Gemini000 wrote:To that end, here's a revised list of parts I've selected:
CASE: ThermalTake VN700M1W2N Overseer RX-I Full Tower Gaming Case
PSU […]
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To that end, here's a revised list of parts I've selected:
CASE: ThermalTake VN700M1W2N Overseer RX-I Full Tower Gaming Case
PSU: Corsair Gaming Series GS700 CP-9020064-NA 700W
MOTHERBOARD: ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 Intel Series 7 Motherboard
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 BX806237i53570 Processor - Quad Core - 3.4 GHz
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 02G-P4-2662-KR Video Card
RAM: Kingston Hyper X Beast KHX18C10T3K2/16X 16GB - 1866 MHz
HD: WD Blue 1TB Desktop Hard Drive
It turns out $88 more expensive than I've got budgeted, making this nearly $1,400 worth in parts, inculding the minor things I'm not bringing up like the memory card reader, BD-R drive, etc., and not including taxes. Again, not getting an SSD to start, but I might later on.
You’re going Intel now???! You seem to be highly influenced in this and your other hardware choices based on bits and pieces of disjointed information. You need to view your proposed new build more holistically else I fear much money will be thrown away for something very unmatched or even sub-standard in places. Note also that 1155 has been around since 2011 and while its had a great run, is soon to be a dead socket. At this point in time, I would either wait 2 more months for Haswell, go for a new FX or LGA2011 or buy used.
Second point, the 3570k and FX8320 are directly comparable. Each has its strengths and weaknesses on a roughly 50-50 ratio. Personally I would go with the FX8320 as I tend to go for “different” builds, apart from the dead socket issue. I’m using Intel at the moment, but it is the craziness that is X79 and it’s built because its what I want, not what people want. So if I felt like an FX, I’d build an FX. You gotta make that decision man.
Also, you appear to be counting every dollar, so I’ll provide a quick summary on your proposed build for you: case is personal choice so OK, PSU- OK, video card –OK, way too much motherboard, wrong choice of cpu compared with motherboard, massive overkill ram, very poor o/s drive + storage configuration.
OK, on to the details
Motherboard: The Sabretooth is overkill since you’re planning on using the locked 3570. You took the wrong lesson away from previous conversations regarding Sabretooth and FX. You need a Sabretooth with an 8 core FX as the very high power draw of the FX, especially if compounded by overclocking, is too much for lesser boards with poorer PWMs. That is why experienced builders use either the Sabretooth, Crosshair, etc. However, 1155 cpus don’t draw nearly as much power, thus can use most Z77 boards out there safely. A good match for a strong budget i5 build would be an Asus P8Z77V-LX, Gigabyte z77x-d3h, Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 or MSI Z77a-gd55. But more on that when we touch on the choice of CPU.
CPU: If you’re using the multiplier locked 3570, then you’re not gonna be overclocking, in which case, unless SLI or Crossfire is in your future, you don’t even need the above boards and can make do with something much cheaper, like a H61 board. Buy a cheaper locked cpu, as the 3570 is so close to the price of an uncastrated 3570k that it makes no sense.
RAM- If you’re counting every penny like you appear to be doing here, i.e. mentioning $88 difference in your budget, then you shouldn’t be looking at this particular ram set. Especially when you’re not even overclocking (see above cpu). Again, don’t go with what other people or reviews say you need. Unless you’re A) not budget constricted, B) a heavy overclocker and C) going for a “show” style, you don’t need this ram. Buy 2x 4gb of generic Kingston or Corsair ram and be happy. FYI, I have 16gb of 2133mhz Kingston Hyper –X, 16gb of Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz and 8gb of Kingston 1333mhz generic ram, and I feel no real life difference between the three of them. I went for the Hyper-X and Corsair sets as I fulfill reasons A), B) and C).
HDD- Please save the budget from the massive overkill motherboard and ram and put it towards an SSD. Running a modern Windows 7 or even Linux rig using it’s hard disk as a primary O/S drive is comparatively dog slow and negates the whole point of these new rigs. You do not get the new 201x’s feel without an SSD. A good SSD is like $100 these days. You don’t need 480gb, as little as 60gb is good to go. Use the 1TB WD Blue for games and storage then.
Case and cooling- Regarding the case, it’s a personal choice and there’s no right or wrong. But I want to correct one misconception I gather you have about CPU cooling. Whatever the airflow of your case is, if your CPU is high TDP/ overclocked or has a poorly mounted heatsink/ paste, you’re going to have temp and stability issues. A good case itself will not save you in this case. A well mounted and correctly sized heatsink for the job together with a correct amount of paste does more for cooling than any high-end case can. Unless of cause you insist on fitting an FX build into one of those old 90s style side mounted PSU cases!
Don’t know what stuff costs where you are, but a quick look at my local store shows the following, for my recommended FX build (price in US$):
FX 8320 – 185
2 x4gb Corsair Vengeance LP 1600- 81
Asus Sabretooth 990FX- 231
Intel 330 64gb- 79
WD Blue 1TB- 64
LG- BD-R 109
Asus GTX660- 297
Corsair TX650M- 118
CM 690 II Advanced - 118
Win7 HP- 92
TOTAL: $1,374
Easily done, whipped this up at my desk in the office in 5 mins- Not even factoring in bundle discounts, specials or searching around. Newegg should be cheaper as these are brick-and-mortar prices.