Need Help finalizing my build

joeesco

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Dec 2, 2012
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10,510
Hello, I am looking at this build for a medium gaming/music editing/recording pc.
I already have the
case - NZXT phantom 410
PSU - OCZ modxstream 600w
RAM - Corsair 1600 2x4gb vengeance (blue)

the rest of my build is

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.97 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus SABERTOOTH Z77 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($65.95 @ B&H)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 570 1.25GB Video Card ($224.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($28.22 @ Compuvest)
Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($144.99 @ NCIX US)

I want it to have a blue color scheme but I have heard such great things about the sabertooth mobo's thermal coolness and I live in a very warm area (Albuquerque NM) it makes me want it. The GPU I really don't know about, I would prefer a blue color, but the price is just right, I guess I could go with no gpu for now and wait until the 660 ti price goes down and grab one of the sexy blue msi ones. I like the color blue a lot, the case I have is white, with blue lining, and a window, so you can see why I wan't it to be blue.

It as a total comes out to $1205, including what I already have, I really wish that it can be dropped in price by about 55 bucks so that it (-monitor) is around a thousand.

What should I change?
 

bardacuda

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Jan 22, 2011
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18,810
You should change the video card to a 660. It is better than the 570 for the same price. Personally I would get a lower priced motherboard and sink that extra money into the video card but if that's what you really want then go for it. I live in Canada so don't have to worry about the heat so much :D It's actually above freezing today so it's nice out for December.

Oh yeah if you're not overclocking no need for a K-version CPU. If you are overclocking you'll need to add an aftermarket cooler. The Corsair closed loop liquid coolers are overpriced for what you get though so I'd recommend just a good air cooler if you go that route.
 

joeesco

Honorable
Dec 2, 2012
4
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10,510
I wan't the option to overclock in the future, and I am planning to add in a cpu cooler later on, but I won't be overclocking for a while, which 660 would you reccomend?
I am thinking about this : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127697
And what motherboard do you think would be best?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131792&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-NA-_-NA
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131837

I had heard on a different thread that for music editing I should I get a fast cpu? is this true?
 

bardacuda

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Jan 22, 2011
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Can't go wrong with a twin frozr. Gigabyte windforce are good too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125441

I'd stick with a board with a Z77 chipset so the second one. The ASRock Extreme 4 is also a good overclocker and not too pricey either.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

As far as the CPU I guess it depends what programs you use, if there's a lot of wait times while it completes a task, and how well-threaded they are. I'm not a music guy so I'm not sure. Which programs will you be using for that? The i5 3570k is a fast CPU, but it doesn't have hyperthreading like the i7. So I would check reviews and benchmarks for the program(s) you are going to be using for that purpose to see if they benefit from hyperthreading.
 

joeesco

Honorable
Dec 2, 2012
4
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10,510



Ok, I will be using Reaper, and possibly a windows version of garageband. I don't think I will need to use hyperthreading for those.