Current Build and Ideas for New Build

[Nerio]

I built my current machine a few years ago and I'm looking to upgrade across the board. It does what I need it to do pretty well, but I usually can't run games at max settings and maintain 60fps and using xsplit to stream tends to cripple my performance as well, so I'm looking for something pretty beefy that will solve these issues. Here is my current build:


Motherboard- MSI P55-GD80
CPU- Intel i5-750
CPU Fan- Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
Video Card- Sapphire Radeon HD 5830
Memory- G.SKILL Ripjaws 16GB
Power Supply- OCZ ModXStrem Pro 700w
Case - Azza Helios 910
Monitors - 2x Acer S231HLbid

I have a handful of SSDs and storage drives, so I'm solid on those for a while.

New Build Ideas

I need a CPU, video card, motherboard, power supply (possibly), and some type of cooling.

My budget for the remaining items is around $1000. I'm willing to go up or down a bit if there is a compelling reason.

I plan on using the same monitors and memory in my new build. If possible, I would also use the power supply, but I'm not too worried about that if it means I have to limit the capabilities of the machine. I plan on using this case by Fractal Design.

For the CPU, I'm stuck between the Ivy Bridge i5 and i7, and the Sandy Bridge i5 and i7. A lot of the reviews are showing that IB is only outperforming SB at stock settings, and I do plan on overclocking. I want the best performance possible but I don't want to spend a lot of extra money on something that won't give a noticeable improvement.

I don't know much about current motherboards and video cards, so I'm definitely up for suggestions. If my power supply won't work with the newer stuff then I'll be getting one.

How easy is it to install your own liquid cooling? The idea of an even quieter machine sounds really nice, but I've never done it before and wouldn't want to screw anything up.

[hapylol]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.90 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($142.86 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($399.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define R3 Black Pearl ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $932.72
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-04-29 22:04 EDT-0400)

CPU- This is the Ivy Bridge equivalent of the i5-2500k. I think it will be fine with 4.5 clocks because most have been complaining about severe OC temps.
GPU- This is a pretty high end video card. If you want to drop it down you could pickup an AMD 7870 or 7850 which will handle WoW @ max,
Liquid cooling- I included a strong aftermarket air cooler. If you wanted to go with a liquid cooling CPU that is up to you

[DeltrusDisc]

Why suggest a chassis like the Fractal Design Define R3 to someone who you should be able to easily tell probably wouldn't either a. like it or b. need it.

Now yes, the R3 is an excellent case, but he did say in his first post what he needed new, a new case was not in the list.

Plus the R3 is kind of expensive for some people (I know some who swear they will never buy a $100+ case) so instead of suggesting he buys that when he has a perfectly good one already, perhaps take that $110 and put it towards maybe a 7970 (why not?) or a higher end motherboard (Ex6) or perhaps towards an arguably, better CPU heatsink?

Just some things to consider. ^_^

[Nerio]

Oh sorry, I wasn't clear. I already have the R3 actually. I got it as a gift a couple months ago when Newegg had it for $30-$40 cheaper.

Will the power supply I already have work with the setup you linked hapy?

[hapylol]

Deltrus,

OP specifically wrote that he "plans to use the r3 black" so I put it in my list. Sorry that I didn't realize he already had it especially because he put a different case in his current setup.

OP,

Your PSU should be fine as long as you only have a couple years on it.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80 92.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($84.99 @ CompUSA)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($142.86 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($517.86 @ Newegg)
Total: $995.70
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-04-30 09:10 EDT-0400)

I changed the build around because you already have the case. I upgraded the GPU to a 7970 and also included a pretty standard liquid cooler because you had mentioned it. If you do NOT want to stick with liquid cooling you can pickup anything from a CM Evo 212, Corsair CAFA70, Noctua NH-D14.

By the way this is a pretty insane machine. You definitely have a lot of room to cutback if you want but that is completely up to you.

I hope that answers all your questions but let us know if you have more!!

[Nerio]

Thank a lot for your help so far. I just have some questions about video cards. Is there a difference between brand on the same card? For instance, this sapphire card and the xfx one you linked.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102982

Also, if I had more room in my budget would you suggest the gtx 680 instead?

Thanks again.

[hapylol]

There are 3 differences.

*Reference or non-reference. Reference meaning the standard version of what AMD/Nvidia putout and non-reference meaning manufacturers adding customization like special cooling or design.

*Manufacturer-

*Stock speeds- some manufacturers will adjust the stock speeds before they send them out.

In terms of price it goes- reference, reference clocked higher, non reference, non reference clocked higher. This is all dependent on the manufacturer as well because some are more expensive then others

Sorry I probably went too in depth.

If you want the power of a 680 go for it, otherwise the 7970 would be just fine.

[Nerio]

Thanks again for your help. I took your suggestions and combined it with what I already have for the build to create this:

PCPartPicker part list /
Price breakdown by
merchant /
Benchmarks

CPU: *Intel
Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor *($249.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler:
Corsair
H80 92.0 CFM *Liquid CPU Cooler *($84.99 @ CompUSA)
Motherboard:
ASRock
Z77 Extreme4 ATX *LGA1155 Motherboard *($142.86 @ Newegg)
Memory:
G.Skill
Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory *($89.99 @
Newegg)
Hard Drive:
Samsung
Spinpoint F4 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive *($129.99 @
Newegg)
Hard Drive:
Sandisk
Ultra 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk *($249.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card:
EVGA
GeForce GTX 680 2GB Video Card *($507.55 @ Newegg)
Case: *Fractal
Design Define R3 Black Pearl ATX Mid Tower Case *($109.99 @ NCIX
US)
Power Supply:
OCZ 700W
ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply *($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive:
Asus
DRW-24B3LT DVD/CD Writer *($28.11 @ Compuvest)
Monitor:
Acer
S231HLbid 23.0" Monitor *($159.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor:
Acer
S231HLbid 23.0" Monitor *($159.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System:
Microsoft
Windows 7 Professional SP1 (64-bit) *($138.99 @ B&H)
Keyboard:
Razer
Lycosa Wired Gaming Keyboard *($69.99 @ Best Buy)
Mouse: *Razer
Naga Wired Laser Mouse *($74.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2257.40
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-04-30 15:29 EDT-0400)


I'm on my phone so hopefully that doesn't blow up

[hapylol]

Looks like a kick ass rig

[Nerio]

Thanks! Now time to find some deals

[DeltrusDisc]

Deltrus,

OP specifically wrote that he "plans to use the r3 black" so I put it in my list. Sorry that I didn't realize he already had it especially because he put a different case in his current setup.

No no, it was my bad, my eyes must suck and need a check up.

[Nerio]

Another quick question actually

What power supply should I go with if I wanna get a 2nd graphics card down the road? I've decided that I'll just leave the one I have in my current computer so I can keep it around as a second/backup pc, and I figured that I might wanna pick up another graphics card later on.

I was thinking of either doing this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.914597

or this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.914604

[glo]

Those are both pretty overkill for 680 SLI. You'll be fine with a TX 750 or 650. Total power draw from Prime95 + Furmark shouldn't exceed 550W~. Remember, you're buying extremely power efficient hardware compared to the previous few generations. IB 1155 only has a 77W TDP, the video cards at 195.