PC Build: Help wanted

[obobski]

Multi-quote didn't work so well, so I'll just reply by name:

 

I agree with FMod on the hard-drive, RAM, and going with a less expensive motherboard if overclocking isn't a priority.

 

I agree with Werne on the RAM thing - 8GB is more than enough for a gaming system; there would be nothing wrong with 16GB if it didn't cost better than twice as much, but when most games are still 32-bit applications, it won't do a whole heck of a lot for you. If your (Odioss) 3D modeling stuff requires the extra memory, however, I would say go for it (you probably know your specific requirements better than I do). On the graphics card, even running 3-4 monitors does not require 4GB of VRAM - there's absolutely no benefit to it, and anything that would require it will be likely beyond what a single GTX 770 can do (at least in real time; they load Keplers up with tons of RAM and sell them for big-data, but they aren't generally expected to produce results instantaneously).

 

Some other thoughts:

 

- You can save around $10 buying Windows from Amazon (I bought a copy for $89.99 not a week ago).

 

- You can save $5 to $15 going with a different brand of RAM - while G.Skill is good stuff, it isn't the only show in town. See:

http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Modules-1600MHz-Non-ECC-Desktop/dp/B0057Q4ADU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391467695&sr=8-2

or:

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballistix-PC3-12800-240-Pin-BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00/dp/B006WAGGUK/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1391467695&sr=8-5

 

Or for the same money you can get faster memory from the same manufacturer:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231455

 

- You can get a more efficient power supply for the same money:

http://www.amazon.com/SeaSonic-650-Watt-CrossFire-Certified-SSR-650RM/dp/B00918N4A0/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1391467877&sr=8-12(Seasonic is a good brand; they used to (may still) build at least some of Corsair's PSUs (the HX series are Seasonic) and this touts higher efficiency than the Corsair you selected)

Newegg also sells it (Same price but not free shipping): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151118

 

Or save a few bucks on a SeaSonic Bronze unit:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095

 

I'd also suggest considering an after-market cooler for the CPU to quiet things down a little bit; Arctic would be a good choice based on past experience. Shouldn't cost a whole lot either.

 

If you went with the "maximum savings" route you'd chop $45 off the top, if you went with the "maximized spending" route you'd save probably $10 (on Windows), and end up with a more efficient PSU and faster RAM (neither of these is really a huge deal, but it doesn't cost you any more to do it).

 

ASRock is, in my experience, a good choice for motherboards - and while it's a little expensive, I'd rather over-spend on the motherboard and PSU than pay for it later.

[Beriallord]

I recommend getting a Cooler Master Hyper 212+ or 212+ Evo for a CPU cooler. It will run you no more than $30. Its the best CPU cooler you can get for anywhere near that price range. A 212+ is good enough to OC my I5 2500k to 4.7ghz (1.326 Vcore). For a $30 cooler, you can't beat it.

 

Also, SSDs aren't that huge of a deal. I just had my SSD go bad on me and it was a royal pain in the ass to recover my data after my SSD failed. It lasted about 2 1/2 years, which is common for an SSD. SSDs don't last as long as mechanical hard drives, which I normally get 5 years minimum out of. So if you get an SSD, know the risks, and know that it will likely be the first thing in your PC that goes bad, or needs replacing. And I was only using my SSD as a caching device, and I don't think it did as many writes as if I would have used it as a primary drive. So that likely means you can expect to get even less mileage out of an SSD used as a primary drive.

 

Also you can save a few bucks by getting the Z87 extreme 4 motherboard, instead of the extreme 6. Unless there is a really good reason you need the extreme 6.

 

For gaming - 1600mhz ram is fine. Don't overpay for faster ram, because the cost to performance increase simply isn't worth it. And you want to generally get the best GPU you can possibly get for your budget, with CPU being a close secondary.

 

Here is what I came up with:

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2Nfg5

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($77.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($357.86 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($26.97 @ Newegg)
Total: $1047.76

 

$1047.76 without the OS. Also you forgot to include a PSU, but I included one. I think you can get a better deal on an OS than what is listed. And for single monitor @ 1080p resolution, you don't need more than 2gbs of Vram.

 

The HAF 912 is a really good case for the price. Cooler master cases in general got nice air flow, even for the lower priced models.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Beriallord