newb-computer-build-September-2012-gaming-pc-builds-of-the-month

Gaming PC Builds of the Month: September 2012

September 2012 Gaming PC Builds:

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newb-computer-build-September-2012-gaming-pc-builds-of-the-monthIntroduction:

September has arrived and I am excited to have yet another month of Gaming PC Builds for you to sample within the $500 – $1000 and $1500 budget ranges. I would like to state that prices have risen a slight bit and I have made changes accordingly.

I would also like to announce a couple of new additions here at Newb Computer Build. First, I have being working on revising the look of the site with a new site structure, where I am trying to use a more “responsive” web site format to accommodate different screen resolutions. Keep in mind that I have just recently changed to the new site, so I am still working on crunching a few formatting and design components, but I would appreciate any feedback or suggestions as to how you would like to site to look and feel like.

Secondly, this month I would like to introduce a nice fellow by the name Obit who will be contributing a new article consisting of his AMD builds – “Obit’s September 2012 AMD PC Builds“. We have been messaging back and forth for a little while now and he has originally commented that I never include AMD processors / builds in my articles and after some debate I decided to ask him for an article submission. You will be seeing his article soon after this one is published – so I hope you enjoy 🙂

Like Newb Computer Build – 

$500 gaming pc build newb computer buildMonthly Gaming PC Build ( $500.41 ): September 2012

(Game at Smoothly with Medium – High settings at 1920X1080 resolutions)

Gaming PC Build Recipe:

All hardware is linked to Amazon.com – You Can also try   Amazon.ca (CANADA) • Amazon.co.uk (UKNewegg.com (US) • Newegg.ca (CANADA)  Scorptec.com.au(AUS)  pccasegear.com (AUS) to shop for these parts.
 
Processor: Intel Core i3-2120 Dual-Core Processor 3.3 GHz 3 MB Cache LGA 1155 – BX80623I32120
Price: $109.99
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D3V Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel N/A Micro ATX DDR3 1333 Intel LGA 1155 Motherboard
Price: $69.99
Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce GTX560 SE 1024MB GDDR5 SLI Ready Graphics Card (01G-P3-1464-KR)
Price: $129.98
RAM: Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2×4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
Price: $39.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD5000AAKX
Price: $69.99
Power Supply: Antec VP-450 450 Watt Energy Star Certified Power Supply Price: $34.98
Computer Case: T650 GENERIC T650 GENERIC T650
Price: $17.20
Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99
Estimated Price: $ 500.41 (Talk about perfect budgeting for a $500 build!?)

Overview: Gaming PC Build ( < $500 )

Comparing the August builds prices with this months all I had to say was…what!?? I was rather disappointed to see that prices for the cheaper hardware had risen to my dismay. My only assumption is that as the Fall school year rises closer prices in hardware tends to rise with everything else? I would be interested in hearing any other theories or practical input on this fact. Anyways, the build from August had risen to around $560-$570, which just will not do for the $500 build!

I made some adjustments, such as a graphics card to a GTX 560 SE card that will still enable good medium to high settings on resolutions of 1920X1080. I also did a motherboard revision to a cheaper Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D3V that includes all of the essentials for the $500 build with enough comfort room to add up to 16Gb of memory, a single PCI Express X16 port for your graphics card and even a couple USB 3.0 ports to juice it up. The last change was the re-inclusion of the Generic T650 case – What can I say about this case? Not much, but it does it’s job and houses all of your hardware and comes at a very affodable price of $17.20

So if you are looking to build a gaming PC and don’t care about fancy – this $500 build will do you justice!

$500 Build Performance –

Here are the 3D Mark 7 benchmarks using the Intel 2120 processor an the GTX 560 SE graphics card with 8GB of RAM- or take a look at them for your self – http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/3513386

Intel 2120 and GTX 560 SE Compare

Upgrade suggestions for the < $500 Gaming PC Build:

The hardware below are all moderate increases from the hardware listed in the main $500 build and they can all be considered compatible with one another.

If you are ever stumped or have any questions as to the compatibility of any hardware please get in contact with me or leave a comment below and I will try to respond as soon as I can.

Want other suggestions? Then leave a comment and I will try to get back to you as soon as I can.

Overview: The Gaming PC Hardware

Intel Core i3-2120 Dual-Core Processor 3.3 GHz 3 MB Cache LGA 1155 – BX80623I32120 Price: $124.99

The Intel 2120 processor has risen some in price this month. Up $15 form August though and it is still the spot holder for the $500 gaming pc build. The 2120 is the perfect choice for a budget builder looking to get as much band for buck as they can on a gaming pc build.

Intel i3-2120 2 cores 3.3GHz clock speed 2 threads

Technical Details:

  • Process Type: Intel Core i3 Processor i3-2120 Frequency: 3.3 GHz DMI: 5 GT/s
  • Intel Smart Cache: 3 MB Process: 32 nm Socket: LGA1155
  • Power Consumption: 65 W Max Memory Bandwidth: 21 GB/s Graphics Base Frequency: 850 MHz
  • Graphics Max Dynamic Frequency: 1.1 GHz This processor is a Dual Core Processor
  • This processor supports Hyper-Threading Technology This processor supports Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
  • This processor supports Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology This processor supports Thermal Monitoring Technologies
  • This processor supports Intel 64 This processor supports Idle States
  • This processor supports Intel Fast Memory Access This processor supports Intel Flex Memory Access

Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D3V Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel N/A Micro ATX DDR3 1333 Intel LGA 1155 Motherboard Price: $69.99

The Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D3V takes the spot of the previous AsRock motherboard. This motherboard has similar specs and enough buffer to upgrade memory in the future if you liked. The purpose however, of the $500 build is to get as much performance into $500 as you possibly can, while skipping anything fancy, so this motherboard is just that – has what you need and little more.

Technical Details:

  • CPU: Support for Intel Core i7/i5/i3/Pentium/Celeron processors in the LGA1155 package. Chipset: Intel H61 Express Chipset
  • Memory: 2 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory. Dual channel memory architecture. Support for DDR3 1333/1066/800 MHz memory modules. Support for non-ECC memory modules.
  • Audio: Realtek ALC887 audio codec. High Definition Audio. 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel. LAN: 1 x Realtek 8111E chip (10/100/1000 Mbit)
  • Expension Slots: 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16. 3 x PCI Express x1 slots.
  • Storage Interface: 4 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (SATA2 0/1/2/3) supporting up to 4 SATA 3Gb/s devices. 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors (GSATA3 0/1) supporting up to 2 SATA 6Gb/s devices. Support for RAID 0 and RAID 1.
  • Back Panel Connectors: 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port/1 x D-Sub port/1 x DVI-D port/4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports/2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports/1 x RJ-45 port/3 x audio jacks
  • Internal I/O Connectors: 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector/1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector/4 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors/2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors/1 x CPU fan header/1 x system fan header/1 x front panel header/1 x front panel audio header/2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers/1 x Clear CMOS jumper
  • USB: Up to 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports. Up to 2 USB 3.0/2.0 ports on the back panel.

EVGA GeForce GTX560 SE 1024MB GDDR5 SLI Ready Graphics Card (01G-P3-1464-KR) Price: $129.98

The GTX 560 SE graphics card will get you really good Medium to Higher settings graphics gameplay with resolutions of 1920X1080 guaranteed.  Not one of the newer graphics cards on the market, but this card stands a strong contender in the $100-$150 graphics card price range.

Technical Details:

  • Core Clock: 776MHz
  • Memory clock: 3828MHz
  • Shader Clock: 1552MHz
  • CUDA Cores: 288
  • Memory: 1024MB GDDR5 192bit
  • Microsoft DirectX 11 support, Nvidia CUDA Technology, OpenCL Support, Nvidia PhysX, PureVideo HD, 2-Way SLI, 3DVision Surround Technologies and Support

Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2×4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX Price: $39.99

This package of Kingston 8GB RAM still holds this spot because it is still at the exact same price as last month – holding at $39.99. Last month his package was chosen for its strong Kingston brand name as well as the most affordable price point for a package of 8GB RAM – so here it is again!

8GB of RAM that will probably last the lifetime of your budget $500 gaming PCs lifespan, this 8GB set of Kingston Technology HyperX RAM will do the trick.

Technical Details

  • 8GB Kit including two 4GB modules of 1600MHz Class 9 DDR3 Desktop Memory
  • Utilizes HyperX module with faster latency timing for higher performance and speed
  • Specifically designed and tested for compatibility in various makes and models of desktop computers
  • From the industry leader in PC memory
  • Non-ECC Low-Latency 240-pin unbuffered DIMM type
  • Model: KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
  • Item Package Quantity: 1
  • RAM Memory Technology: DDR3 SDRAM
  • Memory Storage Capacity: 8.0 GB
  • Memory Speed: 1600 MHz
  • Warranty: Lifetime

Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive – WD5000AAKX Price: $65.29

Western Digital 250 GB Caviar Blue

Western Digital 500 GB Caviar Blue

Here is the usual Western Digital Blue Caviar 500GB drive has seen this share of monthly gaming pc builds appearances, but this is because it has enough space, at the right price, speeds and ratings that there is no reason to change it up. This 500GB hard drive is down by about $5 this month!

Performance Details From Western Digitals’ Website:

Performance Specifications
Rotational Speed 7,200 RPM (nominal)
Buffer Size 16 MB
Load/unload Cycles 300,000 minimum
Transfer Rates
Transfer Rate (Buffer To Disk) 126 MB/s (Max)
Physical Specifications
Formatted Capacity 500,107 MB
Capacity 500 GB
Interface SATA 6 Gb/s
User Sectors Per Drive 976,773,168
Metric
Height 26.1 mm
Depth 147 mm
Width 101.6 mm
Weight 0.69 kg
Temperature (English)
Operating 32° F to 140° F
Non-operating -40° F to 158° F
Temperature (Metric)
Operating -0° C to 60° C
Non-operating -40° C to 70° C
Electrical Specifications
Current Requirements
Power Dissipation
Read/Write 6.80 Watts
Idle 6.10 Watts
Standby 0.70 Watts
Sleep 0.70 Watts

Product Details

  • WD Caviar Blue hard drives have a multitude of features to deliver rock solid performance and ultra-cool and quiet operation.
  • 3rd generation SATA interface for 6 GB/s maximum data transfer rates.
  • WhisperDrive technology minimizes noise to levels near the threshold of human hearing.
  • 500 GB capacity holds up to 100,000 digital photos, 125,000 MP3 files, and 60 hours of HD video.
  • Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
  • 3rd generation SATA interface for 6 GB/s maximum data transfer rates
  • 500 GB capacity holds up to 100,000 digital photos, 125,000 MP3 files, and 60 hours of HD video
  • WD Caviar Blue hard drives have a multitude of features to deliver rock solid performance and ultra-cool and quiet operation
  • WhisperDrive technology minimizes noise to levels near the threshold of human hearing

Antec VP-450 450 Watt Energy Star Certified Power Supply Price: $34.98

Use for yet another month in the $500 gaming PC builds and holding the exact same price as previous, this Antec power supply proves a continuous power of 450W  with many positive reviews and a price point of about $35 bucks for a PSU there was no reason not to include it. Also to note, this PSU has a continuous power rating of 450W, which means that it will always give out a continuous amount of 450 watts.

Technical Details:

  • 450W of continuous Power!
  • Dual +12V rails ensure greater system stability
  • ATX 12V version 2.3 compliant
  • 120mm fan delivers quiet, reliable cooling
  • Black exterior complements any system

T650 GENERIC T650 GENERIC T650 Price $17.20

Due to massive price increases this month I had to make sacrifices, such as downgrading to this Generic PC case. However, I did not want to do any major performance hits as a sacrifice, so I try to choose hardware that will not effect performance – therefore this Generic PC case. This Generic T650 case will house your hardware no problem and is a no bells or whistles non-fancy PC case that does the trick at $17.20!

Technical Details:

  • 10-Bay ATX Mid Tower Computer Case General Features: Black color with red accent Mid Tower design
  • ATX form factor No Power Supply Compatible with ATX and MicroATX motherboards
  • Compatible with standard ATX PSUs Case Thumbscrews included for easy removal of side panel
  • Case Features: Four (4) 5.25-inch external drive bays One (1) 3.5-inch external drive bay
  • Five (5) 3.5-inch internal drive bays
  • Brand Name: Generic
  • Model: T650
  • Item Package Quantity: 1

Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99

This change of optical drive to a Lite-On AllWrite is due to the previous Sony drive being bumped up to over $20. This optical drive is very similar and comes at a more attractive price point.

Technical Details

  • Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS124-04 BLACK/BULK (Black)
  • 6.7 x 5.8 x 1.6 inches ; 2 pounds
  • Interface: SATA; Buffer Memory: 2 MB

$1000 Gaming PC Build Newb Computer BuildMonthly Gaming PC Build ( $996 ): September 2012

Gaming PC Build Recipe:

Capability: Game with Extreme settings at 1920X1080 resolutions and even High Settings in some games at 2560×1600

All hardware is linked to Amazon.com – You Can also try   Amazon.ca (CANADA) • Amazon.co.uk (UKNewegg.com (US) • Newegg.ca (CANADA)  Scorptec.com.au(AUS)  pccasegear.com (AUS) to shop for these parts.
 
Processor: Intel Core i5 3570K Processor 3.4 4 BX80637I53570K
Price: $229.99
Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V LX Intel Z77 ATX DDR3 2400 LGA 1155 Motherboard
Price: $139.99
Graphics Card: MSI AMD Radeon HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 DVI/HDMI/2xMini DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card R7950 TWIN FROZR 3GD5/OC
Price: $329.99
RAM: Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2×4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
Price: $39.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive
Price: $87.95
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast TX V2 Series 650-Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified High Performance Modular Power Supply CP-9020002-NA
Price: $93.12
Computer Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout Gaming Mid Tower Computer Case with Carrying Handles (SGC-2000-KKN1-GP)
Price: $67.99
Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99
Estimated Price: $1003 (So close to the mark!)

Overview: Gaming PC Build ( $500 – $1000 )

As said in the $500 build of the month above, hardware prices magically were increased this month. This left August’s $1000 build at a current price of $1026, which is an increase from the total cost of $990 in August. This makes sense as there have been far from few newer hardware releases, however we can recover from this easily by switching up the brands (which no one seems to be concerned with in regards to the survey seen in the right hand sidebar where 0/54 respondents said they were not concerned with brand as #1 priority when building a gaming PC – true fact!).

Quickly eyeing the previous build for what particularly increased in price, it seems the main culprit was the XFX HD 7950 graphics cards which rose $20. And since the Radeon HD 7950 is still the main contender in this gaming PC budget range, all we had to do it switch up to an MSI card that is the same thing, but $20 cheaper! Does constantly changing prices concern anyone else? Me to – that’s why I do the Gaming PC Builds of the Month!

Although the prices from the previous hardware went up I was able to squeeze out the same if not higher performing build with a higher rated motherboard than last month and the same type of Radeon HD 7950 graphics card and the Intel 3570K prcoessor.

$1000 Build Performance –

Here are the 3D Mark 7 benchmarks using the Intel 3570K processor an the Radeon HD 7950 graphics card – or take a look at them for your self – http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/3663957

Radeon Hd 7950 and Intel 3570K

Overview: The Gaming PC Hardware

Intel Core i5 3570K Processor 3.4 4 BX80637I53570K Price: $229

Intel 3570K Prcoessor

Like most processors this month, the Intel 3570K processor has a slight increase in price from $215 to $229. Everything is fine though because we were able to make some other adjustments elsewhere to stay within budget.

This is the current mainstream high end gamer processor. The Intel 35070K is included in both the higher end and mid range gaming pc builds of the month. This processor is easily overclocked and perfect for all hardware enthusiasts and gamers alike.

The Intel Core i5-3570K has four cores and an unlocked multiplier that allows you to freely adjust the frequency – overclocking made easy! Note: if you plan on overclocking please consider buying an after market CPU cooler such as the Cooler Master Evo 212 included in the Hardware Suggestions section for this $1000 build.

Intel Core i5-3570K 4 cores 3.4 GHz clock speed (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 Socket

Product Details: *From Intel

Essentials
Status
Launched
Launch Date
Q2’12
Processor Number
i5-3570K
# of Cores
4
# of Threads
4
Clock Speed
3.4 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency
3.8 GHz
Intel® Smart Cache
6 MB
Bus/Core Ratio
34
DMI
5 GT/s
Instruction Set
64-bit
Instruction Set Extensions
SSE4.1/4.2, AVX
Embedded Options Available
No
Lithography
22 nm
Max TDP
77 W

ASUS P8Z77-V LX Intel Z77 ATX DDR3 2400 LGA 1155 Motherboard Price: $139.99

This is a highly rated mid range motherboard that is currently being purchased at a rate of 0.83% of all motherboards according to the Motherboard Section of at the Community at Futuremark. This motherboard has four memory slots for up to 32GB of DDR3 240pin memory, PCI Express 3.0 x16, great Realtek ALC887 audio with 8 channels, USB 3.0 and the best part is that it has a fantastic auto overclock utility that you can easily squeeze 4.5 GHz out of the Intel 3570K processor.

Product Details:

  • DIGI+ VRM : New Era of Digital Power Design that fully enables Superior System Stability, High Power Efficiency and Improved Performance Scaling
  • EPU:System Level Energy Saving and Real-time Power Management for Superb Platform Power Efficiency
  • ASUS USB 3.0 Boost :Set USB 3.0 devices into 3 modes: Normal, Turbo, UASP to improve overall read/write performance instantaneously
  • GPU Boost: Two simple ways to get quick free graphics upgrade
  • Anti-Surge Protection: Safeguard your device by providing voltage protection to all major onboard components

MSI AMD Radeon HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 DVI/HDMI/2xMini DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card R7950 TWIN FROZR 3GD5/OC Price: $329.99

The Radeon HD 7950 graphics card was a significant upgrade last month and we are keeping it so this month. The only change here is that we swapped the XFX version for this MSI HD 7950 card due to a price jump in the XFX card. This MSI card has great airflow & keeps really cool, comes with the MSI overclocking utility, advanced fan speed control; if you are a gamer then you will not regret this purchase.

You will be able to play most if not all games at max settings at 1920×1080 resolutions and will even play well if you have a super high resolution monitor at 2560×1600.

Technical Details:

  • Chipset: AMD Radeon HD 7950
  • EngineClock: 880 MHz
  • Video Memory: 3GB GDDR5
  • Memory Clock: 5000 MHz
  • Memory Interface: 384-bit
  • Connectors: DVI, HDMI,?2x Mini DisplayPort
  • Max. Resolution: 2560 x 1600

Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2×4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX Price: $39.99

The same as used in the $500 build, but 8GB is a good fit for the $1000 build as well. This package of Kingston 8GB RAM still holds this spot because it is still at the exact same price as last month – holding at $39.99. Last month his package was chosen for its strong Kingston brand name as well as the most affordable price point for a package of 8GB RAM – so here it is again!Technical Details

  • 8GB Kit including two 4GB modules of 1600MHz Class 9 DDR3 Desktop Memory
  • Utilizes HyperX module with faster latency timing for higher performance and speed
  • Specifically designed and tested for compatibility in various makes and models of desktop computers
  • From the industry leader in PC memory
  • Non-ECC Low-Latency 240-pin unbuffered DIMM type
  • Model: KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
  • Item Package Quantity: 1
  • RAM Memory Technology: DDR3 SDRAM
  • Memory Storage Capacity: 8.0 GB
  • Memory Speed: 1600 MHz
  • Warranty: Lifetime

Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive Price: $87.95

Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache Desktop Hard Drive – WD10EALX

The 1TB Western Digital Caviar Blue Hard Drive has yet decreased again by a few dollars and is still highly reccomend here at Newb Computer Build. This is a quality hard drive from a quality company and 1TB for a Gaming PC is plenty! This is why I have used this hard drive ever since the prices have dropped. You cannot go wrong here, just check out the performance details below

Product Details

  • WD Caviar Blue hard drives have a multitude of features to deliver rock solid performance and ultra-cool and quiet operation.
  • 3rd generation SATA interface for 6 GB/s maximum data transfer rates.
  • WhisperDrive technology minimizes noise to levels near the threshold of human hearing.
  • 1 TB capacity holds up to 200,000 digital photos, 250,000 MP3 files, and 120 hours of HD video.
  • Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging

Corsair Enthusiast TX V2 Series 650-Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified High Performance Modular Power Supply CP-9020002-NA Price: $93.12

I tend to use the Corsair Enthusiast series power supply unit’s quit a bit, but this month we have a little treat similar to last months $1500 build; the 650 Watt modular version of the PSU is only $3 more than the base 650 Watt PSU, so while you can jump on this dea – modular keeps things uncluttered, nice looking and open up the case for more airflow to keep things cooler.

Product Details:

  • 80PLUS Bronze certified, delivering up to 85% energy efficiency at real world load conditions.
  • A dedicated single +12V rail offers maximum compatibility with the latest components.
  • Exceptionally low noise level by varying fan speed in response to temperature.
  • Over-voltage and over-current protection, under-voltage protection, and short circuit protection provide maximum safety to your critical systems
  • Universal AC input from 90~264V. No more hassle of flipping that tiny red switch to select the voltage input!
  • A five year warranty and lifetime access to Corsair’s legendary technical support and customer service.
  • An ultra-quiet double ball-bearing fan delivers excellent airflow
  • The latest ATX12V v2.31 and EPS 2.92 standards and it is backward compatible with ATX12V 2.2 and ATX12V 2.01 systems.

Cooler Master Storm Scout Gaming Mid Tower Computer Case with Carrying Handles (SGC-2000-KKN1-GP) Price: $67.99

This is a juicy compact Mid Tower PC case built for gaming hardware. The Storm Scout has a dark red glow and comes with features such as USB 3.0 on its front panel, has tool-free installation, room enough for high end graphics cards such as the Radeon HD 7950, dust filters and looks great.

Product Details:

  • Front I/O Panel with USB 3.0 (internal)
  • Tool-free for 5.25″ device
  • Dust Filters on bottom and front intakes
  • Cable management for better cable routing
  • Reinforced front door protects your vital devices
  • Removable & Rotatable HDD cage for convenient installation
  • Support high-end graphics cards including AMD Radeon HD 6990 and NVIDIA GTX 590
  • Supports rear internal 120mm water cooling radiator

Technical Details

  • Cooler Master Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP No PS Mid Tower Case (Black)
  • Case Type: Mid Tower Gaming Case
  • Material: Steel, ABS Plastic, PC, Mesh bezel
  • M/B Type: ATX, M-ATX
  • External Bay: 5x 5.25″; 1x 3.5″
  • Drive Bays: 11
  • I/O Panel: 4x USB 2.0 Ports; 1x eSATA Port; 1x Mic; HD Audio + AC’97
  • Internal Bay: 4x 3.5″, 1x 2.5″

Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99

This change of optical drive to a Lite-On AllWrite is due to the previous Sony drive being bumped up to over $20. This optical drive is very similar and comes at a more attractive price point.

Technical Details

  • Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS124-04 BLACK/BULK (Black)
  • 6.7 x 5.8 x 1.6 inches ; 2 pounds
  • Interface: SATA; Buffer Memory: 2 MB

$500 – $1000 Gaming PC Build Additions / Swap Suggestions

Note: Prices are in additional $ amounts… These additions are to act as additional or supplemental hardware the the Gaming PC Build Recipe Above

Add a SSD Boot Drive: Kingston HyperX 3K 120 GB SATA III 2.5-Inch 6.0 Gb/s Solid State Drive SH103S3/120G = + $92.41 (LOWER PRICE!)
– Can be used for installing OS to boot quick on this 120Gb SSD
Add a Blu-Ray Optical Drive: LG Electronics WH12LS30 12X Blu-ray SATA Writer Drive = + $82 – Perhaps you are a movie buff?  or need to Backup Media etc.LG Electronics WH12LS30 12X Blu-ray SATA Writer Drive - WH12LS30K
 Do CROSSFIRE with another MSI AMD Radeon HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 DVI/HDMI/2xMini DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card R7950 TWIN FROZR 3GD5/OC = + $329.99  Better CPU Cooler (To Overclock Intel 2500K):Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R2) = + $32 Are you planning on overclocking very soon? Then you may want to indulge in this well rated CPU cooler to keep your CPU a tad cooler, thus increasing overclock potential.

Additions / Part Swaps Overview

These are some of the additions of hardware swaps you could consider either now or in the future for the $1000 Gaming PC Build. These will act to supplement an already great gaming pc with hardware such as a Kingston HyperX 120GB Solid State Drive, an LG Blu-Ray drive, CrossFire (Double the AMD graphics cards) with another MSI Radeon 7950 graphics card, or a Cooler master Hyper 212 Evo CPU cooling to overclock and get the most out of the Intel unlocked 3570K processor.

$1500 Gamihng PC Build Newb Computer BuildMonthly Gaming PC Build ( $1485 ): September 2012

Gaming PC Build Recipe:

Game with Extreme settings at resolutions of 2560×1600 – How perfect is that!?

All hardware is linked to Amazon.com – You Can also try   Amazon.ca (CANADA) • Amazon.co.uk (UKNewegg.com (US) • Newegg.ca (CANADA)  Scorptec.com.au(AUS)  pccasegear.com (AUS) to shop for these parts.
 
Processor: Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 – BX80637I53570K
Price: $229.99
 
CPU Cooler (For OverClocking): Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R1)
Price: $32.42
Motherboard: ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 TUF Series Motherboard on Intel Z77 Platform z77 ATX DDR3 1600 Intel – LGA 1155 Motherboard
Price: $239.98
Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce GTX680 SuperClocked 2048MB GDDR5, DVI, DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort, 4-way SLI Ready Graphics Card Graphics Cards 02G-P4-2682-KR
Price: $499.99
RAM: Corsair 16GB XMS3 (2x 8GB) DDR3 SDRAM 1600MHz 240-Pin 16 Dual Channel Kit DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) CMX16GX3M2A1600C11
Price: $79.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive
Price: $86.98
SSD Hard Drive: Kingston HyperX 3K 120 GB SATA III 2.5-Inch 6.0 Gb/s Solid State Drive SH103S3/120G
Price: $109.99
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast TX V2 Series 750-Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified High Performance Modular Power Supply CP-9020003-NA
Price: $108.07  (modular!)
Computer Case:  NZXT Phantom 410 Mid Tower USB 3.0 Gaming Case – Black
Price: $99.99
Optical Drive: Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99
Estimated Price: $1485

Overview: Gaming PC Build ( $1000 – $1500 )

If you have read the previous two builds above, then you may have noticed a trend in hardware prices increasing. The $1500 build however, has not increased in total value as the current value of the August 2012’s PC build is $1474.79 – $5 cheaper than last month, so overall nothing significant has changed in the higher end hardware prices, however I was able to squeeze in the #1 most popular motherboard being sold in the last thirty days, the Asus Sabertooth Z77 Tuf Series motherboard as seen on community.futuremark.com.

We are still going to use the Intel 3570K processor for both the $1000 mid ranged build and the higher end build has this enables us to pump as much as we can into hardware such as the graphics card to be able to get a greater performance increase while playing PC games. The fact that prices are pretty stable in the higher end build, we are not changing much this month as the changes have been minimal with no new notable releases in hardware. This is good news for anyone who purchased the higher end $1500 build form last month and still good news to anyone new purchasing a gaming pc build.

Overall, I made some minor adjustments such as swapping to a package of 2x 8GB (16GB) Corsair RAM that was $10 cheaper, adding in the more popular Asus Sabertooth Z77 motherboard, the newer Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB hard drive (higher cache), and the winner of the Toms Hardware Gaming Cases Between $80 – $120 PC case roundup – The NZXT Phantom 410 Mid Tower Gaming Case.

$1500 Build Performance –

Here are the 3D Mark 7 benchmarks using the Intel 3570K processor an the GTX 680 graphics card – or take a look at them for your self – http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/3663957

NVidia GTX 680 graphics card and Intel 3570K processor comparison

Overview: The Gaming PC Hardware

Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 – BX80637I53570K Price: $229.99

Intel Core i5 3570K Processor

Some have asked me why I use an i5 Intel processor in the high-end build rather than an i7. The answer to this basically boils down to performance per dollar spent on the hardware for the build as a whole. While building a gaming PC you want to be able to get as much graphics power as possible to pump higher and higher frames rates and a lot of games will benefit much further purchasing a higher end graphics card such as the GTX 680 included in this build.

It has been said that the Intel 3570K is the best price per core performance gaming cpu with the ability to overclock unsurpassed in this range. Want to read some benchmarks on the Intel 3570K? – Then check out some of techradars benchmarks.

I have included an aftermarket CPU cooler – the Cooler Master EVO, which will make overclocking a simple feat while keeping temperatures under control. I dare you to try overclocking up to an easy 4.8GHz!

Intel Core i5-3570K 4 cores 3.4 GHz clock speed (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 Socket

Product Details: *From Intel

Essentials
Status Launched
Launch Date Q2’12
Processor Number i5-3570K
# of Cores 4
# of Threads 4
Clock Speed 3.4 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency 3.8 GHz
Intel® Smart Cache 6 MB
Bus/Core Ratio 34
DMI 5 GT/s
Instruction Set 64-bit
Instruction Set Extensions SSE4.1/4.2, AVX
Embedded Options Available
No
Lithography 22 nm
Max TDP 77 W

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R1) Price: $32.42

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R2

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler

I have used the Cooler Master 212 EVO CPU cooler for months because it is still a basic well rated and performance CPU cooler that is priced very cheap when compared to others of its calibre.   This month you save about $5 dollars from last and this is still the go to CPU cooler!

Product Details:

CPU Socket Intel Socket:LGA 2011 / 1366 / 1156 / 1155 / 775 *AMD Socket:FM1 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2
CPU Support Intel:Core™ i7 Extreme / Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 / Core™2 Extreme / Core™2 Quad / Core™2 Duo / Pentium / CeleronAMD:FX-Series / A-Series / Phenom™ II X4 / Phenom™ II X3 / Phenom™ II X2 / Phenom™ X4 / Phenom™ X3 / Athlon™ II X4 / Athlon™ II X3 / Athlon™ II X2 / Athlon™ X2 / Athlon™ / Sempron™
Dimension 120 x 80 x 159 mm (4.7 x 3.1 x 6.3 in)
Heat Sink Dimensions 116 x 51 x 159 mm (4.6 x 2.0 x 6.3 in)
Heat Sink Material 4 Direct Contact Heat Pipes / Aluminum Fins
Heat Sink Weight 465g (1.03 lb)
Heat Pipes Dimensions ø6mm
Fan Dimension 120 x 120 x 25 mm (4.7 x 4.7 x 1 in)
Fan Speed 600 – 2,000 RPM (PWM) ± 10%600 – 1,600 RPM (PWM) ± 10% (EU Version)
Fan Airflow 24.9 – 82.9 CFM ± 10%24.9 – 66.3 CFM ± 10% (EU Version)
Fan Air Pressure 0.3 – 2.7mm H2O ± 10%0.3 – 1.7mm H2O ± 10% (EU Version)
Fan Life Expectancy 40,000hrs
Fan Noise Level (dB-A) 9 – 36 dBA9 – 31 dBA (EU Version)
Bearing Type Long Life Sleeve Bearing
Connector 4-Pin
Fan Rated Voltage 12 VDC
Fan Rated Current 0.22A0.19A (EU Version)
Power Consumption 2.64W2.28W (EU Version)
Fan Weight 104g (0.23 lb)
  • Well-balanced cooling performance provides fin optimizations with perfect balance between high and low speed operations.
  • Wide-range PWM fan with unique wave-shaped blade design for excellent airflow.
  • 4 Direct Contact heat pipes with the patented (Continuous Direct Contact) technology – creating a perfect, sleek surface for heat conduction.
  • Versatile all-in-one mounting solution supporting the latest Intel LGA 1366 /1155 and AMD FM1 / AM3+. Includes the LGA 2011 mounting bracket.

ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 TUF Series Motherboard on Intel Z77 Platform z77 ATX DDR3 1600 Intel – LGA 1155 Motherboard Price: $239.98

An upgrade from the previous ASUS INtel Z77 P8Z77-V PRO motherboard and the number one selling motherboard from the past thirty days according to community.futuremark.com. The ability of this motherboard to keep track and make the most efficient cooling possible works very well.

Product Details:

  • Thermal Armor Technology – Improves air flow with an innovative shunt design and integrated turbo fan on two focal points
  • TUF Capacitors, Chokes and MOSFETS – Certified by military standard to ensure ultimate durability
  • Thermal Radar – Real-time thermal detection for a better cooling solution
  • Dust Defender – Protect all dusts and extend the lifespan of slots and connectors
  • ASUS USB 3.0 Boost – Set USB 3.0 devices into 3 modes: Normal, Turbo, UASP to improve overall read/write performance instantaneously
  • AI Charger+
  • AI Suite II
  • Dual Intelligent Processors 3 ( EPU, TPU, SMART DIGI+ Power Control )

EVGA GeForce GTX680 SuperClocked 2048MB GDDR5, DVI, DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort, 4-way SLI Ready Graphics Card Graphics Cards 02G-P4-2682-KR Price: $499.99

GeForce GTX 680Used for the second month in a row, the GTX 680 stand still at a price of $499.99 and will allow you to game at Extreme settings at resolutions of 2560X1600 easily.

This is the fastest available single GPU card out right now.

Product Details:

  • Base Clock: 1058MHz
  • Boost Clock: 1113MHz
  • Memory Clock: 6208MHz
  • Cuda Cores: 1536
  • Pci-E 3.0
  • 2048MB GDDR5 256bit
  • Nvidia SMX Engine, Nvidia GPU Boost, NVidia Adaptive Verticle Sync, Nvidia Surround, Support for Concurrent Displays, Nvidia PhysX, Nvidia 3D Vision Ready, Nvidia SLI Ready, Nvidia CUDA Technology
  • Brand Name: EVGA
  • Model: 02G-P4-2682-KR
  • Item Package Quantity: 1
  • Warranty: 3 year warranty upon registration at evga.com

Corsair 16GB XMS3 (2x 8GB) DDR3 SDRAM 1600MHz 240-Pin 16 Dual Channel Kit DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) CMX16GX3M2A1600C11 Price: $79.99

A significant drop in RAM prices this month as prices have dropped from a previous $109 to a mere $79.99 – $89.99 for dual packs of 8GB RAM (16GB), so if you are planning on purchasing more RAM or debating on 8gb vs. 16gb you might as well go with 16GB as the prices are very affordable.

Product Features:

  • Density: 16GB (2x8GB Module)
  • Speed: 1600MHz
  • Timing: 11-11-11-30
  • Pin Out: 240 Pin
  • Voltage: 1.50V
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty

Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive Price: $85.98

*NEW – With double the Cache than the previous Western Digital Caviar Blue Hard Drive. The newer Western Digital Blue drives now have double the cache, are quieter and for some reason come in at a price point that is about $20 cheaper than in August.

Performance Details:

  • WD Blue hard drives have a multitude of features including third generation SATA interface with 6 GB/s transfer rate, plus rock solid performance and ultra-cool and quiet operation.
  • WhisperDrive technology minimizes noise to levels near the threshold of human hearing.
  • SoftSeek technology streamlines read/write seeking algorithms, resulting in more efficient operation.
  • 1 TB capacity holds up to 200,000 digital photos, 250,000 MP3 files, and 120 hours of HD video.
  • 2 year limited warranty.

Kingston HyperX 3K 120 GB SATA III 2.5-Inch 6.0 Gb/s Solid State Drive SH103S3/120G Price: $109.99

Still at the height of SSD’s and rated as one of the top SSD’s in Toms Hardwares SSD’s of the month  – This  Kingston HyperX 3K is the perfect boot disk and storage space to put your most played games on, which will in turn increase boot times. This Kingston HyperX  SSD is a ‘solid’ choice this month for a 120GB range SSD.

Technical Details

  • Package includes 2.5-Inch SSD, 3.5-Inch bracket and mounting screws
  • 555MB/sec read and 510MB/sec write speeds
  • Faster boot times and application loads than hard drives
  • No moving mechanical parts gives it longer life and ability to handle rougher conditions
  • Backed by Kingston’s three year warranty and free technical support
  • 2.5-Inch SSD Drive with 9.5mm height
  • Support for SATA Rev 3.0

Cases and Expandability

  • Size (LWH): 7 inches, 9 inches, 2.38 inches
  • Weight: 1 pounds

Corsair Enthusiast TX V2 Series 750-Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified High Performance Modular Power Supply CP-9020003-NA Price: $108.07

The Corsair Enthusiast Series Modular Power Supplies are at similar prices as the non-modular versions, so pick it up quick. By going modular yo can clear up some of that cord clutter and leave more space for you gaming PC to breath and plus it just looks cleaner.

Product Details:

  • 80PLUS Bronze certified, delivering up to 85% energy efficiency at real world load conditions.
  • A dedicated single +12V rail offers maximum compatibility with the latest components.
  • An ultra-quiet double ball-bearing fan delivers excellent airflow at an exceptionally low noise level by varying fan speed in response to temperature.
  • Over-voltage and over-current protection,
  • Universal AC input from 90~264V. No more hassle of flipping that tiny red switch to select the voltage input!
  • A five year warranty and lifetime access to Corsair’s legendary technical support and customer service.
  • The latest ATX12V v2.31 and EPS 2.92 standards and it is backward compatible with ATX12V 2.2 and ATX12V 2.01 systems.
  • Under-voltage protection, and short circuit protection provide maximum safety to your critical system components.
  • Brand Name: Corsair
  • Model: CP-9020003-NA

NZXT Phantom 410 Mid Tower USB 3.0 Gaming Case – Black Price: $99.99

nzxt phantom 410 toms hardware choice 2012 PC CASEThe choice of the NZXT Phantom 410 case this month is based on the Toms Hardware Gaming Cases Between $80 and $120, Rounded-Up article that concluded the NZXT Phantom 410 case as the top contender in cooling and acoustic efficiency. This case has been used previously in the builds of the month, but it definitely deserves a re-run!!

Product Details

  • Clearance for top 240mm dual radiator for water cooling solutions/Adjustable interior pivot 120mm/140mm fan slot for directional air flow
  • Removable HDD cage to allow more room for extended video cards/Innovative right mounted HDD rails for easy hard drive replacement
  • Single 120mm/140mm side fan with acrylic window for interior viewing and cooling/Front Internal 2x USB 3.0 headers, 2x USB 2.0, audio and microphone input
  • 30W 3-step fan control for setting up your system for silence or performance/Wire management support up to 25mm space for easy cable management
  • Screw-less 5.25″ and HDD trays that secures 2.5″ SSD/Cooling capability of up to eight fans (2x 120mm and 1x 140mm LED fan included)
  • CASE TYPE Mid Tower Steel/FRONT PANEL MATERIAL Plastic/DIMENSIONS (W x H x D) 215 x 516 X 532 mm/VGA Clearance Maximum 305mm (w/o fan), 280mm (installed), 230mm (full pivot)
  • COOLING SYSTEM FRONT, 2x120mm or 1 X 140mm (1x120mm included)/REAR, 1 X 120mm (included)/SIDE, 1 x 120mm or 1 x 140mm /TOP, 2 X 120/140mm (1 x 140mm included)
  • DRIVE BAYS 3 EXTERNAL 5.25″ DRIVE BAYS/6 INTERNAL 3.5″ Slots/Screwless Rail Design/MATERIAL(S) Steel/EXPANSION SLOTS 7/WEIGHT 9 kg/MOTHERBOARD SUPPORT ATX, MICRO-ATX, MINI-ITX

Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – Bulk – IHAS124-04 Version C (Black) Price: $17.99

This change of optical drive to a Lite-On AllWrite is due to the previous Sony drive being bumped up to over $20. This optical drive is very similar and comes at a more attractive price point.

Technical Details

  • Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS124-04 BLACK/BULK (Black)
  • 6.7 x 5.8 x 1.6 inches ; 2 pounds
  • Interface: SATA; Buffer Memory: 2 MB

$1000 – $1500 Gaming PC Build Additions / Swap Suggestions

Note: Prices are in additional $ amounts – These additions are to act as supplemental or swaps for the hardware in the $1000-$1500 Gaming PC Build recipe above

Swap the Processor for an i7 –

Intel Core i7-3770K Quad-Core Processor 3.5 GHz 6 MB Cache LGA 1155 – BX80637I73770K=  $324.99

Double the Graphics Power w/ SLI and add one more: 
EVGA GeForce GTX680 SuperClocked 2048MB GDDR5, DVI, DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort, 4-way SLI Ready Graphics Card Graphics Cards 02G-P4-2682-KR = + $499.99
Corsair Hydro Series H80 High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler (CWCH80)Better CPU Cooler (To Overclock Intel 3570K): Corsair Hydro Series H80 High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler (CWCH80) = + $86.26
Larger SSD: Crucial 512 GB m4 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive SATA 6Gb/s CT512M4SSD2 = + $399.21 ($512 GB of pure Solid State Drive – You may even be able to skip and go with just this if you do not need the extra room!)

Overview: Additions / Part Swaps

The same selection as in August 2012 – If you have a little extra cash over and above the budget allotment for the $1500 build? Then the above table is an example of some of the hardware you could purchase as a slight upgrade(s).

You may want a little extra processing power and could splurge for an Intel i7 processor, or perhaps some more graphics power with another GTX 680. Or perhaps you are looking to push the limits with overclocking and want the confidence of a better CPU cooler, or you really like using your SSD drive to store and boot off of, so having 512GB may be more worth it? Up to you!


Concluding September 2012’s Gaming PC Builds:

I would like to thank anyone who  took their time to read through the September 2012’s Gaming PC Builds of the Month here at Newb Computer Build; as well as anyone who has read any previous articles. If you have any input or comments, please feel free to leave them below. The three builds this month are based on current prices and hardware trends geared towards building the best gaming PC possible in the $500, $1000 & $1500 price ranges.

Remember if you liked this article to visit the  Newb Computer Build Facebook Page as I would greatly appreciate any love and / or participation here!

If you have any questions please leave a comment and I will try to get back to you as soon as I can.

September 2012’s Gaming PC Hardware Overview Video:

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Comments 5

  1. Hello Corey,

    Concerning the high-end build, I was wondering wether getting the z77 mobo is still worth it because I think I read that Intel is starting to use 2011 socket type. So if I’m getting the i7 3770k processor which seems to be the top of the line processor (from Intel) for the LGA1155 socket type will I be able to upgrade that with a stronger one in the future or will Intel most likely stop using that socket type and I should consider a different mobo?

    1. Post
      Author

      Hello Jan Risse,

      You bet the Z77 motherboard is still worth it. Will Intel eventually quit using the 1155 socket type? Of course, but that is just the corporate maketing game it is. The Z77 chipset based motherboard were made specifically for the Ivy Bridge line of Intel Processors (the latest line of Intel Processors). The Z77 motherboard chipset allows you to get to most out of the Intel ivy Bridge processor (such as overclocking).

      As per the 2011 socket type – this socket type is being used for very high end processors such as the Intel 3820 ($286), the Intel 3930K ($569), and the Intel 3960X Extreme Edition ($1030). You are right with rumours of the newer Ivy Bridge-E platform coming out next and may perhaps used the 2011 socket platform. To me this means that you either wait for this to come out (expect Q3 of 2013), or just purchase a high end Z77 chipset system with an 3770K.

      Generally sockets change yearly, so either wait its the same bet and with an Intel 3770K and a high end graphics card you will have the same high performing system for a few years.

      Depending on what your uses of your PC are as well – For example: You may not even notice the difference between an Intel i7-3770K and an Intel i5-3570K processor in regards to gaming. So ask yourself what you are using your PC for and whether you want to wait. You could purchase a 2011 socketed motherboard with an Intel i7-3820 processor and maybe upgrade the processor later on, but in my opinion you would be spending more than you have to in order to upgrade later on.

      If you have any more questions let me know 🙂

  2. Hi Corey,

    Very nice builds as usual! Although I think a gtx 660ti would be a better choice for the $1000 build. I’m building a gaming pc just before school starts and I’ve got a few questions.
    Here are the parts:
    i5 3570k
    msi z77 gd65a
    msi gtx 670 power edition
    corsair vengeance 8gb memory @1600mhz
    corsair force gt 120gb ssd
    western digital 1tb blue drive
    corsair hx750 psu
    corsair vengeance c70 case
    corsair h100 cpu cooler
    and finally any cheap optical drive would do.
    So how does everything look? My budget is around 1500 but I’m trying to get the lowest price possible. I’m looking to add another gtx 670 sometime in the future so I was wondering if the corsair hx750 would be enough? Any other suggestions/tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

    Mike

    1. Post
      Author

      Hey Mike,

      Thanks for the input with using the GTX 660ti instead of the Radeon 7950; although I am not all too familiar with any GTX 660 Ti benchmarks at the moment. I did try to quickly look up some comparisons on http://www.3dmark.com/ however their site is down at the moment for some reason.

      That build does come in under $1500 on Amazon (adding together right now to about $1439?) In fact, that is a really good sum of hardware you have their with excellent cooling and a nice choice of case I might add.

      Two things to keep in mind – Make sure you purchase the larger cache 1TB Western Digital Drive (the 64mb one) as they have recently upgraded their drives and they are priced the same os the older Caviar Blue ones.

      And instead of the corsair hx750 psu you can now purchase the Corsair 750 Watts HX750 (a newer model that is also cheaper).

      To answer your last question, yes 750 watts will still be enough for SLI with two GTX 670’s as you should not require more than probably 600 max with upgraded fans, overclocking and even with the addition of another GTX 670 in the future. Let me know how the build goes and thanks for catching the comment programming error on the site earlier!

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