Verify my build

T

Tacet

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//Short story - what do you think of my build below:

Asus P8Z77-M Motherboard (R1,622.00)

Intel Core i7 3770 CPU (R3,320.00)

Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3-2400 Black Kit (2x4GB) (R1,123.00)

Application: some gaming, but not as much as in the good old days. :P And then the normal scrap that we use PCs for - internet, multimedia, Office...

//end of Short story

//Long story:

I had a 3 GHz Core2Duo in an Intel DG33TL MB. GPU a GeForce 9800 GTX+. The GPU has been acting up for ages now - its little heatsinks comes loose, and then cause it to overheat, shutting down the whole system. I'd take it out, stick them back, and it would be okay for a few weeks.

Now, however, it seems as though the problem grew. When booting, the monitor will display the GPU info, and then go blank, and stay blank. It will not POST, it doesn't beep, there's simply a black screen. So I suspect that the numerous instant reboots by the GPU finally blew something in the MB. I did all the normal checks - removing GPU (using onboard), removing RAM and other peripherals, taking the CMOS battery out, trying a BIOS recovery. No results. A black screen stares at me.

Now I need to replace the MB, CPU and RAM. Current PSU is a 750 W Corsair, and the case is a Coolermaster Silencio. HDD a normal 7200 RPM SATA.

I don't want to go for I3 or I5 - I prefer to have a better PSU than I need - it is the most expensive thing to replace/upgrade later. If possible, I'd like to use onboard graphics until I can afford a replacement GPU - though it seems to work, I simply don't trust my 9800 anymore.

The prices are a quick check, I'll do more serious price hunting tomorrow. I'll update this thread as I find something I think looks better.

TIA!
 
Seeing that you're just going to use it for some gaming and normal office applications I cannot recommend those RAM modules at all! Those RAM modules should only be used by high end overclockers. You can get the same amount of RAM for about 1/3 of the price.

For Internet/office/multimedia, you really don't need an i7 CPU. You can save R1000 or spend R1000 more on your graphics card by just going for an i5 instead.

If you're going to be playing games and perhaps want to install an additional/better sound card, then that uATX (small) motherboard may limit you!
For that reason I'd rather recommend you go with something like the ATX sized AsRock Z77 Pro4 which also costs less than the Asus counterpart.

Lastly, I would suggest that you get yourself like a 128GB OCZ Vertex 4 SSD.
 
Tacet said:
//Short story - what do you think of my build below:

Asus P8Z77-M Motherboard (R1,622.00)

Intel Core i7 3770 CPU (R3,320.00)

Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3-2400 Black Kit (2x4GB) (R1,123.00)

Application: some gaming, but not as much as in the good old days. :P And then the normal scrap that we use PCs for - internet, multimedia, Office...

//end of Short story

//Long story:

I had a 3 GHz Core2Duo in an Intel DG33TL MB. GPU a GeForce 9800 GTX+. The GPU has been acting up for ages now - its little heatsinks comes loose, and then cause it to overheat, shutting down the whole system. I'd take it out, stick them back, and it would be okay for a few weeks.

Now, however, it seems as though the problem grew. When booting, the monitor will display the GPU info, and then go blank, and stay blank. It will not POST, it doesn't beep, there's simply a black screen. So I suspect that the numerous instant reboots by the GPU finally blew something in the MB. I did all the normal checks - removing GPU (using onboard), removing RAM and other peripherals, taking the CMOS battery out, trying a BIOS recovery. No results. A black screen stares at me.

Now I need to replace the MB, CPU and RAM. Current PSU is a 750 W Corsair, and the case is a Coolermaster Silencio. HDD a normal 7200 RPM SATA.

I don't want to go for I3 or I5 - I prefer to have a better PSU than I need - it is the most expensive thing to replace/upgrade later. If possible, I'd like to use onboard graphics until I can afford a replacement GPU - though it seems to work, I simply don't trust my 9800 anymore.

The prices are a quick check, I'll do more serious price hunting tomorrow. I'll update this thread as I find something I think looks better.

TIA!
Click to expand...
Pada basically said it all, I'd rather you opt for an i5 3570K and save R1000 on your CPU.

Secondly for your motherboard I would rather opt for an ASRock Z77 Extreme4 @R1634, virtually the same price as the P8Z88-M listed in your opening post. As Pada said you don't want to be stuck down the line regretting your motherboard choice due to the fact that it offers few expansion options.

Thirdly there's no need for RAM with speeds in excess of 2400MHz. The performance gain in everyday applications is minimal. Only benchmarkers and extreme overclockers use RAM with speeds in excess of 2400MHz. You should rather opt for either this G.Skill DDR3-1600 8GB Kit or this Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1600 8GB Kit. That's another R500 saved. In the future though if you want to overclock your RAM, I've found that the G.Skill sticks overclock slightly better than the Corsair ones.

That's already R1500 saved, if you save up around R300 more you could get an MSI GTX 650Ti @ 1807.

Additionally later on you could save up again and purchase a SSD like Pada said. IF I recall correctly Esquire had 128GB OCZ Vertex 4's going for around R899 excluding VAT.
 
Thanks for the replies! If you only occasionally build your own systems, advice from people like you are really helpful.
 
Like Pada said the ASRock mobo is absolutely fine.Also the G.Skill RAM overclocks well.The 3570k you can't go wrong with.
Just a hint....Get yourself an aftermarket cooler for the CPU if possible.

Check my signature...this was bought last week and I couldn't be more happier.
 
Last edited:
Quick question - Socket 1155 or 2011? I didn't even know they've brought out 2011. :o
 
Socket 1155 ! Socket 2011 is just for the hardcore guys with loads of money.
 
Duff-Man said:
if you save up around R300 more you could get an MSI GTX 650Ti
Click to expand...

I highly don't recommend you buy a MSI G Card, i've read on numerous forums with users that have issues with their MSI G Cards, specifically the 5xx and 6xx models.

Rather buy Gigabyte,Asus or EVGA


PS: I own the Corsair Dominator 1600mHz 2X8GB (CMP8GX3M2A1600C9) (Two of them) and I am very happy with them.
 
+1 to all the above.

Had good experience with an Asrock ext 4 board. Though NB it needs SATA drives plugged in - gave me really random errors until I did. I'd assume its similar for the pro edition.

Also, def lose the i7 and get a SSD. 256gb if you can push it.
 
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