$1000~ Gaming build for Starcraft 2 - feedback appreciated!

luciddre4m

Distinguished
Feb 23, 2010
29
0
18,530
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Planning to buy soon so comments are welcomed!

BUDGET RANGE: $1000

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (Starcraft 2 capable), internet

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US

PARTS PREFERENCES: Going for an Intel build

OVERCLOCKING: No

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Looking for comments on memory, mobo, and GPU (is it enough to enjoy SC2 on above average settings?). If you have any experience playing the beta that would be great. Also if the parts look good I'll look through them for combo deals before I buy anything. Thanks for the help.

Parts list:
CPU/Motherboard combo
- Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156
- GIGABYTE GA-P55-USB3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Memory
- G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)

GPU/OS combo
- GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16
- Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

PSU/HDD combo
- CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W
- SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

DVD burner
- Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black

Case
- LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62

Subtotal: $989.92 with combo deals
 
Solution
^ Good choice, some suggestions...

Have you checked for combos??
Lian-Li + XFX 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.440193

Mobo - IMO this is a good option - Just about ~$10 more, but offers x8x8 Crossfire just in case if you want to...
MSI P55A-G55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130292

HDD - Samsung F3s are more reliable...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

OS + HD 5850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.437534.14-150-477

For a good gameplay, the recommended requirements were HD 3870...
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/starcraft-system-requirements-recommended-pc,10885.html
The HD 5850 is about twice as powerful or maybe even more and is 2 gens ahead...So I think you should be able to max out...
 
Solution

luciddre4m

Distinguished
Feb 23, 2010
29
0
18,530


Very interesting article, thanks. I will have to consider that MSI mobo and the Geforce 460.

I guess I'm biased toward ASUS/Gigabyte boards thats why I picked the one I did originally. I don't plan on running SLI/Crossfire so I wasn't necessarily looking for anything capable of it. But I like the SATA 6GB option.