$1150 Gaming/Video Editing Build

[Saieno]

Originally Posted by termhn

I removed it because I found a better deal on NCIX, they're having a sale. It's a 3570K.

Ah just checked it out, very nice.

[Vancha]

If you care about noise, go for a Fractal Design Define R3. The Arc Midi was a good choice if that's less of an issue for you.

Also, trying to figure out if it's worth getting the Spawn over the Xornet. I'm assuming you use a claw grip?

[termhn]

Yeah I do. As far as the claw grip.

[Saieno]

Oh I'm also glad you're sticking with the ZOTAC over the Galaxy, much better quality card for performance and overclocking.

[Goku]

No its not. As far as I know both are reference designs.

[Saieno]

Originally Posted by Goku

No its not. As far as I know both are reference designs.

Well based on NewEggs reviews they have the Zotac out performing the Galaxy slightly, and the Zotac is $10 cheaper.


BENCHMARKS - 6:32

[Vancha]

I'd say "slightly" is an overstatement, let alone "a much better quality card". They're the same card, benchmarks will never be exactly the same, but the difference between the two is what you'd expect to see within natural variation.

Although obviously the Zotac still wins out, simply for the cheaper price.

[Saieno]

Originally Posted by Vancha

I'd say "slightly" is an overstatement, let alone "a much better quality card". They're the same card, benchmarks will never be exactly the same, but the difference between the two is what you'd expect to see within natural variation.

Although obviously the Zotac still wins out, simply for the cheaper price.

Personally the Galaxy cards I've come across haven't been very high quality in terms of components used. Zotac, while I don't have as much experience with them as they are still a fairly young company, have been showing very strong with their recent offerings. Zotac is German and Galaxy is Chinese which could be a factor, regardless Zotac is certainly a company to look out for.

[Goku]

Saieno both are reference design. Both are the same quality...

[Saieno]

Originally Posted by Goku

Saieno both are reference design. Both are the same quality...

Not necessarily. A reference design is just that, a blueprint to follow when creating your own card. The components used vary by manufacturer in card manufacturing. Regardless the Zotac is $10 cheaper, it would be the better buy.

Edit: MSI is probably the best representation of this in the current 670GTX benchmarks, with their OC version barely edging out the standard Galaxy and Zotec editions.

[Rbstr]

Originally Posted by Saieno

Zotac is German and Galaxy is Chinese which could be a factor, regardless Zotac is certainly a company to look out for.

I wouldn't be surprised if they were both made in the same building, TBH.
(I was trying to find info, but Zotac's website is crawling at less than 56k levels 0_o)

Regardless, reference is reference.

EDIT: Zotac is a house brand of one of the biggy manufacturers. http://techreport.com/articles.x/21124 its most likely benefit, compared to anyone else, is lower component cost. Which is what we see here.

[termhn]

Everything's ordered! Ended up with the Lian Li PC-9f case, a MSI z77 GD55 Motherboard, and Corsair Vengeance 1600 RAM. So very similar just different brands and features So excited!

[Goku]

I hope you didn't get the tall ram heatsink. That causes issues with the CPU heatsink/fan sometimes when putting it together.

[termhn]

Nope, low profile

[Goku]

Good man.