Please help me with my configuration

Budget: $1800-$2200

Expectations: Play BF3 and other current games with some future proofing. I'd like to get 5 years or more out of the system.


Usage: In addition to gaming this will be a work and family PC running typical Office programs, storing pictures, etc.


Special Needs: PC case specs need to be around 20"D X 19"H X "W This will be in a cabinet of a desk so I"m concerned about cooling. there's some flexibility with the depth but not so much on the height and width.


Saved Ticket #: 786512 I liked the ODE V2 Level 3 but the case is too large so I created this custom with the same performance in a smaller case.

Please let me know your thoughts. I'm open to suggestions!

Thanks

BF

Hello Brute Force!   Good advice from the venerable forum wizard bprat.

A couple suggestions to offer here, as I recently set up & tested an Epoch build in the same excellent compact Corsair 300R case.

Having just had hands on the one I had DS build using a big air cooler, I sure would recommend you stay with the efficient closed loop liquid coolers in the small 300R case.     With a Stage 1 Overclock, you would be fine using the Vortex 240 cooler you had selected in your build, or the better new Corsair 100i cooler.   Both would use 2 x 120mm intake fans to cool the radiator mounted in the top of the case.      Using one of the air coolers with their rather huge heatsinks really fills up the small case interior volume, and makes it harder to see the board or to reach in and work on fan ports or ram on the board.     The big air coolers heatsink stacks also will block you from using at least one available window fan mount due to lack of clearance.    

I would also recommend adding one of the fan upgrade selections if you can afford it, or you could easily add the fans yourself.     The Corsair 300R case is compact & well vented, and has 5 additional fan mounts available to improve cooling airflow to your warm components.     If you are going to game, you will want to make use of the available added air.      The 2 extra fan mounts on the window can take 2 X 120mm or 140mm fans.      140mm fans would generally provide better airflow, wh ile being quieter than the smaller faster RPM 120mm fans.     Using the two window fan mounts in particular would help your graphics card stay cooler and perform it's best for you.

For the 5 year future proofing you seek, you might want to upgrade to the better Z77 Sabertooth motherboard with it's longer ASUS 5 year manufacturer warranty... The other boards carry only 3 year mfg warranties.    Also...the LX board can't do SLI graphics cards, but Sabertooth would allow you to keep up longer by adding a second matching NVidia video card, easily doubling your video performance when you need a boost.    Adding another graphics card is a simple & fairly common way to make the rig work longer for you.

Remember to select your free game and shirt!


See what you think... Like the case a lot... Easy size to move...will look sharp lighted with red...lots of options for easy fan or hard drive additions....    

Edited by HockeyBuck - 13 Feb 2013 at 6:30pm

Guys, thanks for the feedback!  I think I've incorporated all your feedback into this upgraded config.  Please review and let me know if I captured everything, and if you have any other suggestions.  I'm now officially over budget!  Oh well, it's not not by much! 

Much better build for you Brute Force... Well done sir!       Going to be a fun gaming rig with a 670 to play with, and when it's time a 2nd 670 should cost a bit less, and 2 X SLI 670 will dramatically improve gaming performance!      Always nice to have options all planned out....if only briefly, it makes us appear smart & helps convince our wives to go along...lol.

The excellent Corsair Airflow series 140mm fans will keep things cool in the case, and come with red, white, and blue colored snap on trim rings to choose from....so you can have red to match your red light ... DS will put the 240mm cooler and its 2x 120mm fans in the top...The fan upgrade will replace the stock 140mm's front & back....and you'll get 2x 140mm airflows as front intakes, 2 x 140mm airflows as side window intakes for your GPU, and a 140mm airflow rear exhaust.     Ask them in comments section to use the red rings on them.

Solid build.    Gotta post some photos for us when it comes!   

Edited by HockeyBuck - 14 Feb 2013 at 12:41pm

I forgot to ask. What monitor would you guys recommend? How about keyboard and mouse?

The Dell Ultrasharps are excellent and dependable IPS displays. I use the U2412m 24" model and it runs around $320 if you can find it in stock....very popular.

My fav gaming mouse is the Logitech G9X laser mouse...comes with two different shape hand grips to choose from, and weights to adjust how heavy you like it....Sensitivity in DPI is adjustable right on top.

Keyboards depend more on your needs... If you game or use the PC a lot at night, you might want a backlit LED gaming keyboard....but things like tactile feel of the keys and shape of keyboard are more personal & individual... You might want to go to a computer retailer that has some on display for you to try in the store for feel.

For basic computing & ergonomics the Microsoft 4000 keyboard isn't backlit or a gaming board, but is great for relaxing the hand and preventing wrist problems. Has some multimedia controls.

The Corsair K90 backlit mechanical gaming keyboard is solid built and works great.

The Razer Blackwidow 2013 Ultimate backlit mechanical keyboard is what I currently use, and I like it a lot.

Should I stick with Windows 7 or should I consider going with 8?

No reason for a PC user to go Win 8 in my opinion....Unless you require a touch screen monitor, stay Win 7.   

Any thoughts on home versus professional addition of Windows 7?

Does anyone know how many USB ports come on this config? I'm thinking I may need to add a few more.

Edited by Brute Force - 18 Feb 2013 at 7:28pm

Pardon my ignorance DST4ME, but I'm not sure I'm following your post. How many total ports are there? How many ports are on the front versus rear?

Thanks for your help.

BF

Front usb ports depends on what the case you are choosing supports.

Back panel: