First Time Build

[nipsadinio]

Hey guys, this is my first time building a PC and I feel as though even after researching for hours I'm still a bit confused on which set of parts to get. Basically here is the overview and the 4 systems my budget can afford (last two are a stretch, but if price is worth the performance increase then I will probably consider it).

NOTE: Prices are Australian

USE: Mainly Gaming and maybe casual video editing/renderring

IVY BRIDGE SYSTEM:

CPU: Intel S1155 Core i5 3570K 3.40Ghz Quad Core CPU UNLOCKED ($259.00 @ Computer Alliance)
CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER HYPER 212 EVO CPU Cooler ($34.00 @ AllNeeds Computers)
Motherboard: Asrock Z77-PRO3 Motherboard ($89.00 @ UMART online)
Memory: Corsair CML8GX3M2A2133C11B Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 2133MHz ($85.91 @ GreenBox IT)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($105.00 @ Budget PC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($68.00 @ MegaBuy)
Video Card: Palit GTX 760 PCI-E 3.0 2GB 256-bit GDDR5, Base:1058 Boost:1110 / 6008 MHz Video Card ($285.00 @ TIComputers)
Power Supply: Corsair CX600M Power Supply ($105.00 @ AllNeeds)

Total: $1030.91

HASWELL SYSTEM

CPU: Intel S1150 Core i5 4670K 3.40GHz Quad Core CPU Unlocked ($273.00 @ Computer Alliance)
CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER HYPER 212 EVO CPU Cooler ($34.00 @ AllNeeds Computers)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87M-PRO4 LGA 1150 Motherboard ($107.10 @ MWave)
Memory: Corsair CML8GX3M2A2133C11B Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 2133MHz ($85.91 @ GreenBox IT)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($105.00 @ Budget PC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($68.00 @ MegaBuy)
Video Card: Palit GTX 760 PCI-E 3.0 2GB 256-bit GDDR5, Base:1058 Boost:1110 / 6008 MHz Video Card ($285.00 @ TIComputers)
Power Supply: Corsair CX600M Power Supply ($105.00 @ AllNeeds)

Total: $1063.01

HIGH BUDGET - IVY BRIDGE

CPU: Intel S1155 Core i7 3770K 3.50Ghz Quad Core CPU UNLOCKED ($349.00 @ Computer Alliance)
CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER HYPER 212 EVO CPU Cooler ($34.00 @ AllNeeds Computers)
Motherboard: Asrock Z77-PRO3 Motherboard ($89.00 @ UMART online)
Memory: 16Gb Kingston 1600Mhz DDR3 ($159.00 @ NetPlus)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($105.00 @ Budget PC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($68.00 @ MegaBuy)
Video Card: PCI-E GF GTX 770 Palit Nvidia GeForce Video Card ($369.00 @ TIComputers)
Power Supply: Corsair CX600M Power Supply ($105.00 @ AllNeeds)

Total: $1278.00

HIGH BUDGET- HASWELL

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K LGA1150 3.5Ghz 8Mb Cache ($384.00 @ NetPlus)
CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER HYPER 212 EVO CPU Cooler ($34.00 @ AllNeeds Computers)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87M-PRO4 LGA 1150 Motherboard ($107.10 @ MWave)
Memory: 16Gb Kingston 1600Mhz DDR3 ($159.00 @ NetPlus)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($105.00 @ Budget PC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($68.00 @ MegaBuy)
Video Card: PCI-E GF GTX 770 Palit Nvidia GeForce Video Card ($369.00 @ TIComputers)
Power Supply: Corsair CX600M Power Supply ($105.00 @ AllNeeds)

Total: $1331.10

Basically my question is, what are the key differences between getting Ivy Bridge and Haswell? Also in the high budget system, I've gone for an i7 (apparently not necessary for current gaming but will it be future proof for next gen titles which may utilise more cores?). Also the higher end systems I've gone for has 16gb RAM and a gtx770 graphics card. Is it worth just paying that extra $85 and going for the gtx 770 on the i5 systems too?

Thank you for any help that you can give since this is really doing my head in.

 

[Alec Mowat]

I feel you are getting cheap RAM on the high end systems by going with Kingston. The first two have lightening fast 2133, the last two are only using 1600.

I'd double the RAM on #2 and put in the 770. i7's are hyper threaded, which does not technically add cores. The benefits of using Hyper threading in gaming vs. additional cores are not the same.

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/133121-maximized-performance-comparing-the-effects-of-hyper-threading-software-updates

 

[bignastyid]

8Gb of ram is plenty for a gaming rig. Haswell is ~10% faster than Ivy bridge. I would go fore the 4670k build with the GTX 770, and I would swap out the PSU for a better unit(cx series has longevity issues with it capacitors). You can get a better Antec HCG 620w PSU for the same price http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg620 if you want modular the NCG-620m is only $10 more http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg620m

 

[whitecat]

Try this
cpu i5 4670
mobo Asus Z87-K , Asus H87 Plus, ASRock H87 Pro4 (what is cheaper)
gpu GTX 770

 

[Alec Mowat]

8Gb of ram is plenty for a gaming rig. Haswell is ~10% faster than Ivy bridge. I would go fore the 4670k build with the GTX 770, and I would swap out the PSU for a better unit(cx series has longevity issues with it capacitors). You can get a better Antec HCG 620w PSU for the same price http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg620 if you want modular the NCG-620m is only $10 more http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg620m

It's not "Plenty", it's "Just enough"
32 GB is Plenty. 16 is good for 64 bit gaming, like BF4

 

[nipsadinio]

Thank you for the speedy replies thus far. Ok, so I guess i7 is currently not the worth the extra money (thanks for clearing it up Alec, good read) which leaves the 2 i5 systems. I guess 4670k is the better of the 2 and for the motherboard whitecat mentioned the H87 Pro. Just wondering, what is the difference between that and the ASRock z87 Pro that I listed? Thanks for the info bignastyid, I'll probably go with the Antec Modular one then.

For GPU, is Palit a good enough brand? The 770 seems to be worth the extra dollars I guess then. Will this system be able to play most games on high-ultra settings? Thanks

 

[whitecat]

Thank you for the speedy replies thus far. Ok, so I guess i7 is currently not the worth the extra money (thanks for clearing it up Alec, good read) which leaves the 2 i5 systems. I guess 4670k is the better of the 2 and for the motherboard whitecat mentioned the H87 Pro. Just wondering, what is the difference between that and the ASRock z87 Pro that I listed? Thanks for the info bignastyid, I'll probably go with the Antec Modular one then.

For GPU, is Palit a good enough brand? The 770 seems to be worth the extra dollars I guess then. Will this system be able to play most games on high-ultra settings? Thanks

your motherboards are mainly microATX , but the one i pointed out is ATX - better cooled .i like MSI GTX 770 Twin Frozr

 

[nipsadinio]

Thank you for the speedy replies thus far. Ok, so I guess i7 is currently not the worth the extra money (thanks for clearing it up Alec, good read) which leaves the 2 i5 systems. I guess 4670k is the better of the 2 and for the motherboard whitecat mentioned the H87 Pro. Just wondering, what is the difference between that and the ASRock z87 Pro that I listed? Thanks for the info bignastyid, I'll probably go with the Antec Modular one then.

For GPU, is Palit a good enough brand? The 770 seems to be worth the extra dollars I guess then. Will this system be able to play most games on high-ultra settings? Thanks

your motherboards are mainly microATX , but the one i pointed out is ATX - better cooled .i like MSI GTX 770 Twin Frozr

Oh I see, thanks for clearing it up. http://msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=11000 - How does that look mate? Seems to be the only mobo i've looked at that supports to the 2133mhz ram. Are the ASRock extreme 3/4 worth the extra 10-15 dollars?

For graphics card, found what you mentioned for $439. Is it worth the $70 extra?

 

[whitecat]

Thank you for the speedy replies thus far. Ok, so I guess i7 is currently not the worth the extra money (thanks for clearing it up Alec, good read) which leaves the 2 i5 systems. I guess 4670k is the better of the 2 and for the motherboard whitecat mentioned the H87 Pro. Just wondering, what is the difference between that and the ASRock z87 Pro that I listed? Thanks for the info bignastyid, I'll probably go with the Antec Modular one then.

For GPU, is Palit a good enough brand? The 770 seems to be worth the extra dollars I guess then. Will this system be able to play most games on high-ultra settings? Thanks

your motherboards are mainly microATX , but the one i pointed out is ATX - better cooled .i like MSI GTX 770 Twin Frozr

Oh I see, thanks for clearing it up. http://msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=11000 - How does that look mate? Seems to be the only mobo i've looked at that supports to the 2133mhz ram. Are the ASRock extreme 3/4 worth the extra 10-15 dollars?

For graphics card, found what you mentioned for $439. Is it worth the $70 extra?

i saw the prices - awful ! So keep the first build but change the gpu to GTX 770 (20% better ) and might get i5 3570 (not overclockable )

 

[nipsadinio]

i saw the prices - awful ! So keep the first build but change the gpu to GTX 770 (20% better ) and might get i5 3570 (not overclockable )

So do you mean just forget about the Haswell system? I dont mind spending $100 extra (altogether) if there is an actual difference between ivy bridge and haswell (in favour of haswell), but it doesnt really seem like it?.

And will get the Gtx770 then, thanks for the info Does anyone know if Palit has a bad reputation for Graphics cards? (since I would like to save the extra 80 or so dollars on the msi card)


EDIT: Also, why go for the non-overclockable version? thanks

 

[Redheadsrule13]

i saw the prices - awful ! So keep the first build but change the gpu to GTX 770 (20% better ) and might get i5 3570 (not overclockable )

So do you mean just forget about the Haswell system? I dont mind spending $100 extra (altogether) if there is an actual difference between ivy bridge and haswell (in favour of haswell), but it doesnt really seem like it?.

And will get the Gtx770 then, thanks for the info Does anyone know if Palit has a bad reputation for Graphics cards? (since I would like to save the extra 80 or so dollars on the msi card)


EDIT: Also, why go for the non-overclockable version? thanks

Go with the ivy bridge, it's worth the performance boost, plus you'll be using the 1150 socket which is still in use rather than the old 1155 socket which is no longer being used.

I would say that it's definitely worth getting the 770. In regards to brand, getting something like Palit will work, but I would recommend Gigabyte, Asus or MSI; all of which are tried and tested.

In terms of getting a overclockable CPU, getting either CPU in your two build would be more than capable of gaming and light video work, so having an overclock isn't really necessary as it won't actually increase performance, just give you more head-room.

Another thing I would like to add is that having 2133 RAM vs 1600 or even 1333 will barely make a difference in gaming (probably not that much in editing either). So if you're aiming to lower your costs, get 1600mhz rather than 2133, the price-to-performance ratio is much better.

 

[whitecat]

i saw the prices - awful ! So keep the first build but change the gpu to GTX 770 (20% better ) and might get i5 3570 (not overclockable )

So do you mean just forget about the Haswell system? I dont mind spending $100 extra (altogether) if there is an actual difference between ivy bridge and haswell (in favour of haswell), but it doesnt really seem like it?.

And will get the Gtx770 then, thanks for the info Does anyone know if Palit has a bad reputation for Graphics cards? (since I would like to save the extra 80 or so dollars on the msi card)


EDIT: Also, why go for the non-overclockable version? thanks

Haswell processors are about 7% faster than Ivy Bridge at same clock speed . .