Gaming Rig $2000++ Any inputs ?

[A320-330]

I am purchasing everything before end of the week.

I'll be using it for Mainly Gaming ( having 8-10 MMORPG clients on & playing stratergy games(Total war) in the same time)

I am very interested in OCing!
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CPU: Intel i7-930 2.8 Ghz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225&cm_re=i7-930%5c-_-19-115-225-_-Product

Board: ASUS Rampage II Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131352&cm_re=rampage_II-_-13-131-352-_-Product

GPU: SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 5870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 100281VX-2SR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102872&cm_re=sapphire_5870-_-14-102-872-_-Product

Memory: Mushkin Enhanced Redline 6GB DDR3 1600 Model: 998691 Timing: 6-7-6-18 @ 1.65v
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226050&cm_re=mushkin_998691-_-20-226-050-_-Product

PSU: Corsair 1000w Hx1000
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007&Tpk=corsair%201000

HDD: Samsung SpinpointF3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 32MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=hd103sj

SSD: Mushkin Enhanced Io MKNSSDIO128GB 2.5" 128GB SATA II MLC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226106&cm_re=mushkin_ssd-_-20-226-106-_-Product

Case:
Option 1: Cooler Master HAF 932
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160&cm_re=coolermaster_haf932-_-11-119-160-_-Product

Option 2: Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043&cm_re=antec_twelve_hundred-_-11-129-043-_-Product

I suppose everyone will vote option 2!!

Cooling: Swiftech H20-220 Apex Ultima Extreme Duty
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835108109&cm_re=swiftech_h20-220-_-35-108-109-_-Product

 

[asteldian]

Personally I would go with i5 750 and a P55 Mobo and the Hyper212+ cooler and overclock the i5 like crazy. But hen I am always building on a budget.

As for the case, the cheaper is better, though I wouldn't even spend that much on a case tbh, I think no more than $100 is enough, though $60 is more my tastes.

Of course, having said all that, if you have the money to spend then I guess why not grab whatever you fancy, the i7 930 is good so if you can afford it all no harm done

 

[MadAdmiral]

Not a great build overall. You're wasting money on really fast sticks, which aren't necessary. You've got a massive PSU that you won't get any where near using. You've got an expensive, lower performing board. You're also choosing two pricey cases when a much cheaper one is better.

Here's a much, much better gaming build (checking prices and availability. It may change):

CPU/Mobo: i7-930 and Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R $480
RAM: G.Skill Pi 3x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $190
GPU: HD 5970 $700
HDD: Seagate 7200.12 1 TB $80
PSU: OCZ Z Series 850W 80+ Gold $220
Case: HAF 922 $90
Optical: Cheap SATA DVD burner $22
HSF: Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus $30

Total: $1,815.

I don't think SSDs are worth the cost right now, but if you absolutely must have one, get a quality one. The Intel X25-M 80 GB ($220) is one of the best, as is the Corsair P128 128 GB ($375).

 

[Somebody_007]

The psu is overkill as already mentioned but I also think the cooler is overkill(nh-d14 performs and is far less expensive). I'd get this case instead of your suggestions because it performs and looks amazing http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119150&cm_re=cooler_master_cosmos-_-11-119-150-_-Product

 

[MadAdmiral]

I love the CM Cosmos (I prefer the white version), but I can't recommend it because of its high price unless you absolutely love it. It will cost $190 to get it to your door, and when it's not any different in performance to cases that cost $100 less than that, I simply can't say it's worth it.

 

[A320-330]

The money is an issue here! Ofcourse I dont want to over spend and go with an i7-980, etc ...

I know the PSU is kind of over-rated for such a system but I might be thinking of adding additional 5870 once the prices drop a bit. I sometimes do video rendering!

Can I ask why the Intel X25-M 80gb or Corsair P128 is better than the Mushkin I listed above ?

Madadmiral,
I'll list the reasons why I THINK the build you mentioned is not for me.

CPU/Mobo: i7-930 and Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R $480
I cant find anything better in X58A-UD3R that is better than Rampage II except for usb 3.0 and sata 6. as you know, not much devices require that at the moment, and once they are released, I can just get a PCI card with usb 3.0 and Sata 6! they're cheap!

RAM: G.Skill Pi 3x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $190
The mushkins I listed are rated better than these G.Skill and can OC quiet well!

GPU: HD 5970 $700
I think 5870 is just enough at the moment.

HDD: Seagate 7200.12 1 TB $80
Not as good as the samsung with a minimal price difference.

PSU: OCZ Z Series 850W 80+ Gold $220
Why not the crosair 1000W. Not too expensive in my country.

Case: HAF 922 $90
Need more space than an ATX tower.

Optical: Cheap SATA DVD burner $22
HSF: Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus $30
No comments required.

 

[antisyzygy]

You dont need to spend 2000 for a gaming rig however for your use having 8-10 mmorpg clients you probably DO need an i7. The only other thing to consider is perhaps a AMD X6 since that is quite a bit of multi-tasking.

Also, I would recommend maybe Crossfiring two 5870's or 5850's and getting yourself extra monitors.

That power supply seems overkill for what you are getting. That PSU should allow you to crossfire 4 graphics cards. You only will need at most 2 cards probably so Madadmirals suggestion is a better one. I crossfire two 5770's and I only use a 600 watt power supply.

 

[MadAdmiral]

On the SSDs: Intel is the gold standard for quality. I would avoid anything not made by them if they have a product in that range. The Corsair is the highest quality drive in that size.

On the rest of the build:

Mobo: You must have failed to see the $150 price difference too. You get a more future proof board for a heck of a lot less. How is this an issue? I can actually think of three other boards that are better than the Rampage for less or the same amount (Asus P6X58D-E, Asus P6X58D Premium and Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7).

HDD: The Seagates are just as good as the Samsungs. In fact, there is almost no difference between them. Segates are generally better in games, the Samsungs are better for media.

Case: The HAF 922 is bigger than the Antec 1200. I fail to see how you need more space than that. It may say it's a mid tower, but it's bigger than the majority of full towers out there.

RAM: The G.Skills OC very well and there isn't much difference with the timings. Savet he extra money. Of course, I was under budget by over $100, so you could just stick the Mushkins in it and still be under budget.

PSU: Not the Corsair because it's a lower efficiency unit, and way too big to ever be used. antisyzgy is actually a bit wrong. 1000W is enough to Crossfire SIX cards. 850W is enough for dual 5970s (four GPUs), while 750W would be enough for dual 5870s.

GPU: The 5970 is likely overkill, but it's an amazing card. Keep in mind that it's technically the same as two 5870s in Crossifre, so while it may cost $700, it's actually a great buy since you're getting $800 worth of graphics power...

 

[antisyzygy]

On the SSDs: Intel is the gold standard for quality. I would avoid anything not made by them if they have a product in that range. The Corsair is the highest quality drive in that size.

On the rest of the build:

Mobo: You must have failed to see the $150 price difference too. You get a more future proof board for a heck of a lot less. How is this an issue? I can actually think of three other boards that are better than the Rampage for less or the same amount (Asus P6X58D-E, Asus P6X58D Premium and Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7).

HDD: The Seagates are just as good as the Samsungs. In fact, there is almost no difference between them. Segates are generally better in games, the Samsungs are better for media.

Case: The HAF 922 is bigger than the Antec 1200. I fail to see how you need more space than that. It may say it's a mid tower, but it's bigger than the majority of full towers out there.

RAM: The G.Skills OC very well and there isn't much difference with the timings. Savet he extra money. Of course, I was under budget by over $100, so you could just stick the Mushkins in it and still be under budget.

PSU: Not the Corsair because it's a lower efficiency unit, and way too big to ever be used. antisyzgy is actually a bit wrong. 1000W is enough to Crossfire SIX cards. 850W is enough for dual 5970s (four GPUs), while 750W would be enough for dual 5870s.

GPU: The 5970 is likely overkill, but it's an amazing card. Keep in mind that it's technically the same as two 5870s in Crossifre, so while it may cost $700, it's actually a great buy since you're getting $800 worth of graphics power...

I was only giving him an estimate. A 1000w power supply is WAY overkill for the rest of what he wants.

 

[Somebody_007]

eurm pls don't try disagree with madadmiral lol. first of all most hard drives perform similarly overall as he said(including the caviar black contrary to common belief).

The rampage II extreme is a pathetic buy. even if you don't want a lower quality board like the ones mentioned(which are more than good enough) the rampage III extreme costs 20dollars more and is better in well ... everything than any other board mentioned in these posts.

psu: I think thats covered

gpu: I think 5970 is overkill unless going 3screen (to madadmiral: why just not add power when you need since it will be cheaper then?

hsf: I'd go for high end air cooling since the hyper 212 is kind of underwhelming in this budget IMO

 

[MadAdmiral]

Frankly, I think getting anything under the 5970 with this budget would be under whelming. Of course, that's assuming its a true gaming build...

On the heatsink, the Hyper 212 may be cheap, but it's easily one of the best coolers out there. You could spend a lot more on a HSF, but you wouldn't get something much better.

 

[Somebody_007]

acoording to the benchmarks I read the d14 will OC stable to 4.0ghz at full load and the hyper 212 to 3.8 I don't know if this data is accurate but if it is I think that difference is pretty significant.

 

[A320-330]

Thanks to all who replied! I meant no disrespect to anyone's experience. I am as you already figured out just an amatuer! I try my best to read as much as possible and get opinions and continue researching based on them.
For now I changed some of the components to the newly advised ones. The only problem is that I might not be able to get all brands such as G.Skill in Dubai!

CPU: i7-930
GPU: 5870 .. I'll try for the 5970 if budjet allows.
PSU: Corsair or Zalman 750watts
Case: CM HAF 932 .. Few inches bigger than the 922, bigger space, better air flow I belive.
HDD: Samsung or Seagate, both available in this country, its least of my concern.
Board: Its maybe me, but I really not a fan of gigabyte. So I'll go for Rampage III
Cooler: I'll try my best to find the noctua D-14 (if I order that from US, it will cost me around $160)
Memory: I have no chance of getting G.Skills here, All that is available are Mushkin, Corsair, OCZ, and rest are cheap brands.

SSD: This is a useful link for some SSDs tested including the Intel 80GB vs the Mushkin SSD. Thats 1 reason I chose this SSD apart from others.
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/mushkin_io_128gb/

 

[MadAdmiral]

The brand doesn't matter too much for RAM. Just make sure you get some 1600 mhz CL 7 sticks. I tend to avoid OCZ because they have compatibility problems with a lot of boards due to high voltage requirements.

That review is extensive, but it's not exactly accurate. The smaller drives are naturally not going to be as fast as the larger ones. So you can't really compare the Intel 80 GB to the Mushkin 128 GB.

 

[Somebody_007]

The rampage III extreme is a very good mobo it's just the II is a very bad choice but if you want to spend on a mobo the III extreme is the way to go. If you pay 160 for a d14 it isn't worth it though. And out of the brands you said mushkin is the best I went for model 998805 those aren't overpriced and pretty fast.

 

[A320-330]

Somebody, thanks for your replies, If the D-14 is not worth it, I can get my hands on CM V8 for 65$ and the H20-220 for 220$.

Madadmirals, thanks for your replies and all the advise. I'll just go for mushkins as far as rams are concerned. About the review not being fair, due to the difference of the sizes of the disks, well I cant get a 128 of Intels, only can get a 160! which I would belive it will be much faster and reliable than 128 Mushkin. But thats gonna be much more expensive! I think 80GB is not enough space for the OS and programs. I not sure at all abotu that but thats what I think. Thats why Im going for a 128 to be in the safe side. Its also faster!

Thanks guys!!