Double 1500$ PC Build!

Thanks to anyone who posted on my previous help posts :)

Anyways, the deal is a friend and I want to build our first rigs and after a good deal of researching and whatnot, here's what we've come up with. Any advice on bottlenecking, etc would be great!

Interestingly, both PCs cost almost the same, around 1370$. Our budget is about 1600$, but we need international shipping, so that shaves off around 200$. (Any advice on international shipping would be VERY appreciated).

 
Anyways, here's his rig:

 

[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AScH]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AScH/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AScH/benchmarks/]Benchmarks[/url]

[b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd8350frhkbox]AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor[/url] ($199.99 @ Newegg)
[b]CPU Cooler:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2]Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler[/url] ($34.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-crosshairvformulaz]Asus Crosshair V Formula-Z ATX AM3+ Motherboard[/url] ($229.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmz16gx3m2a1600c10]Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($89.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/ocz-internal-hard-drive-agt325sat360g]OCZ Agility 3 60GB 2.5" Solid State Disk[/url] ($64.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001]Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($109.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp42678kr]EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card[/url] ($383.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Case:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefxlusb3bl]Fractal Design Define XL Black Pearl ATX Full Tower Case[/url] ($164.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-m12ii620bronze]SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply[/url] ($90.17 @ Newegg)
[b]Optical Drive:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas]Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer[/url] ($24.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Total:[/b] $1414.05
[i](Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)[/i]
[i](Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-02 09:11 EST-0500)[/i]


And here's mine:

[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ANh4]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ANh4/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ANh4/benchmarks/]Benchmarks[/url]

[b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd8350frhkbox]AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor[/url] ($199.99 @ Newegg)
[b]CPU Cooler:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2]Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler[/url] ($34.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-fatal1ty990fxprofessional]ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Professional ATX AM3+ Motherboard[/url] ($179.47 @ Newegg)
[b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9t12gbrl]G.Skill Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($79.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001]Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($109.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct064v4ssd2baa]Crucial V4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk[/url] ($64.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx670dc22gd5]Asus GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card[/url] ($393.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Case:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-caph820w1]NZXT Phantom 820 (White) ATX Full Tower Case[/url] ($269.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cmpsu650txv2]Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply[/url] ($69.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Optical Drive:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas]Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer[/url] ($24.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Total:[/b] $1468.35
[i](Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)[/i]
[i](Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-02 09:12 EST-0500)[/i]

Thanks :D 



 

Is this going to be a gaming rig? If so i would recommend going with an AMD GPU, also you have both chosen quite expencive motherboards, maybe cracking that down a bit would give room for a better GPU.


His Rig

I assume the 60GB SSD, is going to be used for OS and Programs, but with Windows 8 being here,you can barly fit that on to a 60 GB SSD, and a SP is out of the question. I would recommmend going with a 120GB/128GB (A-Data SX900), although that will bump the price tag up a bit.  

Your rig

You have first of all chosen tri channel memory, your motherboard is dual-channel memory. This will make the memory run in single channel, which will result in a preformance drop. You should go with what your friend chose. Or you might go with with 8 GB. Again the GTX is expencive, I would go with a 7970 or 7950

Yeah if this is going to be a gaming focused rig and you are not doing a lot of rendering go with an AMD GPU and find a cheaper motherboard those are a bit expensive, Anothyer budget tip is to look for CPU/MoBo combinations and CPU/Cooler combos on Newegg and ocassionally on Tigerdirect they can offer you some decent savings sometimes.

For example here is an MSI board with an 8350 for $306 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1199135

And one with an Asrock Board http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1199137

Okay, sure...thanks!

Any suggestions for which 7970/7950 GPUs and a motherboard? 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/B8ei

A Sapphire Hd 7970, and maybe a ASrock 970 Extreme3. Also you have both choen quite big cases, so maybe a closed CPU water cooler would be nice, (NZXT X60 for the Phantom, and maybe a H220 for the Fractal) 

It looks like you are both going to have a lot of fun with those rigs!  Traxer is right - 120G minimum on the SSD, I know, I made that mistake...  The Intel 520 series is awesome and they make a 180G SSD too.  Shouldn't need 16G of memory for most games, I think.  Maybe go with 8G of some faster RAM and a mobo to support it.  Just some thoughts!

Sure, hehehe :D

What mobo should I get though?