Time For An Upgrade! $1200 Budget
Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 8:09 pm
So, after the failure of my older system I used as a backup gaming computer for guests/server/Linux mess around box, I have decided it's high time to upgrade my main machine and relegate this one to the former's duties.
With that in mind, I'd like to first state the objectives of this machine:
1) Gaming. Currently it's on a 22" 1680x1050 monitor, but I plan on trying to get a 24" 1920x1200 monitor at some point down the road.
Currently Play SC2, BF3, SWTOR, World of Tanks, Company of Heroes, Skyrim, Napolean:TW, among others.
2) Quietness. I really don't want to hear the ROAR of fans. I already get annoyed at the noise emanating from my Sonata III when my 4870 goes full bore.
3) Virtual Machines. For Linux varieties, possibly Haiku at some point, and older versions of Windows to run old games like Diablo 1, X-Wing, etc.
4) Coding. Fairly easy to accomplish.
5) General Productivity. Also fairly easy to accomplish.
The parts will be purchased from either Newegg or Microcenter, whichever has a cheaper price.
With that in mind, I've got a few ideas already for some parts.
Processor: Core i7-3770. $260 from Microcenter
Since I don't plan on doing any hardcore overclocking on this machine, I don't especially need a -K type. Plus the virtualization extensions would be nice. i7 for hyperthreading.
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H. $120 at Newegg
I like Gigabyte motherboards, I guess? It's also not too expensive, and standard ATX size for roominess.
Memory: Nothing picked out here, but I would like to get 2x8GB for 16GB. Leaves room for expansion, but also gives me an apparent excess of RAM. Perhaps something like this?
Video Card: I'm not quite sure what to do here. I don't especially want to spend more than $300 on a video card. However, I would like to be able to play at close to max settings or max settings on games for at least a couple years, at 1920x1200. Right now I'm thinking 7870, but it's a little expensive and a 7950 is only like $50 more, but a much better performer. I do think it would be possible for me to hold off until June or July to purchase the video card and just use my 4870 temporarily, while waiting for the GTX 660/670 to be released to possible drop the 7870 price down. I do like Lifetime warranties, though.
Storage:
Cheap DVD+/-RW that I'll get from Microcenter. ($20ish)
SSD: Not sure about this one either. I haven't particularly been paying all that much attention to the SSD segment. I do know that the Samsung 830 series seems to have made an impression the the TR staff, having been included in the last system guide. Perhaps one of those at 128GB for a main drive?
Mass Storage: I was thinking either a 750GB Caviar Black or 750GB Caviar Blue. The Blacks are typically faster, but slightly more expensive. I don't think I'd need 1TB of storage for Games, music, etc. This machine gets by with a 640GB Caviar Blue that still has a couple hundred gigs free, so I doubt it'd made that much of a difference.
Case/PSU:
Another one I'm not sure on. This is mostly where I'd like to pick up on quietness. I do know that I really, really want a modular PSU for this build.
Welp, that's all I've got. I'd really love opinions on my existing selections and suggestions on parts to choose for this build.
Thanks guys/gals!
With that in mind, I'd like to first state the objectives of this machine:
1) Gaming. Currently it's on a 22" 1680x1050 monitor, but I plan on trying to get a 24" 1920x1200 monitor at some point down the road.
Currently Play SC2, BF3, SWTOR, World of Tanks, Company of Heroes, Skyrim, Napolean:TW, among others.
2) Quietness. I really don't want to hear the ROAR of fans. I already get annoyed at the noise emanating from my Sonata III when my 4870 goes full bore.
3) Virtual Machines. For Linux varieties, possibly Haiku at some point, and older versions of Windows to run old games like Diablo 1, X-Wing, etc.
4) Coding. Fairly easy to accomplish.
5) General Productivity. Also fairly easy to accomplish.
The parts will be purchased from either Newegg or Microcenter, whichever has a cheaper price.
With that in mind, I've got a few ideas already for some parts.
Processor: Core i7-3770. $260 from Microcenter
Since I don't plan on doing any hardcore overclocking on this machine, I don't especially need a -K type. Plus the virtualization extensions would be nice. i7 for hyperthreading.
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H. $120 at Newegg
I like Gigabyte motherboards, I guess? It's also not too expensive, and standard ATX size for roominess.
Memory: Nothing picked out here, but I would like to get 2x8GB for 16GB. Leaves room for expansion, but also gives me an apparent excess of RAM. Perhaps something like this?
Video Card: I'm not quite sure what to do here. I don't especially want to spend more than $300 on a video card. However, I would like to be able to play at close to max settings or max settings on games for at least a couple years, at 1920x1200. Right now I'm thinking 7870, but it's a little expensive and a 7950 is only like $50 more, but a much better performer. I do think it would be possible for me to hold off until June or July to purchase the video card and just use my 4870 temporarily, while waiting for the GTX 660/670 to be released to possible drop the 7870 price down. I do like Lifetime warranties, though.
Storage:
Cheap DVD+/-RW that I'll get from Microcenter. ($20ish)
SSD: Not sure about this one either. I haven't particularly been paying all that much attention to the SSD segment. I do know that the Samsung 830 series seems to have made an impression the the TR staff, having been included in the last system guide. Perhaps one of those at 128GB for a main drive?
Mass Storage: I was thinking either a 750GB Caviar Black or 750GB Caviar Blue. The Blacks are typically faster, but slightly more expensive. I don't think I'd need 1TB of storage for Games, music, etc. This machine gets by with a 640GB Caviar Blue that still has a couple hundred gigs free, so I doubt it'd made that much of a difference.
Case/PSU:
Another one I'm not sure on. This is mostly where I'd like to pick up on quietness. I do know that I really, really want a modular PSU for this build.
Welp, that's all I've got. I'd really love opinions on my existing selections and suggestions on parts to choose for this build.
Thanks guys/gals!