Setup Gaming Rigs

[gbgroup]

Hi all, its my first time posting. After reading so much reviews/post about different setups. Just wish to ask for opinions, i have a budget of S$ 2,000. Games like Dota 2 & Simcity, hoping to be played on "Max" settings and rig would at least last me a 1 or 2 with easy customization/upgrading in future, not intending to O/C the system as well.

I would probably need a "Wallmount" Monitor/Tv as i've space constraint environment and other peripherals like Mouse/Keyboard/OS (Windows 7).

MOBO Asrock Z77 Pro 3 + CPU i5-3570k 421
CPU COOLER CM Hyper Evo 212 59
RAM G.Skill 1600mhz value ram 8GB 53
ODD Samsung DVD RW 22
HDD WD Blue 1TB 80
SSD Plextor M5P 256GB 265
GPU Asus 7970 DirectCu II 648 (any alternative?)
PSU FSP Platinum 550W 125
CASE NZXT Phantom 410 155
OS Windows 7 Home 64bit OEM 110

 

[Nostalgiaa]

Get the PowerColor HD7970 OC. More bang for your buck

 

[gbgroup]

Asus 7970 DirectCu II 648
Powercooler 7970 OC 524 +/- $120 difference
Powercooler 7970 505 +/- $140 difference
Powercooler 7950 387 +/- $260 difference

I must say double fan seems to be a better option since if im gonna game pretty hard during weekends maybe 10-12 hours at a go.. Well the savings of S$ 120 seems pretty good

Another question is does PC 7970 OC able to run two monitor?

 

[nippp0n]

Since you don't intend to overclock, drop Z77 Mobo and K CPU. Those are for overclocking and you can also use stock cpu cooler if you are not overclocking.

 

[ah hui]

One piece of advise. Hasweel is coming out like next month. So wait for awhile before getting new rig.

 

[Nostalgiaa]

Asus 7970 DirectCu II 648
Powercooler 7970 OC 524 +/- $120 difference
Powercooler 7970 505 +/- $140 difference
Powercooler 7950 387 +/- $260 difference

I must say double fan seems to be a better option since if im gonna game pretty hard during weekends maybe 10-12 hours at a go.. Well the savings of S$ 120 seems pretty good

Another question is does PC 7970 OC able to run two monitor?

Yeah. Possible. And like nippp0n said. Drop the Z77 board, K series, and CPU Cooler if you're not overclocking.

 

[gbgroup]

Thanks and appreciate much reply,

Ahhui - thanks for the heads up but i read that haswell might favor the mobile/laptop gaming more then the desktop,

nippp0n/Nostalgiaa - im running much of my gamings on a very old acer 4937g and its seems due to the poor design in the cooling everytime my laptop hits a certain temperature it shuts down, that leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Correct me if i am wrong, Would CPU cooler be better in long uptime runs, like extending the processors lifespan?

So if Z77 & K would not be required, what would the next best option be?

(Is there a recommended shop/person that could help build the rig as i am totally nuts)

Cheers all.

 

[Madnessfan]

A Asrock H77M Mobo and an i5-3470 should suffice for your needs. As for where to go to get the whole system built, most here would reco PCThemes.

 

[Nostalgiaa]

Thanks and appreciate much reply,

Ahhui - thanks for the heads up but i read that haswell might favor the mobile/laptop gaming more then the desktop,

nippp0n/Nostalgiaa - im running much of my gamings on a very old acer 4937g and its seems due to the poor design in the cooling everytime my laptop hits a certain temperature it shuts down, that leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Correct me if i am wrong, Would CPU cooler be better in long uptime runs, like extending the processors lifespan?

So if Z77 & K would not be required, what would the next best option be?

(Is there a recommended shop/person that could help build the rig as i am totally nuts)

Cheers all.

Haha. I've known many people who have had same problems with Acer laptops. Due to the poor design of the laptop itself. But don't worry, since you're not overclocking, the stock cooler will do a decent job.

 

[ordway]

Thanks and appreciate much reply,

Ahhui - thanks for the heads up but i read that haswell might favor the mobile/laptop gaming more then the desktop,

nippp0n/Nostalgiaa - im running much of my gamings on a very old acer 4937g and its seems due to the poor design in the cooling everytime my laptop hits a certain temperature it shuts down, that leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Correct me if i am wrong, Would CPU cooler be better in long uptime runs, like extending the processors lifespan?

So if Z77 & K would not be required, what would the next best option be?

(Is there a recommended shop/person that could help build the rig as i am totally nuts)

Cheers all.

For Acer laptops the TIM application is terrible. But quite easy to fix. Follow the online guides on how to access the CPU. Replace the TIM, clean the dust. Good as new.

 

[gbgroup]

For Acer laptops the TIM application is terrible. But quite easy to fix. Follow the online guides on how to access the CPU. Replace the TIM, clean the dust. Good as new.

Would rather have it done by professionals, never a handy-craft person.
Tried once already, had a hard time and broke the housing. Where should i bring it to?

 

[gbgroup]

Thank yu all fr the help!

 

[Nostalgiaa]

I used to game on laptop too. Till I got sick of the limitations of it and finally got a desktop.

 

[gbgroup]

Since my boss gonna allow me to claim

 

[ah hui]

The news and reviews u read are based on comparison between haswell and ivy bridge, de performance difference is negligible for upgrading from ivy to haswell. But if u used to use sandy or older gen cpu, den de difference would be more obvious I would say. Lower power consumption compared to the ivy even at de same clock speeds. So de difference wonr be so much. Try comparing it to sandy bridge or even older core 2 duo and so.

Plus u are getting a brand new rig why spend the same amount for a platform that is gonna be obsolete in a few weeks times.

 

[gbgroup]

The news and reviews u read are based on comparison between haswell and ivy bridge, de performance difference is negligible for upgrading from ivy to haswell. But if u used to use sandy or older gen cpu, den de difference would be more obvious I would say. Lower power consumption compared to the ivy even at de same clock speeds. So de difference wonr be so much. Try comparing it to sandy bridge or even older core 2 duo and so.

Plus u are getting a brand new rig why spend the same amount for a platform that is gonna be obsolete in a few weeks times.

Cool, thank you sir!

 

[nippp0n]

In case you are not waiting for Haswell, here is my recommendation

CPU & Mobo: i5-3470 & MSI B75A-G43 Gaming @ $375
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ $75
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $22
HDD: WD Blue 1TB @ $80
SSD: Plextor M5S 256GB @ $249
GPU: Powercolor 7970 OC @ $508
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 @ $154
PSU: FSP Platinum 550W @ $125
OS: Windows 7 Home 64bit OEM @ $110

Total: $1698
Buy and build at Tradepac.

 

[gbgroup]

Haswell-Build Specs*

Hi all, since the wait for Haswell is here...

MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming + 4670k - S$ 617
Ram: G-Skill RipJawX 1600MHz CL9 16gb - S$ 180
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $22
HDD: WD Blue 1TB @ $80
SSD: Plextor M5S 256GB @ $249
GPU: Powercolor 7970 OC @ $508
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 @ $154
PSU: FSP Platinum 550W @ $125
OS: Windows 7 Home 64bit OEM @ $110

Would this be a good build? ANy comments?

 

[Nostalgiaa]

Haswell-Build Specs*

Hi all, since the wait for Haswell is here...

MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming + 4670k - S$ 617
Ram: G-Skill RipJawX 1600MHz CL9 16gb - S$ 180
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $22
HDD: WD Blue 1TB @ $80
SSD: Plextor M5S 256GB @ $249
GPU: Powercolor 7970 OC @ $508
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 @ $154
PSU: FSP Platinum 550W @ $125
OS: Windows 7 Home 64bit OEM @ $110

Would this be a good build? ANy comments?

Looks good to me

 

[nippp0n]

Haswell-Build Specs*

Hi all, since the wait for Haswell is here...

MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming + 4670k - S$ 617
Planning to overclock? If you plan to oc, you will need a after market cpu cooler.
Ram: G-Skill RipJawX 1600MHz CL9 16gb - S$ 180
16GB ram is pretty much overkill for gaming unless you are using the rig for graphic rendering as well.
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $22
HDD: WD Blue 1TB @ $80
SSD: Plextor M5S 256GB @ $249
GPU: Powercolor 7970 OC @ $508
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 @ $154
PSU: FSP Platinum 550W @ $125
OS: Windows 7 Home 64bit OEM @ $110

Would this be a good build? ANy comments?

Comments in red.