Mid-Range Build

[sigmanova]

Hi, I've built a computer before with much help from everyone here (greatly appreciated) so here we go again. I was planning on waiting until Black Friday but with Amazon beginning to collect sales tax September 15th I decided to just go ahead and bite the bullet now.


1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming (Starcraft 2 and all expansions, Diablo 3 and all expansions), general web surfing/banking/Facebooking.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
About $1000 which will include a keyboard, mouse, and hopefully monitor too.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA


4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Intel-Fanboy, Samsung-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, ASUS-fanboy, Corsair-Fanboy, Antec-Fanboy...

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Nope. All new parts.

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7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Running system at default speeds. No overclocking.


8. What resolution will you be using?
1920x1080...maybe 1920x1200 if I can score one of those Dell Ultrasharps for cheap.


9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.
I hope to buy all parts within the next week before September 15th and as soon as I get all of them I will put it together.


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X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
Yes, just Windows 7 Home Premium.

Sample Build (mostly bummed off the great mfenn with a few tweaks)

CPU: Intel i5-3570k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

Mobo: ASRock Z77 Pro3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

RAM: Crucial 2x 4GB DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

HDD: Samsung F3 1TB 7200RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

Optical: Lite-ON DVD-RW
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

Case: Antec 300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042

PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK II 600W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

I might consider the Corsair 600W as well as that seems to be cheaper and I've had good experience with Corsair products in the past.

Two things:

1) I don't know about the video card. I thought about mfenn's suggestion but that's too much scratch at this time for a GPU. The one I'm running now on this machine is an MSi GTX 460 1GB that I'm really happy with so something similar to that around the same price point ($200) would be preferable

2) I know I've excluded the SSD for this system. I know that they are faster, best upgrade for your system but I really don't know anything about them (much less installing them).

I welcome all opinions and suggestions. Thank you!

 

[KingRaptor]

1. Something like the GTX560 Ti
2. SSD prices are dropping. Get a good brand (OCZ, Samsung, Intel). SSDs install just like standard SATA drives (SATA Power + SATA Data)

 

[bononos]

If you're not overclocking, then you can save by getting a cheaper mb, say $10-20 by getting a H77 mb.
And you don't need a 600W psu, PCPC no less even if it costs only $70 ar, good and cheap 400-500W psu's are available. Just browse the threads around AT forums.

 

[DSF]

I don't think not having used one before is a good reason to not buy an SSD. I mean, at some point you were new to building computers, right? So if you can put the whole thing together, what's one more part?

That said, I don't know if an SSD will fit in your budget anyway if mouse, keyboard and monitor and Win7 also have to fit into the $1000.

 

[riversend]

Sorry about rehashing, but NO parts are going to be reused? DSF is right, needing the monitor and Win7 put a bit of a damper on parts decisions, but you can still get a great machine for 1080 gaming. What system are you coming from?

 

[riversend]

Also, notice you mentioned Amazon and taxes as a reason to buy now, but all your links are to Newegg

 

[sigmanova]

riversend, right but alot of those links I lifted from mfenn so I thought might as well just link to newegg.

I'm coming from an i5-760 with 4gb ram running a gtx 460. that's my current machine at my apartment near work.

on the weekends i drive back to see my parents so this new computer will replace the one there which was an Intel Core2duo E6600 with 2gb ram.

i think i'll budget cash separately for the monitor, so whatever you guys can recommend would be helpful I'm mostly asking for PSU and GPU advice. i think mfenn pretty much covered the rest.

 

[riversend]

His PSU pick should do the trick. However the Corsair Builder's CX600 is down around $40 right now after rebates and promotion (until the 10th) at Newegg.

For the GPU, instead of the 7950 go with a 7850, if you keep a watch out those are bottoming out around $190 and should do well for a while in the 1080 resolution range. The Sapphire dual fan is currently out of stock, and there are a couple hovering in the $205 neighborhood, but a little patience should get you one a bit cheaper.

 

[DSF]

If you regularly travel between the two locations, I wonder if it's worth pondering combining the two machines into a SFF build that you can just take with you and plug in.

 

[sigmanova]

thank you riversend. I'll probably pick up the Corsair 600W and Crucial RAM from newegg, and the i5+ASRock from the local Microcenter (assuming that combo deal is still in play), the rest i'll get from Amazon.

the Dell U2412M is currently at $299.80 so I'm definitely picking that up

DSF, I used to lug around a tower back and forth between locations back in my college days (only 6 years ago); i'm getting older, slower, weaker, and alot lazier so I rather just pay the money to have another sexy machine. but thank you anyways for your input!

 

[sigmanova]

what are your thoughts on the MSi Radeon 7850 Twin Frozr 2GB? Includes a $15 rebate too (assuming purchase by the 10th)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

 

[Gorrillasnot]

There's a post over in Hotdeals from member Pheran Where you can get 8GB of ram free with purchase of select z77 motherboards
His post is here http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2269108

Also I don't know the differnce between the pro3 and pro4 ASRock boards but for $15 more you get a free 60GB SSD with the pruchase of the pro4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157296

If it's possible you might consider buying your motherboard from newegg and the rest of your parts at amazon

 

[riversend]

MSI Twin Frozr cards have a good rep. Not a stunning price for a 7850 but you will certainly be happy with the card I think.

 

[mfenn]

what are your thoughts on the MSi Radeon 7850 Twin Frozr 2GB? Includes a $15 rebate too (assuming purchase by the 10th)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

That Twin Frozr is fine, but this Sapphire is just a good and costs $5 less. Definitely grab the mobo and CPU from MicroCenter, they should have Z77 Pro3's available (at least my MC does).

 

[sigmanova]

That Twin Frozr is fine, but this Sapphire is just a good and costs $5 less. Definitely grab the mobo and CPU from MicroCenter, they should have Z77 Pro3's available (at least my MC does).

thanks for your input as always mfenn. NE is charging $5.99 shipping and of course there's tax. I'll go with the MSi off amazon to save on shipping and tax.

I'll swing by MicroCenter next Sunday to pickup the i5 and Extreme4. Going to order the monitor, GPU, and Case from Amazon shortly, the PSU, RAM, and Samsung 1TB from NE.

thank you for all your help everyone! I'll post updates/pics when all the parts have arrived and can start putting it together. (I learned my lesson regarding the RAM from last time)

 

[riversend]

Enjoy the build, should be nice to put together and run!

 

[mfenn]

I'll swing by MicroCenter next Sunday to pickup the i5 and Extreme4.

Why the Extreme4 instead of the Pro3?

 

[sigmanova]

I thought I read somewhere that the Extreme4 was easier to work with as opposed to the Pro3. I might just be thinking this in my head...

there's a $40 difference between the two that might just entice me to go for something higher than the 7850.

 

[riversend]

What was the context of easier to work with? I have a Pro3 and it has been a very easy system to work with IMHO. I don't have a ton of experience, but this mobo was no harder than any previous one's I've used.

 

[sigmanova]

What was the context of easier to work with? I have a Pro3 and it has been a very easy system to work with IMHO. I don't have a ton of experience, but this mobo was no harder than any previous one's I've used.

Might have just been in my head...at any rate I will just go for the Pro3. Thank you!

 

[mfenn]

Might have just been in my head...at any rate I will just go for the Pro3. Thank you!

:thumbsup: The arrangement of slots is slightly different on the Pro3, but it's not anything easier or harder to work with. The two have the same BIOS interface as well.

 

[sigmanova]

ended up with the Pro4. Microcenter was out of stock on the Pro3's. it ended up being only $15 more than the Pro3 though.

just waiting on the rest of the parts now. thanks all!

 

[mfenn]

Yeah no worries, both are good. Let us know how the build goes!

 

[sigmanova]

put the build together earlier tonight and it POSTS! *dances*

finished installing Windows 7 and all seems fine...except

on stock, HWmonitor is reporting idle temps of about 37-44C.

After a few minutes on Prime95, it jumps to 75-79C! I don't think this is safe so I turned off Prime95. About to play Diablo 3 for a bit. perhaps I might have installed the heatsink incorrectly?

 

[lehtv]

75-79C in a few minutes of prime is quite normal for stock cooling but a bit on the hot side. You could try reseating, that'd allow you to check if the thermal paste could be applied better. Just don't hold your breath for a dramatic change, a few degrees tops.