"Review My Build"...

[edd1234]

I've already got:

Cooler Master Elite 431 Plus Case
Intel Core i7 3770K
ASUS Sabertooth Z77
8GB Corsair Vengance 1600MHZ (2x4GB) CMZ8GX3M2A
Loads of spare external and internal HDDs for larger storage (see SSD below)

I'm planning on getting:

Corsair CX750

and

an SSD

Have I done or am I about to do anything stupid or are there any components that are very different in terms of performance or quality...?

If anyone can suggest a reliable, decent SATA III SSD either 60GB or 120GB under £75, it would be much appreciated. I have been looking at some Kingston and SanDisk ones but I am not sure they are regarded very well, and are outdated - not sure what to make of it. The cheaper the better - but I don't want to compromise.
I also saw a Powercool 750W Modular PSU on eBuyer, which was £50, rather than £70 for the Corsair, but presumed it was 'cheap and cheerful', and wouldn't last a year. Is this the case? or do people exaggerate?

Thanks for the time!
Oh and I am getting a graphics card in a couple of months - offset the costs a bit Anything wrong with a 7850 or 7870?
Thanks again.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

What system do you have now?? I would probably wait for Haswell which is being released in a few months time.

I would also go with a Core i5 3570K and an HD7950. Also,I would not go with a CX750W as the CX series are not the best PSUs out there ATM IMHO.

Also the following motherboard would do the job too:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigab...dvi-d-hdmi-atx

[edd1234]

I've already got all the components listed at the top. If it was my choice I would probably have waited for Haswell and bought them all together from the same store, but I got some of them free from the local shop where I did work experience and some as gifts from relatives who pretend they know what they're doing because they're too proud to ask me what I'd like.
I suppose it's a bonus not having to pay

[edd1234]

Not wanting to be rude, but noone really answered my initial questions?

[dacads]

I would go with a Crucial M4 / Samsung 830 SSD.

PSU wise a XFX 550w will be fine or 650w if you intend to overclock and the purpose of future upgrades such as GPU.

Radeon 7950 is the sweet spot for graphics card so that is what I would try to go for but the 7850/7870 would also be a good choice

[edd1234]

I would go with a Crucial M4 / Samsung 830 SSD.

PSU wise a XFX 550w will be fine or 650w if you intend to overclock and the purpose of future upgrades such as GPU.

Radeon 7950 is the sweet spot for graphics card so that is what I would try to go for but the 7850/7870 would also be a good choice

Thanks for your reply.
Why the Samsung 830 - what's wrong with the 840?

[ehhhhhhh]

I would go with a Crucial M4 / Samsung 830 SSD.

PSU wise a XFX 550w will be fine or 650w if you intend to overclock and the purpose of future upgrades such as GPU.

Avoid XFX, at least if you are in the EU. Their products are crap, not to mention their after sales support.

If you want a decent PSU then get a Seasonic unit. (get a modular one.)

[MrJim]

Thanks for your reply.
Why the Samsung 830 - what's wrong with the 840?

The 840 Pro performs very well, but is outside your budget. The 840 'basic' uses TLC nand flash, which doesn't perform as well as MLC, & probably won't last as long in terms of write cycles either. The 830 uses MLC flash, and if you can still find one, is a good, reliable performer (I have one ). The M4 has also proved to be reliable, and despite being one of the first SATA III SSDs, it performs quite well too.

[MrJim]

Avoid XFX, at least if you are in the EU. Their products are crap, not to mention their after sales support.

If you want a decent PSU then get a Seasonic unit. (get a modular one.)

Most XFX PSUs are made by Seasonic! I wasn't aware that their quality was that bad? I don't have any experience of XFX's after sales support though...

[ehhhhhhh]

Most XFX PSUs are made by Seasonic! I wasn't aware that their quality was that bad? I don't have any experience of XFX's after sales support though...

I've been burned by them (during RMAs), that's why I wouldn't recommend them. Even if the PSU is good quality, it will be a nightmare if you need to send it back. just my 2p

[Mehta23]

Wait - the Corsair CX range isn't that good? Might have to cancel my order :-(

[edd1234]

Could someone please confirm whether the CX range really isn't that good - because it seems a good brand at a good price.

[scaryjim]

Don't be confused - Corsair as a brand are pretty reputable, but they don't make PSUs. They get other companies to make PSUs and slap their logo on them.

The CX range are their budget PSUs, and they are built to maintain profit margin - they're not bad per se, but they're not as good as a number of other PSUs in the same price range (including the XFX Core range). The original CX400W was a great PSU for the price - the more recent CX range have been built for a better profit margin, i.e. lower quality.

[Mehta23]

I heard the the v2 is better?

[MrJim]

I heard the the v2 is better?

I think they're okay, but nothing special. I think the CX range are made by CWT. There are better PSUs in the same price bracket I think. There's a review of a 430W unit here:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6013/3...-cheap-psus/23

[Mehta23]

Oh right. It's not that the CX is bad... It's just that there are better alternatives... Anything Modular?