PC Build Advice/Review Thread

[Nightsky]

Hello guys, after this weekend for Phase4 beta test, I definitely need some advices for a new videocard (using the onboard one right now .. I know.. its sad).
My PC specs for now are as followed, nothing been overclocked yet:

Inter(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz 3.30 GHZ
Motherboard ASUS P8H67-M
RAM 8.00 GB
64 Bits system
CoolerMaster 500W Extreme Power Plus power supply
Double 24" HD monitors

Im debating if I should go with a single card or buy 2 crossfire compatible cards instead. The game will eventually support Directx 11 so I have to keep that in mind as well...

Thanks a lot, really have no idea what is out there and the price range ...

Nightsky

[Adajer]

gtx 760 for $250, if you want to spend $400 get a 770 or 7970

[Headspace]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

$69.99 after promo code. Anyone recommend this case even though my build isn't a powerhouse type of build?

[Headspace]

How is this build?

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1tYpF
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1tYpF/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1tYpF/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($117.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Intel 320 Series 80GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($0.00)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($223.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Titanium Grey) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($57.74 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $713.63
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-19 22:50 EDT-0400)

[Adajer]

I'd go i5 or better. Avoid AMD CPUs like the plague. Pretty sure an i3 is better than that AMD CPU if you want to stay cheap.

[Headspace]

Any reason I shouldn't go AMD? Would the rest of the build work with that popular i5 model I see many people use on /r/buildapc? I just want to pick up the case and another piece tonight to get 15 off an order of 100, so I can stew on the processor if the rest of it will work with it

[Maksudyst]

Hey guys. I'm about to build a PC for the first time in a long time. Any tips on things to be careful with would be great.

I'll be harvesting some stuff from my current computer (psu, gpu, HDD) to use on my new rig.

New parts:

I5-4670k
Asrock Z87 Extreme3 1150 mobo
Nzxt tempest 210 case
WD 1tb 7200rpm black (to be used as main with my old 1tb 5200rpm holding old files and prolly serve as a backup)
G.skill ddr3 1600 2x4gb
Cooler master hyper 212
Gtx 460 (from old build to be replaced by 650ti or 660 when I get more cash)
Corsair tx650 psu
Lite-on DVD burner

I plan on oc'ing later when I read up a ton on it (noob).

This will be my first fresh build since I have only previously upgraded parts.

[Arkanna]

Any reason I shouldn't go AMD? Would the rest of the build work with that popular i5 model I see many people use on /r/buildapc? I just want to pick up the case and another piece tonight to get 15 off an order of 100, so I can stew on the processor if the rest of it will work with it

AMD is really behind in the CPU race right now and it will likely stay that way. The rest of the build would work fine with an i3/i5 build, assuming you choose a matching motherboard of course.

[Adajer]

Any reason I shouldn't go AMD? Would the rest of the build work with that popular i5 model I see many people use on /r/buildapc? I just want to pick up the case and another piece tonight to get 15 off an order of 100, so I can stew on the processor if the rest of it will work with it

And when I say i5, I mean the 2500(k), the 3570(k), or the 4670(k). I have the k's in parenthesis because those cost a bit more than the non "k" models. The k means they have unlocked mulitpliers for overclocking, which you don't need it you don't plan on overclocking.

There are some i5s that are a bit cheaper with like a 3.2ghz clock speed, those are fine too if don't want ot OC and still want to save $. Though they are all pretty close, the Sandy Bridge model (2500k) is a tad bit slower than the later generations.

[Headspace]

Any recommendations for i5/mobo?

Also, the Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 is on sale for $200. Newegg reviews always seem to make everything look like a piece of shit with the kinds of complaints, so I was wondering if anyone had experience with this brand or particular card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3938566&SID=

[Havok]

Any recommendations for i5/mobo?

Also, the Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 is on sale for $200. Newegg reviews always seem to make everything look like a piece of shit with the kinds of complaints, so I was wondering if anyone had experience with this brand or particular card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3938566&SID=

I think I"m going to go for this card as well... good deal. Reviews are like 90% positive, that's generally good enough for me.
Also, if you haven't bought it or used this promo code yet:
Bonus: Apply promo code VME10BTS for 10% off when V.Me by VISA is used as method of checkout. Limit one use per account. Price is $177.99 after code and rebate.

[Maguile]

Noob question for you guys

My motherboard has four slots for ram, two are black and two are blue. I just upgraded my ram, but only two of the slots work with my setup, if I put ram in the other two slots my monitor wont turn on. Is it part of a dual monitor setup or something?

[Reality]

Noob question for you guys

My motherboard has four slots for ram, two are black and two are blue. I just upgraded my ram, but only two of the slots work with my setup, if I put ram in the other two slots my monitor wont turn on. Is it part of a dual monitor setup or something?

well, you want to use every other slot if you're only using 2 of the 4 slots, due to dual-channel mode

i.e. slots 1,2,3,4. use 1 & 3, or 2 & 4

not sure why your system wouldn't be POSTing (which is why your monitor isn't turning on) based on which slots you're using, though the motherboard manual might explain a circumstance based on that specific board which requires you to use specific slots if you're not using all 4

[Maguile]

Well I wanted to use all four slots since I have 4 sticks of ram now, but yeah, only 3&4 are really working. Anything in 1 or 2 is causing my monitor to not respond

[Reality]

all 4 sticks of ram are identical?

sounds like a motherboard RMA unless there are some wonky dipswitches disabling certain dimm slots on the board itself, which is like... circa 1998, so i doubt that's the case

[Arkanna]

Any recommendations for i5/mobo?

Also, the Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 is on sale for $200. Newegg reviews always seem to make everything look like a piece of shit with the kinds of complaints, so I was wondering if anyone had experience with this brand or particular card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3938566&SID=

You'd have to pick a specific i5 CPU before we could offer advice on motherboards for it, since there is now multiple generations of i5's out there. Asus has never let me down though, so I almost always use Asus boards.

Sapphire is (or at least, was?) ATi's OEM manufacturer. Their cards are usually pretty vanilla but reliable. My last 3 or 4 cards have all been Sapphire cards, including my current 7970.

[Headspace]

The AMD dropped another $10 and have had several people tell me it's quality. That price was too hard not to jump on.

I got my GPU, CPU, and PSU for $325 after MIR

[Arcien]

Hi guys, I'm seeking advice here. I'm trying to save cost at the moment and hopefully I can expand this build in the future (for SLI and other stuff).

CPU: INTEL i5 4570
MOBO: MSI Z87G45
GPU: MSI GEFORCE 650 TI BOOST
PSU: COOLER MASTER 525W
RAM: KINGSTON HYPER X 1600MHZ 8GB (4GB x2)
HDD: HTC500GB
CHASIS: COOLER MASTER ELITE 431 PLUS
HEATSINK: COOLER MASTER HYPER 212X

Thanks!

[Adajer]

Get a stronger GPU, if you are playing 1080p a single 660, 760, 7870, or 7950 would be enough. I prefer Nvidia.

[Kalmado]

Is it practical to get a second internal hard drive to have your OS and programs on if you don't have the budget for a SSD?