Check over my $1200 proposed build please =)

[Shaddolf]

Western Digital WD Blue 1TB WD10EZEX $69.00

Intel Xeon E3 1230 V2 $236.00

ASUS P8B75-M Motherboard $72.00

Samsung SH-224BB/BEBS SATA DVDRW Drive OEM $22.00

SanDisk Extreme Solid State Drive 120GB $119.00

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit with SP1 OEM $99.00

Thermaltake Chaser A41 Black Tower $119.00

Antec High Current Gamer 520W Modular HCG-520M $99.00

Sapphire Radeon HD7950 3GB with Boost $299.00

Corsair Vengeance CML8GX3M2A1600C9 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 $72.00

Sub-Total: $1206.00



Any thoughts on above appreciate. I am NOT looking to overclock, so the Xeon seems best in the price range.


Also really like the look of the Thermaltake cases but having trouble deciding. Looking for opinions on the following or if you have another suggestion?

Edit: argh not allowed to post links yet, but tossing up between:

Thermaltake Chaser A41 Black Tower

Thermaltake Level 10 GTS Mid Tower Case Black

Thermaltake VN700M1W2N Overseer RX-I Case (leaning towards this one now I think)

[Deleted]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.98 @ Outlet PC)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA SD1283 56.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($76.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($162.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.61 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($238.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 500R Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($88.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.91 @ Amazon)
Total: $1114.42
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-28 04:48 EDT-0400)

Case - Comes in white/black edition as well, great cable management, nice default fan setup etc.

GPU - Only about ~10% behind in performance but much cheaper.

SSD - Double the capacity which is less micromanaging in the future, can swap to the 120GB version if you prefer to save the money.

CPU+MB - Similar/cheaper price combo and even though you don't intend to OC you will still have the option. One click auto OC can probably do ~4.2GHz easily.

CPUHS - Stock fan will work but for $20 you'll get quieter and better performance and allow for OC if you ever decide. Otherwise save the money.

PSU - Same OEM (Seasonic) and modular, more power for $25 less - + $15 off w/ promo code EMCXSVP53, ends 5/2

Edit: Almost forgot about this combo deal at Newegg i5-3570k+Asrock Extreme4 = $295 If you can't get the combo deal go with the ones I suggested.

[vesseblah]

GPU - Only about ~10% behind in performance but much cheaper.

It's 10% behind stock 7950 if you overclock it to the max. But then again if you get 7950 and overclock that to the max the difference is pretty much the same as the difference in price. Also 7950 wipes the floor with 7870XT when you go to resolutions above 1920x1080 with the bigger RAM and memory bus.

No clue where the myth of 7870XT = 7950 comes, but it's simply not true at all.

[Deleted]

It's 10% behind stock 7950 if you overclock it to the max. But then again if you get 7950 and overclock that to the max the difference is pretty much the same as the difference in price. Also 7950 wipes the floor with 7870XT when you go to resolutions above 1920x1080 with the bigger RAM and memory bus.

No clue where the myth of 7870XT = 7950 comes, but it's simply not true at all.

He didn't mention higher resolutions so I assumed the resolution the average user plays at.

Also ~10% behind isn't = 7870XT = 7950 so enough about the myth.

Lets not forget the ~$60 price difference but hey look at the budget, there is room for a 7950 if OP decides, that's the wonderful thing about choice.

Lastly the system with the 7870XT can max out (or very close) 1080p for a lot of titles.

Tweaktown review of the Sapphire 7870XT Performance claims doesn't seem that far fetched.