Help finalize my gaming rig!

[Teng Zai]

Okay so after many threads posting and receiving a lot of helpful replies from hwz bro's, I now want to finalize my rig but I am still unsure which is more value for certain components and if I should go for haswell or ivybridge.
Please help me see the comparisons and give me your expert advice in which would be better? Ofcourse, not limited to this list, very open to suggestions and advices!

Quite concerned about Aesthetics, looking to go for a red/black rig if possible, but definitely not going to sacrifice too much performance or value for it. Also, other theme rigs are welcomed, I love ANY COLOR THEME as long as they are well matched!

Budget: $1500 (Willing to up a bit more if it's worth it)

Gaming on a 27" 1440P monitor. Need to at least run Dota2 on max settings on 1440P.




MOBO + CPU
ASROCK H77 PRO4/MVP
i5-3470
$340
i5-3570k
$387

or

ASROCK Z77 EXTREME 4
i5-3470
$404
i5-3570k
$451

or

MSI Z77A-G45 GAMING
i5-3470
$430
i5-3570k
$477

or

MSI Z87-G45
i5-4670k
$523




Case & CPU Cooler
NZXT Switch 810 + CORSAIR H100i CPU COOLER
$359

or

COOLERMASTER HAF X(942) + CORSAIR H100i CPU COOLER
$372




Ram
1600 G.SKILL RIPJAWS KIT CL10 (8GBX1)
$86

Or

1866 G.SKILL RIPJAWS KIT CL9 (4GBX2)
$95




GPU
SAPPHIRE HD7950 VAPOR-X 3GB DDR5
$410

or

POWERCOLOR HD7950 PCS+ 3GB
$384

or

Cheaper alternatives?




SSD, HDD, OS, PSU most likely I will be buying these(open to suggestions):

SSD
Samsung 840 Series 120GB
$130

HDD
Seagate 7200rpm (500GB x 2)
$0 (re-using)

OS
WINDOWS 7 HOME PREMIUM 64bit OEM
$120

PSU
FSP AURUM 92+ PLATINIUM 650W MODULAR
$142

 

[TechNuB]

sry oot abit ts

can check with u where u get pricing 130 for the samsung ssd? is it local?

 

[Teng Zai]

sry oot abit ts

can check with u where u get pricing 130 for the samsung ssd? is it local?

Either I get from tradepac bundle (Powercolor 7950 + ssd) or from Amazon, roughly ~$130

 

[Reppps]

OS get 64bit.

 

[diamond96]

MSI Z77A-G43 Gaming board will fit ur theme. Black/red.

Processor wise , is u're over clocking go for the "K" if not take the normal one.

Same for RAMs , if you're not overclocking the normal value RAMs at 1600 MHz would be good enough. Or you might want G.Skill or corsair for the colour to go with ur theme.
Anything above 4GB of RAM would need a 64bit OS.

GTX 660 would be good enough I suppose.
Seasonic M12II (Modular) PSU 620W. But is bronze rating if you don't mind , as compare to what u chosen.
This both item have bundle price $415 iirc.

If you're into gaming only and not overclocking , there's no need for H100i.
The stock cooler will do the job.

 

[Teng Zai]

OS get 64bit.

MSI Z77A-G43 Gaming board will fit ur theme. Black/red.

Processor wise , is u're over clocking go for the "K" if not take the normal one.

Same for RAMs , if you're not overclocking the normal value RAMs at 1600 MHz would be good enough. Or you might want G.Skill or corsair for the colour to go with ur theme.
Anything above 4GB of RAM would need a 64bit OS.

GTX 660 would be good enough I suppose.
Seasonic M12II (Modular) PSU 620W. But is bronze rating if you don't mind , as compare to what u chosen.
This both item have bundle price $415 iirc.

If you're into gaming only and not overclocking , there's no need for H100i.
The stock cooler will do the job.

Sorry about that copy and pasted wrong one, ofc going for 64bit OS!
Not very sure if I'm going to OC or not but probably will in the future. Not sure to go with Haswell or ivybridge though (Z77 vs Z87).

How does the MSI Z77 G45 Gaming mobo fair against Asrock Z77 Extreme 4?
Haswell? or Ivy?

Main reason why I choose to go for h100i cooler is because of cheap price. COOLERMASTER HAF X(942) + CORSAIR H100i CPU COOLER for $372 is quite cheap..? Or maybe cheap for inexperience DIY like me

 

[sdhdaniel]

Sorry about that copy and pasted wrong one, ofc going for 64bit OS!
Not very sure if I'm going to OC or not but probably will in the future. Not sure to go with Haswell or ivybridge though (Z77 vs Z87).

How does the MSI Z77 G45 Gaming mobo fair against Asrock Z77 Extreme 4?
Haswell? or Ivy?

Main reason why I choose to go for h100i cooler is because of cheap price. COOLERMASTER HAF X(942) + CORSAIR H100i CPU COOLER for $372 is quite cheap..? Or maybe cheap for inexperience DIY like me

Just buy what you need now. If not gonna oc no need k ending cpu and z77 mobo, 3470 and b75 will be sufficient. Stock cooler is good enough. Might as well get a better gpu as you will save a lot on all this.

 

[sdhdaniel]

Case: NZXT SWITCH 810, not sure of the price
PSU: FSP 550W PLATINUM 80+, $139
MOBO: B75A-G43 GAMING
+
CPU: i5-3470, $400
RAM: CORSAIR VENGEANCE 1600mhz (2x4GB), $99
GPU: POWERCOLOR HD7950 PCS+, $399
ODD: SAMSUNG DVD RW, $25
HDD: WESTERN DIGITAL 1TB SATA3 64MB, $85
SSD: PLEXTOR M5P 128GB, $169
OS: WINDOWS 7 HOME PREMIUM, $120

550W is enough for this setup. Can actually go for a non gaming series mobo and save $50 more and go with black and blue theme instead

 

[Teng Zai]

Just buy what you need now. If not gonna oc no need k ending cpu and z77 mobo, 3470 and b75 will be sufficient. Stock cooler is good enough. Might as well get a better gpu as you will save a lot on all this.

Case: NZXT SWITCH 810, not sure of the price
PSU: FSP 550W PLATINUM 80+, $139
MOBO: B75A-G43 GAMING
+
CPU: i5-3470, $400
RAM: CORSAIR VENGEANCE 1600mhz (2x4GB), $99
GPU: POWERCOLOR HD7950 PCS+, $399
ODD: SAMSUNG DVD RW, $25
HDD: WESTERN DIGITAL 1TB SATA3 64MB, $85
SSD: PLEXTOR M5P 128GB, $169
OS: WINDOWS 7 HOME PREMIUM, $120

550W is enough for this setup. Can actually go for a non gaming series mobo and save $50 more and go with black and blue theme instead

Thanks for this, I heard many horror stories about MSI board though, are they any good? How does B75 compare to Z77 or H77?

 

[diamond96]

Sorry about that copy and pasted wrong one, ofc going for 64bit OS!
Not very sure if I'm going to OC or not but probably will in the future. Not sure to go with Haswell or ivybridge though (Z77 vs Z87).

How does the MSI Z77 G45 Gaming mobo fair against Asrock Z77 Extreme 4?
Haswell? or Ivy?

Main reason why I choose to go for h100i cooler is because of cheap price. COOLERMASTER HAF X(942) + CORSAIR H100i CPU COOLER for $372 is quite cheap..? Or maybe cheap for inexperience DIY like me

Is you were to ask me , I will ask you to get the i5-3570K with a MSI Z77A G43 or G45 Gaming board since you probably will OC in the future.
Since , your theme is black/red you might want to take the MSI one over the ASROCK. I'm not sure how it fair against but MSI is definitely good enough.

Yes CM HAF 942 + H100i at $372 is cheap.
Considering just the case is at $259 and the H100i is at $185.

But if you don't need such a big casing , I would suggest you go for NZXT phantom 410. It's at $169 iirc.
If slight OC , H80i would be good enough. $158.
Total $327.
Diff of around $50. But if you have the budget , just go for it since it's a casing that would fit ur theme and the cooler is a 100i over the 80i.

BTW , i have one rig using MSI board since 2nd generation of the CPU.
So far so good. 2 months ago just make another one using the G43 board.
No prob with MSI. But i think sometimes is heng or suay only..

 

[Teng Zai]

Is you were to ask me , I will ask you to get the i5-3570K with a MSI Z77A G43 or G45 Gaming board since you probably will OC in the future.
Since , your theme is black/red you might want to take the MSI one over the ASROCK. I'm not sure how it fair against but MSI is definitely good enough.

Yes CM HAF 942 + H100i at $372 is cheap.
Considering just the case is at $259 and the H100i is at $185.

But if you don't need such a big casing , I would suggest you go for NZXT phantom 410. It's at $169 iirc.
If slight OC , H80i would be good enough. $158.
Total $327.
Diff of around $50. But if you have the budget , just go for it since it's a casing that would fit ur theme and the cooler is a 100i over the 80i.

BTW , i have one rig using MSI board since 2nd generation of the CPU.
So far so good. 2 months ago just make another one using the G43 board.
No prob with MSI. But i think sometimes is heng or suay only..

1st time DIY here, so I think I don't really mind spending that bit more especially for a good deal for the Haf-x + H100i, for a bigger case that is easier for 1st timer to work with

Thanks for input! MSI sounds abit risky haha.

 

[diamond96]

1st time DIY here, so I think I don't really mind spending that bit more especially for a good deal for the Haf-x + H100i, for a bigger case that is easier for 1st timer to work with

Thanks for input! MSI sounds abit risky haha.

Yeah , the casing is quite nice too !

If you have the budget ASUS would be another choice but if were to compare the only bad thing is that the ASUS motherboard VS the MSI ones , the board has a higher risk of burning off.

The 'heatsink' is a pull and push , compared to MSI screw on it which is better.

IMO Asus is more of branding and only slightly better.

 

[Teng Zai]

Is you were to ask me , I will ask you to get the i5-3570K with a MSI Z77A G43 or G45 Gaming board since you probably will OC in the future.
Since , your theme is black/red you might want to take the MSI one over the ASROCK. I'm not sure how it fair against but MSI is definitely good enough.

Yes CM HAF 942 + H100i at $372 is cheap.
Considering just the case is at $259 and the H100i is at $185.

But if you don't need such a big casing , I would suggest you go for NZXT phantom 410. It's at $169 iirc.
If slight OC , H80i would be good enough. $158.
Total $327.
Diff of around $50. But if you have the budget , just go for it since it's a casing that would fit ur theme and the cooler is a 100i over the 80i.

BTW , i have one rig using MSI board since 2nd generation of the CPU.
So far so good. 2 months ago just make another one using the G43 board.
No prob with MSI. But i think sometimes is heng or suay only..

Btw G43 and G45 what difference? Both can OC?

 

[diamond96]

Yes both can OC.
All "Z" boards can.

From what I see is the number of PCI-E slots.
MSI Military Class III

If you don't intend to SLi , can take G43.

But the website seems like displaying those normal G43 and not the Gaming series one as my has 2 slots .

 

[Athrun88]

Thanks for this, I heard many horror stories about MSI board though, are they any good? How does B75 compare to Z77 or H77?

My P45 MSI board still alive and kicking

 

[Teng Zai]

Yes both can OC.
All "Z" boards can.

From what I see is the number of PCI-E slots.
MSI Military Class III

If you don't intend to SLi , can take G43.

But the website seems like displaying those normal G43 and not the Gaming series one as my has 2 slots .

Haha cos I heard things like cpu phases or something? I believe the asrock has 8+4 phases while msi has 6 only and I heard it shortens the lifespan of the MSI board.

My P45 MSI board still alive and kicking

Good to hear that! Might get it, looking pretty awesome.

 

[diamond96]

Haha cos I heard things like cpu phases or something? I believe the asrock has 8+4 phases while msi has 6 only and I heard it shortens the lifespan of the MSI board.



Good to hear that! Might get it, looking pretty awesome.

Was told the MSI board can last up to many many years which I believe it would be obsolete by then and we would move on .

IMO , I will use it for 5 years.

 

[nippp0n]

Sorry about that copy and pasted wrong one, ofc going for 64bit OS!
Not very sure if I'm going to OC or not but probably will in the future. Not sure to go with Haswell or ivybridge though (Z77 vs Z87).

How does the MSI Z77 G45 Gaming mobo fair against Asrock Z77 Extreme 4?
Haswell? or Ivy?

Main reason why I choose to go for h100i cooler is because of cheap price. COOLERMASTER HAF X(942) + CORSAIR H100i CPU COOLER for $372 is quite cheap..? Or maybe cheap for inexperience DIY like me

What are your chances of overclocking? IMO, i don't see much benefit in overclocking your cpu for gaming. You should channel those savings to get a good gaming gpu such as GTX 770 (that's the whole main point of a gaming rig isn't it? ). Maybe can get MSI Lightning series and overclock it instead to give you more boost in gaming performance.

Since you are not even sure if you are going to overclock, throwing ~$180 into a AIO water cpu cooler is

 

[Teng Zai]

What are your chances of overclocking? IMO, i don't see much benefit in overclocking your cpu for gaming. You should channel those savings to get a good gaming gpu such as GTX 770. Maybe can get MSI Lightning series and overclock it instead to give you more boost in gaming performance.

Since you are not even sure if you are going to overclock, throwing ~$180 into a AIO water cpu cooler is

Er its not really throwing 180 into WC, cos I looking to buy HAF-X or Trooper case, and its on offer $372 for Haf-X + H100i for tradepac bundle. Haf-X selling about $350~? in PC Themes so I might actually sell the h100i for some cash.

GTX770 I think overkill for me..? But from the way you put it I think there really isn't a need for me to OC.

Btw its not JUST Gaming, what i presumed was as long as it can play the very high end games, it should be fine with some basic programming such as visual studio..? Or am I wrong?

 

[w4rr3n]

yes visual studio easily, anyways IN case you are going to do some crazy modding bling blings i wouldnt advice the Haf X go switch 810.
Wanted to get that case but they ran out of stock