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$1500 Gaming Desktop

HGINero

Honorable
May 1, 2013
10
0
10,510
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/SY6b

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($106.25 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($229.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($149.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($389.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1536.16
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-01 10:53 EDT-0400)

Is it any good? Would you guys change anything? I play on a LG W2243 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005123) at 1920x1080, and I really want to play the lastest games on the highest settings possible.
 
Solution
Putting in an i7 3770k and dropping your SSD to 120 GB would leave you pretty darn close to your price:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($317.97 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($154.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.16 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.67 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM...
Not a bad system by any means, but for that much I would tend to look for a little more power. What do you think of this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($154.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.16 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.67 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($322.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($322.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: SeaSonic M12II 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($80.00 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.96 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1587.67
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-01 11:53 EDT-0400)

Newegg also gives you an AMD 4-game coupon if you by a pair of 7950s: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1278073

Edit: Whoops, that PSU would have been quite a bit too small. Sorry, it's the early morning where I am.
 


Yeah, but a CrossFire configuration brings more trouble to the table, I'm more of a single card person. And, why did you cut off space from 2TB to 1TB? I'm in need of that space (SSD & HDD). I saw this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu8Sekdb-IE and I decided to go with the 8350, why choose the 3570k?
 


RAM is cheap though, and it's not going to drop but rather incline in cost. Why not make it future proof?
 


Fair enough on single vs. CrossFire. I go with dual GPUs, but I can certainly understand not doing so. I tend to cut HDD/SSD space because, to my experience, folks tend to overbuy in that regard and cost themselves gaming performance. That said, if you need more space, I can add more space. I haven't seen that video before, but the concensus on this forum (and TH in general, from what I've seen) is that the 3570k beats the FX-8350 handily in gaming, with the 8350 only having the advantage in video editing and suchlike. One moment, I'll update my suggestions.
 
What would be your thoughts on this?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($154.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.16 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($229.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($96.87 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card ($453.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.96 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1507.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-01 12:00 EDT-0400)
 


Right now my computer's a crappy one, with an intel E6500, Radeon 4350, and 750GB HDD. Having said that, my HDD is 85% full with almost no games on it. The most space hungry ones are Portal 2 and Team Fortress 2, which barely reach 30 FPS. I'm sure that a 1TB won't be enough. There are so many games out there I want to try.
 


It looks really nice overall but I'm unsure about that CPU cooler. Reviews say it's really nice and all but, can it compete the high-end CPU coolers? I do want to overclock so...
 



Why invest more than you need without any gain? If you're going to spend more, you could put it towards a better CPU cooler, a stronger GPU, or, for that matter, something completely unrelated to your computer. If you really want it, you could go up to 16 GB, but it would be quite some time before you would even notice a difference.



Over 600 GB filled without games? Are you storing a lot of movies on your system? My hard drive is barely that full with my full Steam library downloaded.
That said, a bigger HDD isn't really a problem. The cost is quite low. It's the SSDs that really cost you for size.
 


The Hyper 212 Evo is a very efficient cooler, and you can overclock a decent ways with it. That said, at the end of the day, it's not going to keep up with a Noctua DH14, an NZXT Kraken x60, or a Corsair H100i. That being the case, the question is how much you want to overclock.
 


Yes, I do have quite a lot of movies. I also have files with countless templates for photoshop and sony vegas.
 


Ah. Well, that would explain it. In that case, you definitely need a 2 TB or higher HDD.
 
Alright then, cool. Everything else is fine, the only obstacle seems to be the CPU. At this point I need to mention that I will also be using After effects. 8350 OR i5-3570k?
 


Oh, visual effects? That changes quite a lot, actually.
That being the case, I'd say go for an i7 3770k. Much better than either the 3570k or the 8350.
 


Yeah but it's completely over budget. They're not going to be REALLY intense or anything.
 
Putting in an i7 3770k and dropping your SSD to 120 GB would leave you pretty darn close to your price:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($317.97 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($154.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.16 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.67 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($96.87 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card ($453.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($154.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.96 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1510.54
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-01 12:42 EDT-0400)

That said, if you're worried about cooling, you could drop the Hyper 212 Evo and add either a Noctua DH14, a Kraken x60, or an H100i.

Edit: You would only be over budget with a better cooler.
 
Solution

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