PC Build Advice/Review Thread

[Krandor]

If you're gonna be doing any serious overclocking w/ the 212 you'll probably want to slap a second fan on there.

Unless AMD changes up their designs in the desktop CPU market in a big way, they're looking to be eternally lagging behind Intel. I remember seeing their roadmap in regards to performance increases, and it pretty much consistently leaves them sitting underneath Intel every step of the way. That being said, in theory AMD could be scoring some extra capital here soon with their APUs powering both the PS4 and XBOX720 (though that one isn't confirmed yet), and could in turn pump that into some more R&D.

[MrW]

Currently running a Phenom II x6 1055T CPU (8g Ram) and a GTX 550 Ti GPU... (750w Power)

Should i just pull the trigger on a new MoBo + i5/i7 or can i get away with just upgrading my GPU for now? Was thinking a 7870 or 660 Ti.

I don't really mind spending the money on the upgraded MoBo/CPU but if its not a necessity I'd rather keep the cash and beef up the graphics card.

[Jojimbo]

Should be fine with a GPU upgrade if just going to a HD 7870 or similar.

[Don Katsu]

Currently running a Phenom II x6 1055T CPU (8g Ram) and a GTX 550 Ti GPU... (750w Power)

Should i just pull the trigger on a new MoBo + i5/i7 or can i get away with just upgrading my GPU for now? Was thinking a 7870 or 660 Ti.

I don't really mind spending the money on the upgraded MoBo/CPU but if its not a necessity I'd rather keep the cash and beef up the graphics card.

I got this a few days ago, it performs closer to a 7950 and costs significantly less than a 660ti

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?EdpNo=7670961

[Jojimbo]

Oh, didn't see those were in stock, they've been unavailable for ages.

[MrW]

Awesome, glad I'll be able to hold myself over for awhile. I'll probably do a complete overhaul in a bit less than a year. Thanks for the advice/input!

[ejact]

If your looking for a nice case the Fractcal Define R4 white is on sale at newegg 80 + free shipping.

[Jojimbo]

Crappy phone pic because I started leak testing at last, noticed that the res is a bit tilted though =( Swear it was straight when I first put it on, I kinda fixed it after the pic but a proper fix will have to wait until I refill the loop in a few months (assuming everything works and I don't need to empty it straight away); think I tilted it trying to pull the pump towards the front rad as that pipe is a pita to fit and I keep cutting it a bit too short. And yes I have completely bypassed that rear 120mm rad, probably wasn't doing much anyway (especially after I decided I didn't want an externally mounted fan) and now I've moved the top rad I don't think you could even fit it to the other top port.



Still got to sleeve the cables, do all the wiring for the fans/lights and cut the side panel to make a window...and mount all the lights, and do all the cable management round the back, and I might tidy up the cuts off the fake floor + redo the carbon vinyl it as one of the bends keeps picking up. EDIT:: Oh, forgot I need to make enclosure for the water/air temp LCDs, mounting them outside the case)

Then just hope everything is properly mounted to the blocks and that I didn't kill anything with an ESD.

[Caiyuo]

Wow, that thing is fucking gnarly

[Silos]

building my first pc. any suggestions? after rebates looking at about a thousand dollars including the case which isn't listed.

here's what i've got so far:

XFX Core Edition FX-787A-CNFC Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tent-_-text-_-

intel i-5 3470 ivy bridge 3.2ghz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115234

ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131806

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145345

Western Digital WD Black WD1002FAEX 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136533

CORSAIR CX Series CX750 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139040

ZALMAN CNPS9500A-LED 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118223

LITE-ON DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

ASUS PCE-N15 Wireless Adapter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833320074

ASUS VS Series VS238H-P Black 23" 2ms HDMI LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 50,000,000:1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236175

[Krandor]

Spring the few extra bucks for a i5-3570k. Listed at 220 on newegg ATM.

Your PSU is also a bit excessive.

[Adajer]

Get a z77 motherboard. I recommend ASRock. You could get a 3570k for a few bucks more if you plan on overclocking or want a higher clocked chip. You could get a Cooler Master Hyper 212+/Evo for rather than that Zalman CPU cooler and afford the 3570k.

Edit: If you wait, you can catch a Seasonic/Corsair/ or a good Rosewill Gold Rated PSU for that price. Unless you plan to SLI, you dont need 750W, especially for a 7870.

I bought a Seasonic X650 and a Rosewill Capstone 750W for around $80-90. Both better PSUs than that.

Also, that motherboard is damn expensive. And its a micro ATX if you care about that.
I recommend the z77 extreme 4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157293

or the z77 extreme 6 if you want spend more
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157295

[Silos]

thank you!

[Nitsuki]

I have that same exact Zalman cooler, and as awesome as it is and a bit better provided cooling than the 212 EVO, I second getting the 212 EVO cuz you'll save money, and it's A LOT less of a pain in the ass to install. The Zalman took me a while to install cuz of the installation be annoying as hell.

[Don Katsu]

Oh, didn't see those were in stock, they've been unavailable for ages.

6 days later card price dropped $15

So now it's $219.99 after MIR

[Reg]

Hey i'm looking to buy a 15" laptop that would be powerful enough to run games (mainly being able to play FFXIV is fine) but i'm lost in the sea of the possible choices. Could anyone recommend me something in particular that stands out? price isn't really that big of a deal i just want possible choices to look at. thanks in advance.

[Don Katsu]

I'm wondering. What a better buy is....

Intel Core i5 3570k for $189.99
Intel Core i7 3770k for $229.99

[Adajer]

I've had both. Both from MicroCenter for the same prices, which I assume is where you are going. Traded my i5 in and paid the $40 difference +tax. ~$45 more, why not?

[Rasengan]

I got the 3570k, because MicroCenter had a $50 instant rebate if you bundle it with a motherboard.

[Krandor]

At that price I'd jump up to the i7, considering that's what I paid for my 3570k a few weeks ago.

That being said, if your focus is games, the i7 isn't really worth the extra money. Very few games really make use of hyperthreading (only one coming to mind ATM is Crysis 3).