Check out my rig?

LambentTyto

LambentTyto

Member
I know I had all my parts chosen for a rig about a week or so ago, but I've since been forced to modify it do to a slight lack of cash flow I thought I had.

Unfortunately I had to dumb down the rig a bit in certain areas. For instance I will no longer be using an R9 270x and instead will be going with an HD 7770 and a smaller power supply. I'll still be able to play new games on high settings, which is fine. It's a lot better than Xbox 360 graphics.

Anyways, just making this post to show what I've got and to get some opinions/feedback. If you spot any potential problems, let me know.

My Rig

Tower Case
Corsair Carbide Series 200R Black Steel / Plastic compact ATX Mid Tower Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139018

Extra Cooling
Cooler Master Sleeve Bearing 120mm Silent Fan for Computer Cases, CPU Coolers, and Radiators (Value 4-Pack)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103052

Motherboard
Asus M5A78L-M LX3 Desktop Motherboard - AMD 760G Chipset - Socket AM3+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131935

RAM
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBXL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231455

Hard Drive
Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

Disk Drive
SAMSUNG DVD Burner 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA Model SH-224DB/BEBE - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151266

CPU
AMD FX-6300 Vishera 3.5GHz (4.1GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Six-Core Desktop Processor FD6300WMHKBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286

GPU
ASUS HD7770-2GD5 Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 2GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121642

PSU
CORSAIR CX series CX500 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Monitor
UpStar M240A1 Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Widescreen LED Backlight Monitor 250 cd/m2 1000:1 Built-in Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824511001

Thoughts?

Spot any problems?

Thanks
 
Get at least a 7850 or a 7870 if you can. The 7770 isn't a bad card but for a proper gaming rig I wouldn't use one.
 
spirit said:
Get at least a 7850 or a 7870 if you can. The 7770 isn't a bad card but for a proper gaming rig I wouldn't use one.
Click to expand...

I'm currently trying to see where I can get lower priced parts so that I can get a 7870. Brand new it's $185. I forgot about used. Might be able to get a uses case as well.
 
PCunicorn said:
You can get a better monitor for $130, and don't get a 7770.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4841119&CatId=5469

Get a used GPU.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Graphics-Video-Cards-/27386/i.html?_sop=15&_nkw=hd+7850&rt=nc&LH_BIN=1
Get the cheapest GTX 570, GTX 480, GTX 660, HD 6950, HD 7850, HD 7870, or 6970 you can find.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion on the used GPU. I hadn't thought about that, lol.

Well I like this monitor. It has built in speakers.
 
Now I know the 7870 will run games on high/possibly ultra. If I downgrade my FX6300 to a 4200, do you think that might be a mistake? I mean, can an FX4200 keep up with a 7870?
 
If need be you can probably get away with downgrading the CPU to an FX-4300. If you got the 4300 and the 7850/70, it'd perform better than the 6300 and the 7770.

I wouldn't really recommend buying used GPUs from the previous generations. I wouldn't go any older at this stage than the GTX 5xx or 6xx series or Radeon HD 7xxx or possibly 69xx series unless money is a big issue. I wouldn't recommend going as old as a GTX 480 really if you can avoid it, since that card is 3 generations old.
 
DO NOT DOWNGRADE TO A FX 4300. Completely idiotic for $30. OP, the reason I don't recommend that monitor is because it will be more likely to have dead pixels and have a bad RMA service, never heard of the brand. The built in speakers will also SUCK, just get speakers by themselves. If needed, get a used CPU but do not downgrade to a FX 4xxx.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7135149&CatId=4592

Here is what I would do.
Refurbished NZXT Source 210-$25
FX 6300-$120
Used 7870-$170
CX430M-$40
MSI 970A-G46-$90 (just go with any ATX AM3+ motherboard that uses the 970 Chip)
Seagate 1TB 7200RPM-$70
1 x 4GB G.Skill-$40 (get another stick when money allows)
Acer 23 Inch 1080p-$110
2.1 Speakers-$25
DVD ROM-$20
Windows 8 64 Bit-$100

If this is slightly over budget, here is what I would do. Get a HD 6970 or a HD 6950 unlocked to a 6970. These are both 7870 level.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sapphire-AM...815?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item1e82dc0f5f
 
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It would be helpful if we knew what the budget was. It is currently looking like quite a mid-range system as it is. It's kind of hard to suggest downgrades to new parts which won't really impact on performance.

Is 1600MHz RAM any cheaper than 1866MHz RAM? Probably not, but worth a look.

If he runs out of money, he may need to get the FX-4300. Is an i3 3220 and a Z77 board any cheaper than an FX-6300?
 
PCunicorn said:
DO NOT DOWNGRADE TO A FX 4300. Completely idiotic for $30. OP, the reason I don't recommend that monitor is because it will be more likely to have dead pixels and have a bad RMA service, never heard of the brand. The built in speakers will also SUCK, just get speakers by themselves. If needed, get a used CPU but do not downgrade to a FX 4xxx.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7135149&CatId=4592

Here is what I would do.
Refurbished NZXT Source 210-$25
FX 6300-$120
Used 7870-$170
CX430M-$40
MSI 970A-G46-$90 (just go with any ATX AM3+ motherboard that uses the 970 Chip)
Seagate 1TB 7200RPM-$70
1 x 4GB G.Skill-$40 (get another stick when money allows)
Acer 23 Inch 1080p-$110
2.1 Speakers-$25
DVD ROM-$20
Windows 8 64 Bit-$100

If this is slightly over budget, here is what I would do. Get a HD 6970 or a HD 6950 unlocked to a 6970. These are both 7870 level.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sapphire-AM...815?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item1e82dc0f5f
Click to expand...

Why a MOBO that has the 970 chip?
 
The 970 Chip will be significantly better than than the chip in the board you posted. 970 and 990FX(A) are the only chip sets I would get with a FX 6100 and above. Also, get the used 7870 over the 7850. I don't know why the 6970 is 7870 level, it just is. They have very similar frames in games. If you can afford the 7870, go for it over the 6970. It uses less power and supports Mantle which will increase fps when it comes out in supported games. Oh, and please don't quadruple post ;) it takes up more storage and bandwidth on the server.
 
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Do you know the difference between a DVI-D and a DVI-I? The DVI plug on these video cards doesn't say which, so I don't know which to get.

Sorry for the multiple posts, btw.

Alright, I think this is what I'm going with. I've changed up a few things, like getting a cheaper monitor.

So can you guys double check to make sure everything is good as far as compatibility/PSU and all that. I may have missed something.

A appreciate it! : )

Corsair Carbide Series 200R Black Steel / Plastic compact ATX Mid Tower Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139018

MSI 970A-G43 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130679

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9S-4GBXL (going to buy more later).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231720

Cooler Master Sleeve Bearing 120mm Silent Fan for Computer Cases, CPU Coolers, and Radiators (Value 4-Pack)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103052

AMD FX-6300 Vishera 3.5GHz (4.1GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Six-Core Desktop Processor FD6300WMHKBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286

MSI R7870-2GD5T/OC Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (brand new for for $170 with 2 games on free shipping).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127722

CORSAIR CX series CX500 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM

Dell E2014H Black 20" 5ms Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 1000:1 ($89 bucks! $70 off!)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824260143

I left out the hard drive and dvd drive.

I'm $20 under budget. I could go with a large 140mm fan or I could get a Corsair CX600. Any other suggestions with what I should do with the left over cash?
 
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With the extra cash I would go with the Acer I reccomended. That dell is cheaper for a reason. It has a lower res and that's not cool. DVI-I doesn't support over 1920 x 1200, and most cards that are higher end like the 7870 have DVI D.
 
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So you are going to get a hard drive and a DVD drive, but you've left them out from your build list?
 
spirit said:
So you are going to get a hard drive and a DVD drive, but you've left them out from your build list?
Click to expand...

No they're in there, I just didn't feel the need to add them for inspection.

SAMSUNG DVD Burner SATA Model SH-224DB/BEBE - OEM

Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive
 
Oh right, looks fine then.

The 6970 and the 7870 perform very similarly, but I'd still get a new 7870. It's not uncommon for high-end cards from the previous generation to perform very similarly to the more mid-range cards of the current generation.

Take the 5870 for example. It was one of the fastest cards from the 5000 series, yet it performs very similarly to the 6870, which was a mid-range card from the 6000 series (the 6970 was the 5870's successor).

The same holds true for NVIDIA for the most part.

It's usually because the new high-end cards need to perform quite a bit better than the previous generation high-end cards in order to make the upgrade worthwhile.
 
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