Computer died, beginner!

[Kevybevy]

Hey mmochamp, my computer recently died and I was looking for help on building a new computer. I'm looking for something that will be able to run WoW at decent settings (1920x1080), BF3 and some other games. I have a budget of about $1500, but I can go higher.

Looking through Marests' Builds, I'm leaning towards the 1740 one. Now I'm just curious, are these still relevant? I'm not sure how long ago the list was updated.

MoBo: ASUS Sabertooth Z77 – $239.99 Review
CPU: Intel i5 3570k – $219.99
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LP 1600Mhz 4x4GB – $124.99
GPU: MSI Lightning Radeon 7970 – $489.99
SSD: Samsung 830 256GB – $204.99
HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB – $94.99
PSU: Corsair TX650M – $89.99 Review
Heatsink: Noctua NH-D14 – $80.99
Case: Corsair 650D – $189.99 Review

Again, sorry for being a noob :P.

[chazus]

Sabertooth is unnecessarily expensive. You can get something just as good for $100 cheaper. You probably don't need 16gb ram. 8 will do. The 7970 is up to you, but feels a bit much. I'd go with the Samsung 840 over the 830. You should get a Blue instead of a Black. The Corsair is nice, but I feel spending 200 on a case is a waste. Not my money, though :P

I feel like the 650w PSU is a bit much. There may be cheaper, decent ones. The Seasonic 620M might be cheaper.

Overall, the build is good and compatible... But I feel like you can shave a good 200-300 off it without any performance loss.

[Killora]

Sabertooth is unnecessarily expensive. You can get something just as good for $100 cheaper. You probably don't need 16gb ram. 8 will do. The 7970 is up to you, but feels a bit much. I'd go with the Samsung 840 over the 830. You should get a Blue instead of a Black. The Corsair is nice, but I feel spending 200 on a case is a waste. Not my money, though :P

I feel like the 650w PSU is a bit much. There may be cheaper, decent ones. The Seasonic 620M might be cheaper.

Overall, the build is good and compatible... But I feel like you can shave a good 200-300 off it without any performance loss.

i don't really think the 7970 is overkill, per se, but i think the MSI lightning in particular is a waste of money.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($109.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($163.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($76.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($389.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1246.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-15 00:05 EDT-0400)

Theres a proposed build. PSU was only $10 more than an XFX 550 so i figured might aswell throw that in.

Gigabyte windforce 7970 instead of the MSI lightning. Which overclocks better with a tri-fan cooler. 840 instead of 830 as it's cheaper for the same performance.

blue instead of black.

212 evo cause honestly, if you're gonna spend $80 on an air cooler, you might aswell go liquid. So if you want a better cooler you can get a H80i or a H100i.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($163.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($76.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($389.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1341.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-15 00:12 EDT-0400)

Theres a build with an H100i and a Haswell CPU.

[DeltrusDisc]

chazus, you should mention that Ivy Bridge is old technology now, going for a Haswell build would be in the OP's best interest.

From a $1500 budget standpoint, I would suggest something akin to the following:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks


CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: NZXT HAVIK 140 90.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($159.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($163.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($76.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($419.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 600T ATX Mid Tower Case ($187.99 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 660W 80 PLUS Platinum Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($137.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1486.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-15 00:16 EDT-0400)

[chazus]

chazus, you should mention that Ivy Bridge is old technology now, going for a Haswell build would be in the OP's best interest.

Honestly? From what I've seen, Haswell is a bit of a gamble, while Ivy Bridge is guaranteed a good bet. At least until the next revision comes out. I haven't seen any -really- compelling evidence. Haswell flat out costs more, and barely has a benefit a the 'normal' overclock range.

[DeltrusDisc]

Costs more? What by $10 in some cases?

I like that benefit of all SATA 6Gbps for one... more PCI-E 3.0 lanes... the list goes on!

The USB 3.0 bug, I wonder if it will just be a BIOS flash or what, but if it was as detrimental as the SATA 3Gbps port issue on the first Sandy Bridge P67 boards, then they would have recalled them all, by now - which they have not.

[n0cturnal]

Honestly? From what I've seen, Haswell is a bit of a gamble, while Ivy Bridge is guaranteed a good bet. At least until the next revision comes out. I haven't seen any -really- compelling evidence. Haswell flat out costs more, and barely has a benefit a the 'normal' overclock range.

You pay 10% more and get 10% more performance as well as a new and better platform.

[chazus]

I like that benefit of all SATA 6Gbps for one

Which is... pretty much useless to almost everyone.

more PCI-E 3.0 lanes

Which is useless to almost everyone

the list goes on!

A long list of unimpressive features doesn't make 'good' ones. From what I can tell, a decent 4670K setup will cost a good $50 more at the minimum, to just break even on IB's higher overclock. The 10% performance increase is lost in the lower clocks, but still getting a cost increase.

[Kevybevy]

Whoa thanks for all the quick replies!

Since I'm quite the computer noob, out of the 3 builds listed what would give me the best performance? I always assumed the more it costs, the better it will be (which is true in most cases, but since they're all relatively the same price i'm not too sure).

[n0cturnal]

Which is... pretty much useless to almost everyone.
Which is useless to almost everyone

A long list of unimpressive features doesn't make 'good' ones. From what I can tell, a decent 4670K setup will cost a good $50 more at the minimum, to just break even on IB's higher overclock. The 10% performance increase is lost in the lower clocks, but still getting a cost increase.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...D=3938566&SID= $330
A Haswell at 4.4GHz performs as well as a Ivy at 4.8GHz, I really don't see the point in sticking with the old platform.

[DeltrusDisc]

Whoa thanks for all the quick replies!

Since I'm quite the computer noob, out of the 3 builds listed what would give me the best performance? I always assumed the more it costs, the better it will be (which is true in most cases, but since they're all relatively the same price i'm not too sure).

The build I linked as well as Killora's second build will net you the most performance, however I'd still advise a GTX 770 over HD 7970, older GPU is older. You also said you could go over $1,500, so sounds like Haswell might not be too bad, or you could consider the GTX 780 for fun, it would certainly handle BF3 extremely well.

In fact, you want to play BF3... that's an NVidia GPU-shining game. :P

[Kevybevy]

The build I linked as well as Killora's second build will net you the most performance, however I'd still advise a GTX 770 over HD 7970, older GPU is older. You also said you could go over $1,500, so sounds like Haswell might not be too bad, or you could consider the GTX 780 for fun, it would certainly handle BF3 extremely well.

In fact, you want to play BF3... that's an NVidia GPU-shining game. :P

Haha alright. At the moment I'm leaning towards your build, but if anyone else has any input or any other builds I would love to see them!

I just want to thank everyone for their time with helping me build my first computer .

[DeltrusDisc]

Haha alright. At the moment I'm leaning towards your build, but if anyone else has any input or any other builds I would love to see them!

I just want to thank everyone for their time with helping me build my first computer .

Is there anything you'd prefer different from my build?

Maybe you don't want short white RAM? Maybe you'd like one of those AIO liquid coolers like the Corsair H series? (Though I despise them.) Perhaps you want a different motherboard? Different GPU heatsink/aftermarket brand?

[Killora]

-snip-

While your build is solid, i see a few issues with it.

$140 PSU? I really dont think he needs a platinum certified PSU. the one i linked is much cheaper and is just as good, minus less efficiency which..no one cares about.

Case is more expensive, i only linked the 650D cause the OP did

GTX 770 is a solid choice. Though i'd much rather recommend an Asus or Gigabyte model rather than EVGA. I've never liked EVGA as their coolers tend to leave less headroom for overclocking and, in general, are noisier.

I see no reason to get an Extreme4. With VRM on die for Haswell theres no reason to spend all that extra money over say a pro4. The motherboards dont have any phase designs. It's just a cheap voltage regulator that supplies a constant voltages to supply the CPU VRM.

I also see no reason to go with an air cooler with his budget. the bloat in the afformentioned areas could easily net him a water cooler. Perhaps something like this for a GTX 770 build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($163.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($76.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($409.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1341.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-15 01:10 EDT-0400)

chazus, you should mention that Ivy Bridge is old technology now, going for a Haswell build would be in the OP's best interest.

Not really. With air cooling the difference is pretty lackluster if existent at all. In a lot of cases Haswell hits a heat wall on air in the 4.2-4.4ghz range, whereas on Ivybridge you can hit 4.8-5.0 on a decent air cooler. Just because something is "old technology" doesn't mean it's vastly inferior or inferior at all. I'd say ivy bridge is still the way to go on a budget that is just high enough to support overclocking, but just low enough to not permit for a water cooler.

Haswell is, infact, more expensive. About $10 more for the CPU and anywhere from $20-$40 for the motherboard. While yes, it does provide a baseline 10% improvement, that improvement is largely abolished from what i've seen with a higher clocked ivy bridge.

If you can afford a water cooler like the OP? Sure! Awesome! Get haswell! you may even end up with better clocks than you would have on a ivy bridge, because haswell actually has a higher potential, you just hit a big ass wall on most chips on air. With liquid cooling you can get a pretty good overclock, rivaling or exceeding ivy bridge.

Any other improvement through Haswell is largely irrelevant. More PCI lanes and full SATA 6gbps is useless for nearly everyone. Particularly for the OP.

P.S. Just because your budget is $1500 doesn't mean you need to use all of it. $1500 is high enough that you'll be just throwing in more expensive parts for the sake of hitting your budget line. Which is sorta what it looks like Deltrus did (no offense, not saying you did it just seems like it to me).

[DeltrusDisc]

Except a 4.3GHz (middle of what you said) Haswell is about equal to an Ivy clocked 400MHz higher...... so... Anyways. Delidding works, too, apparently.

Corsair TX is not, just as good, as SeaSonic's top range, I'm sorry. Will it deliver power? Yes. Will it be as stable as the SeaSonic, in the basic meaning, yes, in the long run, no.

Case is whatever. Was a placeholder, I know a lot like the 600T. :P

Read up about the ACX cooler, it's pretty damned good. It isn't some reference BS or a silly knockoff of the other aftermarket designs, it's actually pretty good, it's only a couple degrees off from Gigabyte/ASUS' equivalents.

And sure, I know he could afford the H100i... but how much performance increase does it give? Not enough.

What if we took that 'bloat' and applied it towards a GTX 780?

Hell! You ended at $1342!

---------- Post added 2013-06-15 at 05:29 AM ----------

P.S. Just because your budget is $1500 doesn't mean you need to use all of it. $1500 is high enough that you'll be just throwing in more expensive parts for the sake of hitting your budget line. Which is sorta what it looks like Deltrus did (no offense, not saying you did it just seems like it to me).

lol nah, I actually just chose a bunch of parts, paid very little attention to where the cost was, hooray, close, but not quite $1,500.

He's willing to go above $1,500 though, so I would say that at least means he has the means to handle a $1,500 expenditure.

[Kevybevy]

Yeah the case was just a placeholder.

I am able to go over the $1500, but I'd rather not spend an extra couple hundred on slightly more performance. Since this is my first time building a computer and what not, I'd be happy with just a computer that'll run what I require (which I'm more than guessing both builds will do).

Just some questions though, are there any benefits of having a liquid cooler over an air cooler?

Also http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?...D-W10EALX&c=CJ, what is the difference between that and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822236339?

[DeltrusDisc]

The AIO liquid coolers are not much different from air coolers and often perform the exact same. The only real performance benefits come at a price premium of getting even better fans, though some ship with decent fans, or the fact you can get taller RAM... which does nothing for your RAM, to be honest, other than look cool if you think it looks cool. I know some like the look of the AIO coolers, I don't, though.

Out of those two hard drives, get the Newegg one, it has double the cache and would therefore be considered a newer tech drive. If that's one of the 2013 Blues, then I can tell you - I have one, it is blazing fast and works great, also it is very quiet.

The NZXT Havik 140 is hard to beat at the $60 pricepoint, in performance and looks. It is also quiet, from what I've read. If you can squeeze a GTX 780 in there, it will make 1080p a perfect resolution and make you perhaps want to upgrade to 1440p sometime.

[vawugz]

Yeah the case was just a placeholder.

I am able to go over the $1500, but I'd rather not spend an extra couple hundred on slightly more performance. Since this is my first time building a computer and what not, I'd be happy with just a computer that'll run what I require (which I'm more than guessing both builds will do).

Just some questions though, are there any benefits of having a liquid cooler over an air cooler?

Also http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?...D-W10EALX&c=CJ, what is the difference between that and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822236339?

Closed loops liquid coolers (like the Corsair series) aren't that much better than air ones. If your case has good airflow it shouldn't make too much of a difference unless you are pushing a high OC. As for the two harddrives, the superbiiz one is multiplatter while the newegg is singleplatter. The newegg one is better in most ways, so it's the better buy.

[Kevybevy]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($163.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($76.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($409.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1341.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-15 01:10 EDT-0400)

I think I'll go with this build (with the NZXT air cooler), but again if anyone has anymore input or any other builds I would love to see them .

In regards to the case, any notable difference between the 650D and the 600T? Or are all cases relatively the same and it's just the look?

[DeltrusDisc]

I think I'll go with this build (with the NZXT air cooler), but again if anyone has anymore input or any other builds I would love to see them .

In regards to the case, any notable difference between the 650D and the 600T? Or are all cases relatively the same and it's just the look?

600T has better airflow, it would seem. 650D is honestly more aimed at custom water loop builders, by the looks of it.

Other than that, all good.