Need help building first PC

[Fred McGaughey]

Looking for some advice on my first build

Im looking at:
Intel Z77 MOBO
i7-3770k Ivy Bridge 3.5 GHz
G.skill Ripjaws X 16G (2x 8G)
Windows 7 64 bit
and cannot decide between the
SAPPHIRE Vapor X Radeon HD 7950
XFX Double D Radeon HD 7950

Maybe someone could even refer a better graphics card for about the same price

Also im using the Thermaltake MK-I full tower case

 

[wand3r3r]

From what I recall, the XFX is hardly any cooler than reference. The Sapphire is likely a lot better from that regard. I don't know if that particular Sapphire is voltage unlocked.

These two have been thrown around a lot as far as overclocking goes.
Sapphire 3L
Twin Frozr III

 

[aarontpx]

In that price range the 7950 is the best card. I personally am not too keen on Intel motherboards but to each their own. Also any particular reason you are going with 2x8gb vs 4x4gb for ram?

Sapphire 3L Twin Frozr III

I would also lean that direction.

 

[tweakboy]

Looking for some advice on my first build

Im looking at:
Intel Z77 MOBO
i7-3770k Ivy Bridge 3.5 GHz
G.skill Ripjaws X 16G (2x 8G)
Windows 7 64 bit
and cannot decide between the
SAPPHIRE Vapor X Radeon HD 7950
XFX Double D Radeon HD 7950

Maybe someone could even refer a better graphics card for about the same price

Also im using the Thermaltake MK-I full tower case

Great rig. Plus you can OC to 4Ghz without touching the voltage. Also go with the Sapphire XFX is nice but not one of the top tier companies in vc world. gl

 

[billyevans]

If you're looking for a good cooling solution, do not get the XFX card. The Sapphire is significantly better at cooling, and like wan3r3r said above, the MSI card is also a good choice.

 

[wbynum]

As others have said, the XFX DD 7950 is crap. Runs way to hot and is a horrible overclocker. Look at the Saphire/MSI/etc. Make sure the one you get has the voltage unlocked or can be unlocked with a bios flash.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

i7-3570k Ivy Bridge 3.5 GHz
G.skill Ripjaws X 16G (2x 8G)
Windows 8 64
7970 1100mhz stock

 

[Fred McGaughey]

In that price range the 7950 is the best card. I personally am not too keen on Intel motherboards but to each their own. Also any particular reason you are going with 2x8gb vs 4x4gb for ram?

No specific reason, if 4x4 would be better im all for it, i went for it because it was in my price range, i will also look at 4x4gb

If anyone has any ideas on some better product for instance a different MOBO i would appreciate all input.

 

[Gryz]

Are you sure you need the 3770k ?

For most purposes, the 3570K is just as good. Only if you often run very particular applications, that require a lot of cpu-power, *and* where you know for sure that those applications are optimized to use more than 4 cores, *and* you know for sure they benefit from hyper-threading, then the 3770K makes sense. For most users, the 3570K is just as good, but $100 cheaper. If you are a gamer, use that $100 to buy a faster videocard. If you don't know for sure, then buy the 3570K.

 

[Fred McGaughey]

been checking it out and i will be buying the 3570k as opposed to the 3770k thank you Gryz for your input

 

[aarontpx]

any ideas on some better product for instance a different MOBO i would appreciate all input.

Depends on how much you want to spend and what features you require/want.

 

[nightspydk]

Are you buying an intel board???
Is that possible.
No you would want to look for asus,gigabyte. My first choices there are other options, but I won't mention those. The mobo is the heart of your system.

PS - Building is easy, the worst thing is the front panel. If you get asus case with asus mobo, you'll probbly get a block kind of front panel cennections to just squeeze in place like no problem.
The front panel is you hdd led your on/off etc...

I would go Gigabyte though.

The mobo is the unit that will outlast all other components if choosen carefully imo.
Well maybe not entirely but well...

 

[Arkadrel]

XFX cuts lots of corners.... Sapphire does not.
So if both cost around the same, sapphire is the way to go.

been checking it out and i will be buying the 3570k as opposed to the 3770k thank you Gryz for your input

Yes overall performance drop in games wouldnt be that big.
Smaller than going for a cheaper (smaller) GPU would be.

Same with motherboard, go cheap if possible, dont buy one that has CF ability and tons of stuff you dont need. That ll needlessly drive up its price.

And the ram, you can cut down to 8 gigs instead of 16 and you probably wont notice it in the slightest.

Dont save on the PSU or CPU cooler, get decent ones, that are silent.

 

[Madpacket]

Yeah screw the XFX videocard, Intel motherboard and 16GB of RAM. Instead go with 8GB RAM, Gigabyte or Asus mobo and then the sapphire video card. Also, with the savings make damn sure you get a SSD or else this new shiny computer will feel pretty sluggish.

Good luck.

 

[aarontpx]

XFX cuts lots of corners....

The only xfx card I ever owned [8600gt] died in less than a year and a half.

Sapphire does not.

Coincidently my first video card purchase ever [2005 sapphire x850xt platinum] is still running...

 

[Fred McGaughey]

sorry ill be a little more in detail. im looking at ASUS P8Z77-V LK LGA 1155 Intel Z77, ive also heard somewhere else that 8gb ram would be good enough for gaming, so ill probably cut down there also. So the board is Asus and ill continue to look at a gigabyte boards also.
The board im looking at now is $170 but ill keep looking as i have about another 2 weeks before i can order this bad boy. thanks for everyones help