PC Build Advice/Review Thread

[Ares]

Make sure you get the same chip set. I've had problems with buying the same nvidia cards(i.e. another 460) only to find they changed the chip sets on me and it didn't SLI.

This is usually only a problem if you're are adding a second card to what you have.

[Jojimbo]

Just the same chip, doesn't even have to be the same manufacturer. You can't SLI a 560Ti 488 Core and a 560Ti or 560 though, just make sure it has the same RAM and then you should be able to overclock either card to the highest ones clocks.

[Caiyuo]

Anyone have / know of a modern collection of the recommended budget cases? I've sifted through a lot and have had trouble finding something that actually looks nice.

[Intrinsic]

Anyone have / know of a modern collection of the recommended budget cases? I've sifted through a lot and have had trouble finding something that actually looks nice.

Source 210 Elite White might be something you've missed. It's tough to find a decent looking budget case, I personally like the CM Elite 430.

[Ayuriae]

I'm asking this PC Build question on the behalf of a friend. He has no budget for the computer. He's WOP rich (But for the sake of it, keep it between 1500-200). He wants a gaming computer that he won't have to upgrade for a looong time. He currently has this in mind but can't into computer parts.

" GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130785

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116502

Mobo - srsly only picked becuse it fits all the other parts and it's Asus: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131826

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231488

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136775

AND LATEST, 850 PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139011 "

I've talked to him to looking up an SSD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119225

This is the case he wants but he's not sure because he can't into computer. He wants a large case with room for upgrade if they arise. He can't see the red. So the glow on the case is useless. Any other suggestions for stupid-big cases are welcome. Thoughts on the build?

[Adajer]

Get a z77 motherboard. 750w power supply will be enough to run SLI if he chooses to later (I prefer gold rated PSUs). A 550w-650w will work if no SLI. 650w gold rated could actually run SLI too. is Unless he plans on running a 7680x1600 resolution set up, a 4gb VRAM video card is unnecessary. I personally don't like video cards with reference design coolers. If all he is doing is gaming then an i5 3570k or the likes of it will suffice. If he wants to throw his money then go i7. Might as well get the 3770k model though, since you are throwing money.

[Intrinsic]

Newegg has the 1TB Spinpoint for $69.99, grab that and a decent SSD.

[Jojimbo]

Don't spend $460 on a 4GB 670 GTX when you could spend $370 for a 2GB version which will perform practically the same for 1080p or $425 on a HD 7970 which when OCed is on par with/beats a 680 and is better for a multimonitor setup (although you need more than one). Extreme4 or UD3H are good budget boards, Asus P8Z77-V if you want to spend a bit more (Z77 Sabertooth if he likes the board and is getting a case with a window, but it's not the most amazing board for the price beyond it looks) but don't bother with the Asus boards below that imo. Only RAM worth getting costs the same as what you planned to get but can OC to 2133MHz or so, which is amazing for something that costs $47 (and often $<40) plus it's low profile so avoids any issues with heatsinks.

You are also missing a cooler, get a 3770k (or 3570k, for gaming either works as well as the other) and a cooler + Z77 MB to OC it. Phanteks PH-TC14PE is a good high-end air cooler and will allow you to hit ~4.8GHz, Noctua NH-D14 is another alternative and there is also the Corsair H100 although it's more expensive and louder for same performance level so is only worth getting if he likes the looks of it (and has a supported case). HAF X is ok if a bit expensive, there are plenty of alternatives though like Corsair 600T or NZXT Switch 810 and other cases which have watercooling support

So something like http://pcpartpicker.com/p/f1jN

[hey]

I think we missed the wop rich part. This could be improved quite a bit.

If he only needs a 320 gb hdd, why not just ditch the hdd entirely and only use an ssd? If you've got the money and don't need massive amounts of space, there's no reason to use a mechanical drive at all.

Unless he plans on running a 7680x1600 resolution set up, a 4gb VRAM video card is unnecessary.

He wants a gaming computer that he won't have to upgrade for a looong time. He currently has this in mind but can't into computer parts.

I'd definitely get a video card with 4 gb vram. Even if he isn't running 3x 1600p monitors now, he may in the future, and even if not, vram usage is only going to go up in the future. It also doesn't nearly take that high of a resolution to max out 4 gb in some situations.

[Asilius]

nvidia direct compute performance sucks and I hear that some games are starting to incorporate that. Also with next generation consoles said to be running amd gpu I suspect drivers will be more optimized. 7970oc > 680oc just make sure it has 2g vram or more.

oh and get a K model cpu so its unlocked for overclocking. and any computer now a days should have a ssd lol

[Ayuriae]

I did a little research on the Z77 Motherboards. I came across http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131819 (ASUS P8Z77-V PRO), http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131854 (ASUS Maximus V FORMULA), and the ASROCK4 (http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77%20Extreme4/) From the little research I did, it seems the ASUS V PRO is what I should be looking for. Extreme4 seems to be more for the budget computers? I can't into the fine details. Again, the person is WOP rich and wants the most overpowered, high-performance he can get for around 2,000.


He picked out Asus Sabertooth (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131821) but other forums suggested the Asus PRO or the ASROCK4.

I'm looking for an SSD that is 360-520 GB. He expressed that he doesn't need that much space as the maximum space used on his current machine is around 100 GB. He doesn't collect anything apparently. His porn collection is somehow under 1 GB. SO, with all his money, an SSD is the way to go for him. I just don't know if the brands like Crucial would be ideal for higher storage.

[Jojimbo]

PRO seems a waste of money over P8Z77-V imo but it's not a lot so might as well go for the extra internal USB headers. I wouldn't bother with any 1155 board more expensive than $225 no matter how much money they have as it starts getting too close to X79/2011 platform prices.

SSD would be 256 or 512GB, Intel > Samsung > Crucial in terms of reliability, most people go for Samsungs as they tend to be a bit faster and cheaper. There is no need to get it for mass storage in a desktop though, you won't notice the speed difference just accessing random pics/videos unless you are constantly transferring them to another (equally as fast) drive and you have enough space for a HDD + SSD in a tower that combined with SSDs unreliability and rapid growth vs HDDs means it'll be outdated or die sooner from constant use. For 512GB you can either go $520 for 512GB or two of $210 per 256GB which with a Z77 that has an updated BIOS would still have TRIM in RAID

I'd definitely get a video card with 4 gb vram. Even if he isn't running 3x 1600p monitors now, he may in the future, and even if not, vram usage is only going to go up in the future. It also doesn't nearly take that high of a resolution to max out 4 gb in some situations

I would go for 7970 instead then, the 4GB on 600 cards is meh and offers little performance increase even in situations where RAM can get used up (2560x1600/5760x1080)

If he spends much more he may as well get another card, or switch to X79 platform. Any idea what screen setup he will be using? 1080p 120Hz, 2560x1440, 7680x1440, 5760x1080 60Hz or 5760x1080 120Hz?

[Adajer]

7680x1600 doesnt even fully use 3gb of vram. If he isnt going to run multi-monitors there is no point in getting that much vram.
I suggest a 670 or 7970 and the Asrock extreme 6 motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157295

[Jojimbo]

7680x1600 will definitely use over 3GB vRAM, games can use over 2GB at 5760x1080 and that's excluding vRAM hogs like BF3 and modded Skyrim. Also there's little point in spending this much if he isn't going multimonitor, or at the very least 2560x1440 or 1080p 120Hz, spending $2~3k on a gaming PC and then playing on a single 1080p 60Hz display is pretty stupid

Also, why Extreme6 over Extreme4? They have same power phases and similar slot layout, at that price you may as well go with an Asus for extra features like Fan Xpert 2 and better VRMs

[Adajer]

Because he already said he didnt want the extreme 4. I assume you, like me, dont have a 7680x1600 set up to confirm. But I have seen youtube videos and benchmarks of BF3 using 2.3 gb of VRAM at 7680x1600. Crysis 2 using around 2.7gb. Asrock also has a new z77 OC formula motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157328. IMO the extreme 4 is a great mobo, if you want a front panel usb 3 connection. you can buy one for $20 and plug it ino the motherboard.

Also, he said he is looking to spend $1500-2000 not $2~3k.

[Jojimbo]

Ah, guess I kinda got lost a bit when they wanted to spend $500 on an SSD and spending money on stuff for the sake of it. But there's no reason to buy a Extreme6 when P8Z77-V is same price and offers more just because they don't want an Extreme4. Those vRAM usages seem too low though, are you sure they were on high settings because at 5760x1080 there are plenty of games than can use 2000-2200MB vRAM like Batman/Metro/Hard Reset

Anyway, if he wants something not completely budget but still good then http://pcpartpicker.com/p/f8Uq works, can replace it with a 670 but the 7970 will perform on par with a 680 when OCed and has more vRAM (and can actually use it). PSU can support dual cards as well

[Ayuriae]

I should have left out the price range on the computer. The person is WOP rich. The $500 on the SSD is mostly because the person doesn't use much storage. The maximum storage used on his current computer is around 100~ GB. I don't think I ever said Extreme4 is scratched out. It's just I assumed that it was more for the budget computer since it offered so much for how much it cost (140?). I think I got everything from here. Thanks guys.

[Adajer]

edit: nvm

[Boyiee]

At or below 2560x1600 there is no reason to use 4GB cards.

4gb only comes into play when you go tri-monitor. If you aren't stretching your game across 3 monitors, then you don't need 4gb.

[lilfoo]

Quick question: I have a GTX 470. Is it worth it to upgrade to a 660 or 670? Other option is to wait for the 7 series next year. Tom's says it is not really worth it, but would like some other opinions.