Need advice on $1200 gaming system

[AmericanWinks]

Hello all! I am looking to build a computer in the $1200 price range. I don’t need anything top of the line but I would like something I can game with right now and that I can upgrade within 1-2 years to be able to play the newer games.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: In the next couple weeks

BUDGET RANGE: $1200. The current build that is listed below is around $1100. I could be convinced to go more or less depending on the reason.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, gaming, and gaming. Watching movies, surfing the net…

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Case, keyboard, mouse, monitor, windows 7

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: New egg… If you know of cheaper, I’m all ears.

PARTS PREFERENCES: This is what I have so far. Let me know what you guys think and let me know if I can improve anything.

CPU
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214

Motherboard
ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131621

Memory
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8T-6GBRM - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231304

Video Card
SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102858

Hard Drive
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Power Supply
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

CPU Fan
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

DVD-ROM drive
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187


OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

(Might do both down the road if needed)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680 x 1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Thank to all of you in advance!

 

[ares1214]

thats an ok build, aside from the fact some wrong parts, but i would get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.319615

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.310962

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.319509

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231318

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118032

they are both 1200$, but this is a little better, and it has the correct parts. this has a 5850, which makes it very, very good for gaming, the 5770 is more consumer (but it can still game...) the rest is either close or better, and it has 2 psus becasue the 600 watt TT is free, and who doesnt want a free 600 watt TT

 

[AmericanWinks]

Thank you for the reply! A couple of things...

I dont need 2 psu's or a case for that matter. So just stick with the other one?

What makes that other motherboard and hard drive better?

 

[AmericanWinks]

Anyone?

 

[ares1214]

oooo sorry, take the psu and case off nothing about the mobo makes it much better, and the hdd is the same, but everything else is.

 

[banthracis]

Gaming you don't need a i7-860, hyperthreading doesn't help gaming. Save your $80 and go with a i5-750.

Also, you want a better GPU.

MOBO wise, the gigabyte board is not true USB 3.0/SATA 6.0. Also, it runs 1 GPU with a x8 PCIE lane and USB/SATA or 2 PCIE x8 lanes.
IE can't have USB 3.0/SATA6.0 and xfire, and can't use full x16 lanes with 1 gpu.

Better off with original mobo.

The Hyper 212 Plus is MUCH cheaper and MUCH better performance than a V8 (overpriced piece of junk IMO)

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm


You PSU is way overpowerd.
You should actually get a new case for a new gaming rig, unless you have a recent one.

This deal is excellent. A HAF 922 and a OCZ Stealthstream 700w for only $110.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.314199

 

[banthracis]

Here's a full build

CPU/HSF i5 and CM Hyper 212 plus $221.98

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.296096

Motherboard
ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131621

Memory
G skill Ripjaw DDR3 1333 7-7-7-21 $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276&cm_re=ripjaw-_-20-231-276-_-Product

Video Card
HD 5850 $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102857&cm_re=5850-_-14-102-857-_-Product

Hard Drive
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Power Supply/Case HAF 922 and OCZ Stealthxstream 700W $149.97 before $40 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.314199


DVD-ROM drive
SAMSUNG Black $20.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192


Total $1082.92 before MIR and Shipping (which should negate each other).

Oh and since you have the budget, consider getting a SSD for boot drive.

$129.99 for an Intel 40gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167025

see these articles as to why you should get one.
http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3631&p=20
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-ssd-performance,2518-10.html

Including the SSD the entire system is under $1200 after MIR w/ shipping to NY. May be a bit different depending on where you live.

 

[banthracis]

Oh after you get parts be sure to read

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/274745-31-step-step-guide-building

before you even open anything up.

For how to apply thermal paste in general read
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/274/2

For CM Hyper 212 Plus and other heat pipe direct HSF's

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=1

 

[ares1214]

go with the eco memory:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231318

really great memory, its better, and it cost 5$ more.

 

[banthracis]

Well the eco series uses less power, but it's a few buck more and cost's more to ship. However, both are 7-7-7-21 DDR3 1333.

If he plans to OC, the OC potential of the ECO series is not well documented. On the other hand Ripjaws are famous for their OC ability. The won the F1OC SuperPi OC competition a few months ago. Also, they use 1.5v with isn't an issue (Some RAm run at 1.65 or higher and may cause issues).

http://www.anandtech.com/weblog/showpost.aspx?i=650

 

[ares1214]

yea, and this ram runs at 1.35 volts...so whats your point...lower voltage=higher oc, so doesnt this one win in that too.

 

[banthracis]

OC potential has nothing to do with the voltage it runs at, plenty of RAM from Corsair and Mushkin run at 1.65 V or higher and still OC extremely well.

My point is the ripjaws are same speed and timings, ~$8 cheaper and are proven to be great at OC. The eco series is new and may not OC well, i don't know, I haven't seen any reviews on it's OC potential yet.

I'd rather go with cheaper and known to work, rather than new and unknown.

 

[ares1214]

i would way rather go with better, and tiny bit cheaper, its like 955 vs i5 750, the 750 costs a bit more, but is a better buy, now of course we are arguing about something that matters very very little, but ive used the eco, friend got it to 1750ish MHz with same timings and i think 1.6 volts, so i recommend that.