Check PC Build

[John_]

Hi,
I would like to post my planned PC build to double check compatibility (i used gooey pc already), ask for any recommendations to lower the price or for better parts of similar price, get opinions on what you think about the system ect. I will be using it mostly for gaming but i will also use for Autocad, Inventor, After Effects, Premiere, Video rendering and conversion and other basic tasks.

Im in Australia so i am buying from Australian stores/websites

CPU: i5 3570k (http://www.msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=8967)
GPU: MSI Twin Frozer HD7950 (http://www.msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=10180)
RAM: G.Skill RipjawsX F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8gb (http://www.arc.com.au/pub.php?pid=40047&p=product)
MoBo: Asus P8z77-V-LX (http://www.arc.com.au/pub.php?gid=23864&pid=43423&p=product)
HDD: Seagate 3.5" Barracuda 2TB (http://www.msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=8876)
PSU: Corsair CX-750 V3 750W (http://www.mwave.com.au/product/sku-ab48638-corsair_cx750_v3_750w_atx_power_supply)
Case: Antec X1-E (http://www.mwave.com.au/product/sku-ab49113-antec_x1e_midtower_gaming_atx_case)
OS: Windows 7 OEM

Some of my main concerns are-
1. RAM compatibility
2. The case only having two USB ports
3. Eligibility for OEM windows
4. Is the power supply overkill for overclocking the GPU and CPU and future growth room (new GPU and hard drive later on)
5. The price tag of $1300; can it be dropped a bit without hurting the system much.

Thanks for your help i have been using this site while choosing parts and it has a very helpful community 😀

All help appreciated!

 

[StephenP85]

Hi,
I would like to post my planned PC build to double check compatibility (i used gooey pc already), ask for any recommendations to lower the price or for better parts of similar price, get opinions on what you think about the system ect. I will be using it mostly for gaming but i will also use for Autocad, Inventor, After Effects, Premiere, Video rendering and conversion and other basic tasks.

Im in Australia so i am buying from Australian stores/websites

CPU: i5 3570k (http://www.msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=8967)
GPU: MSI Twin Frozer HD7950 (http://www.msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=10180)
RAM: G.Skill RipjawsX F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8gb (http://www.arc.com.au/pub.php?pid=40047&p=product)
MoBo: Asus P8z77-V-LX (http://www.arc.com.au/pub.php?gid=23864&pid=43423&p=product)
HDD: Seagate 3.5" Barracuda 2TB (http://www.msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=8876)
PSU: Corsair CX-750 V3 750W (http://www.mwave.com.au/product/sku-ab48638-corsair_cx750_v3_750w_atx_power_supply)
Case: Antec X1-E (http://www.mwave.com.au/product/sku-ab49113-antec_x1e_midtower_gaming_atx_case)
OS: Windows 7 OEM

Some of my main concerns are-
1. RAM compatibility
2. The case only having two USB ports
3. Eligibility for OEM windows
4. Is the power supply overkill for overclocking the GPU and CPU and future growth room (new GPU and hard drive later on)
5. The price tag of $1300; can it be dropped a bit without hurting the system much.

Thanks for your help i have been using this site while choosing parts and it has a very helpful community 😀

All help appreciated!

1. That RAM should be totally fine. 1.5v, decent mem. No compatibility issues. It only says Sandy Bridge compatible because that's the last time the listing for that RAM was updated. I've used that memory in several builds in different platforms.

2. How many USB ports you want is your call. Personally I never connect more than two things at a time to my front USB, yet I have 4 available.

3. Unless there is a difference in the rules in Australia, the OEM license windows is just fine. I use them in every build I've done for as long as I can remember, whether it's for friends, family, or a customer.

4. The wattage might be a little over but fine. PSUs run most efficiently when they're at 50% load, so a lot of folks calculate the minimum wattage and amperage and double it. My main concern is that it's Corsair CX, a mediocre model (some might tell you it's BAD, but it's not that dramatically bad). I don't know all the australian merchants out there, but I saw that for the same price there is a much better PSU, an XFX 750w, made by one of the top manufacturers of PSUs. It's at PLE Computers, you could order it online if you dont live close to a location: http://www.ple.com.au/ViewItem.aspx?InventoryItemId=606870

5. If you are looking to lower the price, you could go with an AMD setup, maybe an 8320 or 8350. There really isn't a big performance difference in gaming. Lowering anything else would affect performance.


Another thing, if you plan on overclocking, you should consider a better cooler. Don't try to overclock with the stock cooler.

 

[John_]

My main concern is that it's Corsair CX, a mediocre model (some might tell you it's BAD, but it's not that dramatically bad)

When you say its mediocre and some consider it "bad", what do you mean? in what way it it bad? I heard that you can get power surges ect in cheap no-named brands but with a Corsair (i heard is good) what makes it not as good as others? Anyway i will look at XFX since you recommended and thanks for your quick reply, your answer was clear and helpful!

 

[StephenP85]

My main concern is that it's Corsair CX, a mediocre model (some might tell you it's BAD, but it's not that dramatically bad)

When you say its mediocre and some consider it "bad", what do you mean? in what way it it bad? I heard that you can get power surges ect in cheap no-named brands but with a Corsair (i heard is good) what makes it not as good as others? Anyway i will look at XFX since you recommended and thanks for your quick reply, your answer was clear and helpful!

Well, I don't think they are "bad." It's a relative term depending on an individual's standards -- remember, a lot of us are first and foremost performance enthusiasts. Anyway, the CX series PSUs are not top-end quality and I wouldn't recommend them for high-end builds/overclocking enthusiasts, but it's not too far-fetched to consider using one in a basic gaming build on a budget. It's certainly not in the category of "never-ever-use-them" PSUs. The biggest issue is that there are often better quality units for the same price, as we saw.

The reason some Corsairs are considered great, some are good, and some are mediocre has to do with who manufactured it. Corsair, as well as many other companies, don't manufacture their own PSUs. Some of those companies source their PSUs from a single manufacturer -- for example, seasonic makes all of XFX's models, in addition to their own seasonic branded models. Corsair, on the other hand, gets its PSUs from several different manufacturers, depending on the model and price point they want to meet (one or two manufacturers for good components, and maybe another manufacturer for budget units.) Check out their manufacturers: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supply-oem-manufacturer,2913-5.html You'll notice that several Corsair models are made by Seasonic, part of the source of Corsair's overall good reputation for PSUs.

Another page I like to consult is this tiered list of PSU models: http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

Sure, the list will be eternally debated and nitpicked and raged about, but it's accurate and comprehensive enough to say you are safe choosing any model from Tiers 1, 2, and 2b -- and tier 3 if it's a basic low-budget build.

 

[John_]

My main concern is that it's Corsair CX, a mediocre model (some might tell you it's BAD, but it's not that dramatically bad)

When you say its mediocre and some consider it "bad", what do you mean? in what way it it bad? I heard that you can get power surges ect in cheap no-named brands but with a Corsair (i heard is good) what makes it not as good as others? Anyway i will look at XFX since you recommended and thanks for your quick reply, your answer was clear and helpful!

Well, I don't think they are "bad." It's a relative term depending on an individual's standards -- remember, a lot of us are first and foremost performance enthusiasts. Anyway, the CX series PSUs are not top-end quality and I wouldn't recommend them for high-end builds/overclocking enthusiasts, but it's not too far-fetched to consider using one in a basic gaming build on a budget. It's certainly not in the category of "never-ever-use-them" PSUs. The biggest issue is that there are often better quality units for the same price, as we saw.

The reason some Corsairs are considered great, some are good, and some are mediocre has to do with who manufactured it. Corsair, as well as many other companies, don't manufacture their own PSUs. Some of those companies source their PSUs from a single manufacturer -- for example, seasonic makes all of XFX's models, in addition to their own seasonic branded models. Corsair, on the other hand, gets its PSUs from several different manufacturers, depending on the model and price point they want to meet (one or two manufacturers for good components, and maybe another manufacturer for budget units.) Check out their manufacturers: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supply-oem-manufacturer,2913-5.html You'll notice that several Corsair models are made by Seasonic, part of the source of Corsair's overall good reputation for PSUs.

Another page I like to consult is this tiered list of PSU models: http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

Sure, the list will be eternally debated and nitpicked and raged about, but it's accurate and comprehensive enough to say you are safe choosing any model from Tiers 1, 2, and 2b -- and tier 3 if it's a basic low-budget build.

Ok sounds fair enough. Thanks for your help