Opinions on this build? Not sure on Video Card and SSD

yeedog

Senior member
Apr 29, 2001
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1. What YOUR PC will be used for?
- Some gaming
- Battlefield
- GTA, if the new one comes out on the PC
- Watchdogs, when it comes out next year )
- Video editing/encoding ( DVD and Blu-ray experimentation )
- Android App coding
- C++ coding

2. What YOUR budget is?
- $1100 to $1300, thought whatever is the best bang for the buck is fine. I can spend less or more if there is a good reason.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from?
- USA

4. N/A

5. IF YOU have a brand preference.
- Intel CPU

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts?
- 1TB HDD
- 2TB HDD
- Samsung SyncMaster 245 BW
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Speakers
- SATA DVD drive
- Firewire add on card

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
- I will overclock

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
1920 x 1200

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
ASAP

I live in NH, but there is a Microcenter in MA that I can go to easily, less than 1 hour drive. I may buy parts or the whole computer there if the savings is more than the extra tax that I would be paying. Plus gas driving to MA.

x. No software needed.


Notes:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2aR4b

Any options would be great. I'm not sure if I picked the best video card for the price. Also is the SSD a good choice or is there a better one for what I will be doing?

Thanks for any responses!
 

Charlie98

Diamond Member
Nov 6, 2011
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Check MicroCenter for your CPU/motherboard combo, they usually have the combo discount and better prices than anyone for those two items.

SSD is fine, you can probably fetch one of those from MC while you are there, they have been pretty competitive with SSD pricing lately.

Why the i7 and the 16GB of RAM... for the video encoding and coding tasks? That's pretty expensive RAM you picked there... how about this Kingston for $120?
 

yeedog

Senior member
Apr 29, 2001
259
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Yes, the CPU and RAM is for video editing and encoding. I film bands as a hobby and the faster that I can edit a and encode a mulit-cam 3 hour concert the better. Plus I usually make menus for the DVDs so there is some Photoshop involved as well.

I not a constant updater, my current computer is a Q9300 that is 4 or 5 years old. So I don't mind buying the latest and greatest CPU because I know I'll be using it for many years.
 

Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
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I agree you're paying too much for memory, but disagree that 16GB is overkill. I use over 10GB in photoshop when working on RAW files. See if Amazon has a 2x8GB set for less than buying too sticks separately.

The big problem is the video card, which is terribly overpriced. When you can get a GTX770 for $300, there's no reason to pay over $250 for the discontinued and much slower 7950. In fact, pcpartpicker has led you astray anyway, as the card isn't even available.
 

yeedog

Senior member
Apr 29, 2001
259
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Thanks for the opinions. I searched around and 2 x 8GB and found something in the $130 area. Here is an updated price picker for that: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2h3Jm


In terms of video card are you suggesting I look into a GTX770 specifically or was your statement just for example purposes?
 
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Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
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I do think that with all radeons out of stock, the Gtx770 at $300AR at newegg is the best deal going. Prices on just about every other card have gone way up recently unfortunately.
 

yeedog

Senior member
Apr 29, 2001
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Thanks the video card is definitely where I need to do more research. It seems like the average retail of the 770s are more like $350 than $300 compared to the average retail of the 760s is $250.

Is the 770's $100s better than the 760s? It seems like the answer is yes goggling around, but I wanted to ask anyways.

Is there any appreciable benefit to having 4GB of video ram vs 2GB?

for the 770 what do you think of:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130921


for the 760 what do you think of:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127745


Maybe I should wait for ATI cards to come back in stock some?

Thanks again!
 

Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
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I'd get this GTX 770: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133495

It's definitely worth $50 more than the 760. It even comes with an additional free game.

4GB is definitely useful, but only at resolutions above 1080p. You're at 1920x1200, and I think that's close enough to 1080p that 4GB won't be needed.

I wouldn't bother waiting for Radeons to come back in stock. They don't offer better price/performance than these GeForce cards.
 
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