Rate my potential rig

[Tommy Vercetti]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/CsHX


I am considering buying this rig, piece by piece overtime. I plan on using this for gaming and some video editing. One thing I want to do is be able to run FRAPs while gaming. Mostly Strategy games. How good is this potential rig? I have met someone who can build it for me.

 

[Zelig]

Why on earth would you pay $280 for Windows 7 Ultimate instead of Windows 8 Pro for $130?

 

[Tommy Vercetti]

Why on earth would you pay $280 for Windows 7 Ultimate instead of Windows 8 Pro for $130?

Because I hate Windows 8 and Ultimate the best version of Windows 7. I will never get Windows 8 if I can help it.

 

[Zelig]

You're spending $150 to avoid optional features and get nothing extra.

Microsoft would love more customers like you.

 

[Tommy Vercetti]

So any comments on the other components than the OS? I want to have a Windows 7 uber gaming rig.

 

[Zelig]

That's an awful video card, you could get a much better one for $150 extra.

 

[Tommy Vercetti]

That's an awful video card, you could get a much better one for $150 extra.

I could get Windows 7 Pro or Home Premium or just space out the buys.

 

[Hehehe]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/CsHX


I am considering buying this rig, piece by piece overtime. I plan on using this for gaming and some video editing. One thing I want to do is be able to run FRAPs while gaming. Mostly Strategy games. How good is this potential rig? I have met someone who can build it for me.

I took a quick glance at it and I agree with Zelig, a better video card is recommended. Also most motherboards come with a sound card, so you don't have to invest in one unless you want to. Second, I daresay 16 gigs of memory is more than enough, and if it isn't you can always buy more, 200$ on memory seems quite much (unless of course you need that for video editing, I don't know much about video editing). SSD is a nice investment if you have extra money. You might want to throw in a dvd drive too. Also I'm not sure what you mean "buying piece by piece"? Better just save up the money and buy it all at once. 280$ for win7 ultimate seems a tad much, but if that's what you want then go for it I guess.

 

[Zelig]

Oh yeah, get an SSD.

Seriously, a PC from 2008 with a modern SSD is going to feel faster for everyday usage than that system will.

 

[Maniacal]

I could get Windows 7 Pro or Home Premium or just space out the buys.

Just get Win7 Pro, and try to find it on sale or price match it.

I don't know much about video editing, but 32 GBs does seem excessive. Maybe start with 16 GBs instead unless 32 GBs makes a big difference.

Get at least a GTX 660 or 680 or something better than the 640.

As mentioned, your mobo already has a sound card, so unless you have problems with that one then don't bother buying a sound card. I don't know if you'd need one for doing audiowork or not.

Thirding a recommendation for getting an SSD, especially since you don't seem to be too limited by budget here.

Maybe a more powerful PSU as well, although I'm not entirely sure.

 

[illram]

-Video card is bad
-You're buying an overclockable chip and an H77 mobo that does not support overclocking; either get a non-K chip or a Mobo that lets you OC, otherwise it's a money wasting combo one way or another;
-Does the case need another case fan?
-Buying win 7 ultimate pro for $300 is a waste of money
-too much RAM
-no need for the sound card
-if you're not going to overclock no need for the aftermarket CPU cooler.
-buying piece by piece is not a good idea, buy it all at once or just buy something you can afford now and upgrade later.

 

[GoodGame]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/CsHX


I am considering buying this rig, piece by piece overtime. I plan on using this for gaming and some video editing. One thing I want to do is be able to run FRAPs while gaming. Mostly Strategy games. How good is this potential rig? I have met someone who can build it for me.

An unlocked i7 quad CPU is a toss-up. Really need the overclocking power? You can get the same CPU turbo boost feature on an i5.
Also not sure you'll really need an aftermarket CPU cooler to replace the one that Intel provides in the box.

Motherboard looks ok spec-wise. Pretty cheap. Asus is not my favorite, nor most disliked brand of mobo. Might triple check that there aren't features you'd want for more mobo. ATX (full-size) mobo's are the way to go in my opinion.

Just looked it up (http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/chipsets/mainstream-chipsets/chipset-h77.html) you can overclock the CPU with H77 (just not with earlier e.g. H67 series chipset). Not sure you won't want Z-series if you overclock. Why not overclock GPU too?

32 GB RAM is probably extreme overkill. 16 GB at most, I think. Have a technical use for 32 GB that 16 GB won't fulfill? Also that's a ton of money spent on RAM. I like name-brand, but if you're buying in bulk like that, maybe consider a cheaper brand.

Full tower case is probably more helpful if you're going to go for extreme components. It's also a tad easier for assembly, if you have thick fingers. Better air flow probably. I like the Cooler Master HAF series of cases. Probably add a lot of fans with high CFM too.

520 Watts may not be safe enough estimate for power needs. I'd consider at least 650Watts, especially if you will be replacing that GT 640 video card sooner than later. You basically have an economy choice in video card---decent quality for gaming but about the $100 price point rather than the bleeding edge near $300 price point. I'd be happy with it and the GT640 probably unless you are a cutting edge 3D FPS type of user (I'm content with a GTS 450 ). 2 GB is good to have in video card. I disagree this is a horrible card, a straight econo-model.

I recommend EVGA if you want to buy American. EVGA has great support, and frequent driver updates to optimize for popular PC games.

On Win 7 OS, buy OEM through like Newegg when you order at least one computer part. You will save a ton of money over the retail pack, which it looks like that is what you've picked out. Win 7 home is okey. Do a feature comparison.

 

[Tommy Vercetti]

I plan on running FRAPs while gaming. I am trying to keep my rig under 2000. I plan on making video editing for YouTube a hobby. Considering I plan on making lets play videos and other long videos. That is why I selected the 3 TB Seagate HD. I have always wanted a liquid cooled computer. I just always have considered that very cool. As for getting an SSD and have duel drives? Well I have to cut costs somewhere.

 

[Maniacal]

You'll still want an SSD for your OS installation and main drive, keep the 3TB as a second drive for video storage. You can always buy more harddrives later too, they are like $50-80 for 1-2TBs.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Liquid cooling can be a hassle to both install and to maintain as you have to top it off. It's really not usually worth it except maybe in some special circumstances. I also used to think it was very cool and I just wanted it until I did research and found the downsides and the fact that the extra cost gave me nothing but hassle in return.

Save that money and upgrade the graphics card.

Also, despite you hating Windows 8, you are really hobbling your computer from the start. You're anti-future proofing it and I guarantee you that you will have to upgrade to 8 anyways if you want to use this for more than a few years.

 

[Tommy Vercetti]

Liquid cooling can be a hassle to both install and to maintain as you have to top it off. It's really not usually worth it except maybe in some special circumstances. I also used to think it was very cool and I just wanted it until I did research and found the downsides and the fact that the extra cost gave me nothing but hassle in return.

Save that money and upgrade the graphics card.

Also, despite you hating Windows 8, you are really hobbling your computer from the start. You're anti-future proofing it and I guarantee you that you will have to upgrade to 8 anyways if you want to use this for more than a few years.

I will NEVER upgrade to Windows 8. Microsoft will keep supporting Windows 8 until 2020. Hell there is still stuff being released for XP. So I will be good for a while. If it gets enough support from the gaming industry I might put Linux on my computer down the road. I will NOT support Windows 8, I WANT to see it fail so hopefully Microsoft will get rid of Metro and bring back the start menu.

 

[Zelig]

As for getting an SSD and have duel drives? Well I have to cut costs somewhere.

Cut costs by getting a cheaper CPU and a non top-of-the-line SSD. Getting no SSD in a modern system is pure foolishness.

I WANT to see it fail so hopefully Microsoft will get rid of Metro and bring back the start menu.

Will never happen.

 

[Zack]

Processor also seems overkill, unless making YouTube videos is a lot more processor-intensive than I realized.

I find it funny that you think paying twice as much for an obsolete product is an effective method of sticking it to Microsoft.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

lol inorite?

He also misses the point that the start menu didn't go away, but whatevs. GIVE ME WIN 7 OR GIVE ME DEATH, y'all.

 

[illram]

Just looked it up (http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/chipsets/mainstream-chipsets/chipset-h77.html) you can overclock the CPU with H77 (just not with earlier e.g. H67 series chipset). Not sure you won't want Z-series if you overclock. Why not overclock GPU too?

Not really, it is limited overclocking similar to the limited overclock you could achieve with the H67. See this thread for instance.

Either way the question has not been answered by the OP as to whether OC'ing is in the cards. But is seems this build is not really progressing in any rational fashion anyway so what's the point? OP wants what he wants, money and reason be damned.