Close to Final Component Selection (need more input and advice)

[mesopotamian]

I am attempting to complete my component selection for a first time PC build and need more input and advice before I come to a final decision, which must be made rather quickly given the little time I have left to make it. I have several nagging concerns that must be addressed before I make my final decision. The first relates to selecting either Ivy Bridge or Sandy Bridge-E. I asked this question before, on this board and one responder was able to show me a system configuration with the lowest end Sandy Bridge-E CPU (which of course can be upgraded), that was within my budget minus the monitor. On another computer hardware fourm, I was strongly discouraged to go this route and go with Ivy Bridge instead due to the cost and other factors. The responders in this fourm were adamant that the Core i7-3770k was more than adequate for my needs. My second concern regards the graphics card. I asked a question here on Tom’s Hardware whether the GeForce GTX 670 or Radeon HD 7970 is the GPU I should pick for system usage outside of gaming (creative apps including those from Autodesk, Pixologic, and Adobe). On Tom’s I was leaned towards the Radeon, while the other forum did not indicate much difficulty going with the GeForce card which has a lower price point. The third and final concern regards the power supply and overclocking. I am not sure if I want to overclock, but if I do I want to make sure I have enough power supply to handle it in addition to multiple graphics cards if I decide to add a second graphics card in the future. Adding a second graphics card in future seems murky, however. Given my budget and monitor resolution, one card will be sufficient for now. Not only that, the only justification I can see for a multi-card setup is if I upgrade my monitor down the road with a much higher resolution to what the initial monitor will have, which is highly unlikely. That said I am torn between either an 860w or 1000w Seasonic 80 Plus Platinum power supply.


You can view my previous discussions on this board with the following links.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&cat=31&post=351281&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=1&trash=0&trash_post=0&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&cat=31&post=350995&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=1&trash=0&trash_post=0&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0

Approximate purchase date: This system must be assembled by the end of July

Budget Range: $2200- I can go higher than this, but not too much higher.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Game Creation, Graphic Design, Gaming (60 fps at Max settings in most titles is highly preferable)

Are You Buying a monitor: Yes

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website for parts: newegg.com

Country: United States

Parts preferences: none

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200 is probably the maximum resolution I can achieve given the budget


Additional comments: I am going to be running the following creative software on this system for graphic design/game creation. I plan on starting with modding PC games and other beginner level creation tools until I can transfer into a school that can provide training and education in the field of my choice. I am also a beginner with regards to the rendering software, which is what is making the decision making process on components murky.

Adobe CS6 Design & Web Premium (especially Illustrator & Photoshop)
Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite Student (3d Studio Max, Maya, Mudbox, Softimage, Sketchbook designer, and other included software.)
Pixologic Z-Brush
Microsoft Office

Current System Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i7 3770k- Part of $544.98 combo deal with Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master RR-H612-20PK-R3- $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103106
Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V Pro- Part of $544.98 combo deal with CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131819&Tpk=13-131-819
OR
Asrock Z77 Extreme4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB- $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231568
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB- $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
SSD: Crucial M4 256GB- $219.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148530
Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS- $16.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
Graphics Card: Sapphire Radeon 7970 OC- $464.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102982
Monitor: Dell Ultrasharp U2410- $529.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824260020
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 500R- $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139010
Power Supply: SeaSonic Platinum-860- $189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151111
Keyboard: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard- $46.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109191
Mouse: RAZER Abyssus- $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826153056
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit OEM- $139.99http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116992

 

[randomkid]

Bad links...

Your option is not clear... you got the processor+mobo+cooler in the upper option but only a motherboard below the "or"

 

[mesopotamian]

Bad links...

Your option is not clear... you got the processor+mobo+cooler in the upper option but only a motherboard below the "or"

I fixed the links that were not working. The CPU and cooler will be used with either motherboard depending on the one that I choose. I am undecided between the ASUS and the Asrock if I choose Ivy Bridge over Sandy Bridge-E.

 

[randomkid]

The bad links I was referring to was the link to your threads. the link still redirects to the Forum page ( not your specific thread ).

I would go for the Asrock. They are good quality & rightly priced motherboards.

 

[mesopotamian]

What about the graphics card and power supply? I need to know for sure which graphics card is best for my system usage (both gaming and graphics work), and which power supply (860w or 1000w Seasonic Platinum) is necessary for future overclocking and multiple graphics cards (if I decide to do overclocking and multiple graphics cards in the future).

 

[farsuka]

The 7970 is marginally better, but has a much larger power draw. You'll be fine with the 860 for either video card, even if you go SLI and OC.

 

[mesopotamian]

The 7970 is marginally better, but has a much larger power draw. You'll be fine with the 860 for either video card, even if you go SLI and OC.

What if I decided on a Sandy Bridge-E system starting with a Core i7-3820 and later upgraded my CPU to a higher end Sandy Bridge-E or an Ivy Bridge-E CPU (when they become available)?

 

[randomkid]

What if I decided on a Sandy Bridge-E system starting with a Core i7-3820 and later upgraded my CPU to a higher end Sandy Bridge-E

Go straight to the i7-3930K. If you can afford it in the future, then try to afford it now...

Ivy Bridge-E CPU (when they become available)?

Wont be available until Q2 of 2013.
http://www.techpowerup.com/162606/No-quot-Ivy-Bridge-E-quot-Till-Second-Half-of-2013-Report.html