• Is this a fair $1500AU Gaming build
    29 replies, posted
This is my first time buying a computer, I know a decent bit about the hardware side, but would like a second opinion. I'm planning to buy a prebuilt off mwave.com.au, the specs are as follows; • Thermaltake Overseer Full Tower with HDD Docking • Intel Core i7 3820 4-Core LGA 2011 Processor • Gigabyte GA-X79-UD3 Motherboard • Corsair Vengeance 16GB(4x 4GB) CMZ16GX3M4X1600C9 • Samsung SH-224BB/BEBS 24x Internal SATA DVD OEM Burner Drive • Lite-On IHES312 12x Internal SATA Retail Blu-Ray Combo Drive • Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 OC 2GB Video Card • Thermaltake TR2 Bronze 800W Power Supply • Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO • Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H60 Liquid CPU Cooler • Microsoft Windows 8 Standard OEM 64Bit English • Intel 330 Series 120GB SSD • Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 3.5" 1TB SATA 6.0Gb/s Hard Drive I'm considering changing the case to an Antec Three Hundred, a friend has one, and they seem like good cases, and might change the Video card, but am still researching alternatives. Normally I wouldn't touch a prebuilt, but this one doesn't seem half bad.
Everything looks up to par, although you might get a better deal on the SSD if you ditch Intel and go with Corsair or another brand. Also, you might not need the 800w PSU. Also, I found that I don't like the build quality of Thermaltake's cases. It's all personal preference here, but you might wanna consider another manufacturer (I'm currently rockin' my Antec 300, good case, it just doesn't have HDD trays or SDD mounts or USB 3 headers).
[QUOTE=shteev;38439228]Everything looks up to par, although you might get a better deal on the SSD if you ditch Intel and go with Corsair or another brand. Also, you might not need the 800w PSU. Also, I found that I don't like the build quality of Thermaltake's cases. It's all personal preference here, but you might wanna consider another manufacturer (I'm currently rockin' my Antec 300, good case, it just doesn't have HDD trays or SDD mounts or USB 3 headers).[/QUOTE] Thanks for the input, like I said, I'm looking at an Antec 300 myself, and honestly I might ditch the SSD and go for a bigger Hard Drive.
Any reason for going with a socket 2011 CPU? And the 300 is horridly outdated, the Antec Gaming One is sort of like a new version of it.
[QUOTE=HolyCrapAWalrus;38445316]Any reason for going with a socket 2011 CPU? And the 300 is horridly outdated, the Antec Gaming One is sort of like a new version of it.[/QUOTE] Not any reason really, I just don't know a whole lot about CPU's, got any suggestions? I'll look into the Gaming One though.
If you're only going to be gaming on it, then an i5-3570k will perform just as well. If you do any rendering or editing as a hobby or if you need to do heavy amounts of rendering for your job then that's when i7s and socket 2011 processors would come into play, they're the "Enthusiast" Intel line. An i7-3770k would suit you better if you do those things, but you won't see any real gain in gaming performance for the extra $100.
If you're just gaming 16gb is not needed 8gb will be fine 800watt is too much of an over kill a good 550 or 650 watt psu will do (Corsair HX 650?) Don't get H60 water cooler just stick with the Coolermaster 212+ cheaper and better or on par. Check a 7870 or even invest in maybe a 7950 they outperform the GTX 660 and the GTX 660ti with the same price point at this moment Finally maybe use msy since you're australia i buy from them constantly [url]http://www.msy.com.au/[/url] (mwave is not the cheapest in australia use static ice to check prices [url]http://www.staticice.com.au/[/url]) Just to add i personally don't like thermaltake build quality on their cases maybe invest in a corsair 300R or even 500R they are exceptionally well built and have many included fans on the 500R.
Don't buy a prebuilt either...
[QUOTE=Zerokateo;38451048]Don't buy a prebuilt either...[/QUOTE] I'm not really buying a prebuilt, I'm using a prebuilt as a base and customizing it. That's the whole point of this thread, to find out what I can and should change.
[QUOTE=Dejarie;38459245]I'm not really buying a prebuilt, I'm using a prebuilt as a base and customizing it. That's the whole point of this thread, to find out what I can and should change.[/QUOTE] Yes you are buying a prebuildt, and it will be overpriced 30% because of that.
Dude, don't buy from mwave, I don't have personal experience with them, but I have heard some bad stories. I buy all my parts from pccasegear, I have never had a problem with them, they are good with warranty and they package their stuff well, and if you live in Melbourne you can just pick up the stuff rather then having to pay extra for delivery. Don't buy prebuilt at all dude. Just do some research into the best components, probably ask around here. Everything comes with instructions manuals on how to do everything, so as long as you follow them you will have no problem building a computer. From that build up there your wasting a lot of money on unnecessary things, do you really want to overclock? If no, then you don't need an aftermarket cooler. @The guy above saying about getting 8gb instead of 16gb, I can't even find 8gb kits anymore, they seem to only sell 12 and 16 and its pretty cheap anyway, but unless your running a minecraft server or something crazy you would never use more then 8gb. Also PSU wise, if your not overclocking or planning on SLI/Crossfire then just drop it right down to a 550, if planning on SLI/Crossfire then a 650.
I'm just a bit worried about messing something up first time getting a computer, which is why i'm using mwave, a friend just bought a PC and it's fine, and they've got a service where they build your pc for you. I wouldn't mind upgrading my own pc, but not building one from scratch, I have bad luck in that field.
Dude, theres nothing to worry about. Building computers these days is just so easy. All you need is a screw driver (not magnetic) and patience. As long as you don't overly force anything and read all the manuals (which is half the fun) YOU WILL BE FINE. On another forum I convinced so many of you precious types to build it themselves and they did and it was fine. There is really nothing to it. You install the cpu, ram, cooler on the mobo, throw the mobo in the case, put the graphics card, hard drives and cd drives in and then just plug them all in. There is nothing to it. Building your own computer also gives you the right to be wanker to all your friends about how good you are.
[QUOTE=The Inspector;38486073]Dude, theres nothing to worry about. Building computers these days is just so easy. All you need is a screw driver (not magnetic) and patience. As long as you don't overly force anything and read all the manuals (which is half the fun) YOU WILL BE FINE. On another forum I convinced so many of you precious types to build it themselves and they did and it was fine. There is really nothing to it. You install the cpu, ram, cooler on the mobo, throw the mobo in the case, put the graphics card, hard drives and cd drives in and then just plug them all in. There is nothing to it. Building your own computer also gives you the right to be wanker to all your friends about how good you are.[/QUOTE] Actually magnetic screwdrivers are fine as long as you don't put em near the HDD, and hell even then there probably isn't enough magnetic interference to screw with anything. I've built a few computers with a magnetic screwdriver.
[QUOTE=Zerokateo;38486106]Actually magnetic screwdrivers are fine as long as you don't put em near the HDD, and hell even then there probably isn't enough magnetic interference to screw with anything. I've built a few computers with a magnetic screwdriver.[/QUOTE] Yeah I have too, and I've never had problems, I just want to eliminate any risk for a first timer.
Well, I fell a bit better about building it now, I've got some friends who know PC's, I'll have them around when I get the parts, and get them to help me out. It's just that a few months ago, someone I know bought a PC, had someone else put it together, and the things PSU pretty much exploded a couple weeks in, so that kinda put me off building a PC myself. Okay, after using PCcasegear, I've come up with this; Antec One Gaming Case Intel Core i5 3570K Corsair Vengeance Black CMZ16GX3M4X1866C9 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 Gigabyte GA-X79-UD3 Motherboard Gigabyte Radeon HD7950 3GB Overclocked Corsair HX-650 V2 80 PLUS Gold Power Supply Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit with SP1 OEM Seagate Barracuda 2TB ST2000DM001 Samsung SH-224BB/BEBS SATA DVDRW Drive OEM How does that look? Mouse, keyboard, and monitor aren't a problem, and I'll probably buy a surge protector at some point as well.
You need an LGA 1155 motherboard as well, the X79 chipset motherboards are 2011 and won't support the i5. If you could post where you'd be buying the parts from, I can help you find one. [editline]17th November 2012[/editline] Damn I didn't see the PCcasegear part, one second. [editline]17th November 2012[/editline] [url]http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=138_711_1183&products_id=20036[/url]
The PSU breaking is much more likely to be a shitty PSU rather than shitty installation. Or maybe the case not being raised at all/being on carpet with the PSU fan down. Also unless you're doing 3D/Video rendering you don't need 16gb. 8 is more than enough.
[QUOTE=a wet towel;38492989]The PSU breaking is much more likely to be a shitty PSU rather than shitty installation. Or maybe the case not being raised at all/being on carpet with the PSU fan down. Also unless you're doing 3D/Video rendering you don't need 16gb. 8 is more than enough.[/QUOTE] They dont have 8gb kits at pccg for some reason. Also the much much more likey reason the psu exploded is because someone flicked the little red switch at the back. NEVER EVER TOUCH THAT SWITCH. That causes psus to explode.
[QUOTE=HolyCrapAWalrus;38492532]You need an LGA 1155 motherboard as well, the X79 chipset motherboards are 2011 and won't support the i5. If you could post where you'd be buying the parts from, I can help you find one. [editline]17th November 2012[/editline] Damn I didn't see the PCcasegear part, one second. [editline]17th November 2012[/editline] [url]http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=138_711_1183&products_id=20036[/url][/QUOTE] Thanks, wouldn't have known that myself. [editline]19th November 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=The Inspector;38497387]They dont have 8gb kits at pccg for some reason. Also the much much more likey reason the psu exploded is because someone flicked the little red switch at the back. NEVER EVER TOUCH THAT SWITCH. That causes psus to explode.[/QUOTE] Is there an actual use for the little red switch? Seems a bit counter productive to have a self destruct button on the PSU. That was probably how the incident happened as well, the guy who owned the PC has two younger brothers, both 10 who fiddle with everything, was probably that.
[QUOTE=Dejarie;38510921]Thanks, wouldn't have known that myself. [editline]19th November 2012[/editline] Is there an actual use for the little red switch? Seems a bit counter productive to have a self destruct button on the PSU. That was probably how the incident happened as well, the guy who owned the PC has two younger brothers, both 10 who fiddle with everything, was probably that.[/QUOTE] That little switch is for Americans. It changes from 240v to 110v (I think that's the voltages) ANYWAY when you throw 240v into something that's only meant to take 110v, well....
[QUOTE=The Inspector;38511207]That little switch is for Americans. It changes from 240v to 110v (I think that's the voltages) ANYWAY when you throw 240v into something that's only meant to take 110v, well....[/QUOTE] So it's reverse idiot proofing for Americans, gotcha. I guess my last question is, will I be able to max out the current games of the generation? I've lived for so long with shitty computers, I really want something that can run the new games well.
[QUOTE=Dejarie;38511344]So it's reverse idiot proofing for Americans, gotcha. I guess my last question is, will I be able to max out the current games of the generation? I've lived for so long with shitty computers, I really want something that can run the new games well.[/QUOTE] I'm not totally up to date with the 7950 but I believe you should be able to max most if not all games. With the surge protector you posted about a few posts ago, tell you the truth I wouldn't both with one if your living in a relatively new house (10 years or so) I've had one for a bloody long time and its never gone off. I believe they're a bit of a gimmick. In a modern day house the fuse/circuit breaker should go way before any of the surge hits your computer.
[QUOTE=The Inspector;38520639]I'm not totally up to date with the 7950 but I believe you should be able to max most if not all games. With the surge protector you posted about a few posts ago, tell you the truth I wouldn't both with one if your living in a relatively new house (10 years or so) I've had one for a bloody long time and its never gone off. I believe they're a bit of a gimmick. In a modern day house the fuse/circuit breaker should go way before any of the surge hits your computer.[/QUOTE] Well, thanks for helping me with this, you've been a great aid to me. My house is pretty recently done up and still quite nice, but the power system is a bit temperamental, prone to tripping when a certain thing is switched on, during light storms, etc. It's only a few extra dollars on top of the $1300 I'm I might as well cut out as many potential problems as I can.
Don't forget to get a cpu cooler, them stock ones genuinely fucking suck shit. Also artic silver 5 is a great thermal paste, get yourself some of that if you don't have any :) EDIT: Derp, just noticed you have H60 cooler in first post, tbh you can seriously get the same performance with a fan cooler compared to the h60, either that or go for a h80.
[QUOTE=Ruzza;38539486]Don't forget to get a cpu cooler, them stock ones genuinely fucking suck shit. Also artic silver 5 is a great thermal paste, get yourself some of that if you don't have any :) EDIT: Derp, just noticed you have H60 cooler in first post, tbh you can seriously get the same performance with a fan cooler compared to the h60, either that or go for a h80.[/QUOTE] Stock air coolers are perfectly fine for non overclocking. The intel ones are that is, the AMD ones are terrible.
[QUOTE=The Inspector;38546020]Stock air coolers are perfectly fine for non overclocking. The intel ones are that is, the AMD ones are terrible.[/QUOTE] On lovely hot days we get in australia, the temperature goes up a lot
[QUOTE=Ruzza;38548241]On lovely hot days we get in australia, the temperature goes up a lot[/QUOTE] Not really. I have had many in computers built for other people and they do just fine.
[QUOTE=The Inspector;38548711]Not really. I have had many in computers built for other people and they do just fine.[/QUOTE] Needless to say, ive heard ivy bridge heat up more compared to sandy bridge, its always best to buy even a $30 cooler like hyper 212 to ensure the cpu is kept cold, if he were to try and overclock later on.
Another question. I'm still looking at cases. I was considering the Antec Three Hundred, then the Gaming One, but I'm not so sure about that now. Too few ports for my liking. Can anyone recommend a good case in the $200 range?
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