. One of the cheapest coolers that has great performance are the Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO/Plus ($20-30) and the Xigmatek Gaia ($20).

 

[g-unit1111]

Just a reminder that you would need to buy an aftermarket cpu cooler to overclock your cpu as the stock cooler will barely get you anywhere. One of the cheapest coolers that has great performance are the Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO/Plus ($20-30) and the Xigmatek Gaia ($20).

I personally would avoid the Gaia - I think it's really cheap build quality and the fans are a pain to attach to the heat sink. Plus it includes "thermal compound" that has the same density as caulking compound. :lol:

I'd get the 212 Evo or the Noctua NH-U9B.

 

[Proximon]

The lower wattage Silent Pro M series is made by Enhance and received good reviews, but you don't need the power and like g-unit says the CM PSU branch isn't the most trustworthy.

I like the Seasonic suggestion or this XFX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013

For a little more this PC P&C 600W is a great deal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703036
Partly modular, made by Seasonic, and highly praised in all the many reviews

 

[harrisonk]

The lower wattage Silent Pro M series is made by Enhance and received good reviews, but you don't need the power and like g-unit says the CM PSU branch isn't the most trustworthy.

I like the Seasonic suggestion or this XFX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013

For a little more this PC P&C 600W is a great deal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703036
Partly modular, made by Seasonic, and highly praised in all the many reviews

How much power do you guys think I need?

 

[harrisonk]

Also are apevia or raidmax reliable brands?

 

[harrisonk]

One last question I've been looking at the sandisk ultra plus 256gb ssd and was wondering if its worth the extra $100 when compared to the hdd I mentioned? I would probably get the hdd later this year or wait until I need more space.

 

[realchaos]

Don't get apevia or raidmax psus. Seasonic, corsair, xfx are all good brands of psu.
You should just grab a 128gb SSD and get a HDD for storage.

 

[Proximon]

Read the PSU guide linked in my sig, please. Those are not good PSUs, ever.

What you actually need for power while gaming will be about 300W. Once you allow for temporary power spikes and overclocking and other things you need a PSU that can deliver about 36 amps on the 12V rail, or in other words a decent 500W PSU.

 

[harrisonk]

Don't get apevia or raidmax psus. Seasonic, corsair, xfx are all good brands of psu.
You should just grab a 128gb SSD and get a HDD for storage.

Is this a good psu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139048

 

[realchaos]

Yeah that's a nice psu.

 

[Proximon]

It's OK, but not as good as the XFX or Seasonic we linked earlier.

 

[g-unit1111]

Also are apevia or raidmax reliable brands?

No, they are about the worst of the worst in terms of reliability.