Approval of new build

[Kristoffer Hansen]

Hello fellow builders

I haven't built a gaming rig since I was about 16. I'm now 25, so it's been quite a while.

Lately I've had the urge to get myself a rig to play some serious games on, so I started digging up some research on the latest trends in the hardware environment.

This is what I've come up with (things listed in brackets are the competitors):

CPU: Intel i5-3570k
COOLING: Noctua NH-D14 (vs. Corsair H100)
MOBO: Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 (vs. ASUS P8Z77-V)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2 x 4 GB (PC3-12800 - 1.5v - 1600 MHz - 9-9-9-24)
SSD: Crucial M4 256 GB (vs. Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB)
GFX: EVGA GTX 670 2 GB
PSU: Corsair HX650 (vs. HX850)
CASE: Fractal Design Define XL R2
DVD: Samsung SH-224BB

My future plans are going SLI. I also plan on overclocking (but nothing too crazy).

My budget is 1800 USD and this lands on just about 1700.

Is there anything missing? Can I improve somewhere in the build?

What's your verdict?

Regards

Kris

PS. What about thermal paste?

 

[DarkSable]

Couple things:

1) If you're not doing extreme overclocking - just up to 4.4GHz or around there, then a Hyper 212 EVO is more than enough.

2) Instead of paying through the nose for a 256GB drive, go with a 120 GB Samsung 840 for way less money, and pick up a 1TB western digital blue for $65. Remember that most games get absolutely zero benefit from being on an ssd, and the same for data, so all you need is enough room for windows, applications, and the few games that do get a benefit.

3) Make sure you're getting the EVGA 670 FTW (not the FTW + or FTW LE.) It's far better than a stock 670.

Other than that, it's a great build! You don't need an XL case, so I'd go with the Define R4; it's extremely sexy... but that's up to you.

 

[dollflow]

I'm not to good with finding hardware conflics but i noticed you don't have an operating system. (windows 7, windows 8, vista.) Or it could be that im not seeing it .

 

[DarkSable]

Where are you from that this is costing you $1700?


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($139.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.61 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($389.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($98.98 @ Outlet PC)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($70.00 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($94.44 @ Amazon)
Total: $1309.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-04 16:11 EDT-0400)


Also, no, you don't need thermal paste. Both the Noctua -D14 and the Hyper 212 EVO come with decent stuff.

 

[Kristoffer Hansen]

@DarkSable: Thanks for the very fast response! I've altered my build with your recommendations and am now down to a 1500 dollar total. Much obliged!

With regards to the Samsung drive: you are referring to the non-pro model, right?

Thanks,

Kris

 

[DarkSable]

Yeah, I'd take the non-pro model over the pro - you're not going to have any noticeable difference in speed, and it's priced very aggressively, as opposed to the pro model.

 

[Kristoffer Hansen]

@DarkSable: I'm from Denmark, and computer ardware components here are STEEP to say the least. Those prices are the down-right minimum, sadly.

@dollflow: Well, obviously I will add an OS later myself ;-)

 

[Kristoffer Hansen]

Yeah, I'd take the non-pro model over the pro - you're not going to have any noticeable difference in speed, and it's priced very aggressively, as opposed to the pro model.

Got it.

 

[DarkSable]

Ouch, those are pretty expensive premiums, then.

 

[Jack Revenant]

Hello fellow builders

I haven't built a gaming rig since I was about 16. I'm now 25, so it's been quite a while.

Lately I've had the urge to get myself a rig to play some serious games on, so I started digging up some research on the latest trends in the hardware environment.

This is what I've come up with (things listed in brackets are the competitors):

CPU: Intel i5-3570k
COOLING: Noctua NH-D14 (vs. Corsair H100)
MOBO: Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 (vs. ASUS P8Z77-V)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2 x 4 GB (PC3-12800 - 1.5v - 1600 MHz - 9-9-9-24)
SSD: Crucial M4 256 GB (vs. Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB)
GFX: EVGA GTX 670 2 GB
PSU: Corsair HX650 (vs. HX850)
CASE: Fractal Design Define XL R2
DVD: Samsung SH-224BB

My future plans are going SLI. I also plan on overclocking (but nothing too crazy).

My budget is 1800 USD and this lands on just about 1700.

Is there anything missing? Can I improve somewhere in the build?

What's your verdict?

Regards

Kris

PS. What about thermal paste?

I'm not sure if they're the same price in Denmark, but in the US the NZXT Phantom 630 is only slightly more expensive and offers significantly better cooling.

 

[Kristoffer Hansen]

@Jack Revenant: Thanks for the heads up. I looked up the price and the difference is rather big, close to 100 dollars. Do you think it's worth it? Otherwise, both the R2 XL and the R4 from Fractal come highly recommended.

 

[Jack Revenant]

@Jack Revenant: Thanks for the heads up. I looked up the price and the difference is rather big, close to 100 dollars. Do you think it's worth it? Otherwise, both the R2 XL and the R4 from Fractal come highly recommended.

Wow. No, almost certainly not. The R2 XL and R4 are fine cases, and though the 630 is better, I wouldn't say that it's worth $100 more.

 

[Kristoffer Hansen]

Then I'll go with the R4!

 

[DarkSable]

Also, jack, the Phantom is a good case, and as you say, it has better airflow, but that doesn't make it better.

The Design series is built for silence - complete silence. Therefore, no, it doesn't have as much mesh or as many / as powerful fans, but it's going to make for a much, much quieter computer.

So you can't really say one is for sure better or worse than they other; they're built for entirely different things.

(This is coming from someone who recommends the Gamma Classic as a budget case all the time.)

 

[Jack Revenant]

Also, jack, the Phantom is a good case, and as you say, it has better airflow, but that doesn't make it better.

The Design series is built for silence - complete silence. Therefore, no, it doesn't have as much mesh or as many / as powerful fans, but it's going to make for a much, much quieter computer.

So you can't really say one is for sure better or worse than they other; they're built for entirely different things.

(This is coming from someone who recommends the Gamma Classic as a budget case all the time.)

Fair point. I considered going into detail on sound level vs. cooling, but I was in a bit of a hurry at the time and oversimplified. Thank you for catching that.