Upcoiming IB build. Please critique!

[tbris84]

The 7950 got cheaper on Newegg. Maybe you can snag a 7970 since those got cheaper as well.

 

That's actually why I'm leaning towards the 7950. I was originally going for the 7870, but the 7950 is so close in price it's a no brainer.

 

Then you can worship XSPC right along with me http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11743/ex-wat-159/XSPC_Rasa_750_RS240_Universal_CPU_Water_Cooling_Kit_w_Free_Kill_Coil.html?tl=g30c83s137

 

It has better cooling than the H100 without fans that sound like a F22 raptor.

 

Someone from overclock.net recommended the 130$ XSPC kit, definitely looks like a viable option. It's only 15$ more than the H100.

Edited April 19, 2012 by tbris84

[tbris84]

You know what's even neater than the Hydro series....the stock cooler

 

lol, true, but the stock cooler isn't efficient!

 

So you want to get a microATX board to save money, understandable...but why not save even more money get a get a mid-tower case?

 

Well, like I was saying before this build is my first build with a decent budget, but a lot of that is going into a case and power supply. Both the case and power supply are components that I tend to keep for 2-3 builds. While I don't plan on overclocking this system, I may change my mind and then I would be shooting myself for getting a tiny case. I'm looking at the 650D now, which is a mid-tower. It has a lot of room, but lacks the compartmentalization the 800D has.

 

He'll never see the difference in day to day apps.

 

I tend to agree.

 

I can swear by my PC Power and Cooling PSU's but unfortunately it looks like he's only looking for a modular unit.

 

Yeah, I really want a fully or at least mostly modular power supply. I really hate the cluster of unused cables in the bottom of my case. I don't mind paying a bit more for that luxury.

[Hyper]

That's actually why I'm leaning towards the 7950. I was originally going for the 7870, but the 7950 is so close in price it's a no brainer.

 

 

 

Someone from overclock.net recommended the 130$ XSPC kit, definitely looks like a viable option. It's only 15$ more than the H100.

 

 

I have a XSPC water block on my i7-3930k and it works quite well.

[tbris84]

I'm just about settled on this build.

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Microcenter)

CPU Cooler: Corsair H80 92.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($79.99 @ Newegg)

Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($147.86 @ Newegg)

Memory: Samsung 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Microcenter)

Hard Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($144.99 @ Newegg)

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Video Card ($507.55 @ Newegg)

Case: NZXT Switch 810 (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($169.99 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: SeaSonic 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($140.17 @ Newegg)

Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $1435.52

(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

(Generated 2012-04-19 23:40 EDT-0400)

 

It's under my $1500 budget, and it includes the best GPU available (a first for me) and an upgrade-able water cooling kit.

 

Any disagreements with any of the components? Thanks for your help guys!

Edited April 20, 2012 by tbris84

[IVIYTH0S]

lol, true, but the stock cooler isn't efficient!

Define efficient

 

Well, like I was saying before this build is my first build with a decent budget, but a lot of that is going into a case and power supply. Both the case and power supply are components that I tend to keep for 2-3 builds. While I don't plan on overclocking this system, I may change my mind and then I would be shooting myself for getting a tiny case. I'm looking at the 650D now, which is a mid-tower. It has a lot of room, but lacks the compartmentalization the 800D has.

Hater's gunna hate, I love my mid tower. Unless you're running more than one graphics card (and intense water cooling), I see little reason to get a full tower.

 

Have you looked at something like the HAF series (I love me some HAF 912!)

 

Yeah, I really want a fully or at least mostly modular power supply. I really hate the cluster of unused cables in the bottom of my case. I don't mind paying a bit more for that luxury.

That's fair, I just show all my wires out the back like a champ lol

 

Plan A

Intel Core i5 2500K/3570K ($220)

nVidia GTX 680 ($510)

ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ($148)

XSPC Rasa 750 RS240 kit ($130)

NZXT Switch 810D ($170)

Crucial M4 128GB ($140)

Samsung 8GB DDR3-1600 ($47)

SeaSonic M12II 750 ($140)

[$1505]

 

Plan B

Intel Core i5 2500/3570K (<$220)

AMD 7950 Price dropped to $400

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H ($150)

Corsair Hydro H100 ($110)

Corsair 650D ($170)

Crucial M4 128GB ($140)

Samsung 8GB DDR3-1600 ($47)

SeaSonic M12II 750 ($140)

[$1377]

 

Wouldn't mind having the best of the best in terms of GPU's for once. Pretty sweet build, both of them really. If only the Samsung memory was in stock. (Where did all my Corsair stuff go? lol)

If you're going to fork out that kinda money for a case, get the right one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

 

I still say just run stock cooler until you want to overclock.

 

Build A for 680

 

I'd change the SSD to this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226152 or if you don't mind MIR's like me: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227706

[Rofltroll]

Quite a change going from 7850 to 680

 

Edit: get the coolermaster HAF case.

Edited April 20, 2012 by Rofltroll

[vandreadstriker]

If you're going to fork out that kinda money for a case, get the right one

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811119160

 

I still say just run stock cooler until you want to overclock.

 

 

Edit: get the coolermaster HAF case.

 

+1

[tbris84]

not a bad idea, running rthe stock cooler until I decide to oc, but I'd ike to get all the purchasing over with. I will think about it though.

 

I was between the vertex and m4 ssd's, the m4 seemed to get better reviews. would either one be noticeably faster or slower with everyday apps and games?

 

my roommate has the haf 932, I don't like the style of the haf line. I really like the nzxt switch 810 black. not to expensive and feature rich with lots of room.

 

on my phone now, will be infront of a computer again in 6hrs. back to researching. lol

[Fogel]

I am one of those people who think the case is more about your personality more than anything else. Sure there are logical reason we all select the case we do but there is still that personal choice. No one liked my idea of going with the 600T case - I bought it anyway and it turned out to be my favorite purchase.

 

I say pick the case you want ...even if 200 ppl say to pick 932. I'm not crazy about it either. Best thing I can say is, don't over think it. If you can budget the case you want, buy it. You will be more happy with it than one someone else picked. I think the Switch looks pretty good - you could do some neat things with it.

 

Your build looks good. I haven't used a Marvell based SSD so I really can't say for sure if you can tell the difference between the M4 and a Vertex. I'm pretty sensitive to latency so I think I would be able to tell the difference. When I made some tweaks to my SSD I could tell immediately which tweaks degraded my performance even before I ran a benchmark to confirm but most people say they don't notice any difference what so ever and the M4 is one of the most popular choices here.

[tbris84]

This is what I'm looking at so far. Ordered my PSU, Memory, and SSD.

 

● SSD - $136 - Samsung 830 128GB (ordered)

● PSU - $120 - SeaSonic X750 Fully Modular (ordered)

● MEM - $46 - Samsung Eco 30nm 2x4GB DDR3-1600 (ordered)

◌ GPU - $510 - EVGA GTX 680 (out of stock)

◌ CPU - $212 - Intel Core i5 3570K (4/29)

◌ BOX - $185 - NZXT Switch 810

◌ MBo - $145 - ASRock Z77 Extreme4

◌ HSF - $130 - XSPC Rasa RS240 (out of stock)

Total: $1484 $1548

[viperk1]

Good luck getting a 680

 

I'm in the same boat. Waiting for a 3570K and 680 to be available. There's a pretty nice Galaxy GTX 680 available. Factory OC'd to 1110 MHz. But I've never got a Galaxy brand card before and I don't know if they're reliable. (link)

[tbris84]

Ordered my Processor, Motherboard and Corsair 800D this morning! I just couldn't pull the trigger on the Switch 810, high gloss plastic is too tacky looking.

 

● BOX - $260 - Corsair 800D (ordered)

● CPU - $250 - Intel Core i5 3570K (ordered)

● MBo - $145 - ASRock Z77 Extreme4 (ordered)

● SSD - $136 - Samsung 830 128GB (ordered)

● PSU - $120 - SeaSonic X750 Fully Modular (ordered)

● MEM - $46 - Samsung Eco 30nm 2x4GB DDR3-1600 (ordered)

◌ GPU - $510 - EVGA GTX 680 (out of stock)

◌ HSF - $130 - XSPC Rasa RS240 (out of stock)

Total: $1587 $1583 (Saved: $-4 so far) So much for the $1500 budget. -_-