New Build - Gaming Rig - Opinions Welcome

Ponster

Hi all !


I'm putting together a new Gaming PC and am looking for any opions or advise that anyone has.

I'll mostly be playing BF3, World of Tanks, Skyrim and Minecraft

I've chosen all the parts from the same retailer to avoid multiple shipping costs. I live in the USA which is why I've gone with Newegg.

I'm sure about the CPU and GPU that I want. I know less about memory so have gone with a brand that I know well. I know noting about the case that I've picked besides what I've read online.

I've gone for a system that can be overclocked but I won't overclock if I don't actually have to (i.e. get the framerates that I need).

The total is €1044. I'd be willing to go up to €1100 if there was a good enough return on investment but would also be interested if anyone thinks that I'm wasting money anywhere (you can't touch the keyboard though, it's about time I got a proper one)


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($30.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($40.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Future ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: AOC i2353Ph 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($183.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: SteelSeries 6Gv2 Wired Standard Keyboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1353.87 / €1044
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)


edit : I have a bunch of >500Gb drives so just need to get the SSD.

JabbaTheHut

Looks sweet, Ponster. You'll need a keyboard like that to hold up to the beating you'll give it after a bad night on BF3

deravarra

Just wish parts were that cheap this side of the pond ... I would be maxxing out on everything!

Eboggles

Personally I'd get a Twin Frozr HD7950 due to it's overclockability, it beats a GTX 670 when they are both overclocked.

Not to mention it's a good bit cheaper.

Ponster

Eboggles wrote: »

Personally I'd get a Twin Frozr HD7950 due to it's overclockability, it beats a GTX 670 when they are both overclocked.

Not to mention it's a good bit cheaper.

The cheaper aspect is very interesting. I would hope though that I spend $400 on a card that I wouldn't have to overclock it to get it to play what I need. I understand that having the option though can be useful.

I chose the Asus GTX 670 based on Toms Hardwares reviews where it was one of the top cards but importantly, the quietest 670 tested (noise is usually an issue for me when living in a small apartment).

Eboggles

Ponster wrote: »

The cheaper aspect is very interesting. I would hope though that I spend $400 on a card that I wouldn't have to overclock it to get it to play what I need. I understand that having the option though can be useful.

I chose the Asus GTX 670 based on Toms Hardwares reviews where it was one of the top cards but importantly, the quietest 670 tested (noise is usually an issue for me when living in a small apartment).

I'll give the ASUS that; it's dead silent. If you want silence, then go for it.

Monotype

That's an oldish series of PSU. I think that you should go for something better. Something like Seasonic's M12II 520W would serve you well, I'd say:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151093

Ponster

I found some extra funds so i've updated the build slightly :

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pDwI

The $200 extra gets me:

New GFX card (7970 rather than the 670)
New IPS Monitor
New full size case (the old one is no longer available and the 7970 takes 3 slots)
New PSU (thanks to Monotype)

Serephucus

I'd personally look at something like a Define R4 as a case. Better built than anything from Rosewill by leaps and bounds. Should also be quieter too.

Ponster

Thanks! Looks like a good successor to my Antec P180



PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($144.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($87.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($106.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($414.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Titanium Grey) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Asus VS239H-P 23.0" Monitor ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: SteelSeries 6Gv2 Wired Standard Keyboard ($87.49 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1417.37
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-26 21:42 EST-0500)

Serephucus

The only other thing I'd look at changing is the motherboard. Ever since P67, Gigabyte haven't been the most reliable in terms of their boards. I'd recommend the ASRock Extreme4, or Pro3 if you don't think you'll be overclocking like crazy / need multi-GPU support.

Ponster

Thanks everyone. I purchased the lot last night and with a bit of luck I'll be putting it together this Friday. I got the lot for €1020 by shopping around a little.

Ponster

So....

Got all the bits and pieces yesterday and put it all together. 3 hours later I hit the power button and...nothing!

I took out the GFX card tried again and nothing. So I unplugged everything from the motherboard and it west into POST. I then plugged the cables back onto the board, one-by-one and each time it went into POST.

When I plugged in the grx card it refused to start.

What I have discovered is that my card (7970) has 2 8-pin PCI-E connectors.

My PSU is supposed to come with one 6-pin and one 6+2 pin PCI-E connector though all I can see is the 6+2 pin (which makes 8 and is therefore ok for one of the power slots) and 2 4-pin connectors.

If I plug in the 6+2 and power on I get 1 green light on the gfx card and 1 red light (where there is nothing plugged in) and I go into POST.

If add the 2 4-pin connectors (which are labeled PCIE) then I get 2 green lights on the GFX card but when I power it up the power connector where I have the 2 4 pin connectors flashes red for a millisecond and then nothing else happens.

My thinking is that the 2 4 pin connectors are ATX12V and shouldn't have PCI marked on them and that I seem to be missing the 6-PIN PCI-E.

What I'm going to do is pick up a molex connector this afternoon and not use the 2 4-Pin connectors.

http://content.etilize.com/images/300/1021422965.jpg