Build Critique/help & advice

OhPascal

OhPascal

OhPascal

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Joined
16 Oct 2011
Posts
51
Struggling to feel confident about this mini ITX build I'm planning for someone else. This is what I have got so far, and I'm struggling as I'm really nudging the absolute top of their budget. I was just looking for some advice and critique, for instance I was unsure of a good PSU wattage. And also couldn't decide between the Gigabyte Z77N-Wifi or the Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe as overclocking wouldn't really be on the cards but was still unsure of the relative performance benefits of the Deluxe. Additionally I was also unsure of a good relatively budget screen that had a HDMI input, so if anyone has any better suggestions I would welcome them! I know this might be asking a lot but I was just stuck about actually pulling the trigger on this build, thanks in advance for any help :confused:

Rig_3.jpg
 
Done a slight change, went with a 7870 which can offer near 7950 performance:


YOUR BASKET
1 x Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 7870 OC Windforce 3X 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £199.99
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - OEM £167.99
1 x Asus VE228HR 22" Widescreen LED Multimedia Monitor - Black £119.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77N-WIFI Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard £103.99
1 x BitFenix Prodigy Mini-ITX Cube Case - Arctic White £69.95
1 x Phanteks PH-TC14CS CPU Cooler - Blue (Socket 775 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £65.99
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 500w Modular '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply (CP-9020059-UK) £54.98
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST1000DM003) HDD £52.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00CEU) £43.99
1 x OcUK 20x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
Total : £916.27 (includes shipping : £17.85).

 
I'd go with a m-atx, and a TJ08-E, or a PS07. Or even a 350D if you have the budget. That gives you more choice, and more versatility.

If you are not overclocking, you don't need the Phantek. Besides I don't know if it works with the Gigabyte board.

The hard drive is expensive. A regular SATA3 drive will be fast enough. And if not, then get a 128GB SSD.

A good 550W is a good choice. You have cheaper alternatives. For the prodigy, the PSU needs to be under 160mm in length.
 
I'd wait on the Z87 mini-itx mobos to be honest fella. However......

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £189.95
1 x VTX3D HD 7870 Black Boost Edition 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £173.99
1 x Iiyama Prolite X2377HDS 23" Premium IPS Panel Widescreen LED Monitor - Black £139.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77N-WIFI Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard £103.99
1 x Toshiba SSD HG5D Series 7mm 128GB Solid State Hard Drive - (THNSNH128GCST) £89.99
1 x BitFenix Prodigy 'Yin' Mini-ITX Cube Case - White/Black £69.95
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST1000DM003) HDD £52.99
1 x Thermaltake Smart Series 530w Modular '80Plus Bronze' Power Supply £49.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00CEU) £43.99
1 x OcUK 20x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
Total : £944.82 (includes shipping : £12.50).



This 7870XT is a Tahiti core so is closely related to a 7950, OC it and you net stock 7950 performance for a lot less cash. As mentioned heatsinks can be tricky to fit on the tiny mobos. Might as well use the stock retail heatsink, they could add a CLC later if they decide to OC the CPU.
 
honosuseri said:
This 7870XT is a Tahiti core so is closely related to a 7950, OC it and you net stock 7950 performance for a lot less cash.
Click to expand...

Equally if you overclock or get an overclocked 7950 it will hit 7970 stock performance for a lot less money.

And so on and on and on ........
 
mickyflinn said:
Equally if you overclock or get an overclocked 7950 it will hit 7970 stock performance for a lot less money.

And so on and on and on ........
Click to expand...

You are missing the point fella. You say this almost everytime I use that GPU in a spec.

YOUR BASKET
1 x VTX3D HD 7870 Black Boost Edition 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £173.99
1 x Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 7850 OC Windforce 2X 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £161.99
1 x MSI HD 7870 Black Knight 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (R7870-2GD5T/OC) £159.95
Total : £495.92 (includes shipping : FREE).



That 7870XT is only £10 or so more than the midrange cards but can offer the performance of a stock £240 7950 as it is a Tahiti core, it's not really a 7870 at all. It is quite simply the best bang for buck GPU there is at the moment.

Yes the 7950 can overclock too and close the gap on the 7970s but spending £175 on a GPU rather than £240 (£70 saving roughly) allows cash that could go towards an SSD or a better CPU or paying for the OS. It depends on each person and their budget as to how to balance things out best.

If they want a 7950 I won't complain. I would like to point out that RJCs GB WF 7870 isn't a Tahiti core. Yes it has a better warranty and cooler but I'd pocket the cash and take the 7870XT myself. Each to their own mind :)
 
honosuseri said:
You are missing the point fella. You say this almost everytime I use that GPU in a spec.
Click to expand...


Totally untrue, link me to previous posts.

What i was trying to explain is that what you state is releavant to most gpus that if you overclock you can reach stock level of upper models.
 
mickyflinn said:
Totally untrue, link me to previous posts.

What i was trying to explain is that what you state is releavant to most gpus that if you overclock you can reach stock level of upper models.
Click to expand...

I'm not trawling through my past posts dude. I'm honestly not attacking you, if you don't say it then someone else does (I'm pretty sure you have said this a few times though)

You do specs so you should be aware of the 7870XT the OP might well not be though. I've just pointed it out as an option and reworked the spec a little bit. The new revision of the MSI 7950 is £30 cheaper still than the GB GPU so that's an option too that could be considered.

GPUs can be complicated. The Nvidia 660 won't OC to match a 670. The 660Ti isn't a 660 it's a cutdown 670 and that's what the 7870XT is a cutdown 7950. If they want the 7950 all well and good but I'd look at the MSI and put the saved cash elsewhere.

In short. I think he is overspending on the RAM and HDD and the GPU to an extent. The GB Z77 is voltage locked which is why it's cheaper than the Asus, if they won't OC much at all then it's a good saving. Olivier covered a lot of the main points well..... All these little savings add up and that's why he is asking for another pair of eyes no doubt :)
 
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