Need advice on a new gaming rig (canada)

[retina242]

Approximate Purchase Date: a.s.a.p. i want to take advantage of boxing week sales

Budget Range: 1200-1500 with taxes

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, surfing, watching streams

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: ncix.ca (i dont know how to build a comp, so must get it from here to have them build it for me )

Location: toronto, ontario, canada

Parts Preferences: have had trouble with MSI and EVGA products, would prefer to stay away from them and no AMD as well.

Overclocking: dont know how

SLI or Crossfire: not likely

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: graphics card giving me trouble, and want to have a clean start with an SSD and a bigger HD

Include a list of any parts you have already selected with descriptively labeled links for parts. Please do not post only links.

cd drive : http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=78975&promoid=1033

cooling system : http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=77377&promoid=1033

GPU : http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=71107&promoid=1033 (*NOTE : i dont know the brand at all so this one im unsure of)

HD : http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=62047&promoid=1033

PSU : http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=62224&promoid=1033

RAM : http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=57869&promoid=1033

SSD : http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=67708

Case : http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=69199&promoid=1033 (*NOTE : again i dont know the brand, i was more interested in a thermaltake case but the ones with front usb 3.0 were too expensive or i didnt like the design)

CPU/MOBO : http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=71608&promoid=1146 OR http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=72062&vpn=3570K & P8Z77-V LK&manufacture=Bundle Deals&promoid=1033 (*NOTE : again, same thing dont know gigabyte brand, i am familiar with ASUS but im also aware they're realllyyy not the greatest)

any advice would be muchhhhhh appreciated!!

 

[djangoringo]

You're better of with this :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ NCIX)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($27.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($40.09 @ NCIX)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Sandisk Extreme 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.49 @ NCIX)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($349.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Corsair Vengeance C70 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Total: $1062.51
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)


+ dvd drive : http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=78975&promoid=1033


I can't see the dvd drive on the list, also unless you want to add another 670 gtx, a 550w xfx pro will do.

 

[retina242]

i have a CM 212 on my current set up, not sure how good it is though which is why id wanted to try liquid cooling out. MOBO, never heard of the company, same with RAM. sandisk i could change for sure, evga graphics card, would rather steer away from it if i can. corsair case looks kinda cheap from what i can see aesthetically at least, and really only 550w? damn im running like 850w in my current set up haha.

 

[djangoringo]

The evga ftw signature 2 has the 680 gtx pcb, it has one of the highest oc from factory and oc like no other card, also as a good cooling system and it's cheaper with rebate, it's normal price is 420$, evga warranty and support are the best ones.
As for the liquid cooling, the h60 just sucks, either buy a custom watercooling kit or just swap your cm 212 hyper for the new build.
Well for the components that i put, 550w is enough (with any 670 gtx), the 750w modular is also nice one, if you plan to add another 670 gtx in the future get that.
As for the mobo, the asrock is a good brand and the extreme 4 one of the best mobos for its price, the crucial rams are well known, also the case is really good and much better than the zalman.


http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/asrock_z77_extreme_4/12.htm
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z77-express-ivy-bridge-benchmark,3254-35.html


http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Corsair/Vengeance_C70/6.html
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/corsair_c70/6.htm
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Corsair-Vengeance-C70-Case-Review/1560

 

[retina242]

i currently own an EVGA gt 560 and have had nothing but problems with it, after like 3 months it started to freeze my comp making a REALLY annoying noise when it froze my computer. took it back to NCIX, they couldnt find a thing wrong with anything so they replaced it free of charge and it now just freezes without any annoying noises haha, so ive had bad experience with them thats all. im really digging the price tag on your set thats for sure. these were also other SSD's recommended to me http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=60445
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=67708

still not 100% keen on the case, i actually really liked this one http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=57910&vpn=Z9 Plus&manufacture=ZALMAN TECH&promoid=1033

showing the temperature would be cool and i like the design.

also id probably stick with my current HD i posted in my first link, ive never once had a problem ever with any WD HD's and ive never tried a seagate before.

so i think i game with the mobo you suggested, probably as well as the RAM, PSU i might bring up to 750 just to be on the safe side and as for the CM 212, no idea how to swap, id probably just have to shell out the 30$ for a new one.

 

[djangoringo]

The crucial is also a good ssd,the sandisk is the best bang for the buck, they're all good(crucial is the better one, if you want to spend a bit more).
Well about evga, people always have troubles with brands, ones with msi, other with gigabyte or asus, but they're all good ones.
Evga has a good reputation, but it doesn't mean that by having a faulty card all evga cards are like that, it happens in all brands like i said.
Seagate are as reliable as wd.
As for the case, the only good thing about the zalman is the price, but the corsair C70 is way better case in all possible ways.
Well you had your cm 212 on what mobo ? a lga 1156 ? cause it's also compatible with the lga 1155 mobos.

 

[retina242]

true enough everyone has problems with brands. i see the c70 case and it has handles on it, its starting to grow on me ill have to admit. i have my CM 212 on a 1155 i believe, its an MSI mobo thats all i can remember at the moment.

 

[djangoringo]

It will be 100% compatible with your new mobo, no need to spend more $ on a new cooler.

 

[retina242]

not about compatibility, its about i dont know how to install it ^^