Updating gaming computer

[Huskerwr38]

The last time I built a new gaming computer was 2009. Microsoft Flight Simulator X is chugging along with some of the new scenery updates, so I think it's time to upgrade. I don't think I'll have to build a new whole new rig, so I was thinking I should just update the motherboard, cpu, gpu, ram, and throw in a SSD. I plan on running my OS and flight simulator from the SSD. I want to go high end here since I don't have to buy a tower, power supply, etc.

As far as games go, I play all the newest games and I play FSX a lot as with a lot of scenery add ons so performance is a must! I am particular to intel processors as I can get them for half price because a friend of mine works for them. But I'm not particular to any other brand for the other parts.

I plan on keeping my hard drive, case, power supply, and dvd burner. My budget for an upgrade is around $1200-1600 with a new monitor include at 1920x1080.

I live in the US and I plan on building it as soon as my parts are finalized.


So here is what I have now:

CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Upgraded USB 3.0

MSI X58 Pro LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16

Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor OC to 3.6GHz

XIGMATEK Dark Knight II SD1283 Night Hawk Edition CPU Cooler for CPU

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)

Western Digital WD Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive


Here is what I want. (click to make larger)

I plan on OC the cpu but not pushing it.

 

[lehtv]

First off: NOTICE - PC builders, when asking for input on YOUR projects Please Tell us...

What you've laid out in your wish list is pretty bad bang for buck, honestly. I'm not going to do critique it part by part just yet, see above.

Regarding your current setup, that 4870 is pretty underpowered compared to the CPU, and the CPU has a lot of overclocking potential. You could get away with a very low cost upgrade while getting almost the same gaming performance as the build in your wish list. Do you have aftermarket cooling yet? If not, get a decent $40-60 cooler and OC as far as it goes (3.6-3.8 shouldn't be too hard, 4.0 is possible with high end cooling provided the mobo is up for it). Then get a new graphics card like a 7950, the CPU should handle the GPU fine even if you overclock it.

As for the SSD, a Samsung 840 120GB or 250GB is a pretty sure bet in terms of bang for buck.

 

[Huskerwr38]

Okay, I included all the necessary information from that post in the original post.

I wasn't sure if it was a pretty bad "bang for your buck" parts list or not. I just can't believe that if I just upgrade my graphics card it would give me almost the same gaming performance as my current system. My main reason for upgrading my computer is to get the best possible performance on the highest settings in flight simulator. The graphic add ons for that game are very intense and people recommend an i7-3770k processor with a gtx 680. But I've read that the 7970 can out perform the GTX 680 at a lesser cost.

Like I said, I can get the processor for a very large discount from my friend who works at Intel, so then I'll need to upgrade the motherboard, GPU, RAM and I want to get a SSD.

 

[Sleepingforest]

A 3570K should be enough. FSX scales well with clock speed but badly with cores. Furthermore, it's not really GPU dependent (compared to CPU).

Lehtv: the value is bad because he included a $300 monitor and a $370 512GB SSD. It's actually a pretty good build--I'd just go for a 3570K rather than a 3770K (even factoring in an employee discount).

 

[lehtv]

Lehtv: the value is bad because he included a $300 monitor and a $370 512GB SSD. It's actually a pretty good build--I'd just go for a 3570K rather than a 3770K (even factoring in an employee discount).

Wasn't looking at the monitor. Things that are bad bang for buck:

3770K (3570K better)
7970 (7950 better)
RAM (can get the same for <$50 and without tall heat spreaders)
And indeed the SSD.

 

[Sleepingforest]

Hmmm... Okay, that does make sense. Could you point to a better set of RAM? I'm having difficult finding cheaper RAM that doesn't have heatspreaders while also having 1600MHz and CL9.

I certainly agree with the other points. OP is spending a ton of money past where performance/price dictates he should.

In fact, he may want to pay the extra for a 1440p IPS monitor, since it'll give a better visual experience (denser pixels, better colors). If he trimmed some fat, an HP 27" IPS monitor (lower input lag than the equivalent Dell) would be possible for $1700 total:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill NS Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($169.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($269.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: HP ZR2740w 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($688.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1537.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-05 14:59 EST-0500)

Plus the CPU you're getting from a friend.

 

[lehtv]

G.Skill Sniper 1866 CL9 $49.30 AP. Not exactly low profile but low enough to fit under most HSF's fine.

Response time on the HP monitor isn't great, I'd rather have U2713HM or S27A850D. And a dual GPU board + PSU are pretty good to have for such a high resolution monitor (would cost about $50-70 extra). Other than that can't find much to complain about

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I second overclocking the CPU and upgrading the GPU, as suggested. See then how it performs.

 

[Sleepingforest]

TFTCentral says that the HP should be fine for gaming.

As you can see, the responsiveness varies between all these models shown above. The Dell U2711 has less noticeable motion blur and a faster response time. However due to an overly aggressive RTC impulse there is a noticeable dark overshoot behind the moving car which is a shame.

The responsiveness of the ZR2740w should be fine for most gaming, even at quite high levels. For an IPS panel it is a good performer and although it was a little slower than some of the other models tested (and some of the smaller IPS screens) it was pretty decent. The presence of an overdrive impulse had helped offer some pretty low levels of motion blur and it was good to see that this hadn't introduced any adverse affects such as overshoot.

 

[lehtv]

Yes it should be fine but U2713HM should be better and it's less expensive

 

[Huskerwr38]

Wasn't looking at the monitor. Things that are bad bang for buck:

3770K (3570K better)
7970 (7950 better)
RAM (can get the same for <$50 and without tall heat spreaders)
And indeed the SSD.

Thanks for the input.


What do you mean it's better?

 

[lehtv]

Better bang for buck. Almost zero difference in gaming performance between 3770k and 3570k, and a very high OC will require you to disable HT anyway. Very little difference in performance between 7950 and 7970 despite a $100 difference in cost

 

[Sleepingforest]

Yes it should be fine but U2713HM should be better and it's less expensive

I suppose you're right--I just did the research a bit more. OP: here's the U2713HM he's talking about for $655.47.

 

[Huskerwr38]

I suppose you're right--I just did the research a bit more. OP: here's the U2713HM he's talking about for $655.47.

Okay, thanks, I'll check it out.

 

[Huskerwr38]

Here's my final build list. I think I'm going to pull the trigger. Thanks guys.

SAPPHIRE 100352-2L Radeon HD 7950 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16
$289.99


CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory
$59.99


ASRock Z77 Pro4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$97.99


Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core
$229.99


SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD256BW 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
$249.99
Subtotal: $930.93

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

One last thing, order your Samsung from B&H Photo 237$ free shipping

 

[mfenn]

Here's my final build list. I think I'm going to pull the trigger. Thanks guys.

SAPPHIRE 100352-2L Radeon HD 7950 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16
$289.99


CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory
$59.99


ASRock Z77 Pro4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$97.99


Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core
$229.99


SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD256BW 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
$249.99
Subtotal: $930.93

A couple of points:
- SSD: I don't think that the 840 Pro is worth $80 more than the standard 840 256GB. You're not going to run into the write limitations of either on a typical desktop workload.
- RAM: You can save $17 by going with this Kingston DDR3 1600 8GB kit.

 

[Papa Hogan]

If you want to go high end, you should definitely try to squeeze in a 120hz or better monitor. Well worth the extra dough for gaming.