Attention Mid-Range System Builders - Updated 08/01/2015

[lehtv]

Could you link the bad reviews you read on the HGC-520?

500W from a quality manufacturer is enough for this sort of single-GPU system, especially if it's an AMD card. NVIDIA require more power, not to mention two of them. If you start adding extras like a ton of fans, a watercooling system, PCI-e controller cards, fan controllers etc. then it can still power everything but it'll may have to work hard enough that 600W could be justified.

In your case I would buy a new PSU, especially if you've had the PSU for long. Hiper isn't among the brands I would recommend. It may be enough for your system, but that's the issue right there - it may be. How long was the warranty on the unit?

 

[fffblackmage]

Also on the Asrock motherboard. I've never used Asrock before. Is there a reason you picked them? Do motherboards really make a difference in performance between brands?

If the mobos are all using the same chipset, brand shouldn't make any significant difference in performance. The only difference is probably just reliability (quality of components and design) and features.

edit, also curious about the PSU. I've read bad reviews on that one.. and I didn't know 500 would be enough watts? I have a HIPER PSU I bought in England before I moved to the US . It is 520 watts.. If I upgrade to i5 2500k and a 6950, will I not even need to upgrade my psu?

500W is more than enough for a majority of gaming rigs, unless you're doing SLI or perhaps running one of those dual GPU graphics cards.

The Antec HCG is manufactured by Seasonic, and the 'professional' reviews I've seen have been positive. If you're talking about reviews by consumers, well, they might just have had a lemon.

A good quality PSU like the Antec HCG is perfectly able to power a i5-2500K and 6950 with just "500W." Heck, I have a Phenom II X4 and a 5870 - both of which consume more power than the i5-2500k and 6950 (source: cpu gpu). They're powered by my 4-year-old Antec NeoHE 500W PSU (also Seasonic-made). I happen to have a Kill-A-Watt meter, so I know I'm not even close to exceeding my power supply's power output.

I am not familiar with HIPER, but I've seen reviews where cheap PSUs just fry themselves because they can't even seem to handle half their rated power output. Well, even if they don't fry themselves and the computer its powering, a bad power supply will supply bad power to your components (excessive ripple, poor voltage/current regulation), potentially causing instability and/or permanent damage.

It's not enough to just have enough (or more) power, but you also want a good quality power supply.

 

[mfenn]

If the mobos are all using the same chipset, brand shouldn't make any significant difference in performance. The only difference is probably just reliability (quality of components and design) and features.

Exactly. ASRock isn't exactly skimping on components that they use on the Extreme or Pro line of mobos either.

It's not enough to just have enough (or more) power, but you also want a good quality power supply.

Agree totally. A lot of the reason that people think that they need a PSU with a huge rating is that they're subconsciously compensating for the legion of crappy PSUs out there. Admittedly, overall PSU quality is better than it was in the 90's and early 2000's, but you can still buy some stinkers. However, a quality unit that can output its rated wattage does not have to be very big at all.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

companies WANT you to buy more expensive PSUs. (cough-prebuilt computer sites)

 

[liddabit]

I just got the rest of the money I needed to finish ordering this build. One of the things I still need is the 2500k and the motherboard. I could order it right now, but would it be worthwhile to wait til next week? Will the price drop on the Intel chip with the release of that AMD CPU?

Thanks

 

[mnewsham]

I just got the rest of the money I needed to finish ordering this build. One of the things I still need is the 2500k and the motherboard. I could order it right now, but would it be worthwhile to wait til next week? Will the price drop on the Intel chip with the release of that AMD CPU?

Thanks

Can't hurt to wait and see.

 

[Skott]

I just got the rest of the money I needed to finish ordering this build. One of the things I still need is the 2500k and the motherboard. I could order it right now, but would it be worthwhile to wait til next week? Will the price drop on the Intel chip with the release of that AMD CPU?

Thanks

Its possible that some Intel chip pricing may change once BD actually hits stores. I wouldn't expect huge discounting changes though. They'll be modest most likely if they happen at all.

 

[mfenn]

Its possible that some Intel chip pricing may change once BD actually hits stores. I wouldn't expect huge discounting changes though. They'll be modest most likely if they happen at all.

I agree. BD will have to be pretty good to provoke Intel into lowering its prices significantly. We should see a token ($10 or so) drop just to grab press though.

 

[mfenn]

New build in OP.

 

[mnewsham]

New build in OP.

Why did you replace the Spinpoint F3 with the Hitachi? It is 5 bucks more....

 

[mfenn]

Why did you replace the Spinpoint F3 with the Hitachi? It is 5 bucks more....

It's a single 1TB platter versus two 500GB platters, so it's quieter, cooler, uses less power, and is damn near twice as fast in sequential performance.

 

[mnewsham]

It's a single 1TB platter versus two 500GB platters, so it's quieter, cooler, uses less power, and is damn near twice as fast in sequential performance.

5 dollars :'(

 

[mfenn]

5 dollars :'(

Ya I know. Blame Zap and lehtv.

 

[lehtv]

If I may suggest:

Replace/add the mobo Gigabyte Z68P-DS3 at $80AR. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128520

Bit-tech reviewed it, 24/25 in value score, they managed to also OC the 2500K on it to 4.9 stable . 3 year warranty over 2 on the Asrock. Does lack any USB3 though but still.. Uber value.

(I would also like to see the 64GB SSD suggested at an option... I think in a $1000 build, paying 10% of the total budget for 50% of the SSD space is a tall order. In a $1500 build, would be different.)

 

[mnewsham]

Ya I know. Blame Zap and lehtv.

If i needed a HDD today I would personally stick with the F3 cause I have 5 of them right now already and i trust them, iv had 3 Hitachi (about a year an a half ago) and they all have since died. oh well probably hit and miss with either company but i will go with what i know.

 

[mfenn]

If I may suggest:

Replace/add the mobo Gigabyte Z68P-DS3 at $80AR. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128520

Bit-tech reviewed it, 24/25 in value score, they managed to also OC the 2500K on it to 4.9 stable . 3 year warranty over 2 on the Asrock. Does lack any USB3 though but still.. Uber value.

(I would also like to see the 64GB SSD suggested at an option... I think in a $1000 build, paying 10% of the total budget for 50% of the SSD space is a tall order. In a $1500 build, would be different.)

I did actually have the DS3 in there, but I figured that a $1000 machine should have USB3, so I took it out.

As for the SSD, I can totally see going with 64GB if you need to squeak under $1000. If you wanted to keep the price the same though, I wouldn't change the SSD for any other component. i5 -> i7 or 6950 2GB -> 6970 just aren't good values IMHO.

 

[lehtv]

Does it need to be a $1000 PC then? $1000 is just a round number but in reality it seems that a $1000 build will necessarily have something that is not good value for money. It seems to me it could be a $900 PC instead. Would make a lot more sense. The 128GB SSD just isn't money well spent, considering what's being paid for everything else. BTW the HAF 922 isn't great value either, could have the HAF 912 there instead for $60

 

[liddabit]

Wheee! I just finished building my modified version of this build I am typing this on it now! (SSD IS INCREDIBLE! ). I'm kind of paranoid on sound, temperature and powersupplies. Power supplies just scare me in general, so I went with the Seasonic instead of the HCG, I don't mind paying more there. I also was able to get the MSI Twinfrozr for a little less and the 500r for almost the same as the 400r at a local store.

My i5 2500k is running at 36c (Asrock utility thingy) with moderate gaming, and the HD6950 is running at 43c (Msi afterburner). (Stock speeds)

i5 2500K $220
ASRock Z68 Pro3 $105
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $41
MSI HD6950 Twinfrozr II $239 AR
Crucial M4 128GB $190
Seasonic x650 $98
Corsair 500r $100 AR
Windows 7 home premium 64bit $99
I already had the 1 TB drive and DVDRom. Now the fun of installing old games

Thanks everyone for the help!

Oh also, getting used to windows 7 is going to take awhile! Pretty so far though! Also on other good news, I was able to get the front ports on the 500r working and for the first time I can use the onboard sound system with the headphone jack without hearing any awful background noise!

edit of the edit, when I first turned it on , it kind of startled me how quiet it was compared to my last computer. I can barely hear it, hard drive is the loudest thing, and it even seems quieter. I wonder if the weird mounting bay things in the 500r dampens their sound?

 

[lehtv]

FYI, Antec HCG is built by Seasonic . Amazing deal on the x650 though

 

[liddabit]

FYI, Antec HCG is built by Seasonic . Amazing deal on the x650 though

but does it come in a velvet captain morgans bag!?

Thats good to know though if I ever build again Its hard to get over my paranoia though. I had a Antec Powersupply explode once .. like.. actually go boom, bright flames and fill the room with smoke. Since then I refuse to get bargains on powersupplies ( oh yeah, miraculously, there were sparks off of my motherboard at that time.. and ..the motherboard survived! Old ABIT motherboard.. I just realized, Abit seems to have disappeared 0.o

 

[lehtv]

Haha, I didn't notice Abit's disappearance either. I remember looking at their boards years ago, but it never struck me they're not around anymore

 

[liddabit]

I still have an Abit Mobo box.. I should take a picture ?

(It has funny recommended sites)

 

[Skott]

Bulldozer officially released today.

 

[Ken g6]

Bulldozer officially released today.

So?

Doesn't change a thing for gaming builds, as expected.

 

[mountains]

Bulldozer officially released today.

Everything points to "not competitive for midrange systems."