My first gaming build

[Saltystew]

Hello I'm new on this forum and I saw how nice and helpful people were and I would really appreciate if someone more experienced in building computers could be of some help to me

This is as far as I've gotten I can't for the life of me accurately figure out the amount of wattage i need my friends just kept saying go for a 750w but i already own a 525w and if i don't need a new one why buy one, i also already have windows 7 and a CD drive so i don't need those. Any suggestions on any item would be greatly appreciated

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1c6n6
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1c6n6/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1c6n6/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.39 @ Amazon)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($84.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.98 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($176.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Antec Eleven Hundred ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $901.30
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-01 04:35 EDT-0400)

 

[RCoon]

Change the SSD to a Samsung 120 Basic. I just dont think Kingston SSD's are as fast.
Why go IB 3770k when you can go Haswell 4770K and a generic Z87 MoBo? Get the best you can afford.
Also, is that 525w PSU 80 Plus Bronze rated? If not, then you should think about getting a 550w or higher Bronze/Silver/Gold rated PSU.

 

[Saltystew]

no the psu isnt 80 plus certified anything didnt think it mattered that much, and are is a regular z87 better then what i put in the post, 4770k is like 100$ more almost every where i looked.

 

[RCoon]

PSU's are probably the most important thing in the whole system, make sure you get hold of a 550w bronze PSU or better.
Corsair, NZXT, Seasonic, Antec, to name but a few good quality brands.
Z87 is for Haswell, I strongly recommend you go haswell, whether its 4670k or 4770k. No sense in buying into an older generation. I doubt you'll see a difference in games between the 4670k and the 4770k anyway.

 

[Saltystew]

MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate LGA 1150 Intel Z87 HDMI SATA 6...

that a good mobo ? never looked into msi and would a 600w or 650w be okay for what I have or should I just buy a 550w that has 80 bronze certified ?

and I don't mean to sound stupid as I said I'm new to this whole thing what does the K stand for in 4770k


(New) the only thing i really want for sure on the mobo is at least 4 ram sockets and the right cpu socket

 

[RCoon]

No worries man, the 550w is a minimum sort of PSU standard for single CPU single GPU setup to allow a nice amount of efficiency and headroom for a PC. I know the Corsiar Builder CS600 is a good Bronze PSU to look at.
K series are Overclocking chips, non K's dont overclock in the same way or very much at all. That motherboard is great and just fine, if you're not overclocking.
If you do want to overclock, look at something along the lines of a Sabertooth, GD65, Extreme3, UD3 or better (these are all models of motherboards from various brands, which are midrange-high end boards, capable of very good overclocks)
That board will overclock, but not quite as high as those other boards I mentioned. But you're using a CM Hyper 212 Evo, so you wont be looking for epic high overclocks anyway. So yeah, I reckon that board would be OK.

 

[Saltystew]

I don't really know if I want to overclock I'm new to all this and I don't even know how to do that so maybe not for my first computer lol but I looked up that psu and its 70$ on newegg and I say that's pretty nice, I kinda have to ask cause its what a lot of people have told me but I was always told just because its the newest doesn't mean its the best, I looked at a review and it said that a 3770k vs a 4770k isn't all that different and you cant even tell unless your monitoring it, so since you probably know more than i do what do you say to that ?

http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews...processors/intel-core-i7-4770k-1156062/review

 

[RCoon]

I don't really know if I want to overclock I'm new to all this and I don't even know how to do that so maybe not for my first computer lol but I looked up that psu and its 70$ on newegg and I say that's pretty nice, I kinda have to ask cause its what a lot of people have told me but I was always told just because its the newest doesn't mean its the best, I looked at a review and it said that a 3770k vs a 4770k isn't all that different and you cant even tell unless your monitoring it, so since you probably know more than i do what do you say to that ?

http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews...processors/intel-core-i7-4770k-1156062/review

Newest isnt always best, but its general practice not to buy an older generation when you're new to things Z77 is an old socket now. There is about 10% difference between Ivy and Haswell. The cost difference between a 3570k and a 4670k is about £10 here, so a 4670k is a no brainer. There is no reason to buy a x770 processor unless you're running 2 graphics cards or doing Autocad and rendering. You simply dont need those extra 4 threads for games AT ALL.
I strongly recommend a 4670 Non K version and that MSI MoBo then.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

If feel different about the whole 1155 socket being dead thing. Sure, there are no more CPU that are going to be produced for 1155. But considering the minor performance differences, if you can get a 1155 system for $100 less than 1150, I'd say go for it. Sure, 1150 will have another line of CPUs, but considering the minor performance gains over the past three generations of CPUs, do you honestly think upgrading would be worth the cost? Plus, when the next line of 1150 CPUs are released, chances are there will also be a new chipset released, just like when Ivy Bridge was released with the Z77 chipset. I'm still using my 2600k, and don't feel that a Haswell upgrade would yield me any noticeable gains. I feel the 3770k will be in the same position my 2600k is in when the new 1150 socket CPUs are release. Yes they will out perform the 2600k/3770k/4770k, but not by much, not enough to justify the upgrade.

 

[RCoon]

If feel different about the whole 1155 socket being dead thing. Sure, there are no more CPU that are going to be produced for 1155. But considering the minor performance differences, if you can get a 1155 system for $100 less than 1150, I'd say go for it. Sure, 1150 will have another line of CPUs, but considering the minor performance gains over the past three generations of CPUs, do you honestly think upgrading would be worth the cost? Plus, when the next line of 1150 CPUs are released, chances are there will also be a new chipset released, just like when Ivy Bridge was released with the Z77 chipset. I'm still using my 2600k, and don't feel that a Haswell upgrade would yield me any noticeable gains. I feel the 3770k will be in the same position my 2600k is in when the new 1150 socket CPUs are release. Yes they will out perform the 2600k/3770k/4770k, but not by much, not enough to justify the upgrade.

But he isnt upgrading. He's buying from fresh, and when it comes to buying fresh, you should get the best you can possibly afford.
If he were upgrading, I would 100% agree with your arguement, I wouldnt change my processor for the sake of ~10%.
4670k isnt much more expensive than a 3570k at all, and I think the 3/4770k is unnecessary for his gaming needs. Especially with that choice of GPU.

 

[Saltystew]

Well i actually am upgrading i just never built the computer im using it was bought pre made i didnt bother saying that cause it had a dual core cpu and thats sad gpu is a 9800 gt has 4gb of ram 525w psu i play alot of games and im looking forward to watchdogs thats what this system upgrade is for now a 660 is no titan but if you think its not all that decent what do you suggest ?

 

[RCoon]

Well i actually am upgrading i just never built the computer im using it was bought pre made i didnt bother saying that cause it had a dual core cpu and thats sad gpu is a 9800 gt has 4gb of ram 525w psu i play alot of games and im looking forward to watchdogs thats what this system upgrade is for now a 660 is no titan but if you think its not all that decent what do you suggest ?

with a 4670 (non K) and your desired Z87 MoBo, could you afford a GTX 760? They currently hit the price/performance nail on the head quite well.
You could also get a H87 motherboard instead, if you're not going to overclock by the way, a decent ~$100 H87 Mobo would do well for Non K series chips without overclocking.

EDIT: I do love potatoes (Irish here)

 

[BarbaricSoul]

when it comes to buying fresh, you should get the best you can possibly afford.

See, that's where you and I are different. Personally, I feel he/she should buy what will give him/her the best performance for his/her money. If he/she can get 90% of the performance of Haswel for $100 less, then I feel that would be their best deal.

I agree about the whole i5 compared to i7 for gaming, i7 is not needed.

OP, what is the price difference between the 4670 and 3570 CPUs?

 

[BarbaricSoul]

a 660 is no titan but if you think its not all that decent what do you suggest ?

I'd suggest looking at the $310 Sapphire HD7970. SAPPHIRE 100351SR Radeon HD 7970 3GB 384-bit GDDR5...

 

[Saltystew]

hmmm never looked at a radeon gpu my plan for this was to buy the mobo cpu ram and maybe a cpu fan and heatsink at soon as possible and then buy the gpu later (im kinda impatient) im going to be switching stuff out as i go kinda thing is what i was planing to do is a 660 not worth getting any more ? not that your suggestion isnt helpful im just curious.

 

[RCoon]

I'd suggest looking at the $310 Sapphire HD7970. SAPPHIRE 100351SR Radeon HD 7970 3GB 384-bit GDDR5...

760 is near identical in performance at $250 ($60 cheaper), but the 7970 is generally a beast of a card when OC'd past the Ghz mark, and comes with more VRAM.

hmmm never looked at a radeon gpu my plan for this was to buy the mobo cpu ram and maybe a cpu fan and heatsink at soon as possible and then buy the gpu later (im kinda impatient) im going to be switching stuff out as i go kinda thing is what i was planing to do is a 660 not worth getting any more ? not that your suggestion isnt helpful im just curious.

I'd avoid the 6xx series for now, and just look at the 7xx nvidia series or the current 7xxx series from AMD, the 7950 and 7970. AMD may take a while to bring out their new Gen at the end of this or start of next year.

 

[Saltystew]

760 is near identical in performance at $250

well it is cheaper just looked it up, whats up with this overclock stuff what does it exactly do besides make it run faster? im guessing it wont last as long and it runs hotter am i right ?

 

[RCoon]

well it is cheaper just looked it up, whats up with this overclock stuff what does it exactly do besides make it run faster? im guessing it wont last as long and it runs hotter am i right ?

Gives you a decent framerate improvement, and theres a graph for general performance improvements on overclocked settings (These are all REFERENCE CARDS), obviously the 7970 could then overclock and in turn get better framerates. In terms of stock performance, 7970 is better.

You can change fan profiles so the fan will cool it better (all be it marginally louder) so heat doesnt necessarily aways rise, and GPU's can run for years and years while overclocked.

 

[Saltystew]

hmmmmm i dont know is a 7 fps increase really worth another 80$

 

[RCoon]

hmmmmm i dont know is a 7 fps increase really worth another 80$

You gaming on 1 monitor at 1080p and want everything on Max graphics?
If yes, then 7970. Why? Because AA, SSAO.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

hmmmmm i dont know is a 7 fps increase really worth another 80$

I'd have to say no myself.

 

[Saltystew]

sound like some sales person XD, thats good, so say i get the 7970 what cpu am i going to need to keep up with that ? not that i know a lot about any of this but the other guys last suggestion an i5 4670 non k version would that be enough ?

 

[RCoon]

sound like some sales person XD, thats good, so say i get the 7970 what cpu am i going to need to keep up with that ? not that i know a lot about any of this but the other guys last suggestion an i5 4670 non k version would that be enough ?

What CPU will you need to keep up? an AMD A8 is more than capable of handling 7970.
4670 non K will be way more than enough,

 

[Deleted member 24505]

sound like some sales person XD, thats good, so say i get the 7970 what cpu am i going to need to keep up with that ? not that i know a lot about any of this but the other guys last suggestion an i5 4670 non k version would that be enough ?

If you don't plan to overclock, there is not much point getting a K, the 4670 non K will do a fine job.

 

[RCoon]

Here's a non CPU intesive game:

And a CPU intesive game: