$950 First build help

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Nov 9, 2012
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Hi am just wondering if this is a good build I will be using it for gaming on a 1920x1080 monitor

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Sandisk 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($54.47 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($207.55 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $948.93

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/teB0

any suggestions are welcome
 
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Yeah I'd agree with that. Depends on your usage though - if you've got a big media collection then the SSD isn't gonna be able to accommodate that along with Windows and games. Unless you can just leave it on your current hard disk? If you can, grab that SSD now.
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It all looks good ot me except the ram. I would go with Gskill or Corsair. Since you are getting a water cooler you can get something with cool looking tall heatsinks. I would take a 1TB caviar blue at the same price, but if 500 GB is enough for you then the black will be a little quicker.

EDIT: I missed the @microcenter on the CPU. Microcenter gives you $50 off a mobo with a 3570k purchase. Get an Asrock Extreme 4 z77 for ~$85 at microcenter.
 
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Good recommendations ^. Honestly though, the system already looks excellent. I don't think there's much other room for improvements there. Looks like you've done some good research.

EDIT: Except the SSD... you really won't get far on 64GB. My SSD is 80GB (got it years ago) and only barely enough for Windows plus a small handful of games. If you could stretch to a 120GB, maybe a Samsung 830, it would be well worth the extra.
 
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Personally, I wouldn't go with an SSD that is only 64gb. You won't be able to install much else after the OS installation. Most experts say that 120gb is the minimum. And the larger the SSD, the faster the system.

You can easily save $22 by replacing the cpu cooler you have picked out with the Cooler Master 212 Evo, which is only $30 on NewEgg. Put that savings towards a larger SSD!
 
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+1. CM Hyper 212 Evo will serve you well. All the cool kids have em ;-)
 
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I would recommend this GPU from a price/performance ratio, and since you're already close to this price point anyway: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150605

I also agree that a 64 GB SSD is on the small side. I've done that once and later on regretted it. 120 GB is a good starting point. If you can't afford one then I'd just invest the money into a 1 TB black instead, put it some where else in the PC, or save it.

Also agree with swapping the water cooling for a CM Hyper 212 Evo. Using one in my main Rig and I love it. It's very quiet and I have far lower temps then the stock cooler.

I personally prefer Corsair brand memory, but I do see a lot of people also like Mushkin.

Antec and Corsair power supplies are great. That said, the Corsair PSU you selected is just fine. Here is a comparable Antec one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031

 
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one issue, the CPU. Microcenter only sells CPU's at that price *in store*, so you'd have to live near a physical microcenter location to get that price.

If you *do* live near a microcenter, get the motherbaord there as well, as they offer an additional $40 off if you buy that CPU with a motherboard from them.

Suggestions

I'd advise a mid-upper range air cooler over a low end water solution like the kuhler 620. The old standby around here is the coolermaster hyper 212 evo (~$30 from most retailers), which is a great cooler. A step up from that is the cooler I use, which will run about the same as your water cooling solution. Noctua's ND-h14 is about the best there is in air cooling right now ($85).

The PSU's wattage is overkill for a single GPU system, and the quality of corsair's builder series is mediocre at best. I wouldn't trust any of them to be capable of the listed wattage. I reccommend The seasonic m12II 520w ($80 @ newegg, $72 @ superbiiz). 520w is enough for *two* 660's, with headroom left. If you need to free up funds, I'd suggest a cheaper case.

case - the version of your case w/o the window is $80 on newegg. The corsair carbide 400r is a price/performance behemoth right now ($100), and has an additional $10 mail in rebate card for $90 total. If the side window is a deal-breaker, I'd suggest the Antec nine-hunderd 2 v3 ($90, $70 after mail in rebate).

good luck!
 
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Yeah I'd +1 quilciri on the PSU. I wasn't going to mention it because Antec and Corsair are quality brands (I have a Corsair TX850 and it's been running flawlessly for ages) but the thing is, most PSU brands don't manufacture their own PSUs. That includes Corsair and Antec. Most brands use a selection of manufacturers (OEMs) and then stick their logo on it.

There's about 10-12 main OEMs, and of those, Seasonic are by far the most highly regarded for stable, steady output and rock solid reliability. Seasonic sell them under their own brand, but many other manufacturers use them, including Antec and Corsair. Thing is though, only a few Antec/Corsair PSUs are actually Seasonic-built (mine isn't for example).

So best to either buy Seasonic, or from a manufacturer that you know has stuck their badge on a Seasonic unit. So all XFX PSUs (far as I'm aware) are Seasonic-built, along with Silverpower SP-Sxxx / SP-SxxxM / SP-SS lines, PC Power & Cooling Silencer series and Silencer Mk III series, and also Arctic Cooling and Highscreen (though I don't know much about those two).
 
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I think virtually all of Antec and Corsair's higher end PSU's are Seasonics as well. Don't think Antec's BP series and Corsair's CX series are but they are the cheaper ones.

EDIT: I realise the one I mentioned is a BP series but as far as I'm aware it's still a bit better than the CX-500/600
 
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so i changed the graphics card to a 660 ti and put a 550 watt xfx psu

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/th0T
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/th0T/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/th0T/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77MA-G45 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($107.28 @ CompUSA)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Sandisk 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($54.47 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti 3GB Video Card ($288.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $968.68
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-19 17:51 EST-0500)


and how much faster is the black drive than the blue drive?

is it worth cutting the ssd and getting later when the prices drop and i have more money?
 
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Yeah I'd agree with that. Depends on your usage though - if you've got a big media collection then the SSD isn't gonna be able to accommodate that along with Windows and games. Unless you can just leave it on your current hard disk? If you can, grab that SSD now.
 
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I have a laptop which i use for school and i don't have a media collection so i think ill be fine with 120gbs for a while
 
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