Requesting feedback haswell non-oc gaming rig

pyng

Junior Member
Sep 23, 2013
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1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Mostly gaming and some multimedia. I usually play a game on 1 monitor and watch something on another.
2. What YOUR budget is.
around 1000-1200

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
Philippines

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
When it comes to pc parts, prices here vary vastly from store to store. Not all brands are available so I'd appreciate as many suggestions in the same range of what i list as you guys can give me. I'll need to do actual legwork to find out which ones are actually affordable and available here.

5. IF YOU have a brand preference.
Intel fanboy

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Just the dvd drive

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Everything on default

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
1980x1020.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Next month

Here is what I have picked out so far.
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock H87 Performance ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($107.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston HyperX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($239.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1057.77

Some notes:
CPU cooler - I'm not OCing so I just want something better than stock. Temps here can reach up to 39 celsius
Motherboard - I like the bells and whistles on this one especially the improved onboard sound. Maybe a little bit of headroom for upgrades.
Memory - Based on everything i've read, if you aren't oc'ing you don't really need anything better. Is 16gb overkill?
Storage - I want a 120gb ssd samsung but unfortunately I would have to pay a premium because samsung doesn't officially sell this here. For the storage drive 2Tb of storage is all i'm really looking for.
Video card - This one is tough because I really have no idea what I need to play at 1980x1020. Also, brand availability and prices vary significantly here. Willing to considering going up to a gtx 760.
Case - want the best one at this price range with usb 3.0 ports
Power Supply -Just want a fully haswell compatible modular bronze power supply, plus a little extra wattage in case I buy a new video card in the future.

So I guess what I'm really looking for is the best most cost efficient (assume 1980x1020 and that any extra capacity is pointless) non oc Haswell gaming rig at a USD price of up to $1200. The power supply should be fully Haswell compatible and the case should support USB 3.0. Other than that anything goes.

The difficulty for me is availability and overpriced prices on specific brands. I'd appreciate a list of alternative suggestions in the same range as the parts listed above. Specific SSD, powersupply and video card models are especially hard to find so more suggestions on these would be useful.
 

pyng

Junior Member
Sep 23, 2013
7
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If anyone is interested in how much parts cost here, here's a sample vendor
http://www.tipidpc.com/useritems.php?username=PCHub
1 usd = 44 pesos

This place is on average about 10 to 15 percent more expensive then some other places, but they do have the largest online price list (although a quarter of these are probably out of stock).
 

Techhog

Platinum Member
Sep 11, 2013
2,834
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That 7870 is WAY overpriced. You can get a 7950 for much less pretty much anywhere. I'd recommend either Powercolor PCS+ ($194 after $30 rebate) or Sapphire DualX ($200 after rebate) on Newegg. With your budget, I'd even look at the 7970.

EDIT: My bad, just noticed your country. Sorry.
 
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pyng

Junior Member
Sep 23, 2013
7
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oops made a mistake... I actually meant the 7870 Myst edition which I can get for $216 dollars
The Saphire 7950 DualX is around $306
The Powercolor 7950 PCS boost is around $272
Keeping in mind that I'm only gaming at 1980x1020, will a factory overclocked 7950 improve performance or will performance be pretty much maxed out with the 7870 myst edition. Same question for the factory overclocked gtx 760...

Yeah the prices here suck. I'm actually tempted to buy parts in the US and have someone I know bring it here, but the chance that I could get a dead board and can't get a shop warranty isn't really worth it.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
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$216 for a Myst card is not bad at all. It's a bit noisy but the performance per dollar is excellent.

A factory 7950 isn't really noticeably faster than the 7870 Myst. What 7950 has going for it is the extra VRAM (not really relevant on 1080p except with modded Skyrim), and quieter cooling.
 
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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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Given the fact that you have a limited selection, doing a build in USD with the full US market available doesn't make a terrible amount of sense. A ton of time will be wasted by all parties going back and forth on nearly identical parts. It's better to work with what you know you can get.

At any rate, the prices you've got don't seem bad to me. $61 for an S12II 520W is a good price even in the US, Newegg wants $65 for the same unit.

Based on the USD budget and conversion rate you gave, I'm going to guess that your budget is PHP 44,000 - PHP 52,800. From your price list:

i5 4570 PHP 9080
ASRock H87M Pro4 PHP 4730
G.Skill Ares DDR3 1600 8GB PHP 3690
XFX 7950 3GB PHP 14220
Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB PHP 5030
Seagate 7200RPM 2TB PHP 4110
Seasonic S12II 520W PHP 2700
Corsair 300R PHP 3680
Total: PHP 47240

There's enough left here to go for the 7970 if you want.
 

pyng

Junior Member
Sep 23, 2013
7
0
0
myst edition it is then...

Of the following fully haswell compatible psu, which would you guys recommend... (note the prices)

Corsair TX 650v2 80 plus bronze for $110
XFX 650 watt 80 plus bronze core modular for $100
Antec TP 650 $100
Antec TP 550 $88

Personally, I'm leaning towards an Antec TP 550 since the power requirements of the build only come up to 400 watts. However, the TP 550 might not be in stock so which of the other 3 would be better?

I'm thinking the XFX then the Antec then the Corsair.
 

goobee

Platinum Member
Aug 3, 2001
2,005
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goobee.org
I built a complete system, tested it and brought it over in a balikbayan box. It's definitely worth the effort if you know someone who is flying over anyway. You can probably just have everything installed into the cheapest and smallest case to test and then reassemble in your case of preference. The last time I checked, there was a 60lbs weight limit to balikbayan boxes, you'll want to pad the box with items like clothes to protect the pc from crushing.
 

pyng

Junior Member
Sep 23, 2013
7
0
0
Unfortunately mfenn, just because they list it doesn't mean they have it in stock, so I gotta go to their actual physical store with 3 or 4 alternatives in mind. It's really annoying.

So you would recommend a
XFX 7950 3GB at PHP 14220 over a 7870 Myst edition at PHP 9500?

Would you still recommend the
G.Skill Ares DDR3 1600 8GB PHP 3690 if I can get a Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 8GB at PHP 2498.

The Seasonic S12II 520W isn't fully haswell compatible, if it wasn't for that I would have grabbed this already.

Huh didn't notice that they had sandisk ssd. I guess I'll grab the sandisk extreme if they have it in stock which is actually cheaper than the Ultra for some reason.

Thanks for the help guys, I'm pretty confident that if I start shopping now I'll come back home with something decent, although not the exact parts/prices i want.
 

pyng

Junior Member
Sep 23, 2013
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gobee

It is a lot cheaper but I'm not willing to risk a dead board because that I'd have to ship it back overseas to get the warranty. Plus the only one I know in the US is my 55 year old aunt. No way in hell am I trusting her to go near a microprocessor much less build a pc to test all the parts hahaha.
 
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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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So you would recommend a
XFX 7950 3GB at PHP 14220 over a 7870 Myst edition at PHP 9500?

Yes, given your budget.

Would you still recommend the
G.Skill Ares DDR3 1600 8GB PHP 3690 if I can get a Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 8GB at PHP 2498.

Super cheap Kingston HyperX is usually 1.65V, which is a no-go for Intel. If you see that it's marked 1.5V, then that's totally fine.

The Seasonic S12II 520W isn't fully haswell compatible, if it wasn't for that I would have grabbed this already.

The only "compatibility" concern between Haswell and PSUs is that some PSUs can't handle the very low draw on the 12V that Haswell presents in low power states. This is not an issue for any machine with a discrete GPU because the GPU will draw enough power to offset the CPU. The S12II will work fine in your config.

Huh didn't notice that they had sandisk ssd. I guess I'll grab the sandisk extreme if they have it in stock which is actually cheaper than the Ultra for some reason.

The original Extreme is an SF-2281 controller, which means that it's subject to all the usual Sandforce issues. I would personally not buy one over the Marvell 9175 that's in the Ultra Plus.

Thanks for the help guys, I'm pretty confident that if I start shopping now I'll come back home with something decent, although not the exact parts/prices i want.

Glad to help! :)
 

goobee

Platinum Member
Aug 3, 2001
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gobee

It is a lot cheaper but I'm not willing to risk a dead board because that I'd have to ship it back overseas to get the warranty. Plus the only one I know in the US is my 55 year old aunt. No way in hell am I trusting her to go near a microprocessor much less build a pc to test all the parts hahaha.

Actually, the only thing I think you would lose is the ability to swap with the vendor if something is found to be defective. The manufacturer's warranty should still be good and many of the firms are based in Asia. As you will have a receipt showing place of purchase as the US, they cannot allege that you have grey market goods.
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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Actually, the only thing I think you would lose is the ability to swap with the vendor if something is found to be defective. The manufacturer's warranty should still be good and many of the firms are based in Asia. As you will have a receipt showing place of purchase as the US, they cannot allege that you have grey market goods.

Most warranties are region-specifc. That is, if you buy in the US, you have to ship it to a RMA center in the US and it has to be shipped back to the US. ASUS is one of the (few) exceptions to this, offering global warranties on many parts. You can't build a whole PC out of ASUS parts though.
 

johny12

Member
Sep 18, 2012
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The original Extreme is an SF-2281 controller, which means that it's subject to all the usual Sandforce issues. I would personally not buy one over the Marvell 9175 that's in the Ultra Plus.

I have recently learnt that the sandforce issues which have been floating around is just a wrong perception which is fading out quite fast. The actual sandforce issues reported are very less & in most cases this is fixed by applying latest firmware patches.