$850 Gaming Build

ntwpro

Honorable
Nov 23, 2012
44
0
10,530
I previously asked for a gaming build help, but plans have changed. My other post was long and a boring read, I wanted to post properly this time. Sorry!

Approximate Purchase Date: By the end of December

Budget Range: 800-900 before tax, shipping, and rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: 1080p Gaming (BF3, Black Ops 2, Dota 2, Heroes of Newerth)

Are you buying a monitor: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.ca | Canadacomputers.com | NCIX.ca

Location: Toronto, Canada

Parts Preferences: Intel + Nvidia

Overclocking: Yes but not extreme

SLI or Crossfire: Yes (in the future)

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I want to play those above-mentioned games at MAX settings. I'd like to save money where I can and don't mind waiting until holiday sales begin - I have my mind set on a gtx 660 ti, but I am open to ideas. I'd like a mobo that has no gimmicks/frills and can support SLI - I also want a PSU that can support SLI.

Why Are You Upgrading: Gaming, Ivy bridge + SSD performance upgrade

I've bought the following:

- Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 6 MB Cache LGA 1155 BX80637I53570K

- Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1 TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s with NCQ 32MB Cache 3.5 Inch Internal Bare Drive ST31000524AS

- G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL

- COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/FM2/AM3+

- Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F60GB3A-BK 2.5" 60GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

- Grand total for all these parts = $418.28

Here is the build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($175.90 @ Amazon Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.79 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($24.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Corsair Force Series 3 60GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($73.99 @ Computer Valley)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti 3GB Video Card ($289.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.69 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: Cooler Master GX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Canada Computers)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $847.32
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-27 20:54 EST-0500)
 
Solution
Look at this deal

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/part/msi-video-card-r7870hawk

MSI Hawk Radeon hd 7870 GHZ for 199.99. This is almost one hundred dollar cheaper than your GT 660 TI card and can match or even surpass the GTX 660 TI you have.

or this one

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/part/powercolor-video-card-ax78702gbd52dhppv

Fastest Clocked Radeon hd 7870 on the market currently for $ 207, definitly faster than a stock 660 TI. Though no review D:



MSI Twin frozer Radeon hd 7950 and you can flash it into teh B edition HD 79509(Confirm?) which is almost fast as a vanilla Radeon hd 7970, much faster than a GTX 660 TI for 20 less.

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/part/msi-video-card-r7950twinfrozr3gd5oc

$269.9...

lt_dan_zsu

Honorable
May 3, 2012
2,447
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11,960
get a 7950 instead of a 660ti. Do you ever want to crossfire or sli? If not get a 550w. I know you said you want nvidia, but the 7950 is way better for just a few more bucks, or get a 7870, which trades blows with the 660ti and is way cheaper.
 

burntpizza

Honorable
Jun 23, 2012
194
0
10,710
Look at this deal

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/part/msi-video-card-r7870hawk

MSI Hawk Radeon hd 7870 GHZ for 199.99. This is almost one hundred dollar cheaper than your GT 660 TI card and can match or even surpass the GTX 660 TI you have.

or this one

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/part/powercolor-video-card-ax78702gbd52dhppv

Fastest Clocked Radeon hd 7870 on the market currently for $ 207, definitly faster than a stock 660 TI. Though no review D:



MSI Twin frozer Radeon hd 7950 and you can flash it into teh B edition HD 79509(Confirm?) which is almost fast as a vanilla Radeon hd 7970, much faster than a GTX 660 TI for 20 less.

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/part/msi-video-card-r7950twinfrozr3gd5oc

$269.9

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/part/sapphire-video-card-111960240g

Sappire HD 7950, which is also very fast for $30 more and is slightly slower than GTX 670 in old games and just as fast in newer games.


All the cards I just recommended can overclock better than that GTX 660 TI you have chosen since that 660 looks like a reference cooling compared to the "aftermarket" cooling radeon cards. That 660 TI is not a good deal.

Bench:

Only vanilla cards like the 660 TI, all the radeons I recommended to you perform faster than the ones in the benchmark and GTX 660 TI is slightly faster

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/11/12/fall_2012_gpu_driver_comparison_roundup/



Factory Overclocked Card comparison, unknown clock speed...

http://www.techspot.com/review/603-best-graphics-cards/page2.html



oor. $230 GTX 660 TI Factory OC

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn66toc2gd
 
Solution

ntwpro

Honorable
Nov 23, 2012
44
0
10,530
No! That's not what I meant! I was referring to my post and writing - it was very long and boring! cutebeans and g-unit1111 provided me with excellent advice, and I am very grateful!
 

ntwpro

Honorable
Nov 23, 2012
44
0
10,530
I really thought the 660 ti outperforms its Radeon counterparts in most games; I guess all those reviews I read are outdated and the in-game settings used in many of them slightly vary.

I think the 7950 would be the best choice at the price range, although just a few days ago I saw a gtx 670 for $299 - It should handle the games I mentioned (BF3, HON, Dota 2, BOps 2) at MAX settings, right? Also, I'd like to SLI/CF one day.

Is my 1080p monitor with 60 hertz going to be fine? I'm assuming it should be.