Personal computing discussed

Moderators: renee, JustAnEngineer

 
DPete27
Grand Gerbil Poohbah
Posts: 3776
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:50 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA

Re: Gathering info for future gaming build

Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:51 pm

southrncomfortjm wrote:
Not really, no. At check-out you'll be paying the same amount. Rosewill unit has a rebate, BUT it may or may not arrive... After a several weeks/months. And it is in a form of VISA card, which may or may not be convenient to redeem

1) I've never NOT recieved a MIR, and I've applied for many of them. The only time I've had a problem was with a couple Xigmatek MIRs during the holiday season in 2011. Sounded like they bit off more than they could chew offering free case fans and super cheap CPU coolers (Loki for ~$5) via MIR. I had to contact Xigmatek rebate processing (they do rebates in-house), which was apparently only one woman (swamped), sent her my scanned copies and exchanged a half-dozen emails. Ended up taking 6 months to recieve the MIR after I first mailed it in, but I got it. Most MIR's come in a couple months (without paying the expedited service charge). Save a copy!!!

2) Visa is widely accepted. American Express rebate cards are a little harder to spend, but I haven't had a problem with them either.
Main: i5-3570K, ASRock Z77 Pro4-M, MSI RX480 8G, 500GB Crucial BX100, 2 TB Samsung EcoGreen F4, 16GB 1600MHz G.Skill @1.25V, EVGA 550-G2, Silverstone PS07B
HTPC: A8-5600K, MSI FM2-A75IA-E53, 4TB Seagate SSHD, 8GB 1866MHz G.Skill, Crosley D-25 Case Mod
 
southrncomfortjm
Gerbil Elite
Topic Author
Posts: 574
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:57 pm

Re: Gathering info for future gaming build

Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:44 am

I've been thinking: Should I have my OS on a different SSD than the main one I use for gaming? If so, anyone have a recommendation on a good SSD drive?

If I get one, I want to spend less than $75.

I was thinking:

Sandisk Ultra Plus 64gb for $70.

Thoughts?

Also, does anyone know of a good guide to help me set up a system with a small SSD, a larger SSD and a mechanical drive for performance/life span? I've been looking at some forum posts and even some Lifehacker articles to get some ideas. They recommend moving certain folders to mechanical drives and keeping only the OS and Applications on the SSDs. Just want to be sure I set this all up right the first time.
Gaming: i5-3570k/Z77/212 Evo/Corsair 500R/16GB 1600 CL8/RX 480 8GB/840 250gb, EVO 500gb, SG 3tb/Tachyon 650w/Win10
 
DPete27
Grand Gerbil Poohbah
Posts: 3776
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:50 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA

Re: Gathering info for gaming build

Thu Mar 07, 2013 2:27 pm

No reason to have two SSDs. The larger capacity the SSD, the better it performs, especially below 120GB. So going with two 60GB SSDs (not RAIDed) would yield lower performance than one 120GB. If you think you need more than 120GB, just get a bigger SSD. Don't split into two. Here is an article to illustrate the impact of size on performance. (Compare like-colored bars)

I'd recommend getting a 120GB Samsung 840 for $95 to put your OS, programs, and games on. You can put your music, movies, photos, documents, etc on the mechanical hdd. To do that, you're just changing the target location of your "My Music" / "My Pictures" etc folders so the start menu shortcuts still work.
Main: i5-3570K, ASRock Z77 Pro4-M, MSI RX480 8G, 500GB Crucial BX100, 2 TB Samsung EcoGreen F4, 16GB 1600MHz G.Skill @1.25V, EVGA 550-G2, Silverstone PS07B
HTPC: A8-5600K, MSI FM2-A75IA-E53, 4TB Seagate SSHD, 8GB 1866MHz G.Skill, Crosley D-25 Case Mod
 
southrncomfortjm
Gerbil Elite
Topic Author
Posts: 574
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:57 pm

Re: Gathering info for gaming build

Thu Mar 07, 2013 2:40 pm

DPete27 wrote:
No reason to have two SSDs. The larger capacity the SSD, the better it performs, especially below 120GB. So going with two 60GB SSDs (not RAIDed) would yield lower performance than one 120GB. If you think you need more than 120GB, just get a bigger SSD. Don't split into two.

I'd recommend getting a 120GB Samsung 840 for $95 to put your OS, programs, and games on. You can put your music, movies, photos, documents, etc on the mechanical hdd. To do that, you're just changing the target location of your "My Music" / "My Pictures" etc folders so the start menu shortcuts still work.


I already have a 250gb Samsung 840 (must have buried that post somewhere).

Just wanted to be sure I shouldn't have separate SSDs for OS and games. One SSD is enough then. I'll move long term storage to the HDD and things should be great.

All parts are ordered by the way. Stuck with the Rosewill power supply since the reviews were very good overall and I didn't want to deal with a return. Time will tell on that decision. Seasonic next time for sure though :)

Parts should arrive by next Friday/Saturday and I'll build on Saturday or Sunday. Not in a hurry since I'm out of town most of next week.
Gaming: i5-3570k/Z77/212 Evo/Corsair 500R/16GB 1600 CL8/RX 480 8GB/840 250gb, EVO 500gb, SG 3tb/Tachyon 650w/Win10
 
southrncomfortjm
Gerbil Elite
Topic Author
Posts: 574
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:57 pm

Re: Gathering info for gaming build

Wed Mar 20, 2013 11:12 am

The build is complete! Thanks to everyone who provided advice and insight. I greatly appreciate it all.

Here is a link to some pics and a final parts list. The HDD and optical drive aren't correct since I cannabalized those from old PCs and couldn't find the listings on that website and almost everthing was purchased on sale, so the system actually cost about $125 less (including the $100 I spent on the RAM that isn't listed) so I came in around $1000. All shipping was free since I have a Shoprunner account and the rest came from Amazon. I'll probably have to get a new optical drive since the one I have is really loud.

I'll probably run some benchmarks and do some FRAPSing tomorrow on my 46 inch, 1080p TV and post the results at all stock levels. There really aren't enough mid-range benchmarks out there, so I'll add my data to the mix, including some frame latency testing. I'll have Tomb Raider, Battlefield 3, Crysis (original) and The Witcher 2 to benchmark with, and I also have 3D Mark11 Advanced Edition and can probably do the Unigine benchmarks.

(On a side note, will the benchmarking really matter since I'm limited to 60hz refresh? What happens when the system delivers 80 frames in a second to the TV? I'm guessing FRAPs will still record it all since it measures things before final delivery of the frame right?)

Anyone interest in any other benchmarks?

I'll overclock down the road and can post results after that as well.
Gaming: i5-3570k/Z77/212 Evo/Corsair 500R/16GB 1600 CL8/RX 480 8GB/840 250gb, EVO 500gb, SG 3tb/Tachyon 650w/Win10
 
DPete27
Grand Gerbil Poohbah
Posts: 3776
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:50 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA

Re: *Complete!* Gathering info for (mid range) gaming build

Wed Mar 20, 2013 12:22 pm

southrncomfortjm wrote:
There really aren't enough mid-range benchmarks out there, so I'll add my data to the mix, including some frame latency testing

May I suggest posting your results in this thread.
Main: i5-3570K, ASRock Z77 Pro4-M, MSI RX480 8G, 500GB Crucial BX100, 2 TB Samsung EcoGreen F4, 16GB 1600MHz G.Skill @1.25V, EVGA 550-G2, Silverstone PS07B
HTPC: A8-5600K, MSI FM2-A75IA-E53, 4TB Seagate SSHD, 8GB 1866MHz G.Skill, Crosley D-25 Case Mod
 
southrncomfortjm
Gerbil Elite
Topic Author
Posts: 574
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:57 pm

Re: *Complete!* Gathering info for (mid range) gaming build

Wed Mar 20, 2013 1:09 pm

DPete27 wrote:
southrncomfortjm wrote:
There really aren't enough mid-range benchmarks out there, so I'll add my data to the mix, including some frame latency testing

May I suggest posting your results in this thread.



Sounds like a great idea. I don't like thinking about my brand new GPU as underpowered, but I get the idea.
Gaming: i5-3570k/Z77/212 Evo/Corsair 500R/16GB 1600 CL8/RX 480 8GB/840 250gb, EVO 500gb, SG 3tb/Tachyon 650w/Win10
 
southrncomfortjm
Gerbil Elite
Topic Author
Posts: 574
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:57 pm

Re: *Complete!* Gathering info for (mid range) gaming build

Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:41 pm

After spending some time with Windows 8 I can conclusively say that I really don't like it. I mean, really don't like it. Things aren't where they should be, it seems to take 2 extra steps to do just about everything. Ugh. No only that, but a decent amount of recent games, or at least recent games that I want to play (Battlefield 3 and Crysis - ok Crysis isn't recent at all) have compatibility issues with it.

So, I have to give MAJOR props to Amazon for somehow agreeing to give me a refund! Windows 7 should be here in a few days and things will hopefully go much smoother then.
Gaming: i5-3570k/Z77/212 Evo/Corsair 500R/16GB 1600 CL8/RX 480 8GB/840 250gb, EVO 500gb, SG 3tb/Tachyon 650w/Win10
 
auxy
Graphmaster Gerbil
Posts: 1300
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:25 pm
Location: the armpit of Texas

Re: *Complete!* Gathering info for (mid range) gaming build

Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:19 pm

southrncomfortjm wrote:
After spending some time with Windows 8 I can conclusively say that I really don't like it. I mean, really don't like it. Things aren't where they should be, it seems to take 2 extra steps to do just about everything. Ugh. No only that, but a decent amount of recent games, or at least recent games that I want to play (Battlefield 3 and Crysis - ok Crysis isn't recent at all) have compatibility issues with it.

So, I have to give MAJOR props to Amazon for somehow agreeing to give me a refund! Windows 7 should be here in a few days and things will hopefully go much smoother then.
Ehh. You really should have stuck with Windows 8 longer. Learning to do new things is good for your brain, and it's a better OS, overall. Crysis -- latest Steam version -- works totally fine on Windows 8 for me. I don't have BF3 to try. ┐( ̄д ̄;)┌

I haven't heard of any legitimate Windows 8 compatibility problems for big AAA releases. All of the Rage and Crysis 1 compatibility complaints I've seen end up being related to drivers or other issues (user issues, warez). Microsoft lists both as compatible. ( ´◔‿ゝ◔`)
 
southrncomfortjm
Gerbil Elite
Topic Author
Posts: 574
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:57 pm

Re: *Complete!* Gathering info for (mid range) gaming build

Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:27 pm

Just didn't like it. Windows 7 will last me until my next OS and graphics card upgrade. My job gives me enough new things to do everyday. I don't need my OS adding to that when I'm trying to relax a bit. Time will tell if it is a good long term decision, but I think its a good short term one.

I also see myself playing a lot of older games rather than cutting edge ones that will be best optimized for Win8.
Gaming: i5-3570k/Z77/212 Evo/Corsair 500R/16GB 1600 CL8/RX 480 8GB/840 250gb, EVO 500gb, SG 3tb/Tachyon 650w/Win10
 
JohnC
Gerbil Jedi
Posts: 1924
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:08 pm
Location: NY/NJ/FL

Re: *Complete!* Gathering info for (mid range) gaming build

Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:30 pm

southrncomfortjm wrote:
After spending some time with Windows 8 I can conclusively say that I really don't like it. I mean, really don't like it. Things aren't where they should be, it seems to take 2 extra steps to do just about everything. Ugh. No only that, but a decent amount of recent games, or at least recent games that I want to play (Battlefield 3 and Crysis - ok Crysis isn't recent at all) have compatibility issues with it.

So, I have to give MAJOR props to Amazon for somehow agreeing to give me a refund! Windows 7 should be here in a few days and things will hopefully go much smoother then.

You've made the right choice - no need to force yourself to use something that you don't like :wink: The official support for Win7 will last at least until 2015, by that time MS might come up with a proper OS where Tetris GUI will at least be an option :wink:
Gifter of Nvidia Titans and countless Twitch donation extraordinaire, nothing makes me more happy in life than randomly helping random people

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest
GZIP: On