Help with new gaming build!

[farid]

Hi!

A friend would like to upgrade his old rig for something new, mainly for gaming (MW3, WoW, BF3, Alan Wake and obviously new games) and some AUTOCAD work.

After reading some reviews, I did a selection of all the items that he should buy, but we still don't know which MOBO or GPU he should buy. He has a CorsairTX 700W PSU and a 120GB SSD, so I don't think that he should spend money on that. His budget is around 600ish $$$.

So, finnally heres the build:
CPU: Intel Core i5 3570k. For his budget is the best choice at that price.

Memory: G-Skill Ripjaws X Series - 8GB DDR3 1600MHz

GPU: Here we go:
ASUS ENGTX560 TI DCII TOP/2DI/1GD5

EVGA SuperClocked GeForce GTX 560

Or the most tempting, but not sure tho: EVGA GeForce GTX 480

Im pretty sure that I should go with the GTX480 @$209.99 on Amazon, the only thing that stops us is that is an "old" card, and I dont know if he should get the cheap GTX560 until the next "GTX660 Ti" goes out (if it does).

MOBO: I believe most of them are almost the same, I really really like the ASUS Maximus V Gene, but maybe I could get something that is the same thing for 120-150 bucks, so here we go again:

ASUS Maximus V Gene Z77

MSI Z77A-GD5

GIGABYTE Z77X-UD3H I own this MOBO and I really like it tho, maybe the Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H.

ASUS P8Z77-V LE

Thats it, we are open to any suggestion on any of those components, so if we can save some bucks it would be awesome!

Thanks a lot for your help guys!!!

[cmaxvt]

Couple of big questions: Does he plan on overclocking? And is gaming a priority? If gaming were a priority you might want to take a step up from the 560's. I have a very similar build that I recently did, but I have a GTX 670. it literally laughs at everything I throw at it, but it is $400.

If you want to get a HD 7850, that is a pretty good sweet spot for price. The Maximus V Gene is great, but you may not need to spend that, especially if not overclocking. If you are, I went with the Asrock Extreme4 Z77 and I am incredibly happy with it... first Asrock board and between the BIOS, easy setup, lower price and good components/heatsinks for OCing, I am pleasantly surprised at how good this board is.

Don't get a cheap ASUS, you lose a lot of functionality. Gotta spend at least $180~ for a good Z77 ASUS board sadly. Your Gigabyte is also a good choice, but still slightly expensive. \

I just went through all this research like you did. Honestly, get the i5-3570k, Extreme4 (still overclocks well) I have the exact same memory and so do tons of people, good stuff.

See if he cant' splurg on the video card tho, if you can't get a 670 (best price/performance there is right now) there is a deal out there for an AMD 7950 for close to $300 right now I think, that might be even better pricepoint.

An AMD 7850 is also a good option, but like I said, the 670 is by far the best bang for buck.

[Crap Daddy]

I would suggest this card:

HIS IceQ X H785QN2G2M Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit G...

[cmaxvt]

Originally Posted by Crap Daddy

I would suggest this card:

HIS IceQ X H785QN2G2M Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit G...

There ya go. Crapdaddy has it right (as usual). The 7850 are a significantly better card than any 560 Ti.. and they are about the same price.

I would still splurge for the Windforce 670 tho.. best card upgrade I've ever had. GIGABYTE GV-N670OC-2GD GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit...

The thing is the same price as a reference gtx 670 but has the quietest/most efficient aftermarket cooler I've ever owned, and is factory overclocked, has the GTX 680 PCB, etc.

[LGV]

I would buy this:
SAMSUNG 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600...
link in tpu : http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Samsung/MV-3V4G3/

[MxPhenom 216]

Originally Posted by LGV

I would buy this:
SAMSUNG 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600...
link in tpu : http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Samsung/MV-3V4G3/

really? Im pretty sure that ram isn't even compadible with z77 boards. There are way way way better options. That stuff is like server memory or something.

Here this is what you actually want for memory

G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDR...

[farid]

Hey, thanks for all those answers, he is planning on OC that i5, the thing is that those GPU's are near $300 and we are looking for something close to the $250ish range. We really like nVidia, so thats why I picked those cards, is the 7850 a future proof gpu?

[cmaxvt]

I am pretty sure that RAM is great, and would work fine, but when it comes to RAM..there are so many options at the 2x4 1600 DDR3 that whatever you pick will work fine in the $50~ range.

[MxPhenom 216]

Originally Posted by cmaxvt

I am pretty sure that RAM is great, and would work fine, but when it comes to RAM..there are so many options at the 2x4 1600 DDR3 that whatever you pick will work fine in the $50~ range.

are you using that memory. because it doesn't look like itll work in normal desktop DDR3 slots.

EDIT: it does work in normal slots, but I would not use that memory in a gaming build, or any build for that matter. Looks cheap.

[cmaxvt]

The 7850 is $250ish and is a much better card than the 560 Ti. As far as futureproof.. it has a better feature set than last gen 560's.... but I wouldn't consider any cards in that price range "future proof". It is much more futureproof than the options you laid out though.

If you really want a 560 Ti, you can get one of these..

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...M1lWxfoj4wccvw

You can also start getting last gen 570's for that price, why 560 Ti's?

MSI N570GTX Twin Frozr II GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) ...

That would be a much better purchase at that price.

[MxPhenom 216]

this whole aspect of future proofing a rig is nearly impossible. Once you build the rig, a day later its obsolete. Its impossible to build a rig thats future proof.

[cmaxvt]

Originally Posted by nvidiaintelftw

are you using that memory. because it doesn't look like itll work in normal desktop DDR3 slots.

EDIT: it does work in normal slots, but I would not use that memory in a gaming build, or any build for that matter. Looks cheap.

The techpowerup review is quite appealing of it actually. it overclocks like nuts and doesn't run hot. Samsung probably makes some of the best memory available for any platform, with a correctly cooled case I am 100% certain that memory would be just as good if not better than any run of the mill gskill, corsair, etc. However, I never overclock my RAM and I am pretty certain when it comes to gamign there just aren't that good of rewards for doing so.

[LGV]

Originally Posted by nvidiaintelftw

really? Im pretty sure that ram isn't even compadible with z77 boards

you wrong, read the thread

Features:-

- Model Name: MV-3V4G3D/US
- Main Board: INTEL/AMD
- System: DESKTOP/SFF
- System Type: DDR3
- M/B Chipset: INTEL P67, Z68, Z77, X79 & AMD Chipsets
- CAS Latency: 11-11-11-28 1N
- Capacity: 8GB (4GBx2)
- Speed: DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800)
- Test Voltage: 1.25-1.55V
- Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
- Error Checking: Non-ECC
- Type: 240-pin DIMM Low Profile
- Warranty: Lifetime


Overclocking Features (Not Guaranteed)

- 1600MHz (7-8-8-24 1N) @ 1.40v
- 1866MHz (9-9-9-27 1N) @ 1.40v
- 2000MHz (9-10-10-28 1N) @ 1.45v
- 2133MHz (10-10-10-28 1N) @ 1.45v
- 2400MHz (11-11-11-28 2N) @ 1.50v
- In our own in house testing we were able to achieve all the above clock speeds on an Asus X79 platform with 4x4GB modules (16GB total) SuperPI Stable too, 32M

[LGV]

Originally Posted by nvidiaintelftw

EDIT: it does work in normal slots, but I would not use that memory in a gaming build, or any build for that matter. Looks cheap.

wrong again
Its a new 30nm , no other memory makers have thet now.
this ram eat thet g-skill for breakfast

[TRWOV]

The GIGABYTE Z77X-UD3H is a very good board for the money.

If your friend isn't a heavy overclocked you might save a few bucks by going for the Z77-D3H instead. Its feature set is similar to the ASUS P8Z77-V LE but cheaper.

[dude12564]

Originally Posted by LGV

wrong again
Its a new 22nm , no other memory makers have thet now.
this ram eat thet g-skill for breakfast

22nm? what?

It says 30nm on the link - and i'm pretty sure 22nm is for CPUs.

[farid]

Originally Posted by TRWOV

The GIGABYTE Z77X-UD3H is a very good board for the money.

If your friend isn't a heavy overclocked you might save a few bucks by going for the Z77-D3H instead. Its feature set is similar to the ASUS P8Z77-V LE but cheaper.

And what about the MSI? Im not a big fan of this brand, but those Z77 MOBOS looks really really nice...

Onto the GPU I think he might be going for that GTX480 since its @$199.99 on Amazon... I told him to go with the 560TI but he doesnt want to spend those extra bucks neither for the HD7850 that crap daddy found...

On the other hand, I would really like to change my EVGA 560 but I dont know if I should wait a little bit for the upcoming nVidia GTX 6 series...

[cmaxvt]

Don't get the 480 for that price. you can find deals for 570's for close to that, and that is a much better card. The 480 eats a TON OF power runs SUPER hot and is the noisiest card made in a long time.

The MSI brand is much improved. My buddy's last build was on a mid-tier MSI P67 and he couldn't be happier. I would have gotten one myself had I not needed legacy PCI support. Any of those boards will be so similar it really comes down to which features you want.

[ckoons1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPSDU...eature=related

[farid]

That ASRock MOBO looks great.. Lets see if my friend likes it!

Thanks a lot ckoons!

[TRWOV]

Originally Posted by farid

And what about the MSI? Im not a big fan of this brand, but those Z77 MOBOS looks really really nice...

I don't know much about MSI, GYGABYTE and Asrock are everything I've used so far. There are like 6 board manufacturers with official distribution in Mexico (Asrock, Gygabyte, Asus, ECS, PCCHIPS AND Intel) so you see the same boards everywhere.

Still that MSI board seems to be on par with the GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H. I like that it has heatsinks for both VRM sets unlike the UD3H. Newegg has a discount on it right now, usually goes for $170 apparently.


edit: Maybe this will come in handy:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...-a2x,3187.html
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5793/i...gabyte-and-msi
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5850/g...7-and-microatx