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New Build - Help Please

cdr_74_premium

cdr_74_premium

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Oct 20, 2010
Messages
1,577
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming, basically WoW and Diablo 3.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Tight, really tight. It doesn't matter if I tell here, because I'm in Brazil so prices are weird.

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

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word
"Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.

CPU, GPU, RAM, a Case and PSU.

Basically I want to know what's the cheapest PSU and GPU I get to pair with this:
Asus P8h61-m LE + I3-2100 3.1 Ghz + 4GB Kingston DDR3.

I'll get 4GB extra of RAM later.

I want the cheapest GPU+PSU option to pair with this setup so I can play D3 and WoW at reasonable FPS (and, preferably, 1080p).

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.

I'll get a HDD from some other PC around here... that's all.

6) Will you be overclocking?

No.

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
1080p. It's a 26' TV.

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Build.

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.
Nothing fancy.

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

Yes, Win 7 Pro 64.
 
Intel Core I3-2100 3.1ghz 3mb Lga1155
Asus P8h61-m Le Lga1155 Intel Sata 3gb/s Usb 2.0
Kingston 4Gb DDR3 1333Mhz x2
XFX 450w Core Edition Pro P1-450S-XXB9
Thermaltake V3 Black Edition - VL80001W2Z
XFX Radeon HD6870 1Gb 256bit GDDR5 HD-687A-ZHFC

Good enough? Is this PSU enough to handle this?
 
Looks alright. Although that case is rather awful. I had one for a while and it ended up going in the trash. Cooling and cable management is non-existent.
 
Well... here you take what you can get. It sucks...

I have a tight budget. I could also get a Cooler Master Elite 333 RC-333-KKN1-GP. Is it any better?
 
That PSU and GPU are ok. Make sure that the RAM is rated at 1.5V and below or otherwise you will risk damage to the CPU. I do agree with K1tty about the case though: See if the NZXT Source 210 Elite or Coolermaster HAF 912 are available in your country. Those cases are significant step-ups over the Thermaltake V3 in terms of cable management and cooling, particularly cooling considering your location. If you can't find either case, buy as many chaep 120mm fans you can afford and cram them inside that V3. Its single 120mm fan will not be enough for your setup.
 
It's standard Kingstom Value RAM. Isn't 1.5V the default?

About the case, yes the HAF 912 is available here, but it's very expensive.

Is the Cooler Master Elite 331 RC- 331- KKN1-GP case good enough or should I really go the extra mile to get the HAF?

Also, about the PSU: is the Cooler Master 550W Extreme Power Plus RS-550-PCARE3 PSU better? It's about the same price as the XFX I listed.

Thanks!
 
cdr_74_premium said:
It's standard Kingstom Value RAM. Isn't 1.5V the default?
Click to expand...
Technically yes. However many RAM manufacturers, including Kingston and Corsair, had RAM that used far greater voltage like 1.65V.

cdr_74_premium said:
Is the Cooler Master Elite 331 RC- 331- KKN1-GP case good enough or should I really go the extra mile to get the HAF?
Click to expand...
The Elite 331 is a little worse than the TT V3 you chose. Go the extra mile for the HAF 912.
cdr_74_premium said:
Also, about the PSU: is the Cooler Master 550W Extreme Power Plus RS-550-PCARE3 PSU better? It's about the same price as the XFX I listed.!
Click to expand...
Nope. That Coolermaster is pretty much a piece of shit. It can't provide anywhere near as power as that XFX PSU. So stick with the XFX.
 
LOL it's worse!

Ok I'll get the HAF. Why it has to be so friggin' ugly? :D

Thanks a lot. I hope I'm building a decent gaming rig this time. The Phenom was a disappointment.
 
My wife have another question:

With the HAF, will I have to use all the cooling I would use with the Thermaltake? She's really concerned about noise.

The HAF come with no fans. How many should I put?

Thanks again.
 
I was just replying to say I was mistaken about that... yes it comes with two fans. So with this case I wouldn't have to worry about any more cooling, just put the stuff in and go play. Is that right?
 
cdr_74_premium said:
I was just replying to say I was mistaken about that... yes it comes with two fans. So with this case I wouldn't have to worry about any more cooling, just put the stuff in and go play. Is that right?
Click to expand...
I'd would add another 120mm fan on the side for significantly better GPU cooling but you should be ok with two. If you see GPU temps getting high, move the front fan to the side if you can't afford a 3rd 120mm fan.
 
Intel Core I3-2100 3.1ghz 3mb Lga1155
Asus P8h61-m Le Lga1155 Intel Sata 3gb/s Usb 2.0
Kingston 2x4Gb DDR3 1333Mhz
XFX 450w Core Edition Pro P1-450S-XXB9
XFX Radeon HD6870 1Gb 256bit GDDR5 HD-687A-ZHFC
Case Cooler Master HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1

That's it. Just ordered. Thanks a lot guys!
 
Guys, it arrived yesterday. Playing right now. It's a beast, really. Perfect for what I want.

And the case is GORGEOUS. The photos I've seen didn't do it justice at all. I bought it because [H]'ers told me to, and I'm glad I did. My wife loved it too! The PC runs cool and quiet, really quiet. Beats the crap out of the Phenom X4 I had, and my wife can't stop talking about how silent this one is compared to the noisy Phenom!

It's by far the BEST config I've put together. Thanks a LOT. Money well spent! I bought a 32' Sony Bravia HDTV to play along with it, and it's nice gaming and reading stuff here at [H] Forums at 1080p with such a huge screen. Everything runs super smooth. Gaming is a blast now.

Really, thanks a lot.
 
Danny Bui said:
I'd would add another 120mm fan on the side for significantly better GPU cooling but you should be ok with two. If you see GPU temps getting high, move the front fan to the side if you can't afford a 3rd 120mm fan.
Click to expand...

I'm curious about this. The GPU works a little more as soon as I play something. So I guess I can play with that.... you know, it never ends. Heh.

This fan you talk about... should it blow air to the inside or outside?

Thanks again =)

edit: I guess it has to blow air inside, because it's located on the lower part of the case.

Danny, are you sure it's a 120mm fan on the side cover? What about the top? 120mm also? I'll get one (or some) tomorrow to play with.

Another question... I always use HD coolers. I have some ancient HDs still in use, and for every HD I get I always slap a cooler to get more mileage out of it. But I don't know if the HD cooler is a good idea on this case because of the front fan, blowing air just on top of my hard disk. Is it OK to take the HD cooler out or does it still help? The damn thing does a lot of noise... in fact, I suspect that if I were to turn it off, I could put a fan on the side and one on the top and STILL have a lot less noise than I currently have.

Still, the noise levels beat my old Phenom II to the ground. That one was a noisy bastard.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
cdr_74_premium said:
edit: I guess it has to blow air inside, because it's located on the lower part of the case.
Click to expand...
Correct.

cdr_74_premium said:
Danny, are you sure it's a 120mm fan on the side cover? What about the top? 120mm also? I'll get one (or some) tomorrow to play with.
Click to expand...
Yes and yes.

cdr_74_premium said:
Another question... I always use HD coolers. I have some ancient HDs still in use, and for every HD I get I always slap a cooler to get more mileage out of it. But I don't know if the HD cooler is a good idea on this case because of the front fan, blowing air just on top of my hard disk. Is it OK to take the HD cooler out or does it still help? The damn thing does a lot of noise... in fact, I suspect that if I were to turn it off, I could put a fan on the side and one on the top and STILL have a lot less noise than I currently have.
Click to expand...
No need for the HDD cooler. The front fan will do the job just fine.
 
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