Rate or comment on build proposal, general use, gaming, ~$1000 +/-10%.

Here's what we have in mind at the moment... This is for a family member.

Goal is a high value machine built from parts with a good balance of expected service life and performance for the long haul. Use will range from general web browsing to gaming and perhaps other misc stuff. Newegg preferred. Just concerning the tower and contents here, software and accessories can be ignored.


CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115233
OCing is unlikely so this CPU on promo code special looks attractive at the moment.

MOBO/SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1041725
$30 off combo savings. Appears to be a solid modern chipset 1155 board that covers the needs of the build well. The SSD for obvious reasons. The SSD in this case would be used as a main drive, a mechy will serve as backup or for extended space where backup is unnecessary.

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231477 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226184
1.35V 1600-9-9-9. I realise that 1600-9@1.5V kits go on sale for under $40 often, the extra few bucks for the low voltage here is worth it IMO. Lower voltage means less work for the VRMs, shallower heat cycling, more headroom to hit desired timings/speeds, potentially better service life all around.

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161411
Promo code puts this at just $30 over a 2GB 7850. Seems like a worthwhile jump up for just $30. I wish more 28nm cards were available at this time as I'd rather pick out something in the $150-200 range on 28nm, oh well...

HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
Promo code brings this to $75, no brainer. This will be the backup drive for the SSD and handle overflow storage that does not need to be backed up.

Optical: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118067
Free shipping promo.

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182261
Promo code makes this an easy choice. ($55!!) Combined maximum TDP of CPU and GPU here is only ~250W if we go with the 7870. That leaves plenty of overhead for the rest of the system. I've always wanted to do a build with a modular and like the idea of a GOLD rated unit. Reviews and load tests look remarkable for the price point.

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
I've used it before and liked the quality and features for the money. I won't have the final say so am just throwing out this as a likely example. I like that it comes with enough fans right out of the box to run with.

$1035 shipped.

Please rate or comment
Edited by mdocod - 8/6/12 at 6:00pm

The proposed build was based on yesterdays promo code, no comments till today means the build changed anyway Oh well.

Thank you all for the input, we actually wound up ordering a slight alteration of the build this morning before any responses to the thread so I do appreciate the input, if anyone is interested, here's what the build wound up as:

CPU/ODD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1025083
Since the promo code expired this seemed like a reasonable way to eek out a few dollars savings. Confirmed that no OC is intended. Keep in mind, my own personal machine is generally running stock speeds and I am happy with that. I can not and will not install top heavy rifle style coolers that deviate from OEM air-flow directions on any build that is not my own, in fact, I can't imagine using such a configuration on any of my own builds either. I don't care to take the risk personally, and would consider it irresponsible to suggest such a deviation for a friend or family member.

MOBO/SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1041723
Went with the same combo but with the kit version of the SSD so we would get the sled adapter. As it turns out, after the fact.... we realise we probably would not have needed it with the case we wound up with but it will be nice to compare and see which is the better option to use (the case adapter sled or the drive adapter sled).

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182261
I stand by the selection of this SuperFlower made unit. No OCing, no CFXing, means that peak loads will actually land right smack in the middle of this PSUs peak efficiency profile. (~50% of PSU rating). I'm pretty confident there isn't a better quality modular unit for $65 anywhere else in the market at this time. A 650W would be board to tears and any 650W at this price would have lower efficiency and not be built as well.

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147096
I hear good things about the samsung low voltage chips. Especially that they tend to be rated very conservatively, and have a ton of headroom for hitting tighter timings or higher clocks without much voltage bump.

Case/HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1031768
Looks like this HD is actually benching better than the sammy F3's and this case should be even a little nicer to work with than the Challenger.

GPU/OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1026657
We needed a copy of WIn Pro but I originally didn't bother including it because I didn't expect to be able to work it into a combo or whatever and was going to treat is separately. Decided to take advantage of the combo savings here. XFX isn't my favourite brand, so we'll sort of be crossing fingers here on this one and hoping the bet pays off.

Came to $1140 shipped, not bad.
Edited by mdocod - 8/7/12 at 12:47pm

Hello iARDA,

He has a 20" 1600x900 Asus LED LCD from maybe about 1-2 years ago. If I had been a part of the purchase decision I would have suggested a 1080P unit for around the same price at the time, oh well. It'll be fine for awhile.

---

Hi Redwoodz,

Thanks for getting my back on the CAPSTONE

I actually find it interesting that a K version would have a higher resale value... In this case, it doesn't matter because he'll probably keep the machine as built for many years, well beyond the point of little factors like that having any meaning for value. For me, a "K" on the end, is akin to shopping for a used car and noticing shiny colors under the hood and an unusually large exhaust for a 4 cylinder sedan that do not belong. Those are the sorts of things I avoid like the plague because it means some kid has been dumping clutches and running the piss out of it for who knows how long. A used "K" CPU will always look, in my eyes, like a 1992 civic with 247,522 miles with the air box missing, a stupid "high flow" cone filter with crap filtration, and a fart can dragging on the asphalt.

I'm sure everyone has a different impression of these things. I actually would not be surprised, if part of the reason Intel purposely locks all but the K series CPUs, could also be partially related to maximising resale value as part of their greater public relations goals across the board. We all know that Apple computers come with high prices, and high resale value. Intel is in a good position to create a similar position for themselves in the market. It would be interesting to get a feel for what the "market share" of "overclockers" is amongst computing as a whole.

Eric
Edited by mdocod - 8/7/12 at 2:26pm