Building a new Gaming/Video rendering computer!

[Kirunlol]

Hello, i am building a new computer for gaming / making/rendering videos.

My budget is around 1500-2000, and the lower the better. Since i am new at this i don't know where to start, and i still don't have any piece in mind.

I am probably buying my pieces off neweggs and trying to build it on my own. I really want a good decent computer where i can run WoW / League of Legends, Diablo 3, and soon to come high MMORPS games. I know you don't need that much graphics to play this game, but once you have fraps on you do. I'm only running one screen at 1080p by the way, if that even matters.

Can anyone lead me to some good top notch pieces for my budget?

And any little tip would help :] Thanks.

 

[l0v3rboi]

i7 3770k
Asrock z77 Extreme 4
Radeon 7850
G-Skill 16 Gb (8 Gb x 2 preferred but 4 x 4Gb is cheaper) DDR3 1600 1.5 V
XFX Core Edition Pro 550W for single-GPU, 650W for future xFire build
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO (if planning on overclocking)
Corsair 500R
Windows Pro 64 Bit

 

[Kirunlol]

i7 3770k
Asrock z77 Extreme 4
Radeon 7850
G-Skill 16 Gb (8 Gb x 2 preferred but 4 x 4Gb is cheaper) DDR3 1600 1.5 V
XFX Core Edition Pro 550W for single-GPU, 650W for future xFire build
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO (if planning on overclocking)
Corsair 500R
Windows Pro 64 Bit

is that everything i'm going to need? Nothing else?

Well if that's everything, it comes down to ~1300 or so. Omg im loving it . You think i should get 2x 7850's just incase for less problems and more FPS, i read somewhere with 2 cards you get less spikes when it heats up and stuff.. or not really necessarily?

 

[dish_moose]

HD7970 has great compute power - looks like it would be better for rendering.
-Bruce

 

[Kirunlol]

HD7970 has great compute power - looks like it would be better for rendering.
-Bruce

Thanks for the info bruce, but do you think 2 7850's, would be better than ONE 7970 for the same prize? O_O

 

[dish_moose]

I would always go for a single card to start - get another in the future if needed.
Yes crossfire HD7870s will outperform in games - just don't know how compute performance scales if at all.
-Bruce

 

[photonboy]

I would start by investigating if you will actually utilize OpenCL. If so, yes the HD7000 series is the way to go.

MMO's can be very demanding. You may wish to get an HD7970. It's up to you. WOW and Diablo 3 aren't very demanding but games such as Guild Wars 2 will basically take anything you can throw at them.

I'm not a fan of Crossfire due to micro-stutter. I don't want to start a huge discussion here but it is a big issue. In fact the new GTX 690 specifically includes a chip designed to reduce micro-stutter (dual-GPU) and NVidia admitted in an interview that micro-stutter exists, has been improved with the GTX 600 series but is still an issue.

CPU:
I recommend the i5-3570K. You can decide with benchmarks if the more expensive CPU is worth it. It won't matter for games so just look at transcoding benchmarks.

Motherboard:
Definitely a z77 system. Asrock is good. No issues there.

RAM:
It depends on if you are editing or simply converting/transcoding video. For editing, it's possible that more than 16GB would benefit you. I simply don't know enough about your requirements. If you think 32GB would benefit you then you'll need to ensure your motherboard supports it AND you'll need Windows 7 64-bit PRO, not just Premium as Premium only supports 16GB (I believe this is correct but verify yourself).

Compute/OpenCL:
It isn't widely supported yet. Things are happening but they can take years.

NVidia GTX 670:
OpenCL support is substandard. However, if you deem OpenCL isn't a big deal for this current card (can upgrade in the future) then I'm inclined to recommend the GTX 670 DirectCU II from Asus:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GeForce_GTX_670_Direct_Cu_II/33.html

Summery:
- i5-3570K best value CPU IMO
- get a motherboard AND case that support front USB3 (Antec for example has some inexpensive cases with cable managment, front USB3 and two fans)
- graphics card is the hardest choice. Recommend up to an HD7970 if OpenCL is important or GTX670 if it isn't.
- Z77 definitely. Asrock is good. Recommend Virtu MVP feature. It's a big issue but you do NOT need to use it. Too much to discuss here.
- CPU HSF: I agree on the 212 EVO. good value.
- RAM: 16GB probably. 32GB only if editing video and it seems necessary. Need the motherboard to support it AND Windows 7 64-bit PRO.

What RAM? I like G.Skill. The best value is probably 1600MHz. You may wish to investigate ECO ram (lower than 1.5V but it's absolutely critical that the motherboard support it.) G. Skill has 32GB kits of 4x8GB as well but that really doesn't matter as I doubt you save much money.

Other:
- run Memtest upon build complete
- buy the OEM version of Windows 7 64-bit
- 32GB versus 16GB adds $100. Power isn't too big a deal. You can always buy 16GB and upgrade but I don't recommend mixing so investigate this now and buy the amount you think you'll need. If it is needed the time savings can be huge. enough of that.
- front fan for case (i.e. 12cm 500 to 800RPM, 16dB, non-variable, molex or adapter)
- 120GB SSD for Windows (requires some research for quality)
- 2TB WD Green or similar hard drive (downloads, games if space demands, backups etc)

 

[l0v3rboi]

is that everything i'm going to need? Nothing else?

Well if that's everything, it comes down to ~1300 or so. Omg im loving it . You think i should get 2x 7850's just incase for less problems and more FPS, i read somewhere with 2 cards you get less spikes when it heats up and stuff.. or not really necessarily?

A single GPU build is better. I'm not sure what you mean by less heat spikes but 2 cards produce more heat so that could mean that they stay hot longer which results in less spikes? lol.. Just a theory, I may be wrong.

Nope, that build is still missing an HDD and an SSD. An SSD for your OS + your video editing programs and an HDD purely for data.

Here's a good 120Gb SSD price and performance-wise for $93: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226236 .
A cheap, but good quality HDD will do the job. Choose between the following: WD Caviar Blue, Samsung Spinpoint F3, or Seagate Barracuda 7200.12. Any one of those will do the job well.

If you want top quality performance, get the Radeon 7970 (not the GHz version) and overclock it to its max potential. If you do plan to get a higher GPU, get the XFX Core Edition 750W PSU for a xFire build.

 

[Kirunlol]

A single GPU build is better. I'm not sure what you mean by less heat spikes but 2 cards produce more heat so that could mean that they stay hot longer which results in less spikes? lol.. Just a theory, I may be wrong.

Nope, that build is still missing an HDD and an SSD. An SSD for your OS + your video editing programs and an HDD purely for data.

Here's a good 120Gb SSD price and performance-wise for $93: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226236 .
A cheap, but good quality HDD will do the job. Choose between the following: WD Caviar Blue, Samsung Spinpoint F3, or Seagate Barracuda 7200.12. Any one of those will do the job well.

If you want top quality performance, get the Radeon 7970 (not the GHz version) and overclock it to its max potential. If you do plan to get a higher GPU, get the XFX Core Edition 750W PSU for a xFire build.

ive changed my computer to this

XFX Core Edition PRO850W (P1-850S-NLB9) 850W Power Supply

COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case

GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H ATX Intel Motherboard

EVGA Superclocked, Signature 2 GeForce GTX 680 02G-P4-2687-KR Video Card

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit

Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler

Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 Quad-Core Desktop Processor

Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS

CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory

Is that motherboard any good / do you think that computer goes good together / would you change anything?

 

[l0v3rboi]

850W is a bit much. 750W would be more than enough to run 2 x gtx 680's in SLI. I would just get the XFX Core Edition 750W.

That MoBo is good. If you want to cut back on costs however, I would just get the UD3H instead. The UD5H has features that you won't need like 3x GPU in SLI/xFire.

You're missing an HDD for data storage.

I would suggest an AMD 7xxx for its GPU compute power. Nvidia neglects that in their consumer products unless you get the Quadro series GPU's. AMD Radeon 7970 is what I would get.

The rest of your choices are good to go.

 

[Kirunlol]

850W is a bit much. 750W would be more than enough to run 2 x gtx 680's in SLI. I would just get the XFX Core Edition 750W.

That MoBo is good. If you want to cut back on costs however, I would just get the UD3H instead. The UD5H has features that you won't need like 3x GPU in SLI/xFire.

You're missing an HDD for data storage.

I would suggest an AMD 7xxx for its GPU compute power. Nvidia neglects that in their consumer products unless you get the Quadro series GPU's. AMD Radeon 7970 is what I would get.

The rest of your choices are good to go.

i think from 750w to 850w was like 5 dollars difference same brand
i got the seagate 2tb for the HDD, and they told me 670 is about the same as 7970 and 680, but people prefer nvidia especially companies like blizzard, and everyone tells me the 670 is the best card for the money, but i heard id get like 10-20 more fps from 680 so i rather get that one, if i got the extra cash

I now got a noctua cooler thou, and i don't know if it works with the ram i got

XFX Core Edition PRO850W (P1-850S-NLB9) 850W Power Supply

Corsair Carbide Series 500R White Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H ATX Intel Motherboard

EVGA Superclocked, Signature 2 GeForce GTX 680 02G-P4-2687-KR Video Card

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit

Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler

Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 Quad-Core Desktop Processor

Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS

CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory

Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

this is my newer build now, and i don't know if the ram works with the motherboard and so on / noctua

 

[l0v3rboi]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/555?vs=598

Check that comparison out. You can get an extra 20 FPS in some settings but not all. For compute though, the gtx 680 is more powerful. Up to you which one is more important.

You're right. The Corsair RAM has tall heat spreaders and will get in the way of the CPU cooler installation. Try something like the G-skill Ares or Corsair low-profile RAM.

 

[Kirunlol]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/555?vs=598

Check that comparison out. You can get an extra 20 FPS in some settings but not all. For compute though, the gtx 680 is more powerful. Up to you which one is more important.

You're right. The Corsair RAM has tall heat spreaders and will get in the way of the CPU cooler installation. Try something like the G-skill Ares or Corsair low-profile RAM.

whats the difference from low profile to normal and do you have link to low profile corsair?
staying corsair because the gskill come up as 1333 instead of 1600, atleat thats what the feedback said

and for the case you think i should get COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
or
Corsair Carbide Series 500R White Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

 

[Kirunlol]

You're right. The Corsair RAM has tall heat spreaders and will get in the way of the CPU cooler installation. Try something like the G-skill Ares or Corsair low-profile RAM.

Now someone told me that for the noctua since its so big i needed to get 4x4 instead of 8x2, or like he explained it in a weird way, he said You need : Dual Channel Kits for the Z77 MOBOs
so then he suggested 4x4 mushkin or corsair, is that true or what you think i should do ;P now im so lost, i thought my build was nearly done

 

[l0v3rboi]

Both cases are good. In my opinion, cases are more of a personal taste. That being said, I think the Haf X is too big. You really don't need a full tower case for your set-up. Try the Cooler Master Haf XM or Cooler Master Storm Enforcer.

I personally like the Corsair 500R though. It has great cable management and cooling.

Here is a Corsair Low Profile RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233280

The only difference is that they don't stick out as much when installed hence "low-profile."

If you're still inerested, here's a G-Skill low-profile RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231558

 

[Kirunlol]

Both cases are good. In my opinion, cases are more of a personal taste. That being said, I think the Haf X is too big. You really don't need a full tower case for your set-up. Try the Cooler Master Haf XM or Cooler Master Storm Enforcer.

I personally like the Corsair 500R though. It has great cable management and cooling.

Here is a Corsair Low Profile RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233280

The only difference is that they don't stick out as much when installed hence "low-profile."

If you're still inerested, here's a G-Skill low-profile RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231558

Well out of the 3 boxes, which box you think i should go with
And what i told you about someone telling me that You need : Dual Channel Kits for the Z77 MOBOs so i have to get the 4x4 instead of 8x2 is that true? or what did he mean by that

 

[l0v3rboi]

Hrmmm.. it seems the information he told you is contradictory. 4x4Gb is quad channel because you are using 4 RAM slots. Dual channel means you are using only 2 RAM slots (like the one I suggested 8 x 2 Gb).

That being said, you don't "need" dual channel for z77. You can get a quad channel RAM and it will be fine. The only thing is that if you plan to upgrade, you won't have an available slot in the future. Hence, it is better to have dual channel.

 

[l0v3rboi]

Cooler Master Storm Enforcer is the cheapest but will still get you all you need. I would personally get the Corsair 500R though.

 

[Kirunlol]

Hrmmm.. it seems the information he told you is contradictory. 4x4Gb is quad channel because you are using 4 RAM slots. Dual channel means you are using only 2 RAM slots (like the one I suggested 8 x 2 Gb).

That being said, you don't "need" dual channel for z77. You can get a quad channel RAM and it will be fine. The only thing is that if you plan to upgrade, you won't have an available slot in the future. Hence, it is better to have dual channel.

Cooler Master Storm Enforcer is the cheapest but will still get you all you need. I would personally get the Corsair 500R though.

Alright i'm going with the 500r,
Also maybe he ment that it wasn't dual channel? So do you think i should stick to 8x2 or get the 4x4, he suggested http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226272 but i don't know.

 

[l0v3rboi]

I would still get 2 x 8 Gb. I have that Mushkin Blackline RAM. It works well. Here is the link for the 2 x 8 Gb version:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226316

 

[Kirunlol]

I would still get 2 x 8 Gb. I have that Mushkin Blackline RAM. It works well. Here is the link for the 2 x 8 Gb version:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226316

link didn't work?

 

[Kirunlol]

I would still get 2 x 8 Gb. I have that Mushkin Blackline RAM. It works well. Here is the link for the 2 x 8 Gb version:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226316

googled it and found it, on the reviews people said it comes out as 1300 and not 1600? is that true?
and the motherboard i got is it very good?

 

[l0v3rboi]

Yup, it happens. What happens is that the MoBo's RAM speed is set at 1333. You have to change the memory clock in the BIOS to get it to 1600.

The MoBo you got is very good. However, like I said earlier, it may have some features that you won't need. If you want to save money, you can just stick with its little brother, the Gigabyte z77x-Ud3h.

 

[Kirunlol]

Yup, it happens. What happens is that the MoBo's RAM speed is set at 1333. You have to change the memory clock in the BIOS to get it to 1600.

The MoBo you got is very good. However, like I said earlier, it may have some features that you won't need. If you want to save money, you can just stick with its little brother, the Gigabyte z77x-Ud3h.

So even if it comes out as 1300 it still works as 1600?
And which one you think i should go with to finish my build

 

[l0v3rboi]

Nope. The RAM is rated to run for up to 1600Mhz. However, the MoBo defaults it to 1333. So, essentially, you have a RAM rated to run at 1600, running at 1333 MHz.

Since I have them, I'm a bit biased towards the Mushkin Blackline. I do like the G-Skill Ares too though.