Attention Mid-Range System Builders - Updated 08/01/2015

[AViking]

Thanks for the tip. No, I have family coming over for the holidays. I'll have them bring all the parts and I'll just buy a power cord for the PSU here.

 

[lehtv]

OK, should save quite a bit with the dollar being so cheap. Hope you won't get any DOA parts.. cos even if buying from Germany, I've heard RMA is quite easy to do from abroad. With newegg it'd be expensive

 

[AViking]

Yeah that's what worries me

 

[Jurge92]

I can't say the Norwegian prices are any better. The same exact set-up in Norway is about $1500.
Love how the government have crazy customs on all products bought outside the country as well. Even if I bought it from Newegg, I would have to add an extra 25% to the price(VAT), as well as cost on delivery, and possible some insurance to it.

It's so ridiculously unfair...

 

[mfenn]

New build posted, and this one is a doozy. The 7970 is stupid cheap at $240 AR which is also helped by the good PSU and case deals. The build is well south of $1000 even with a 250GB SSD.

 

[lehtv]

I definitely like the move to a 250GB SSD.

 

[mfenn]

New build posted, largely similar to last week's except without the great case deal and with a nice Antec Gold-efficiency PSU that lehtv found. The 7970 is still hanging in there, but I fear its days are numbered.

 

[mfenn]

New build posted, the 7970 is still hanging in there! Got a good deal on the 300R case this week and Gold power supplies two weeks in a row. I also switched out the SSD to the M500 since the EVO's price keeps rising.

 

[Skott]

The 4670K & AsRock Z87 Pro mobo combo was down to $277 yesterday. Jumped up to $291 today and now out of stock. I was going to grab this combo for a buddy build but I waited too long. If anyone sees it or something just as good please let me know. Maybe they'll have it in stock soon. Another sale like yesterday and I'll be all over it. Maybe Cyber Monday will have something good. Got my eyes on the look out this weekend.

 

[mfenn]

New build posted. The 7970 3GB is finally out of stock and so is literally every R9 280X. I can only guess at the Black Friday carnage. The Seagate 600 SSD deal is gone too, but there are still good deals on the mobo, PSU, and case.

 

[Charlie98]

New build posted. The 7970 3GB is finally out of stock and so is literally every R9 280X. I can only guess at the Black Friday carnage. The Seagate 600 SSD deal is gone too, but there are still good deals on the mobo, PSU, and case.

Just FYI... you have the wrong date on the new build. Don't want to confuse anyone...

 

[mfenn]

Just FYI... you have the wrong date on the new build. Don't want to confuse anyone...

Fixed, thanks. Serves me right for putting the date in two places. Twice as much chance for a mistake! :awe:

 

[007ELmO]

I need the 7970 to get back in stock. Holy crap it's $400+ at amazon, are we ever going to see it at $250 again??

 

[Skott]

I need the 7970 to get back in stock. Holy crap it's $400+ at amazon, are we ever going to see it at $250 again??

Depends on what the surplus status is if there still is a surplus. Once they are gone they are gone. Stores used BF and Cyber Monday to unload the immediate surplus.

 

[mfenn]

I need the 7970 to get back in stock. Holy crap it's $400+ at amazon, are we ever going to see it at $250 again??

They don't make them anymore, so I doubt you'll see it go back to $250 for new units. The R9 280X is essentially the same thing for $300 though.

 

[007ELmO]

Are we offering the GTX770 at the same price point because it's better, or because the R9 280X is also out of stock?

Thanks!

 

[mfenn]

Are we offering the GTX770 at the same price point because it's better, or because the R9 280X is also out of stock?

Thanks!

Well, I'm not personally offering any for sale.

The GTX 770 is roughly equivalent to the R9 280X, trading on a game-for-game basis. At the normal prices of $300 for the R9 280X and $330 for the GTX 770, the R9 280X is a better deal. However, assuming your goal is to build a gaming PC, the card that you can actually buy is better than the card that you can't.

 

[007ELmO]

HIS and Gigabyte R9 280x in stock at newegg for $300-320 with free BF4. They are 3GB cards vs the GTX 770 2GB.

I did read the GTX770 runs cooler and quieter, but the 280x can overclock better.

 

[Skott]

I'd agree the 280x is a better deal sans sale but the consumer should just buy which is cheapest he/she can find at this time. Can't say I have seen the GTX770 cheaper than the 280x but with the holiday sales you never know.

 

[mfenn]

New build, RAM prices are going back down again, which is nice. Unfortunately I didn't spy any killer PSU or SSD deals this week. Also, damn LiteCoin miners.

 

[lehtv]

Looks like you're a bit over the $1000 mark this time. Why not 120GB SSD, I wonder?

The EVGA 600 B $60 ($40 AR) is a good cheaper alternative for a single 770 setup.

At an equal price to the TX650, the EVGA NEX650G $90 ($70 AR) is better. It has Gold efficiency and 10 year warranty. Sure, the Corsair is a Seasonic, but the EVGA unit is stable and built with high quality parts nevertheless... and value-wise, you can't argue with 10-year transferable warranty.

And for dual 770's (which the motherboard supports), you'll want 750W, not 650W: Antec TP-750C 80+Gold $110 ($90 AR; -$20 promo active through 12/9). A cheaper alternative: EVGA 750 B $85 ($55 AR), has 5 year transferable warranty.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

New build, RAM prices are going back down again, which is nice. Unfortunately I didn't spy any killer PSU or SSD deals this week. Also, damn LiteCoin miners.

What a difference a month makes.

After casually observing for the past few years I'm now inclined to say that winter is the most costly time to build a rig.

 

[Charlie98]

Gotta pay back for all those BF 'deals.'

 

[mfenn]

Looks like you're a bit over the $1000 mark this time. Why not 120GB SSD, I wonder?

I figured that +/- 10% is a good range. I've been in the minus for a while, so gotta even that out! :awe:

The EVGA 600 B $60 ($40 AR) is a good cheaper alternative for a single 770 setup.

That unit is a HEC, which didn't exactly fill me with confidence, so I passed it over.

I like your other suggestions though, I'll keep them in mind for next week.

 

[lehtv]

That unit is a HEC, which didn't exactly fill me with confidence, so I passed it over.

True, it's HEC, but... JonnyGuru reviewed the 500W model, and it looks like there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's not perfect but it's as stable as it needs to be, and as powerful and efficient as advertised. Yes it uses some second tier caps, but given the price, that's okay in my book. Warranty looks to be only 3 years, similar to CX series which I think this is mainly competing against, but currently costs less.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=351