Need help with pc build

Need2Learn

Hi Gurus,

I plan to build a PC for around $1000 and would appreciate some advice.

Firstly, I'll be using my pc for gaming (MMORPG/RPG), photoshops, movies, internet, Excel, Engineering software (CAESAR, MATLAB, ANSYS etc..) and I'd really like to do multiple things at once.

I'll be getting my stuff from www.msy.com.au
What I had in mind:

CPU: i5 3450 - $198
Mainboard: Asus P8Z77-V-LX - $138
GPU: GTX 560 - $159
Hard-disk: WD Green 1TB - $95
SSD: OCZ Agility 3 60GB - $65
Case & PSU: Cooler Master Centurion 5 II - $104 (www.netplus.com.au)
RAM: Any 4GB x2 1600MHz - $50
Win 7 Home 64bit - $89
Monitor: Any 21- 22" - $120
Speakers: Creative T20-SII - $69 (I like a 2.0 system)
Mouse & Keyboard: Anything

Total: $1087

All advice is welcome.

Cheers!

Pill Monster · 07-05-2012, 08:21 | posts: 20,520 | Location: NZ

The CM case is fine, but it'll come with a junk PSU. Better to buy case and PSU separately.

I'll see if I can find something...

Need2Learn · 07-05-2012, 08:24 | posts: 41 | Location: Australia

Thanks for that.

Honestly I prefer a separate PSU but I could not find anything that fits my budget.

Was looking at CM Storm Trooper ($92) and any Corsair PSU that's around 500W

Btw, if I am not planning to do any over-clocking, how much power do i need?

Pill Monster · 07-05-2012, 08:37 | posts: 20,520 | Location: NZ

How does this look...? It'll add $50 to your budget.

Antec Three Hundred Tower (out of stock unfortunately).

600W Enermax NAXN 80+ Haven't read any reviews on this Enermax yet, but it's 80+ Silver and comes with a 5yr warranty.

Total Cost: $161.00*

Pill Monster · 07-05-2012, 08:56 | posts: 20,520 | Location: NZ

Damn that MSY site has some insanely good prices...wonder if they ship to NZ and what it would cost....

thatguy91 · 07-05-2012, 09:23 | posts: 2,783 | Location: Australia

Will you be walking into a MSY store or buying online?

If buying online you have to consider postage costs, and there are some other stores that are just as cheap (and actually cheaper for some things) but have much better customer service. It doesn't hurt to shop around a bit

Also other stores may have other options not available at MSY.

You can browse a few other sites like
www.pccasegear.com
www.mwave.com.au
www.greenboxit.com.au (I haven't had any experience with them)

And enter the parts into:
www.staticice.com.au

You may be surprised. For example, the Logitech MK710 keyboard and mouse combo (which is a very good combo) costs $69.95 at Mwave, and yet costs $82 at MSY.

Not sure how getting an Agility/Vertex 4 would be over a 3, but apparently the 4 has been improved a lot...

Since you won't be overclocking (you can't on that processor) you could get something like an Asrock H77-PRO4-MVP motherboard instead, which saves you $39. That money could be put towards getting a Vertex 4 instead of an Agility 3, and you still save $8.

Need2Learn · 07-05-2012, 10:31 | posts: 41 | Location: Australia

I will be buying these parts straight from the stores.

@Pill Monster
Do my build really need a 600W power supply?

Need2Learn · 07-05-2012, 10:33 | posts: 41 | Location: Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatguy91

Not sure how getting an Agility/Vertex 4 would be over a 3, but apparently the 4 has been improved a lot...

Since you won't be overclocking (you can't on that processor) you could get something like an Asrock H77-PRO4-MVP motherboard instead, which saves you $39. That money could be put towards getting a Vertex 4 instead of an Agility 3, and you still save $8.

Thanks for that. I am a bit confused over the big varieties of mainboard.

Pill Monster · 07-05-2012, 10:53 | posts: 20,520 | Location: NZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Need2Learn

I will be buying these parts straight from the stores.

@Pill Monster
Do my build really need a 600W power supply?

No, a decent 500W will be enough.

It pays to have some spare power though, that way the PSU doesn't have to work as hard which means a longer life and lower temps...

I usually figure about 75% load is plenty, so a rig that draws 375W should ideally use a 500W PSU imho..

Need2Learn · 07-05-2012, 11:16 | posts: 41 | Location: Australia

What about Corsair PSU? I know the TX and HX series are pretty solid. What about the cheaper CX series? They any good?

Pill Monster · 07-05-2012, 11:22 | posts: 20,520 | Location: NZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Need2Learn

What about Corsair PSU? I know the TX and HX series are pretty solid. What about the cheaper CX series? They any good?

Which model in particular are you looking at?
There have been about 3 cases on this forum recently where Corsair HX owners had their PSU's blow up....

I would still consider a midrange PSU as long as it had a decent warranty, like 5yrs.

Need2Learn · 07-05-2012, 13:29 | posts: 41 | Location: Australia

Blown up!? Damn that's intense.

I was looking at Corsair CX430 or CX500

facetime · 07-05-2012, 16:29 | posts: 18

You can find Excellent Price for you PC Build Here. I would recommend better PSU for the build, because all component depend on your PSU.

Pill Monster · 07-05-2012, 16:31 | posts: 20,520 | Location: NZ

^What's with all the spambots lately....

facetime · 07-05-2012, 16:41 | posts: 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pill Monster

^What's with all the spambots lately....

Who are you calling Spam Bot?

rflair · 07-05-2012, 23:21 | posts: 2,212 | Location: Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by facetime

Who are you calling Spam Bot?

There have been a lot of SPAM Bots lately. I even checked your other posts just to make sure

.

thatguy91 · 07-06-2012, 00:09 | posts: 2,783 | Location: Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Need2Learn

Thanks for that. I am a bit confused over the big varieties of mainboard.

The Z77 is the board to get if you plan to do overclocking, in which case you need a 'K' CPU. Since your CPU is not unlocked (so you basically can't overclock) the H77 boards save you extra money. They have a few less 'features' that the Z77 boards have, but you certainly won't miss them. It would be far better to put the money difference towards bettering the other components. I suggested the Vertex 4 since it replaces the Vertex 3, and is a 'higher spec' than the Agility drives (of which Agility 4 replaces the Agility 3).

Back to the motherboards, it appears the Asrock H77 Pro4/MVP has better audio, with Realtek ALC892 vs the Asus P8Z77V LX that has ALC887. Apart from that, the only advanatage the Asus board offers is overclocking, something which you can't do with the CPU you chose anyway. The Asus board is only a 4+2 (4+1+1) phase power design anyway, so you'd probably be limited in overclocking if you did decide to later.

In other words, the Asrock board would be the way to go

, otherwise you will need to spend probably an extra $50 (compared with the Asrock board) for a decent overclocking board, another almost $50 for an unlocked processor (i5-3570k), and extra money for RAM faster than 1600, as you might as well make it worthwhile.

Need2Learn · 07-06-2012, 00:20 | posts: 41 | Location: Australia

Thanks again man! And yea I don't think I'll be doing any ocing. H77 is definitely what I want.

What about my other components? Is any of them overkill for my build?

Need2Learn · 07-07-2012, 04:05 | posts: 41 | Location: Australia

Any more advice?

I'd still like the cost to be lower. Is any of my components overkill for my build?

Current build:

CPU: i5 3450 - $198
Mainboard: Asrock H77-PRO4 -MVP - $99
GPU: GTX 560 - $159
Hard-disk: WD Green 1TB - $95
SSD: OCZ Vertex 4 64GB - $95
Case: CM Storm Trooper (SGC-1000) - $92
PSU: Corsair CX500 - $69
RAM: Any 4GB x2 1600MHz - $50
Win 7 Home 64bit - $89
Monitor: Any 21- 22" - $120
Speakers: Creative T20-SII - $69 (I like a 2.0 system)
Mouse & Keyboard: Anything - $15

Total = $1150
Aim to be $1000

Pill Monster · 07-07-2012, 11:12 | posts: 20,520 | Location: NZ

Do you really need a SSD?

clawhamer · *Last edited by clawhamer; 07-07-2012 at 12:26.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Need2Learn

Any more advice?

I'd still like the cost to be lower. Is any of my components overkill for my build?

Current build:

CPU: i5 3450 - $198
Mainboard: Asrock H77-PRO4 -MVP - $99
GPU: GTX 560 - $159
Hard-disk: WD Green 1TB - $95
SSD: OCZ Vertex 4 64GB - $95
Case: CM Storm Trooper (SGC-1000) - $92
PSU: Corsair CX500 - $69
RAM: Any 4GB x2 1600MHz - $50
Win 7 Home 64bit - $89
Monitor: Any 21- 22" - $120
Speakers: Creative T20-SII - $69 (I like a 2.0 system)
Mouse & Keyboard: Anything - $15

Total = $1150
Aim to be $1000

Build looks good, and price isn’t bad considering you’re including a monitor, speakers, mouse & KB.

Do you have options for re-using the I\O devices listed above? If you do, you could save the cash now and replace them later when funds have replenished.

I’d say you owe it to yourself to keep the SSD if it’s possible to stretch the budget to $1150, if everything must be purchased at once. While the SSD isn’t overkill for your system, it really is the only component you could drop and still have a functioning computer – without downgrading the other pieces.

Edit: Just wanted to add to Pill’s question above about the SSD, if you did hold off, it would save you $95 now and you could pick up a either a 120 or 128GB at a later date.

ground_zero298 · 07-07-2012, 12:40 | posts: 464 | Location: michigan

+1 on the skip the ssd, 64gb is not really going to do much for you. When you get close to filling them up, they come to a crawl.

thatguy91 · *Last edited by thatguy91; 07-07-2012 at 12:52.*

With the WD Green drive you definitely would want a SSD, since the focus of a 'Green' drive is on power saving not performance. Instead of getting a WD Green drive for $95, I'd get the 1TB SATA3 Blue drive for $99.

By getting the WD Blue, you could hold off getting a SSD until the prices are cheaper or you can afford to get one. The other reason NOT to get the WD Green, especially as a main drive, is that they're only designed for storage and light use, such as storage for videos and music. Blue drives are designed for 'mainstream' use (such as an OS drive).

Also you won't get a very good keyboard and mouse combo for $15.

8G Kit 1600 Patriot Gamer2 RAM is currently selling for $49.

clawhamer · 07-07-2012, 13:31 | posts: 1,546 | Location: eastcoast.ca

^ good advice

sverek · 07-07-2012, 15:14 | posts: 1,036 | Location: Japan, Soka

I'd say get 64GB SSD for system. They probably won't get cheaper any soon.

You'll notice your system will load up faster and solid system stability won't let you down.
And you can also store frequently used software on it.

I didn't believe in SSDs until I tried them.
And to be honest, I am happier with stability, rather than performance.

Get at least SSD for system, no need to have SSD for games, music, pron stashes... etc...