Gaming Build CPU/Mobo/Ram

[CRCSUX]

Hello everyone, First time building a computer for myself but ive done a few for friends and such.

Firstly my computer will be used for gaming, full 3d games as well as flash based games.
My last computer could run 3d games average but crawled to a halt on flash games

My budget is about $200-250 for cpu 0-200 for ram and 100-200 for mobo.

I will be buying the parts from New Zealand online stores

I prefer Intel atm unless AMD has something good pop up over the last few months.

Parts I already have:
Case Lanboy air
Psu Seasonic X660 watt
Gfx vapor X 4890 1gb
Storage Seagate 3tb drives x2
External dvd writer
Monitor CT-726D 19"ish and 40-42" unnamed Tv
Input Mouse Keyboard

Im partial to overclocking but dont mind either way.

I will be using using 1280x1024 and 1920x1080

I want to build it in the next 1-3 months

I dont need any software as I have XP and Win 8 upgrade.

After this build is done Ill be looking at a SSD and a h100 type of water cooling. Would love suggestions on both of those.

Thanks for any help.
Ps im new here, hopefully the thread format is acceptable

[mfenn]

What sort of games are you interested in (specific titles)? I ask because most newer ones will be massively bottlenecked by a 4890 at 1080p (assuming that your TV is that res).

[CRCSUX]

I dont know many new games as ive been kept in the dark ages by my current comp.

I will upgrade my gfx card one day (few months or so) to a 560ti, 660 or 7970 basically whatevers a good price/power ratio when I can afford it.

But id buy the latest games if I had a comp that can run it.
Id like to be able to run the new unreal engine and crytek based games.

Hope that helps.

[lehtv]

Crytek based games are in the same category as new releases - yes, even the original Crysis from 2007. Unreal Engine 3 games (Mass Effect trilogy, Dishonored, etc) should be handled just fine by your 4890.

[CRCSUX]

I meant the yet to be released engines (unreal 4 crytek3? dx10/11?) The real cool looking ones.

I think I have the ram sorted.
So i just need a cpu / mobo
and ideas on a SSD and Cooling.
and ideas on a good power/price gfx card.

[dmoney1980]

At the moment, the best bang for your buck GPU is a Radeon 7950, you can easily overclock it to 7970 levels. For the CPU I would recommend a i5 3570k. For the motherboard you can get an ATX z77 based board, something like an ASrock z77 extreme 4, or one of the ASUS / Gigabyte variants. The Asrock is heavily favored on this forum, and for good reason; it overclocks well, has the fastest POST (boot) time, and generally performs within 3% of spec on gaming workloads. It really depends on what features you're looking for in a motherboard. If you don't need dual LAN, blutooth, wifi, etc than I would recommend the ASrock board. You can get a great board without spending a lot

What model RAM are you getting?

SSD- Samsung 830, Crucial M4, Plextor m3s, and Intel are all solid choices.

Cooling- you don't need to spend a lot of money here, a Cooler Master hyper 212 or hyper 412 would cover you. The 212 doesn't have the best mounting system, and the fan is a bit loud (the 412 improves on both).

[lehtv]

and ideas on a good power/price gfx card.

It depends on how much you want to spend. Any of 7850, GTX 660, 7870, GTX 660 Ti, 7950 GTX 670 can be good bang for buck.

[CRCSUX]

Yes I like the look of the Asrock board, I think ill go for that and an I5 3570k

For ram i got (it probably sucks) G.skill ares 4x8gb 1866 1.5v. It was cheap.

[lehtv]

No, that RAM doesn't suck, it's great. It's just a waste of cash, even if it was cheap. You don't need 32GB of RAM, you need 8GB. Return it and buy 2x4GB 1600MHz

Curious as to why you bought RAM already if you're building in 1-3 months

[CRCSUX]

Ill be using it all as I plan to run some kinda of ram disk.
It was $150 dollars vs $300 id normally pay for 16 gb or $600 for 32 gb
^NZD$^

I brought it now as I wont be able to get a deal like that ever again around here.
If i decide on the i5 and the asrock ill buy it as soon as I have the money, so maybe right after xmas.

Once I have those ill have a working computer and ill get a new gfx card / SSD in feb/mar

[mfenn]

What is a web site that you use to order parts from? We can take a look and suggest good deals on mobos.

[CRCSUX]

Good idea, I use http://www.pricespy.co.nz its like an indexing website.
It points me to the cheapest of the item i want.
Normally it points to http://www.computerlounge.co.nz

The asrock seems to go for about $200and i5 goes for $300

[Rockinfella2k]

ASRock is what I went with on my build, even out of all the reviews on newegg and techbargains everybody seems to favor them. Usually I'm partial to Asus or MSI but ASRock seems to be the new favorite.

[mfenn]

Here's a reasonable build given your budget:

i5 3570K $300
ASRock Z77 Pro3 $155
Kingston DDR3 1600 8GB $63
Total: $518

Take the other $132 from your budget and put it towards a GPU upgrade because that'll be your next bottleneck.

[CRCSUX]

Thanks mfenn Ill go with that - the ram as I already have some now.
Ill buy the cpu/mobo next week and start saving for the gpu.

Would a 6850 or 560 be worth it or shoot for something like a 580/660 or 7850 OC or not. I saw some 2nd hand for $250-400.

Or maybe sli 2 560/6850? if they are cheap enough. Either way ill research those cards closer to the date (probably late jan early feb).

Ill skip on the ssd for now as I have plenty of ram for a ram disk

[mfenn]

RAM disks sound like a good idea in theory but they really aren't in practice. 8 GB isn't really all that much and you have to manage loading and unloading stuff in a safe way.

As for GPUs, I would definitely NOT try to SLI/CFX two midrange/low-end cards. You're better off getting one more powerful card. As for how powerful of a card or "need", that really depends on how much money you want to spend and what types of games you play.

[CRCSUX]

Ok thanks, I think ill try for a 570/580/660 or amd equivalent.

As for the ram disk, im getting 32 gb so it will be cool id say.

[mfenn]

Definitely do NOT get an older generation card like the 570 or 580 unless it is very cheap, (less than the price of a GTX 660).

[CRCSUX]

The cheapest 660 is $350 and the cheapest 7850 is $250 or 7950 $450 but I think id spent an extra $10-40 on a better brand. There just something off about powercolour.

But maybe the prices are all up in the air in 1-2 months time. :/
Is a 650 an option? Or are they all 128bit?

May I ask why not an older gen? I would think a 580 would be close to par with a 660 and if its cheaper why not.

Anyway I think ill have to wait until I get the mobo/cpu install with my current card and see how it performs. If it plays what I want now ill hold off a gfx card until I find a game that nails it. Atm my 4890 can go to 960mHz i think (havnt OCed for awhile).

[mfenn]

Originally Posted by CRCSUX

The cheapest 660 is $350 and the cheapest 7850 is $250 or 7950 $450 but I think id spent an extra $10-40 on a better brand. There just something off about powercolour.

There's nothing wrong with PowerColor if the price is right. They're a perfectly reliable AMD AIB manufacturers. They're not ususally the most innovative when it comes to coolers, so it all comes down to how much you value that. Don't buy based on brand, buy based on features and performance.

Originally Posted by CRCSUX

But maybe the prices are all up in the air in 1-2 months time. :/

Absolutely.

Originally Posted by CRCSUX

Is a 650 an option? Or are they all 128bit?

Anything's an option depending on how much you want to spend and what performance you're looking for. A GTX 650 isn't going to be huge boost over your 4890 though.

Originally Posted by CRCSUX

May I ask why not an older gen? I would think a 580 would be close to par with a 660 and if its cheaper why not.

The older generation cards are much hotter, louder, and don't have enough VRAM to be really forward looking.

[CRCSUX]

One month later and finally I get the items I ordered, Thanks to all that helped.

Sorry my camera sux, but not as much as usps

[mfenn]

Do it work????

[CRCSUX]

Id hope so will put it together in about 1-2 hours. Just in time aswell my current comp is reading 110c on hwmonitor tmpin0.

[CRCSUX]

ok got the cpu in the mobo, plugged in the 24 pin and the 8 pin. Flick the psu on and it clicks, like a breaker is tripping. Ive tried re plugging in the psu connectors and re seating the cpu. Any Ideas?

Edit the psu wont trip if I disconnect the 8 pin and the cpu fan will spin up, no display or post or debug code

[VirtualLarry]

I don't see a picture of a CPU heatsink. You did get a heatsink to go with that CPU, didn't you?