Another PC config thread - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Jacks · 07-30-2013, 12:46 AM

Thinking it's time to upgrade. Want to stay under $2500.

Velocity Aurora FTC Gaming Case, Black
ILC: 628901000570 SKU: MX29767
$79.99

Intel Core™ i7-4770K Processor, 3.50GHz w/ 8MB Cache
ILC: 735858259880 SKU: MX45426
$379.99

Arctic Cooling MX-4 Premium Thermal Compound, 4g
ILC: 872767003767 SKU: MX31051
$7.99

Asus Z87-A w/ Dual DDR3 1600, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, CrossFireX / SLI
ILC: 886227494248 SKU: MX45854
$149.99

Patriot Viper 3 Series, Black Mamba Edition DDR3 16GB (2 x 8GB) PC3-17000 Dual Channel Kit
ILC: 815530014300 SKU: MX41031
$149.99

Samsung 840 Series Solid State Drive, SATA III, 500GB
ILC: 887276006659 SKU: MX44602
$379.99

Seagate 4TB Desktop HDD, SATA III w/ 64MB Cache
ILC: ST4000DM000 SKU: MX44463
$179.99

LiteOn iHAS124 24X DVD-Writer, SATA, Black, OEM
ILC: IHAS124-04 SKU: MX24714
$19.99

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 OC 4GB PCI-E w/ Dual DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort
ILC: 818313017642 SKU: MX45834
$479.99

Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 850W Modular Power Supply
ILC: 884102014543 SKU: MX40126
$139.99

Microsoft Memory Express Windows 7 Professional x64 (64-bit) SP1 (For Memory Express System Builds only)
ILC: FQC-01247 SKU: MX38430
$144.99

Shipping: $-.--
Sub Total: $2,112.89
GST 5% $105.64
Total Shipping Weight: 48.3 lbs.

Total:
$2,218.53

- AMD has some interesting looking new processors, seems like they would suck the power and run much hotter though?
- Seems like it would be pretty quiet except for the video card.
- Not sure if it's worth spending $150 for 2 year IPR on the processor, motherboard, memory, HDD's, videocard and the power supply. I've never had a component fail from MexEx, Anyone else?

cDnStealth · 07-30-2013, 06:53 AM

When I built my last PC from MemEx almost every part failed haha. That being said, they replaced everything for free. The only thing I've ever gotten the 2 year IPR for is the GPU. Out of curiousity, what is your current video card?

PsYcNeT · 07-30-2013, 07:54 AM

And why an i7? Are you planning on doing any heavy workload stuff (CAD, graphic design, video editing etc)?

Because if not I'd save your $110 and get an i5-4670k instead, and then get a 780 over the 770 4GB edition.

Jacks · 07-30-2013, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

When I built my last PC from MemEx almost every part failed haha. That being said, they replaced everything for free. The only thing I've ever gotten the 2 year IPR for is the GPU. Out of curiousity, what is your current video card?

They replaced the parts without the IPR?
Current card is a 6850, it does pretty well but you can't really crank up the visuals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

And why an i7? Are you planning on doing any heavy workload stuff (CAD, graphic design, video editing etc)?

Because if not I'd save your $110 and get an i5-4670k instead, and then get a 780 over the 770 4GB edition.

Just because I want it to last a few years and the price difference isn't huge. Looked at the 780, it seemed that the difference in performance wasn't big enough to justify the jump in cost.

cDnStealth · 07-30-2013, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacks

They replaced the parts without the IPR?
Current card is a 6850, it does pretty well but you can't really crank up the visuals.

Just because I want it to last a few years and the price difference isn't huge. Looked at the 780, it seemed that the difference in performance wasn't big enough to justify the jump in cost.

They replaced them because they were defective straight out of the box. I couldn't even get my PC to boot up once it was assembled. That card might hold you over until the 800 series is released?

Jacks · 07-30-2013, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

They replaced them because they were defective straight out of the box. I couldn't even get my PC to boot up once it was assembled. That card might hold you over until the 800 series is released?

That is really my only concern, that they replace if the part fails out of the box. I guess I've had really good luck with MemEx. I usually skip a generation of video cards, I'm thinking the 770 should run anything in the next couple years.

Coys1882 · 07-30-2013, 03:32 PM

I usually just have them drop the CPU in the mobo along with the RAM and make sure it posts. They don't charge anything for it and do it while you wait.

Rathji · 07-30-2013, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coys1882

I usually just have them drop the CPU in the mobo along with the RAM and make sure it posts. They don't charge anything for it and do it while you wait.

Yeah for sure do this.

Maybe it's just me and I hate touching thermal paste, but mounting a CPU is the most annoying part of building a PC. Plus can cause the most damage $$ wise if you severely screw up.

cDnStealth · 07-31-2013, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacks

That is really my only concern, that they replace if the part fails out of the box. I guess I've had really good luck with MemEx. I usually skip a generation of video cards, I'm thinking the 770 should run anything in the next couple years.

They were really good about it. I built the thing myself and it wouldn't post. Took it in and they ran a stress test over a weekend and found the case, ram and power supply all to be faulty. I think there might have been another component that failed as well but the case was the main problem. They rebuilt it with new parts and that was that. Didn't pay a cent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathji

Yeah for sure do this.

Maybe it's just me and I hate touching thermal paste, but mounting a CPU is the most annoying part of building a PC. Plus can cause the most damage $$ wise if you severely screw up.

I agree, it takes hardly any time for them to do this so there is no reason not to get it done right in the store.

PsYcNeT · 07-31-2013, 07:58 AM

I'm always in too much of a hurry to get home and start building again, I never have them seat and test my CPU/mobo/RAM.

That said, even without the test they did take back a faulty mobo a few years back.

Hemi-Cuda · 07-31-2013, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacks

They replaced the parts without the IPR?.

Ever notice how there is no 1-year IPR option at Memory Express, just 2-4 years? That's because everything you buy there comes with a 1 year in-store warranty (except for a few specific exceptions), it even says so right on the receipt. They've always been great that way, and while I assume the IPR stuff was a way to easily generate a bit more profit, at least they aren't pushy with it like the box stores are

And I find that if a component in my PC dies after a year, it's getting upgraded anyways

Jacks · 07-31-2013, 09:32 AM

Good to know, I'm comfortable doing the CPU myself but if they'll test it before I leave then I'll probably look at that. Thanks all for that info.

Any input on the motherboard choice? There are just so many to choose from.
That one seemed to have good feedback and is a decent price. I don't need Wifi or Bluetooth on the motherboard.

Also, the power supply. Was originally looking at 1000W but with the Intel CPU and only one video card 850W should be lots. Would I be able to add another GTX 770 later when they get cheap?

cDnStealth · 07-31-2013, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacks

Good to know, I'm comfortable doing the CPU myself but if they'll test it before I leave then I'll probably look at that. Thanks all for that info.

Any input on the motherboard choice? There are just so many to choose from.
That one seemed to have good feedback and is a decent price. I don't need Wifi or Bluetooth on the motherboard.

Also, the power supply. Was originally looking at 1000W but with the Intel CPU and only one video card 850W should be lots. Would I be able to add another GTX 770 later when they get cheap?

If it were me, I'd probably just grab this:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...770K_Z87DELUXE

But I don't see anything wrong with the one you picked out. Should do the job nicely.

I don't see the point in running 2 video cards as most games don't really support them. Unless you're planning to run an eyefinity setup.

PsYcNeT · 07-31-2013, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

If it were me, I'd probably just grab this:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...770K_Z87DELUXE

But I don't see anything wrong with the one you picked out. Should do the job nicely.

I don't see the point in running 2 video cards as most 25%-30% of games don't really support them. Unless you're planning to run an eyefinity setup.

Most games do support SLI (less CrossFire), speaking as an SLI owner.

Some games (Planetside 2!!! *shakes fist*) it's better run on one card, with the other dedicated to AA/PhysX, since if you try to run it in SLI mode both cards max out ~55% GPU usage.

SLI in games that support it is amazing however (which, quite honestly, is most of the games I play).

Getting all your profiles set up is cake as well when you use Nvidia Inspector.

Jacks · 07-31-2013, 05:04 PM

Ok, thanks for all the input. Just need to get it built now.

cDnStealth · 08-01-2013, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Most games do support SLI (less CrossFire), speaking as an SLI owner.

Some games (Planetside 2!!! *shakes fist*) it's better run on one card, with the other dedicated to AA/PhysX, since if you try to run it in SLI mode both cards max out ~55% GPU usage.

SLI in games that support it is amazing however (which, quite honestly, is most of the games I play).

Getting all your profiles set up is cake as well when you use Nvidia Inspector.

Good to know. I plan on doing a 3 monitor setup in the future. The thought of playing BF4 and MW:O across 3 screens has me drooling.

PsYcNeT · 08-01-2013, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

Good to know. I plan on doing a 3 monitor setup in the future. The thought of playing BF4 and MW:O across 3 screens has me drooling.

Ugh. MWO. Paul Inouye just keeps getting crazier and crazier. Guy needs to stop listening to the voices in his head and start listening to players.

No sign of CW in sight either...