PC Build Advice/Review Thread

[brozy]

Having just upgraded my Mobo/cpu/memory im looking to do my graphics card next, currently have a HD 5770 but not really sure what to upgrade it with, was looking at the HD 7850 since thats roughly in my price range but wouldn't mind have anothers opinion since when it comes to graphics card i just get baffled.

[Jojimbo]

What is your budget for the GPU?

[Tyche]

I've been running Prime95 for about 20 minutes. 1.248v @ 4.5ghz. I haven't hit over 80 degrees yet, under full load it hovers about 70-75C. Is that too much? Everything seems stable.

[Jojimbo]

Seems fine, is that the lowest vcore you are stable at without WHEA Errors/crashes?

[Tyche]

I set it to 1.23, I blue screened at 1.22. However, I'm running the highest load line calibration setting. I don't think I could go much lower. I think after this runs fine for a bit longer I'm going to try to bring down the LLC. Still, with the LLC maxed, the voltage is staying under 1.23 and temps are staying under 80. I have the fans running about 75%. I don't really want it too loud.

[Jojimbo]

Some people get better temps with lower LLC and higher vcore. If you do use LLC then use the second highest and not the very highest, max LLC tends to cause a lot more voltage spikes (apparently LLC can cause these regardless though, so it's become common to suggest turning it off)

[Tyche]

My max spike has been 1.256 through the test thus far. I BS'd when I lowered LLC to auto.

[Jojimbo]

That's because of vdrop, LLC attempts to correct it by essentially increasing vcore so it's closer to what you set in the BIOS, if you turn it off without changing vcore then the CPU is getting lower vcore and is most likely unstable.

[Nitsuki]

I think my PSU peaked, unigine crashes even at the smallest bit of OCing with my 680gtx, but hell i'm happy with that bad boy stock. Thing flies w/ extreme tessellation. :D metro 2033 and farcry 3 doesn't drop a frame below 30 (caps at 60 mostly) on ultra settings.

[Jojimbo]

I think my PSU peaked, unigine crashes even at the smallest bit of OCing with my 680gtx, but hell i'm happy with that bad boy stock. Thing flies w/ extreme tessellation. :D metro 2033 and farcry 3 doesn't drop a frame below 30 (caps at 60 mostly) on ultra settings.

What PSU exactly? Could just be you have a unlucky 680 that doesn't OC well.

[brozy]

What is your budget for the GPU?

About £150 would be my limit

[Tyche]

I crashed about 5 minutes in Prime after dropping the LLC to the next highest setting. I was able to drop the voltage to 1.22 with LLC at the highest setting, running prime for about 10 minutes. Max temp is 75C, averaging about 72 under load.

My processor refuses to do shit at 4.5 gHz without LLC cranked up.

[Jojimbo]

About £150 would be my limit

There's this XFX 2GB 7850 although the cooler is kinda shit. This Gigabyte should be quieter and cooler although a tiny bit over budget.

[brozy]

Hmmm that gigabyte does look pretty good so wouldn't mind going over budget a wee bit, also a nice offer with it from that site

[Nitsuki]

What PSU exactly? Could just be you have a unlucky 680 that doesn't OC well.

I have an antec 650w. But i ended up buying an MSI Lightning edition gtx680. No regrets, and it comes OC stock.

[izembo]

looking for a motherboard recommendation. not overly familiar with brands and reliability here as i've never purchased this piece before. trying to keep it under/around $150. processor is i7-3770k

[Jojimbo]

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H would be the best you could get in that budget, it's good enough that you could put a high end air cooler on it as well.

[izembo]

what would you say is the best option without going too crazy expensive on it? not completely sure what budget is for a good mobo on current systems.

[Nitsuki]

what would you say is the best option without going too crazy expensive on it? not completely sure what budget is for a good mobo on current systems.

$150

[Adajer]

ASRock Z77 Extreme4 user here. Paid $84.99 at Microcenter. Can usually be found around ~$120. I really like ASRock because they make quality products and charge a lot less than the competition for >= hardware.

Edit: Newegg has it for $135 atm, but it does come with a free 8GB ram kit. It is sometimes on sale for $114. Compare it with the more expensive Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H.