Build Advice-can i reduce cost?

VladDracule

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Feb 5, 2007
Messages
2,043
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing?
Gaming, Photoshop, Programming, Ripping/re-encoding CD's, Ripping/Re-encoding video files, streaming video

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
would like to stay below 1500 if possible

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Albuquerque New Mexico, USA

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
Entire Build - CPU, MOBO, RAM, GPU, CASE, HDD, SDD, Wireless Card, Sound Card

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
None

6) Will you be overclocking?
no

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
Will also be looking at purchasing at least one 22 or 24", possibly dual monitors

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
within a month or two

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
Crossfire, USB 3, SATA 6GB/s

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Windows 7 64bit, may need to repurchase

Current Selections:
Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

HDD: Western Digital WD Black WD1002FAEX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167086
Intel 520 Series Cherryville SSDSC2CW240A3K5 2.5"

GPU: EVGA 02G-P4-2680-KR GeForce GTX 680
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130768

PSU: CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139015

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231568

MOBO: ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131821

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501

Disk Drive: ASUS Black 12X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 12X DVD-RAM 8X BD-ROM 8MB Cache SATA Blu-ray Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135252
 
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Case: I personally think the HAF932 is a horrible looking case. For the same airflow styled cases, the Corsair 500R is on sale for $70 after rebate. It's a mid tower, but you're not quad-SLI or anything.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009

GPU: The 7970 usually gives you better bang for your buck, with 1GB extra memory and higher benchmarks overall. Your choice of team red or green though.

PSU: 850W is a bit overkill for single GPU solution. You can safely drop down to 750 or even 650 and still have plenty of headroom. 850W falls into an awkward category of 'way too much for 1 video card but a bit too close for comfort for two video cards'.

RAM: If you're willing to cut back to 4x4gb sticks you can save a bit.

Mobo: Sabertooth Z77 is nice-looking, but it's not the best OCer and is otherwise very similar to P8Z77 mobo. Thermal armor is gimmicky, but if you want it for aesthetics, go for it. Switching to P8Z77-V Pro can save you $40.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131819

Alternatively, if you want to overclock balls to the wall, I recommend Gigabyte's Z77 UP5, which has some serious quality chokes, Thunderbolt ports, all for the same price as the Sabertooth.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128559

Optical: Do you really need BluRay and BR burners?

Also you need a CPU cooler if you decide to overclock.
 
6) Will you be overclocking?
no

Drop the 3770k for a 3770
got for an H77 Chipset motherboard... unless you want to do a mild overclock. Go with a P8Z77-V from ASUS - Best bang for the buck.
 
Within a month or two? New video cards from NVIDIA are rumored to arrive by the end of this month and Intel is releasing its Haswell-based processors and motherboards around the first week of June.

You can cut price corners on just about every component (save the operating system), but for now, it's better to wait until the new stuff arrives.
 
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If you can wait two months, wait two months. As tiraides said, Haswell and the new Nvidia GPUs are expected within' that time frame.

Although your current build could save costs in a lot of areas where it wont effect performance.
 
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