Game/Workstation (Ivy Bridge) Build, €1600 budget

[Xoleros]

So it is finally time for a new pc! I've been planning this build for a long time, reading many threads on these forums.
This will be the first time I build my own PC, really exciting and a little bit scary/overwhelming

I hope some of you will take the time and look at my build and help me out a bit, but first the information from the sticky:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
Software like: Autodesk Maya, Pixologic Zbrush, Adobe After Effects
Games like: Diablo 3, TERA, Guild Wars 2, Tribes Ascend

2. What YOUR budget is.
€1600 (I guess around the same for USD)

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
The Netherlands

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
Not really, but Intel/Corsair/Samsung do look good

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor and DVD Burner

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I want to try and overclock the cpu to around 4.5ghz

8. What resolution will you be using?
Getting a 27'' 2560x1440 monitor and running my old monitor (Acer x223w) 22'' 1680x1050 alongside it

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Ordering this week

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system?
Yes, Windows 7


My build so far:
(prices are roughly taken, from a website that lists several web shops, and may already changed somewhat)

CPU : Intel Core i7 3770k - €330

Motherboard : ASRock Z77 Extreme4 - €125

GPU : EVGA Geforce GTX680 2gb - €470
Really not sure on this one.. Will an AMD card serve me better with the software I use? or will the 670 be a better option when it comes out?

RAM : Corsair Vengeance 2x8gb - €110
I like to have the option to upgrade to 32gb, if I decide I need it

SSD : Samsung SSD 830 128GB - €140
Not quite sure on this one either.. Will 128 be enough?

HDD : Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB - €90

PSU : Corsair HX750 - €130
I want to try and add a AMD FirePro (some people said it could work) later on, so I decided on 750w instead of 650w. If 650w is enough to run a system with both cards I might take Corsair TX650

Software : Windows 7 Profesional 64bit - €150
Are there any reasons to not go with an OEM version?

CPU Cooler : Something that can cool the 3770k enough so I can hit around 4.5ghz
Maybe a Liquid Cooling System like Antec Kuhler H2O 620 or the Corsair Hydro Series H60?

Case : Any suggestions for around €100
Looking for a case with good dust filtering, some cases I was looking at are Antec Eleven Hundred and Corsair Obsidian 550D


That makes it around €1650, with a cpu cooler thats probably around €1700. Thats 100 more than I would like. But if the GTX680 is worth it I'm willing to spend it.


Thanks for your time!😀

 

[mfenn]

What you have listed is generally decent, but you could probably save a decent amount of money in a few places:
- GPU: The types of games you listed don't need a GTX 680, even at 2560x1440. You could get a 3GB card like a 7950 to save a decent amount on the GPU while keeping a lot of VRAM (needed because of your resolution).
- PSU: A 650W is enough power to run two cards assuming that you don't buy the highest-end FirePro. In any event, the HX series is usually priced pretty high relative to the competition. Check out the XFX Core series and Seasonic S12II series.
- OS: Do you specifically need any features of the Pro version?
- HSF: No need to go for a liquid cooler. A fairly pedestrian Hyper 212+ will get to 4.4GHz, and something a little better like a Noctua U12P or Scythe Mugen 3 will get you to 4.5GHz.
- Case: The 550D is a good option. Also check out the Fractal Design Arc and Define R3.

 

[Xoleros]

- GPU: The types of games you listed don't need a GTX 680, even at 2560x1440. You could get a 3GB card like a 7950 to save a decent amount on the GPU while keeping a lot of VRAM (needed because of your resolution).

That surely saves me some money! Can it really run at 60fps with highest settings though? not worried about D3, more about Tribes Ascend/TERA/Guild Wars 2 and games like that

- PSU: A 650W is enough power to run two cards assuming that you don't buy the highest-end FirePro. In any event, the HX series is usually priced pretty high relative to the competition. Check out the XFX Core series and Seasonic S12II series.

The FirePro I have in mind is the v5900
Those 2 PSU together with the Corsair TX650 are around the same price here, so which one is better without looking at the price? or are they equal and it just depends on brand preferences?

- OS: Do you specifically need any features of the Pro version?

Thought I had read somewhere that I need atleast the Pro version for 32gb RAM(which I plan to upgrade to)

- HSF: No need to go for a liquid cooler. A fairly pedestrian Hyper 212+ will get to 4.4GHz, and something a little better like a Noctua U12P or Scythe Mugen 3 will get you to 4.5GHz.

The Noctua U12P is around the same price as the Liquid systems I mentioned, can't see how it would be better. But than again I have no clue :\
Might take the Scythe Mugen 3 though

- Case: The 550D is a good option. Also check out the Fractal Design Arc and Define R3.

Fractal Design Arc is definitely something I'm considering now, thanks!😀

 

[lehtv]

The FirePro I have in mind is the v5900
Those 2 PSU together with the Corsair TX650 are around the same price here, so which one is better without looking at the price? or are they equal and it just depends on brand preferences?

They're all based on the same or similar Seasonic design and are just as reliable, but I'd pick Seasonic because of the company. The customer support is excellent. So is Corsair's, but I would rather pay directly to the company that actually manufactures the PSU.

Might take the Scythe Mugen 3 though

+1, it's a great cooler. I have the Mugen 2, it's very quiet yet capable. The only downsides I can think of are that it's a bit difficult to install and the fan cable isn't sleeved. Both are minor grievances.

Make sure you buy low-profile RAM.

 

[mfenn]

That surely saves me some money! Can it really run at 60fps with highest settings though? not worried about D3, more about Tribes Ascend/TERA/Guild Wars 2 and games like that

Tera is a UE3 game, so it will run well on damn near anything at this point (think Mass Effect 3). GW2 is supposedly based on a heavily modified GW engine, so I don't expect it to be terribly GPU-intensive. MMOs usually stress the CPU more than the GPU anyway. Tribes Ascend is a little more demanding, but the delta between the 7950 and the top end cards isn't that great.

The FirePro I have in mind is the v5900

That is a 75W chip, so you will be fine with a 650W PSU.

Thought I had read somewhere that I need atleast the Pro version for 32gb RAM(which I plan to upgrade to)

That is correct.

I agree with lehtv on the rest.

 

[Xoleros]

Make sure you buy low-profile RAM.

To make sure the RAM fits with the fan(lower height)? or isn't that what low profile means?

Tera is a UE3 game, so it will run well on damn near anything at this point (think Mass Effect 3). GW2 is supposedly based on a heavily modified GW engine, so I don't expect it to be terribly GPU-intensive. MMOs usually stress the CPU more than the GPU anyway. Tribes Ascend is a little more demanding, but the delta between the 7950 and the top end cards isn't that great.

I'm going to wait with the GPU till the 670 comes out (may 10th?) and then decide which to take.
If it is still 7950, than which manufacturer do you recommend?

I actually decided to go with the Corsair 650D. I like the look and the window. It is cheaper here than the 550D, and around 20 euro more than the fractal design arc (was thinking about modding a window in that, adding some in the cost, before I saw the price of the 650D)

 

[mnewsham]

Just get RAM without heat spreaders, simple non-gussied-up RAM

For GPU manufactures just look for a cheap price with a decent warranty.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Get gskill ripjaws x or z. Get 256gb crucial m4

 

[lehtv]

To make sure the RAM fits with the fan(lower height)? or isn't that what low profile means?

y.

 

[mfenn]

For GPU manufactures just look for a cheap price with a decent warranty.

Also look at dual-fan cards if noise output is important to you.