Advises on building gaming desktop

[dylan_tan]

Hi, I have decided to build a gaming desktop.

Budget S$1500 for the tower.

The games I want to play are: Boarderland 2, Bioshock series, Far cry 3, Hitman: Absolution, Tomb Raider, mostly single player role playing game.

I wish to get around 50 FPS when playing with the settings max out and AA ect turn on.
Screen resolution 1920 x 1200.

Main concern is the graphic card.
I'm still deciding between GTX660 TI, GTX680 and HD7970.

Please advise on the parts that I should go with.

Thank you.

 

[enenyi]

CPU+MB: Intel i5-3470 + AsRock B75 Pro3-M - $343
RAM: PC3-1600 Kingston DDR3 8GB - $67
GPU: Powercolor HD7970 3GB DDR5 - $513
SSD: Plextor M5P 128GB - $149 (price-match with Best Buy Computers)
HDD: Toshiba 1TB 7200rpm - $79
Casing: Enermax Ostrog - $69
PSU: Seasonic S12II 620W Non-Modular - $94
ODD: HP 24X DVD SATA - $25
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit - $110
Assembly Cost: $10

Total: $1459 (Buy all and build at PCThemes unless otherwise specified)

 

[dylan_tan]

Thank you for the recommendations.

I would prefer MSI products, is it better? Compare Powercolour 7970 to MSI 7970 lightning edition.

 

[nippp0n]

CPU & Mobo: i5-3330 & Asrock B75M-DGS @ $313
Ram: G.Skill 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ $65
ODD: HP DVD RW @ $25
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB @ $80 (Best Buy)
SSD: Plextor M5P 128GB @ $149 (Best Buy)
GPU: MSI 7970 Power Edition @ $569
Case: Sharkoon T5 @ $65
PSU: Seasonic S12 520W @ $78
OS: Windows 7 Home OEM @ $110 (Tradepac)
Assembly cost: $10

Total: $1464
Buy and build at PC Themes unless otherwise stated.

 

[dylan_tan]

Thank you for the recommendations. Let's put budget aside.

This is the build I came out with.

CPU: I5 3570K
MOBO: Asus P8Z77-V
GPU: MSI 660 TI Power Edition
PSU: Cosair HX 650W
Memory: Cosair Vengence 2 x 4GB
HDD: WD 1TB Blue
SSD: Samsung P840 120GB
Case: Coolermaster HAF 912 (Asia)
DVD Drive: Any drive that can support both DVD+R and DVD-R.

Wondering is 650W enough.
Thinking of changing PSU to Seasonic brand with modular.
Suggestions are welcome.

 

[enenyi]

Thank you for the recommendations. Let's put budget aside.

This is the build I came out with.

CPU: I5 3570K
MOBO: Asus P8Z77-V
GPU: MSI 660 TI Power Edition
PSU: Cosair HX 650W
Memory: Cosair Vengence 2 x 4GB
HDD: WD 1TB Blue
SSD: Samsung P840 120GB
Case: Coolermaster HAF 912 (Asia)
DVD Drive: Any drive that can support both DVD+R and DVD-R.

Wondering is 650W enough.
Thinking of changing PSU to Seasonic brand with modular.
Suggestions are welcome.

Change GTX 660TI to GTX 670.

 

[Felfirez]

Thank you for the recommendations. Let's put budget aside.

This is the build I came out with.

CPU: I5 3570K
MOBO: Asus P8Z77-V
GPU: MSI 660 TI Power Edition
PSU: Cosair HX 650W
Memory: Cosair Vengence 2 x 4GB
HDD: WD 1TB Blue
SSD: Samsung P840 120GB
Case: Coolermaster HAF 912 (Asia)
DVD Drive: Any drive that can support both DVD+R and DVD-R.

Wondering is 650W enough.
Thinking of changing PSU to Seasonic brand with modular.
Suggestions are welcome.

Their builds are much better than yours btw.

 

[dylan_tan]

Hi all, decided to build a gaming desktop, $1500 including monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Hi all, decided to build a gaming desktop, $1500 including monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

How about Windows and speaker?

 

[dylan_tan]

I'm not too sure to get window 7 or 8, do not need speaker.

I can folk out $200 more and final budget should be around $1700 max.

 

[xtNero]

Windows 7.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Go for Windows 7 which is much more stable (both system and with applications) and much more peripheral-friendly, yet cheaper.

CPU+MB: Intel Core i5-3470 + ASRock B75M-DGS @ $324
RAM: G.Skill NT DDR3-1600 CL11 8GB [Black PCB] @ $70
GPU: PowerColor HD 7970 3GB @ $496^
SSD: Intel SSD 335 180GB @ $185 (Bell Systems)
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.C 500GB @ $62 (Best Buy Computers)
ODD: Samsung 22X CD/DVD Writer [OEM] @ $20^
PSU: Seasonic S12II 520W [80 Plus Bronze] @ $75^
CASE: Sharkoon T5 Value @ $63^
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit [OEM] @ $110^
DSP: Dell UltraSharp U2312HM 23" LED [eIPS] @ $250^
KB+MS: Logitech G100 Gaming Combo @ $45 (Fuwell)

Total: $1700

Assembly: $10

Buy + Build at PC Themes, #04-15.

^Price-match against Tradepac:

1. Grab a price list from Tradepac and jot down price quotations for all those parts marked above from their boss on the price list.
2. Approach PC Themes and specifically call for Yi Long.
3. Nicely beg him to give you good pricing by showing him those quotations gotten earlier.
4. Enjoy your savings and good hospitality from the shop.

 

[dylan_tan]

Thanks for the recommendations. Would like to ask the differences between msi 7970 lighting version edition and powercolour 7970?

 

[peterchan75]

Now that you have your shopping list, it pays to shop around the reputable SLS shops.
1. If you decide on AMD gpu, make sure you get the free AMD game card from the shop. IF you do self-assemble and the mobo has onboard video, install Windows and drivers using the onboard video. Install gpu and driver last because AMD gpu runs very hot without catalyst driver.
2. Stressed your gpu to the max. If there is any display issue e.g. black screen, you can do a 1for1 exchange within 7 days. Have fun with your new rig.

 

[sbladerz]

I agree with moneyface. Look for yilong. He is super nice. The other counter guy just mostly pull a black face.

 

[dylan_tan]

I see, thanks for the advises. Is there any difference between powercolour 7970 and msi 7970? Other than price.

 

[nippp0n]

I see, thanks for the advises. Is there any difference between powercolour 7970 and msi 7970? Other than price.

MSI Lightning has more OC potential and uses Twin Frozr IV cooler. I think its cooling solution is better than Powercolor. But I think it is oos in SLS.

 

[dylan_tan]

Thanks for the advise nipppon. So do you recommend msi or powercolour 7970 gpu? And with oc or non oc?

 

[raindow]

i just build mine>>>> take a good look.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
brought at PC theme, sim lim square! 1.5k too..

 

[origamii]

same also build mine at pctheme but they nvr give me DMC game as they mention in the first place .