1. #1

    First time build, second opinions welcome

    I'm looking to build a new computer for about $1200. Mostly it will be used for playing WoW, LOL and SCII. I live in Canada and I'm about 5 minutes away from a memory express so I'm planning on just ordering the parts from memory express since I can just go pick them up at the store. I'll be reusing my current monitory/keyboard/mouse. I have a decent amount of experience mucking around with computers, but I've never built one from scratch myself so I'd appreciate any feedback on my planned build. I'm particularly clueless about what to look for in a case/power supply as I've never had to shop for those myself before.

    CPU: Intel Core™ i5-3570K Processor, 3.40GHz w/ 6MB Cache $229
    Motherboard: P8Z77-V LK w/ DDR3, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, CrossFireX / SLI $144.99
    Memory: G.SKILL RipjawsX Series 8GB PC3-10666 Dual Channel DDR3 Kit (2 x 4GB) $52.99
    SSD: OCZ Vertex 4 Series SATA III Solid State Drive, 128GB $119
    HD: WD 1TB Caviar Black 7200rpm SATA III w/ 64MB Cache $99
    DVD: Asus DRW-24B1ST 24x DVD-RW Drive, SATA, Black, OEM $19
    Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 TI 2GB PCI-E w/ Dual DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort $299
    Case: Cooler Master Elite 330U Case $54
    PSU: Silverstone Strider Essential 500W Power Supply $60
    OS: Windows 7 Home Premium x64 (64-bit) SP1 $120

    With tax this all comes to $1263.

  2. #2
    Looks decent but I would suggest you spend a bit more and get a good case, that one is horrible.
    Intel i5-3570K @ 4.7GHz | MSI Z77 Mpower | Noctua NH-D14 | Corsair Vengeance LP White 1.35V 8GB 1600MHz
    Gigabyte GTX 670 OC Windforce 3X @ 1372/7604MHz | Corsair Force GT 120GB | Silverstone Fortress FT02 | Corsair VX450

  3. #3
    Herald of the Titans Skarsguard's Avatar
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    I would get low profile ram something like corsair vengeance LP and the case I mean that is really up to you but there is better cases out there for cheaper I'll link some

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146075 NZXT source 210 39.99$
    http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX35637 Cooler Master HAF 912 49.99$
    http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX39213 Bitfenix Merc Alpha 39.99$

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820233379 here is the ram the Ripsaws have useless clunky heatsinks on them.
    I would also get an aftermarket cpu cooler like a: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103099

    EDIT: I found two of those cases on Memory Express couldn't find the other one.
    Man I forget how much more some stuff in Canada is then U.S.
    Last edited by Skarsguard; 2013-02-09 at 03:08 AM.

  4. #4
    While I don't personally like the looks of this case it has a really good price at Memory Express.
    http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX38172

    It has some pretty good ventilation as well as dust filtering, also way better cable management than the 330U.


    http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX31654 This is also a decent case for only $35 after rebate.
    Last edited by n0cturnal; 2013-02-09 at 02:49 AM.
    Intel i5-3570K @ 4.7GHz | MSI Z77 Mpower | Noctua NH-D14 | Corsair Vengeance LP White 1.35V 8GB 1600MHz
    Gigabyte GTX 670 OC Windforce 3X @ 1372/7604MHz | Corsair Force GT 120GB | Silverstone Fortress FT02 | Corsair VX450

  5. #5
    Overclock capable rig but no heatsink. If you're not getting an aftermarket heatsink, don't bother with the Low Profile RAM.

  6. #6
    Herald of the Titans Skarsguard's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by yurano View Post
    Overclock capable rig but no heatsink. If you're not getting an aftermarket heatsink, don't bother with the Low Profile RAM.
    Yeah that's why I put the 212 evo in my suggestions along with the LP ram.

  7. #7
    Thanks for the quick advice all.

    I decided to go with the Cooler Master HAF 912 case. I also switched the RAM to Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB DDR3 1600MHz CL9 Dual Channel Kit (2 x 4GB), and adedd a 212 evo heatsink. I'm not that confident about overclocking since I've never done it before, but I've never built a computer from scratch before either so I may just give it a shot, and it's not like it adds all that much to the price.

  8. #8
    I built my current pc like 2 weeks ago, plays all those games maxxed out with over 60 frames at like 600$. I think you can manage to push it down a bit, if you wanna save some money
    Quote Originally Posted by checking facts View Post
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  9. #9
    Stood in the Fire slasher0161's Avatar
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    You can drop the WD black back to a WD blue, its only a storage drive after all. Also do you guys seriously get stung 120 for an OS... Ouch and here I thought Australia was bad.

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by MexKrax View Post
    I also switched the RAM to Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB DDR3 1600MHz CL9 Dual Channel Kit (2 x 4GB), and adedd a 212 evo heatsink.
    You don't need low profile RAM for a Hyper 212 EVO, especially if you're only going 2 sticks.

    The Hyper 212 EVO only overhangs the RAM slot closest to the CPU socket. Even then, its the fan that's blocking the slot. You can mount the fan higher up on the cooler to fit a large heatsink stick in the closest RAM slot.

    If there's a cheaper non-LP set of RAM, you can consider going with that instead. Plus, the heatsinks look nice.

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