First Build Advice $1200-1500

cathomps88

Honorable
May 7, 2013
3
0
10,510
Hey,

I'll be starting my first build in about a month, and was hoping to get some opinions / suggestions on what I'm currently leaning towards. In terms of budget, I could go as high as about $1500, but would prefer to keep it in the $1300 range. I'm upgrading from a laptop, so I need everything, including a monitor. I'll be doing some gaming, but don't need top of the line type quality. Running on high settings for most games on a 1080p monitor is plenty, hence my current thinking of a gtx 650 ti boost.

I also have a fairly large media library that I would like to host from the build through plex, which is why I want at least a 2tb hdd in addition to the SSD.

Here is the link to what I'm currently thinking about: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VGT1

Overclocking is a possibility down the line, and asthetics are important to me, so I like the idea of a liquid cooling system. However, if others have had less than positive experiences with these types of closed loop systems, I would be willing to reconsider that position.

Overall, I'm just looking for any advice in terms of whether you think what I have now is good, whether anything I have now is overkill, what should be better, etc.

Thanks
 

James Godsil

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
77
0
10,640
I suggest something like this. While it is more money than your build, it has better parts. Get a GTX 660, because there no point to a 650 Ti Boost.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 74.4 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($109.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($164.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($97.84 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill Fortress 650W 80 PLUS Platinum Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.94 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($169.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1412.66
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-07 17:02 EDT-0400)
 
I went just under your hard cap on your budget :) Since the GTX 650 boost is very close to the 660 I went with the Ti Instead which is just behind the 670. Also, I went with the samsung 840 pro because the flash is different and the 840 pro is more reliable over time where as the cheaper flash in the non pro is not. Also with the cooler I'm not a huge fan of the closed loop systems in theory they are great and don't require much however the pump noise gets to me with my h100.

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-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.16 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($219.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($97.80 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($276.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 500R Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($62.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.95 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Acer G246HLAbd 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($151.46 @ Amazon)
Total: $1479.27
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-07 18:17 EDT-0400)
 

cookieninja

Honorable
Jul 4, 2012
223
0
10,710
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VIFB
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VIFB/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VIFB/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($95.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.42 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($104.45 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Silverstone AP123 31.4 CFM 120mm Fan ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Silverstone AP123 31.4 CFM 120mm Fan ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($62.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.95 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Acer H236HLbid 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1487.69
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-07 18:19 EDT-0400)
 

cathomps88

Honorable
May 7, 2013
3
0
10,510
Thanks everyone.

Bigshootr, if I wanted to try to cut the price back a little bit on your build, if it were you, would you reduce the GPU to a non- TI 660, or would you cut the SSD size down to 128gb, assuming the 840 pro model?

And James, is there a particular reason you went with the WD black rather than the barracuda for the HDD? The reviews I've seen seem to suggest the quality is similar, but the WD is about $50 more expensive.

 

Marcopolo123

Honorable
May want experience tripple screen ? :)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: A-Data XPG Gaming Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.20 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($309.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($309.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill ARMOR-EVO ATX Full Tower Case ($53.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH238H 23.0" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH238H 23.0" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH238H 23.0" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1616.09
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-07 19:11 EDT-0400)
 

James Godsil

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
77
0
10,640


The WD Black is a very high quality hard drive. I personally have never used them, however in a build I am trying to get I use a WD drive. I currently use Barracuda drives in a NAS system that I have, and they work fine for that. You could use the Seagate drives, I just think that if you find yourself with a bit of extra cash, try to get a Caviar Black, as they are made with very good parts.
 
I have a the drive a western digital black. They are intended for high performance just before you hit the 10k RPM Raptor Drives.

Honestly, I think you are just fine going with a 128 gigabyte SSD and yes the pro. Then I would Either get the 670 or the 660Ti. But yes you could save a little there :) You could also go with Seagate and the 1TB Barracuda.
 
I just did a calculation with the 670 it looks like it just barely pushes over your budget so that may not work well before rebates and discounts.

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-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.16 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.39 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($97.80 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($359.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 500R Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($62.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.95 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Acer G246HLAbd 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($151.46 @ Amazon)
Total: $1481.68
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-07 19:42 EDT-0400)
 

Wesley Wall

Honorable
Apr 30, 2013
88
0
10,660
Drop the Corsair cooler and pick up the swiftech H220 for $140 at FrozenCPU. Powerful pump with the ability to expand to GPU with great cooling. Probably the best AIO cpu coolers.
 
I think its really unnecessary to spend that amount of money on a cooler. Firstly you deal with the cost plus the noise of a pump. I just feel even with swiftech having a more quiet pump you are better off with a solid air cooler instead since the likelihood that you would go balls to the wall with overclocking is slim and then even then you would want a custom loop system.
 

James Godsil

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
77
0
10,640
I agree with bigshootr8, you don't need to get a high-end cooling system right now. A simple heatsink/fan will do just fine, I even think that the stock fan is fine is you are not doing any overclocking.
 

cathomps88

Honorable
May 7, 2013
3
0
10,510


Thanks guys,

I definitely won't be overclocking right away, so based on what you've said, I'll probably stick with the stock cooler for now, and use the savings to get the 660 TI. I can always add in the water cooling or the noctua cooler later if I need it.
 
Good man :) Yea that sounds like a sound decision sir. You'll be happier spending that little extra on the GPU. And I would suggest the ASUS DCU II card the gigabyte solution is okay however the ASUS solution is still quieter and cools very well. And if you are wanting a company that will give you the best warranty and support stick with evga there signature 2 line specifically best air cooling cards they have.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130837