Parts compatibility question for new build

AAdkins5944

New Member
Hello all, I am looking to build a new gaming computer in the next 2 weeks or so and would like some opinions on the hardware I have selected and it's compatibility. I would also like to know which GPU is better out of the 2 I have been looking at. If anyone has some recommendations for better components that would be appreciated too! Thanks in advance!*

Parts list:

Motherboard
-ASUS Sabertooth 990fx motherboard with UEFI BIOS
CPU
-AMD FX-8150 Zambezi 3.6ghz 8 core processor
Ram
-G Skill sniper series 8gb 1866 DDR3 SDRAM (2x4gb)
GPU
-Sapphire Radeon HD7870 ghz edition OC 2gb*
-Or-
-ASUS Radeon HD7870 ghz edition 2gb
SSD
-2x Corsair Force Series 3 60gb 2.5" SSD configured in RAID 0
HDD
-Western Digital Caviar Blue 7200 RPM 1tb HDD
PSU
-Cougar GX-1050 1050w PSU
CPU cooling
-Corsair H100 high performance CPU liquid cooler
Case
-Cooler Master CM Storm Trooper
Optical Drive
-ASUS 24x DVD burner
WIFI
-Rosewill RNX-N250PCe wireless adapter PCI 1.1

Im trying to keep everything below $1800. Thanks again for looking!
 
Last edited:
Yes it is all compatible.

Save money though and get one SSD, two SSDs in RAID-0 is a bit pointless when one is fast enough. Put it this way, my Crucial M4 SSD boots into Windows in 9 seconds, two SDs wouldn't improve boot time really, or anything else.

So go with one 128GB SSD, and I would advise you to get a Crucual M4, a Samsung 830 or a SanDisk Extreme 120GB.

1050W PSU is overkill for a 7870 system, I'd go for a Corsair TX 650, that will be fine for one card. On the note of graphics cards, those two cards are virtually the same, just get whichever is cheaper. The difference is is that the Sapphire is very slightly overclocked.

Go for an FX-8120 over the FX-8150, you can overclock the 8120 to match or exceed FX-8150 clockspeed, especially with the cooler you've chosen.

Even better though, go with an i5 3570K and an Intel board (Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H springs to mind) and overclock it. Performance will probably be a bit better.

If you do get the FX, go with a cheaper board. Gigabyte make some nice 990FX boards which are cheaper than the Sabertooth and just as good.

I would buy the Phantom over the Strum Trooper, but case is a personal preference.
 
Ad if you get a case that has the usb 3.0 in front or top. To get a motherboard that has the usb 3.0 front header to it. Just a thought.
 
Thanks for the great advice! I dropped one of the ssd's and went with the crucial M4 128gb. As for the psu I'm looking to eventually add a second gpu and eventually upgrade to beefier cards in the extended future. Would a 750w or 850w be better for that? I just don't want to have too little power when I want to upgrade. I'm also gonna look at an I5 system like you said. Also is the WIFI card I have a pretty good one? Or do you have any better suggestions? Thanks for the great advice!
 
I won't comment on the Wi-Fi card as I don't know much about them, but yes go for an i5 and save money and yes if you are eventually looking to add another GPU go for a 750W or 850W unit. I'd go with an 850W myself if you want to CrossFire two 7870s, though I'm sure a 750W would also be good.

Get a PSU from a good brand - Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, XFX, OCZ and a few others.
 
I won't comment on the Wi-Fi card as I don't know much about them, but yes go for an i5 and save money and yes if you are eventually looking to add another GPU go for a 750W or 850W unit. I'd go with an 850W myself if you want to CrossFire two 7870s, though I'm sure a 750W would also be good.

Get a PSU from a good brand - Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, XFX, OCZ and a few others.

750W has plenty of juice to spare for even a 7970 GHz Edition GPU.
 
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