Critique My Build - Hardware & Software

Looking to build a decent rig for gaming, not so much into it anymore, however, once winter rolls around, I become a recluse. On top of that, my laptop is a refurb, and it turning into complete shit, so it's about time I upgrade. So, this is what I have so far: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/U12-42125_chiclet03_im_mn_2617303.jpg[/img] [b]$49.99[/b] [i]Ultra Gladiator Mid-Tower Case[/i] [img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/I69-3570_chiclet02_im_gl_2983973.jpg[/img] [b]$204.99[/b] [i]Intel Core i5-3570 BX806237i53570 Processor - Quad Core, 6MB L3 Cache, 3.40GHz (3.80GHz Max Turbo), Socket H2 (LGA1155), 77W, Fan[/i] [img]http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/20-231-428-TS?$S300W$[/img] [b]$64.99[/b] [i]G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 [/i] [img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/A455-7774_chiclet01_ac_mn_2941929.jpg[/img] [b]$159.99[/b] [i]Asus Radeon HD 7770[/i] [img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/G452-2366_chiclet01_aa_2276160.jpg[/img] [b]$130.00[/b] [i]GIGABYTE GA-Z77-DS3H Intel 7 Series Motherboard - ATX, Socket H2 (LGA1155), Intel Z77 Express, 1600MHz DDR3, SATA III (6Gb/s), RAID, 7.1-CH Audio, Gigabit LAN, USB 3.0, PCIe 3.0, CrossFireX Ready[/i] [img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/T925-2060_chiclet01xx_ibp_mn_1389575.jpg[/img] [b]$39.99[/b] [i]Thermaltake PurePower 430-Watt Power Supply[/i] [img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/TSD-500ST-chicklet00-aa.jpg[/img] [b]$39.99[/b] [i]Seagate ST500DM002 Barracuda 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - 500GB, SATA-6G, 7200, 16MB[/i] [img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/C44-3400_chiclet01_ibp_mn_4459743.jpg[/img] [b]$29.99[/b] [i]Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy SE 70SB057000001 Sound Card - 7.1 Channel[/i] [img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/M501-4020_main01_mc.jpg[/img] [b]$28.99[/b] [i]Sabrent 802.11n Wireless PCI Controller Card - 802.11n/g/b, 300Mbps[/i] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]1) Is the case large enough? Will I provide enough ventilation to keep everything cool, and from over-heating? 2) Should I buy a fan for the processor, or do you think the stock fan is fine? 3) Am I going over-kill on the memory/GPU? I plan on playing things like BF2: Project Reality, BF3, GMOD, Killing Floor, Arma, etc. 4) Do you think the power supply is strong enough, or should I upgrade to a 500/600w? 5) Does this build flow together coherently?[/b] Anything else you'd like to add that I may be missing out on? Thanks.

CPU: You have a z77 (overclockers) motherboard but not an overclockable CPU. Get the 3570K. -Or if you want the newest. Intel just release their new cpu series this week. Comparable would be the i5-4670K. Its a bit faster, usew less power and are about the same price. You will also need a new z87 motherboard though. since intel is discontinuing their previous 1155 socket (z77 chipset) and is using the 1150 socket from now on. So getting the newest now will allow for more upgrade paths in the future. CD: Wheres ur DVD drive? Sound: You dont really need a sound card. Its all on your motherboard. Case: I dont know that brand. If you want a cheap good case, try the corsair 200r PSU: Its pretty horrible, get a XFX, seasonic or corsair. [url]http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Thermaltake-Purepower-430W-NP-Power-Supply-Review/332/9[/url]

you don't really need a dvd drive, you can install windows off a usb stick

Holy shit, that PSU looks way too weak for me. Get a other power supply ASAP. Overtime this power supply can murder your hardware.

[QUOTE=taipan;40911798]PSU: Its pretty horrible, get a XFX, seasonic or corsair. [url]http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Thermaltake-Purepower-430W-NP-Power-Supply-Review/332/9[/url][/QUOTE] Thermaltake PSUs are fine. I have several of them and have never had an issue with them. But it is a tad on the weak side for that build, I'd get a 500W unit. As for the HDD, you should be getting one with at least 32 or 64M of cache for better performance.

[img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/I69-4670K_chiclet01_ibp_mn_8037045.jpg[/img] [i]Intel Core i5-4670K Processor - Quad Core, 6MB L3 Cache, 3.4GHz, 84W, Fan, 1200 MHz Graphics Core Speed[/i] [b]$249.99[/b] So, this replacing the current processor? [img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/M452-1156_chiclet01x_ibp_mn_8041586.jpg[/img] [i]MSI Z87M-G43 Intel Z87 Motherboard - MicroATX, LGA 1150, Intel Z87 Chipset, 2600 MHz(OC) DDR3, SATA 6 Gb/s, Audio, Gigabit LAN, USB 3.0, 2-way CrossFire (Z87M-G43)[/i] [b]$114.99[/b] And this will be replacing my motherboard? [img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/SYX-602623OH_chiclet01_gfv_mn_7622492.jpg[/img] [i]WD RE4 500GB Enterprise SATA Hard Drive - 500GB, SATA 3 Gb/s, 3.5-inch, 7200 RPM, 64 MB[/i] [b]$49.99[/b] How's this for an HDD? [img]http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/T925-5002_chiclet01_aa_899123.jpg[/img] [b]$39.99[/b] ??

I don't like that PSU, seems cheap. (link to where you're purchasing it please?) weird that you're getting an "Enterprise" or Red drive, but w/e. It'd be better if you got a regular ATX board over microATX. Better Mobo: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157370[/url] Better PSU: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013[/url] the PSU is a component no-one will ever suggest you skimp on, ever. And getting one with a 40+ amps on the 12 volt rail is recommended because it's a requirement on some of the newly released GPUs. I seriously have doubts about a $40 500 watt thermaltake. mind giving us a link?

The graphics card is fine for the games you've listed, I have a GTX 650 Ti which performs at near the same level as the 7770 and it runs most games (Arma 2, GMod, BF3) very smoothly at 60+FPS on high and it around 40fps on Ultra settings. I recommend getting a Corsair PSU, they're a good brand and very well known.

[QUOTE=soulharvester;40918252]I don't like that PSU, seems cheap. (link to where you're purchasing it please?)[/QUOTE] The Thermaltake TR2 series is fine. I have two of them (430W model) and they've never had issues. Seriously stop saying Thermaltake is shit, they aren't.

Well, lots of newegg reviews seem to disagree. [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153165[/url] It's also incapable of powering some newer generation graphics cards due to it's low 12V amperage. Which according to like half of the newegg reviews, would probably fry the graphics card anyways. It also has a low efficiency of 72%, which is below the 80% standard.

[QUOTE=bohb;40918703]The Thermaltake TR2 series is fine. I have two of them (430W model) and they've never had issues. Seriously stop saying Thermaltake is shit, they aren't.[/QUOTE] the non 80+ bronze tr2 series is pretty low quality and a lot more prone to failure than their bronze counterparts

[QUOTE=bohb;40918703]The Thermaltake TR2 series is fine. I have two of them (430W model) and they've never had issues. Seriously stop saying Thermaltake is shit, they aren't.[/QUOTE] Read the review I linked under it.

[QUOTE=soulharvester;40918781]Well, lots of newegg reviews seem to disagree. [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153165[/url] It's also incapable of powering some newer generation graphics cards due to it's low 12V amperage. Which according to like half of the newegg reviews, would probably fry the graphics card anyways. It also has a low efficiency of 72%, which is below the 80% standard.[/QUOTE] Newegg reviews are not indicative of product quality. The majority of reviews on Newegg are written by computer illiterate people and should be taken with a grain of salt. I've bought plenty of things on Newegg with awful reviews and the majority of them turned out just fine. I do agree that one model of TR2 is probably sketchy, but every manufacturer has their lemon models. One PSU in a line of many doesn't mean the majority are also bad.

Okay, well when we advise he not buy a specific power supply that has a well documented history of being faulty, and in general bad, and you come in and tell us to stop "shitting on thermal-take" as it were, you're going to look really shitty if it craps out on him, and reduce the quality of build suggestions typical of this forum. I also see no reason to risk buying a line of PSUs that are typically more questionable from a manufacturer that has in the past made unsavory choices over one from a more reputable brand, that we know is much more likely to work right the first time. Please stop backpedaling, the two thermal-take PSUs he's almost purchased are much more high-risk than they should be. Suggest a better, higher quality PSU or move on, but please don't go and tell us how because your two thermal-take PSUs didn't personally explode (you probably didn't put them under very much stress, either), that they'll be a good choice for his build. edit: Also, reviews are actually pretty indicative of a product's faults when numerous people complain of the exact same thing. (in this case, either attempting to play a GPU intensive game and the PSU frying it, or drawing more power out of the PSU than it likes, and the fan making really loud annoying noises shortly followed by the unit having a heart-attack.)

[QUOTE=soulharvester;40918252]I don't like that PSU, seems cheap. (link to where you're purchasing it please?) weird that you're getting an "Enterprise" or Red drive, but w/e. It'd be better if you got a regular ATX board over microATX. Better Mobo: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157370[/url] Better PSU: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013[/url] the PSU is a component no-one will ever suggest you skimp on, ever. And getting one with a 40+ amps on the 12 volt rail is recommended because it's a requirement on some of the newly released GPUs. I seriously have doubts about a $40 500 watt thermaltake. mind giving us a link?[/QUOTE] here ya go, bud. [url]http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=899123&CatId=1079[/url] also, thanks for the link on the better mobo. [QUOTE=h3inrich;40918428]The graphics card is fine for the games you've listed, I have a GTX 650 Ti which performs at near the same level as the 7770 and it runs most games (Arma 2, GMod, BF3) very smoothly at 60+FPS on high and it around 40fps on Ultra settings. I recommend getting a Corsair PSU, they're a good brand and very well known.[/QUOTE] alright, sweet, so i'm set with the gpu? figured it would need to be a little stronger to run BF3, or Arma 2. one last thing, so it's a no-go on the power supply? if not, then i'll go with the one soulharvester linked. [QUOTE=taipan;40911798] CD: Wheres ur DVD drive? Case: I dont know that brand. If you want a cheap good case, try the corsair 200r [/QUOTE] i have a few sitting in my garage, i'll just use one of those. i rarely use my disk drive, so shouldn't be an issue. as for the case, it has got some pretty nice reviews, so i might stick with it, unless you think otherwise. [url]http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2617303[/url]

[QUOTE=Slippery-Q;40920901]here ya go, bud. [url]http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=899123&CatId=1079[/url] alright, sweet, so i'm set with the gpu? figured it would need to be a little stronger to run BF3, or Arma 2. [/QUOTE] A HD7850 would be even better, but with the current GPU yes you definitely should be able to run the latest games at High settings or some even Ultra.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/25cneEE.png[/img] beginning to finalize my build, and would just like to ask a few more questions JUST IN CASE. 1) will my gpu give me any issues? had anyone had any experience with the card? will it clash with my cpu and give me driver issues? 2) should i invest into a RAID array? 3) apart from it opening future upgrades, why haswell over ivy?

[QUOTE=Slippery-Q;41004895] 3) apart from it opening future upgrades, why haswell over ivy?[/QUOTE] It's just slightly better for virtually the same price. It also has an decreased power consumption so if you happen to be paying the electricity bill, you can reduce it. If you want to know all the new features of Haswell: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haswell_(microarchitecture)[/url]

There's really no reason not to get haswell over ivy for a new build at this point. Haswell's better and will be supported longer, and during the next tick, if you really want to upgrade, it'll be an option. Not seeing anything wrong with your build at this point, and RAID arrays are nice for squeezing all the speed out of a top of the line system that you can, but most people tend to prefer getting an SSD for their OS drive and perhaps a few other things, and then just using regular hard-drives for storage. Raid arrays are nice for certain operations, such as increasing load-times in video games, or more quickly loading a video or for write-speed during a fraps recording or something along those lines, but if you're just opening documents/videos/music that aren't very large or just browsing the net there isn't a huge bonus in it for you.

alright, thanks guys. however, there's still one question left about my gpu. i figured i could just read some reviews, but i'd like to know if anyone has any personal experience here.

The gpu will work perfectly fine with that CPU. Just be aware that its not a top of the line model. Some games won't run Maxxed out.

[QUOTE=taipan;41006160]The gpu will work perfectly fine with that CPU. Just be aware that its not a top of the line model. Some games won't run Maxxed out.[/QUOTE] that's fine, i'm not looking to play everything maxed out, just want to play mid-high end games to pass the time. thanks a bunch for the help, guys.