Finally building a new system, looking for advice on components

[bozack]

EDIT with requested information:

1. System will be used for general computing and gaming mainly SimCity and FPS like Battlefield

2. Budget is around a thousand though less is always better

3. USA

4. N/A only buying in USA

5. No brand preferences

6. No Current Parts Reused unless it would make sense to, current system was built a long time ago and only new part is a PS that was purchased 3 years ago

7. No Overclocking

8. Not sure on Resolution but not overly concerned with it, Monitor is an older 21" Lenovo

9. As soon as possible
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So figured after nearly a decade it is time to dump the Athlon XP 2400 and move into something current....

Looking at the following and wondering thoughts...most of these were gleaned from another site with a buying guide....

EVGA 02G-P4-3660-KR GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory

Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 Quad-Core Desktop Processor

OCZ Vector Series VTR1-25SAT3-128G 2.5" MLC

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W High Performance Power Supply

ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77

SAMSUNG DVD Burner 24X DVD+R

NZXT Source 210 Elite Black

Anything here seem like overkill or not enough? right now it is about a grand

Thanks

 

[Deltaechoe]

you might as well go for better ram, the one that you posted is kind o slow.

 

[bozack]

Hey thanks, what would you recommend for a better option?

 

[lehtv]

7100+ posts and you miss the sticky? NOTICE - PC builders, when asking for input on YOUR projects Please Tell us...

 

[bozack]

I will add it in an edit, and I am lazy sry.

 

[Charlie98]

...and I would probably steer away from that OCZ SSD.

 

[TheStu]

7100+ posts and you miss the sticky? NOTICE - PC builders, when asking for input on YOUR projects Please Tell us...

Not just that, but he missed the other sticky too!

 

[bozack]

Not just that, but he missed the other sticky too!

Yup missed em both, thanks for the link

 

[bozack]

Ok Here is what I got now after reading that guide....can't decide on the video card.

Case: Corsair Carbide Series 200R Black Computer Case

Video Card: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7850 100355L or EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti

Processor: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 Quad-Core Desktop Processor

Power Supply: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W High Performance Power Supply

Hard Drive: SAMSUNG 840 Series MZ-7TD120BW 2.5" Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Burner: LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04

Mainboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX Intel Motherboard

Memory: 2 G.SKILL Value 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory

 

[TheStu]

Ok Here is what I got now after reading that guide....can't decide on the video card.

Case: Corsair Carbide Series 200R Black Computer Case

Video Card: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7850 100355L or EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti

Processor: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 Quad-Core Desktop Processor

Power Supply: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W High Performance Power Supply

Hard Drive: SAMSUNG 840 Series MZ-7TD120BW 2.5" Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Burner: LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04

Mainboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX Intel Motherboard

Memory: 2 G.SKILL Value 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory

The 660Ti appears to thoroughly wallop the 7850 in Anand's tests.

 

[MoInSTL]

If you go with a GeForce card, definitely stick with EVGA. They have 24x7 American tech support in SoCal, have numerous forums, easy RMA, some nice tools like Precision X, and OC Scanner, etc. They are also including free 3D Mark Advanced with a 660 GTX or above . http://www.evga.com/articles/00734/

 

[Charlie98]

If you go with a GeForce card, definitely stick with EVGA. They have 24x7 American tech support in SoCal, have numerous forums, easy RMA, some nice tools like Precision X, and OC Scanner, etc. They are also including free 3D Mark Advanced with a 660 GTX or above . http://www.evga.com/articles/00734/

All that^^^

 

[MoInSTL]

All that^^^

Yep, good support matters when things go wrong. My old PSU and new (at the time)560 Ti FPB both died. RMA was very easy. Tech support helped with new PSU questions too.

 

[bozack]

coolie cool, so guessing this system is good to go then, thanks all!

 

[Termie]

Is there a reason you were looking at the HD7850 and 660Ti, and not the HD7950, which is more in the 660Ti's price and performance class?

You might consider something like this Sapphire HD7950 for $290AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202026

Also, unless you have a licensed copy already, you'll need to add about $100 for an OS.

And you're going to need a hard drive too.

 

[mfenn]

Is there a reason you were looking at the HD7850 and 660Ti, and not the HD7950, which is more in the 660Ti's price and performance class?

That's what I was thinking as I read through this thread. The 7950 is as fast or faster than the GTX 660 Ti. The advantage will only grow over time as the 660's VRAM size and bus limitations become more relevant.

 

[bozack]

Is there a reason you were looking at the HD7850 and 660Ti, and not the HD7950, which is more in the 660Ti's price and performance class?

You might consider something like this Sapphire HD7950 for $290AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202026

Also, unless you have a licensed copy already, you'll need to add about $100 for an OS.

And you're going to need a hard drive too.

Hey,

I will check out the Radeon but thought when I was looking at them the prices were more than the 660Ti by about $50, though in the link above it appears that the 660 does better in Battlefield which would be one of the main games I am looking to play.

I have a copy of Win 7 ultimate that I got from MS a while back when I attended their roadshow

And I have an older 500gb internal still new in the box as well as a NAS that I use for most of my storage which is why I was only looking at the SSD

Thanks

 

[Termie]

Hey,

I will check out the Radeon but thought when I was looking at them the prices were more than the 660Ti by about $50, though in the link above it appears that the 660 does better in Battlefield which would be one of the main games I am looking to play.

I have a copy of Win 7 ultimate that I got from MS a while back when I attended their roadshow

And I have an older 500gb internal still new in the box as well as a NAS that I use for most of my storage which is why I was only looking at the SSD

Thanks

Just FYI, the links showing the superior performance of the GTX600 series in Battlefield 3 are outdated. Here's what the matchup looks like today:

http://www.techspot.com/review/603-best-graphics-cards/page4.html

 

[mfenn]

I will check out the Radeon but thought when I was looking at them the prices were more than the 660Ti by about $50,

How so?

Cheapest GTX 660 Ti on Newegg = $255 AR
Cheapest 7950 on Newegg = $290 AR

That's a $35 difference and the 7950 comes with two free games, games that you might actually want to play.

Just FYI, the links showing the superior performance of the GTX600 series in Battlefield 3 are outdated. Here's what the matchup looks like today:

http://www.techspot.com/review/603-best-graphics-cards/page4.html

Thanks, I was looking for that but couldn't find it the other day.

 

[bozack]

Hey thanks all, I will look at the Radeon. As noted the difference in price is minimal, I am just used to buying Nvidia. Also would it matter that I am going to be playing at 1680 x 1050 res, I read elsewhere that both of these cards may be overkill given that is a little lower?

Thanks

 

[lehtv]

Well, it depends on what you play. If you play the most demanding games (Skyrim with heavy enb mods etc, Crysis 3), a 7950 for that resolution is definitely not overkill. It's also good to have in case you upgrade the monitor

 

[mfenn]

Well, it depends on what you play. If you play the most demanding games (Skyrim with heavy enb mods etc, Crysis 3), a 7950 for that resolution is definitely not overkill. It's also good to have in case you upgrade the monitor

:thumbsup: Agree.