Indecisive - help me finalise my spec!

Catch!

Catch!

Catch!

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16 Nov 2012
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I've pretty much got a spec sorted out now (yeah, I'm still being indecisive about the motherboard/graphics card, hence the multiple options - feel free to offer advice on that as well!)

My main question is... will it fit in the case?

Case:
Coolermaster 690 II

CPU:
Intel Core i7-2700K 3.50GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor

Motherboard:
ASRock Z77 Pro4 Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard [Z77 PRO4]
Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard

Graphics:
Gigabyte HD 7950 Windforce 3X 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express
HIS HD 7950 IceQ BOOST 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
HIS HD 7950 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
MSI HD 7870 Black Knight OC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card

The wireless card, drives, RAM, etc I'll get after shopping around, but I just wanted some final advice on the 'important bits' :)


Lastly, what kind of Power supply am I going to need to power all this, preferably one that will allow me to Crossfire in the future?
 
Doomedspeed said:
Hi mate,

Whats the build for? Just gaming? or other intensive programs?
Click to expand...

*facepalm* - I really am great at omitting rather important info..
Anyhow, mostly gaming

I'm not massively concerned about playing the most recent games on ultra though - being able to play them at all with a decent framerate would be novel in itself!

I kind of wanted to get something that would remain upgradable for a while- hence the SLI/crossfire compatible motherboard and i7 processor.
I'm less bothered about getting a truly top of the range graphics card at the moment - my plan is to Crossfire in the future and then go from there.
 
Also, I don't have a specific budget - though I probably wouldn't want to go too much more expensive on the graphics card than the gigabyte one listed.
 
I see why you went for the i7, but you won't see the benifit of it just through gaming over the i5. The i7 comes to life in CAD and Video Editing programs. The 3570k is spot on for mid to hardcore gamers.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Gigabyte ATi Radeon HD 7950 Windforce 3X 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with FREE FARCRY3, Hitman Absolution, Sleeping Dogs & 20% off MOH Warfighter PC Games £251.99
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £179.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £99.98
1 x Corsair Enthusiast Series TX750M High Performance 750W '80 Plus Bronze' Modular Power Supply (CP-9020040-UK) £89.99
Total : £633.95 (includes shipping : £10.00).



These parts are Xfire ready. :)

The windforce seem to be the most popular 7950, i can see why. It stays really cool and quiet. :)
 
Doomedspeed said:
I see why you went for the i7, but you won't see the benifit of it just through gaming over the i5. The i7 comes to life in CAD and Video Editing programs. The 3570k is spot on for mid to hardcore gamers.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Gigabyte ATi Radeon HD 7950 Windforce 3X 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with FREE FARCRY3, Hitman Absolution, Sleeping Dogs & 20% off MOH Warfighter PC Games £251.99
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £179.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £99.98
1 x Corsair Enthusiast Series TX750M High Performance 750W '80 Plus Bronze' Modular Power Supply (CP-9020040-UK) £89.99
Total : £633.95 (includes shipping : £10.00).



These parts are Xfire ready. :)

The windforce seem to be the most popular 7950, i can see why. It stays really cool and quiet. :)
Click to expand...

So a 750W supply should do it? Cool!

Yeah, I was recommended Gigabyte before, and apparently there are issues with Crossfiring the IceQ one because of the width/height of it.

And that's interesting about the i7 too. Call me a noob, but what differences would I expect to see between the i5 and i7, not just now, but in the next year or two?
What's the difference between sandybridge and ivybridge anyhow?! ;)
 
Catch! said:
So a 750W supply should do it? Cool!
Click to expand...

750W is plenty, a great PSU too..

Catch! said:
Yeah, I was recommended Gigabyte before, and apparently there are issues with Crossfiring the IceQ one because of the width/height of it.
Click to expand...

The IceQ's cooler is a bit bulky towards the end, if Xfireing, id stick with another windforce.

Catch! said:
And that's interesting about the i7 too. Call me a noob, but what differences would I expect to see between the i5 and i7, not just now, but in the next year or two?
Click to expand...

Not a lot really, no-one is predicting games to utilise the i7's hyperthreading power. Apart from the CPU-Z screenshots, you won't notice it.

Catch! said:
What's the difference between sandybridge and ivybridge anyhow?! ;)
Click to expand...

About 5%-10% (in Ivy's favour) and Ivy is less Power Hungry.
 
Doomedspeed said:
750W is plenty, a great PSU too..

The IceQ's cooler is a bit bulky towards the end, if Xfireing, id stick with another windforce.

Not a lot really, no-one is predicting games to utilise the i7's hyperthreading power. Apart from the CPU-Z screenshots, you won't notice it.
About 5%-10% (in Ivy's favour) and Ivy is less Power Hungry.
Click to expand...

Good to know, much appreciated - I'm looking to make savings where possible and that amount might mean I can get a better SSD.
 
Just a word of advice from my own personal experience. Don't get near AsRock boards. Stay ASUS or Gigabyte.

O and any decent 750W+ PSU will be fine. Id recommend anything Corsair and make sure its modular.
 
kitkat9933 said:
Just a word of advice from my own personal experience. Don't get near AsRock boards. Stay ASUS or Gigabyte.

O and any decent 750W+ PSU will be fine. Id recommend anything Corsair and make sure its modular.
Click to expand...

Dyou mind if I ask what issues you had with AsRock?
(For future reference more than anything - I've heard nothing but good about Gigabyte so was going to go with them unless anyone said anything drastic to the contrary.)
 
Just to throw another spanner into the works for you. As i read above you say your not massivley fussed on fps just want to play games at relativley high settings and are open to xfire later on. If you want to save yourself another £50 ish you could always go for a amd 7850 2gb. A 7950 with a very slight oc will max out pretty much every game atm (probably @ stock clocks aswell). The 7850 will max out most with a light oc aswell and achieve a decent framerate. But its a lot cheaper so the option to xfire later for more performance will be more managable.
Just a thought!
The options are endless. What you really need is a budget and stick to it. Then you can work around that for specs.
 
Catch! said:
Dyou mind if I ask what issues you had with AsRock?
(For future reference more than anything - I've heard nothing but good about Gigabyte so was going to go with them unless anyone said anything drastic to the contrary.)
Click to expand...

I had an AsRock Extreme 9 board, it had dead DIMM slots, USB3 port mobo headers were dead. This was a brand new board. Got a replacement through Overclockers it wouldn't POST. The Manual's were very bare and lackluster, their Customer Service department consists of one person pretty much and have call queues of over 5 hours some days. Read up into them online further and basically AsRock board issues were crazily common.

Got an Asus board instead of getting a replacement AsRock after RMA'd the 2nd AsRock and it's been great, had no issues with it, its layed out really well, has really detailed and and helpful instructions, it was a massive improvement over AsRock.

Only one positive thing for AsRock is that its BIOS was nicely spread out and their price point. But as they say you pay peanuts, you get peanuts.

So in short get Gigabyte or ASUS ( I normally use Gigabyte till I went to a higher end system) they have really good and helpful Customer Service and well designed boards.
 
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