Opinion on this spec?

Associate
Joined
30 Dec 2012
Posts
148
Location
Derby, UK
Hi,

The main purpose of this PC would be for gaming and I was wondering what everyone thought of the spec and if I can make any improvements anywhere.

Intel Core i7 3770K - Watercooled with just a CPU loop (or an i5 3570k)?

Asus Sabertooth Z77 Mobo

Corsair Vengeance 8GB 1600MHZ Dual Channel Memory

EVGA GTX670 FTW 4GB GPU - or a radeon 7970 (main games i will be playing are bf3, far cry 3, hitman absolution etc)

Kingston HyperX 3K SSD 120GB

Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 1TB

LG DVD Burner

Corsair TX650W PSU

Thermaltake Level 10 GT Case

I am not sure about having it watercooled as I am not sure I will need it - I am thinking of overclocking but how would a corsair h100i perform?
 
Last edited:
most will say the i7 isn't needed for gaming but for me as i have the same will go against the flow and say go for it, for the extra yes you may not need it for any game you have now or play, but as it's a good price right now you never know whats coming out this year.

good spec, for me i'd stick with amd for the card, but maybe go for the 9750 as it oc well and is cheaper

corsair make great psu, unless your adding more cards the 500 / 600 would be plenty

great m/b, im tight and went for the Asus P8Z77-V LX2 Intel Z77 as it did everything i wanted it to do as it way cheaper, but any asus are great, yours is just well better :)

any good air cooler for me, never used water so have no idea or advice either sorry :(
 
Last edited:
The "i7 isn't needed for gaming" is often mistaken for "an i7 is pointless for gaming"

An i7 isn't pointless for gaming, it's very good - it's more that for the extra money spent, you'd almost always be better off with a slightly cheaper i5 and spending the difference on the GPU.

If the main purpose is video/audio etc editing, I always recommend the best CPU. If the main purpose is gaming, better to go for the GPU. The card you're looking at is hardly weak, so you don't necessarily need the better GPU, but you'll last longer without an upgrade with an i5 and the best GPU you can afford.
 
I would go for the i7 as i want it to be 'futureproof' if you like - from what I can find out the gtx 670 is a good card - or should I go for a GTX 680?
 
I doubt the i7 will be more future proof. Since only a handful of games took advantage of hyperthreading (the only difference) and it was never used again. These games being a test.
 
The i7 isn't going to future-proof you...

In the context of games, the i7 is like a DLC.. It adds to the i5, It doesn't make it any better just give you the opportunity to do more..

The uses where it provails is limited to Heavy Photo or Video Editing (maybe rendering too.)

Dave (Trigger) is right.. 3570K + 7950 = :)
 
id have less case and more sdd myself and maybe better / more ram

a lot better case out there for a lot less

get a cheaper one and custom paint it yourself, i would if i liked the paint job green

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-101-AN&groupid=2362&catid=160&subcat=

boring it maybe, but no windows, all metal so rubs down well to bare metal, prime it and spray it, roll of tape and 2 tins of spray job done

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-165-AN&groupid=2362&catid=160&subcat=

or pay more and get some windows and do same as above

buy a cheap one to practice on and see the effect,

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-011-BX&groupid=2362&catid=1850&subcat=

you may like it, can get cheaper
 
Last edited:
If you want to record gaming with Fraps for example, and then render what you've recorded using Vegas etc, then an i7 will be much much better than an i5.
 

Thanks for this - what watercooling kit would you recommend for just a cpu loop? and like just the standard Level 10 GT - everything else seems to be fine and I quite like it :)

edit: I found this one would this be suitable? http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-143-XS
edit 2: I really like this GPU http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-276-AS - what do you think?
 
Last edited:
Thanks for this - what watercooling kit would you recommend for just a cpu loop? and like just the standard Level 10 GT - everything else seems to be fine and I quite like it :)

edit: I found this one would this be suitable? http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-143-XS
edit 2: I really like this GPU http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-276-AS - what do you think?

You're welcome. The mobo has wifi and bluetooth too which is a nice touch, sorry you don't like the army green but I thought it all tied together nicely.

The H100i is a closed loop cooler, it's a half way house between a good aircooler and watercooling without the hassle. In all honesty a good air cooler is better value, adding a proper custom watercooling loop will be more faff and more expensive. If you want to do a custom loop I'd rather you do your own homework so you know what you are getting yourself into
 
I have been doing research into watercooling and I think I have a good idea of what i'm doing - I intend to do some overclocking and the aesthetics of watercooling will just make it that little bit better in my opinion :).
 
I would also like a new gaming monitor to go with the new system I am planning on building. What would you guys recommend for me to buy?
 
Back
Top Bottom