$1500 Gaming machine (my first build!)

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C

Calliope

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Dec 24, 2012
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10,510
I've gone through a few of the guides on here. I've never built a machine from scratch before, so would be interested in what any of you think of my choices:

Approximate Purchase Date: Within a couple weeks

Budget Range: $1500-$1600 (not including the monitor)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing the internet

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: www.canadacomputers.com, www.shoprbc.com

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Parts Preferences: Intel, AMD

Overclocking: Maybe (never tried before, but I might)

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (not to begin with, maybe down the road)

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Notes: Never tried an SSD before, also my first time going with a high-end video card instead of a more middle of the road one, never had a 7200 RPM hard drive, etc. A lot of firsts for me. :)

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Upgrading from a gaming laptop (ASUS G73J, with ATI mobility HD 5870 card). Have been finding Guild Wars 2 to be sluggish with the settings turned up.

My build I'm considering:

Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Socket LGA1155, 3.4Ghz, 6MB L3 Cache, 22nm (Retail Boxed) Gen3 (BX806237I53570K)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=4_65&item_id=045425

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H Socket 1155 Intel Z77 Chipset
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_722&item_id=052352

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium with Service Pack 1 64-Bit
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=530&item_id=037803

Cooler Master Storm Enforcer Mid Tower Case w/ Window
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=6_112&item_id=038223

Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz CL9 DIMMs
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_311_312_612&item_id=035074

Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=179_1088&item_id=053763

Seagate 7200.12 2TB 7200RPM 64MB 3.5" SATA3 HDD
http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/product_details.php?coid=17427314

OCZ ZT Series 750W Power Supply
http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/product_details.php?coid=17427327

Gigabyte Radeon HD7970 OC 3GB GDDR5 PCI-E Video Card
http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/product_details.php?coid=17427330

This comes in at just under $1500, though I still need to decide on a monitor. I've also been toying with the idea of using two monitors, but am not sure yet about that. Did I forget anything essential? Is there something I chose that you disagree with (and why)?

Thanks.
 
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+1 for the CPU Cooler, CM Hyper 212 EVO or TPC 812.
 
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You recommending a non modular PSU? The ZT got 9/10 from jonnyguru it doesn't have a problem.
 
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Both AMD and nVidia are making deals with partners just to stay within standards and prevent issues, after MSI caught overvolting the cards.

However, it doesn't present any problem, you still have a chance to get the most moderate OCing without doing a damage.
 
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Well that sucks 🙁 I don't like these locking cards non sense it should be customer choice bottom line...If you kill it no crying wolf that's your own fault but at least leave the option for us that do know what were doing.I am sick of having to do hard mods and bios mods finding ways to get around it.I take it as their basically spitting in us hardcore OC folks face.
 
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By the way, neither cards only have locked voltages, also the Softwares like MSI Afterburner, I was surprised when I couldn't change the voltage in my HD 6950, I had to dig around and found out that i need to write a specific parameter to allow voltage control. SO i'm guessing in the near future everything will be locked up, only OCing within standards will be allowed.
 
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I don't really know much about power supplies, I took the OCZ one from a list of "most recommended" power supplies that was attached to one of the guides on here. Any reason why the one you recommended is better?

For the 7970, are people basically saying that all of the video cards are going to be voltage locked, so the Gigabyte one is still okay? If not, which brands do you recommend instead of it?

Sounds good for the CPU cooler, I'll add one of those to the list.
 
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The difference between a modular and non modular power supply really is the amount of cables in your system. Most of the time the cables will be routed behind the motherboard tray so you won't see those.

By the way, neither cards only have locked voltages, also the Softwares like MSI Afterburner, I was surprised when I couldn't change the voltage in my HD 6950, I had to dig around and found out that i need to write a specific parameter to allow voltage control. SO i'm guessing in the near future everything will be locked up, only OCing within standards will be allowed.
Click to expand...

The reason for that is that messing with the voltages will lead to system instability and failure - and that goes for everything in your system. You don't want to push your card beyond what it can handle.
 
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True, but why make it harder when it's simply easy? A 15 cables tied and organized or just 3/4 of them? I'm the kinda guy who cleans the case every 2 months and do some changes and upgrades every time, so why get bothered with tying and organizing cables? Modular cables allow for a better looking case and a better airflow.
 
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It might have a little to do with what g-unit mentioned.It mostly because their trying to screw us overclockers out of getting better performance out the cards.So we have to spend more money.If we want more performace The story will be told it's to ensure safety and protect you our customer from killing your card because that's how much we appreciate you. They can kiss my ass!If others are dumb enough to bite on that bs that's sad.I am no sucker!I grew up in very bad gang infested areas.I seen a lot and learn a lot of bad things and was not born yesterday, so it's going to take a lot more planing out to pull one over on me.
 
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There wasn't even a problem with the Gigabyte Windforce card, it got the winning award from toms and many other sites, actually it's one of the most great cards out there. We were negotiating something that doesn't affect the quality of the product.

Grab this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125439
 
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I think it's a personal preference between the two both are big name companies.Get which ever you prefer. I would not buy the gigabyte card.The reason why is gigabyte have locked overvolting on the new revision cards without saying anything about it.That is a bit too much of a dirty business tactic for me.However that does not change the fact Gigabyte makes great stuff!


 
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What does "reference designed card" mean? And by "any of the above", do you mean the ones previous to my post about the Sapphire card? Or do you mean any of the cards, including the Sapphire one?
 
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I honestly do not care for any except SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100351VXSR Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB and ASUS MATRIX-HD7970-P-3GD5 Radeon HD 7970 GHz so the other guys would be better to help you.I do not know much about the other 7970's as i have not seen anything that impressed me.
 
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