Gaming Rig

[Spyder]

Here she is...
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ANdC

I'm contemplating 2 other monitors (aside from the one listed ^^) as well so I'll list all three with links here..

Here's a decent one that I've come across which is older (not quite sure exactly how but can't be much). 23" and has 3D for AMD and 120Hz Opinion? http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/m.../LS23A700DS/ZA

And for when I plan to use eyeinfinity down the road these bad boys just look nasty with virtually no bezel, super sexy design but alas only 60Hz and no 3D BUT it is an IPS. I've found two, one is 23" and the other 27". Just don't know if you guys think the extra $$ is worth it for a 27" where I'd be more apt to buy a second 23" sooner if I go that route. Sorry if I am confusing lol. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/LG+-+23%...specifications and http://www.bestbuy.com/site/LG+-+27%...tor/6699274.p?

Just need to know if this seems fine. If so I'm ordering her this weekend, and no worries on the price, I know there are better deals to be found if you just shop around a bit. Thanks in advance!

[Jbc223456]

Change the motherboard to an ASUS P8Z77-V LK Motherboard, SSD for an Intel 330 or 520 Series, RAM to Corsair Vengeance Low Profile, and for a cooler I'd recommend Corsair Hydro H55, if you want to go that route. If you don't plan on overclocking, I'd recommend just using the stock heatsink that comes with the CPU. Aftermarket coolers void the CPU warranty.

[Spyder]

The Asus has only 2 PCIE 3.0 and I need 3 (two graphics cards eventually plus 1 for my wireless network), *ahem* the RAM is LP, that cooler doesn't match anywhere near the one here, I can pull out benchmark charts if you'd please and I do agree intel has reliable SSDs but the OCZ Vector is rated #1 in a lot of reviews and has been recommended by a lot of my friends. Also as you see I am getting the 3570K and when I go multi-monitor setup I'd like to have eyeinfinity so oc is nice.

[Jbc223456]

I'm not sure if you looked at that ASUS board carefully. It has two PCI-E 3.0 x16 slots, as well as two more PCI-E slots for addon cards such as the network card you are going to be using. NICs don't use PCI-E 3.0. And from looking at your PartPicker, the Corsair RAM with the model number you have chosen is not LP.

The reason I recommended using the Corsair Hydro Series is because of the fact that it is a self-contained water-cooled system, whereas the Thermaltake True Spirit uses a large heatsink and just fans. Intel SSDs are the only that I am aware of that are recommended by the gurus around here; several of whom build computers on a daily basis for customers and wouldn't use the OCZ SSD. I'd take reviews written online with a grain of salt; I rarely trust the reviews that I read online.

And overclocking your CPU won't help with AMD Eyefinity. If I recall, that is soley based off of their GPUs and therefore use the video card to power it (OC a CPU won't help with GPU processing power).

Just trying to help.

[SinisterP]

Regarding the memory, I think you both might be right.

While this is what the folks around here normally reccommend (note the "Low Profile" in the name)...
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

...the RAM listed on Spyder's PartPicker list does say "Vengeance Blue low profile heat spreader for styling and performance" under its features and description, just not in the name.
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9B

As far as the motherboard, I agree with Jbc...you definitely don't need a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot for the NIC. One of the other slots on that ASUS board will be just fine. The weak link will usually be the NIC's connectivity to your router or ISP speed, not its connection to the Mobo.

Can't speak to Eyefinity and CPU cooling...

[Jbc223456]

Hmm, that's odd. I guess that Newegg has missed that for the product description. I looked on the PartPicker and I didn't see it say Low Profile, so I assumed that it was not. Thanks for pointing that out Sinister.

[Spyder]

I just don't want liquid in my system, and as you said I don't even need it. I will be using a CPU cooler because better to go in the woods with a gun and not need it, right? On what basis makes you recommend the ASUS over the MSI? Also I'm just gonna stick with the Vector, has an extremely good rep and supposedly the fastest. Lastly, no opinions on the monitors??

[Jbc223456]

ASUS has a good reputation with their boards, and their Z77 chipset with UEFI BIOS is one of the best on the market in terms of reliability and stability. I am not fond of MSI; I've had to replace the same MSI board three times in an older pc built by a local guy.

I'm not good on monitors, but I know the ASUS brand LED Backlit monitors are good.

P.S. Don't say I didn't warn you about the SSD. I don't see how you can trust a product that only has 10 reviews written for it.

[Spyder]

Okay well thanks for sharing why you like them. And Asus is for nVidia 3D whereas Samsung does AMD. LG just look good, I kept looking at the Asus but I mean look @ dat bezel Haha I just think they'd be good plus they're IPS and nothing stands out as awkward in their reviews or specs.

[Jbc223456]

Yeah, it's nice not to have bezel, but I think the most recent Eyefinity versions come with bezel compensation, which will adjust the screen according to the bezel of your monitor.

[Spyder]

I meant the visual, not the monitor processing it itself. With minimal bezel it would look as if there were no separation between the monitors. Is the AMD 3D tech advanced enough to make using it even visually pleasing? I know people who use nVidias have no complaints and absolutely love it but for a $100 markup I'd like to get my moneys worth. Thanks!

[David M]

Eyefinities Catalyst drivers do have bezel compensation. But you want a minimum size bezel anyway for a two or three monitor system. On my Eyefinity system I physically overlapped my monitors which halved the bezel width between the monitors. My bezels are 7/8" wide but you can get better than that now.

1 cm wide (0.39 inches)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...307&Tpk=VN247H

It also has VESA mount in case you want to rack mount your monitors.

Also...
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-LED-MX239...eywords=MX239H

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...309&Tpk=MX279H

[Spyder]

So you like this...

Newegg.com - ASUS MX239H Silver / Black 23" 5ms (GTG) HDMI Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor, IPS Panel 250 cd/m2 80,000,000:1 Built-in Speakers

over this....

LG 23" Widescreen FlatPanel IPS LED HD Monitor IPS237L-BN.AUS - Best Buy

?? Thanks for your reply

[David M]

I would pick the Asus because of the vendor and my familiarity with Asus.

[Spyder]

Same thoughts, good by virtual 0 bezel ;( but helllloooo Asus haha. I'm on an Asus now which is ironic but I've owned LG so I was jw on your opinions. Save a few dollars as well, surprisingly it's usually the other way around.

[David M]

Wait until the experts have given their opinions as well.

[Spyder]

Alright, sounds good. *Whistles* Come here experts.. that's a good boy.

[glc]

I wouldn't game on IPS monitors - response time is too slow.

Be warned - if you get an OCZ SSD, make sure you keep an up to date image on a spin drive or an external.

[Spyder]

Would you rather I just get a Samsung 840 Pro 128GB?? It's cheaper and more reviews.

[Jbc223456]

Nope. Like I suggested, the Intel ones are the way to go at the current state of SSDs. The 330 and 520 series Cherryville SSDs all have 4 or 5 eggs and over 100 reviews each.

Otherwise, it's just a gambling game.

[Spyder]

Just bought it, here's the final.... Intel Core i5-3570K, Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, Thermaltake VN300M1W2N - System Build - PCPartPicker changed some stuff up. But what's done is done.

[David M]

Have fun with it!

[glc]

Good luck with that Rosewill PSU.

[David M]

Read this first before you risk using that PSU to kill off your computer.
What Power Supply should I get? How many Watts? Who made it? Guide Inside.

[birddog_61]

I love when people ask for advice from people that know what their doing and then just completely ignore it. I will never understand why people come here and do that.

[Spyder]

Kinda harsh :/ Well here's my support Rosewill Hive 750 Watt PSU review - Conclusions Not everything's bad from 1 manufacturer.

[glc]

A much more meaningful review:

Rosewill HIVE 650 W Power Supply Review | Hardware Secrets

Better than I expected, but I still only trust Seasonic-built units for anything except basic low-power units.

[Spyder]

I posted this before I ever bought it, didn't get any responses criticizing the PSU. Buy computer. Oh **** your PSU is garbage.. huh? I read reviews and articles... didn't get any different ratings than the Corsair equivalent.

[birddog_61]

Originally Posted by Spyder Kinda harsh :/ Well here's my support Rosewill Hive 750 Watt PSU review - Conclusions Not everything's bad from 1 manufacturer.

Originally Posted by Spyder I posted this before I ever bought it, didn't get any responses criticizing the PSU. Buy computer. Oh **** your PSU is garbage.. huh? I read reviews and articles... didn't get any different ratings than the Corsair equivalent.

No not harsh at all, I wasn't even talking about the psu I was talking about the SSD. However if you want to talk psu, the first thing you posted was an antec which is a decent unit, then you posted a link saying well I bought this stuff instead of the parts talked about what's done is done. There is a reason the parts that are recommended on this site are recommended at all. Its because not only do our regular members use them and have very few if any problems, but our system builders that do this professionally and build thousands of machines a year use them and have few or no problems also. The reviews your reading on sites like anandtech are based on one unit that was handpicked and sent for review by the company. The reviews on here are from hundreds to thousands of units bought from different vendors, I will trust the opinions here over newegg or individual sites any day.

Goodluck

[David M]

I have said this before and completely agree with birddog. Experience with hundreds if not thousands of units beats a one time experience with one particular unit. Reliability cannot be determined by judging one unit. This takes time and experience with multiple units. Only professional builders and manufacturers who deal with hundreds or thousands of returns get to know what is reliable and what is not. For manufacturers, the return rate is proprietary information that they are not about to release. A reviewer can only say whether a PSU meets the specs and has good components but they are full of it if they say it is also going to be reliable.

I am not saying this is the case here but sometimes people ask questions to validate their beliefs and sometimes when their beliefs are not confirmed then they get upset with the people or information that counters their beliefs.