(Skip to the last paragraph for TL;DR)
This is an upgrade (really, a near-total overhaul) of my current desktop setup; many of the parts are from the Utility Player in the most recent system guide at Tech Report. My main purpose for this system is gaming; the games I'm interested in at the moment are as follows...
WoW: I want Cataclysm to run smooth at 1920x1080 on High or, if I can afford it, Ultra settings when it comes out.
Civ V: It'd be nearly as good a game with half the resources it hogs. My current system will not run it at all--it was below min reqs, so it was a gamble paying for it anyway, but I already paid for it so I want to play, darnit
Portal 2 when it comes out next year--I couldn't find the system reqs, please let me know if they have been released and I missed it!
Other requirements:
1) I know future-proofing is pretty much impossible, but some degree of future-resistance would be nice.
2) Very quiet when not under load--my current system is way too loud (I think it's mainly the case fans' fault). I don't mind hearing it run when I'm playing a game at high settings, but when it's just sitting there I shouldn't. (In case anyone's interested, current case is Scorpio 868W and has 5 80mm fans, so it's no surprise it's loud.)
Things I Plan to Keep:
PSU: 535W Enermax EG565P-VE
Monitor: Hanns-G 28" Widescreen HG281D
Peripherals: Logitech laser mouse, run-of-the-mill keyboard, serves-my-purposes 3-piece Altec Lansing speakers
Things I Plan to Replace:
MB, CPU, Video Card, RAM, Optical, OS, Case
After visiting Fry's today I have a better sense of a few things but even more options for others. I'm totally in love with the Raven 2 case and consider it pretty much a requirement at this point (or the Fortress 2, but that's a luxury I don't really need right now).
I have no experience with overclocking but I'd like to try; I'm thinking I would like to go for between 3.6 and 3.8GHz. Suggestions on an appropriate aftermarket heatsink + fan would be greatly appreciated; I'm doing research on them but having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around the mounting directions given the the Raven's 90° MB rotation. I want the heatsink fan blowing upward, correct? Reading the reviews and trying to determine which ones will do that is driving me a little batty so I'd love to hear some personal experience.
Here's the primary candidate build now:
CPU: AMD Phenom II 955 (according to a review i read, OCs as well as the 965 and is currently on sale for $130 at Fry's)
MB: MSI 870A-G54
Vid: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 460 1GB
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 4GB (2x2) DDR3 1600
Optical: Samsung SH-S223L
Case: Silverstone Raven 2
OS: Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium OEM
Cooling: ??? The ZALMAN CNPS10X Performa 120mm is looking pretty good, but I'm concerned (as with several other options as well) that it will block the RAM too severely to fit any sticks with heat fins, which the Ripjaws listed above certainly have... :-/
This currently rings in at $847 and I don't want to stray much above that. I welcome any feedback on this build. Many thanks in advance for your replys!
This is an upgrade (really, a near-total overhaul) of my current desktop setup; many of the parts are from the Utility Player in the most recent system guide at Tech Report. My main purpose for this system is gaming; the games I'm interested in at the moment are as follows...
WoW: I want Cataclysm to run smooth at 1920x1080 on High or, if I can afford it, Ultra settings when it comes out.
Civ V: It'd be nearly as good a game with half the resources it hogs. My current system will not run it at all--it was below min reqs, so it was a gamble paying for it anyway, but I already paid for it so I want to play, darnit
Portal 2 when it comes out next year--I couldn't find the system reqs, please let me know if they have been released and I missed it!
Other requirements:
1) I know future-proofing is pretty much impossible, but some degree of future-resistance would be nice.
2) Very quiet when not under load--my current system is way too loud (I think it's mainly the case fans' fault). I don't mind hearing it run when I'm playing a game at high settings, but when it's just sitting there I shouldn't. (In case anyone's interested, current case is Scorpio 868W and has 5 80mm fans, so it's no surprise it's loud.)
Things I Plan to Keep:
PSU: 535W Enermax EG565P-VE
Monitor: Hanns-G 28" Widescreen HG281D
Peripherals: Logitech laser mouse, run-of-the-mill keyboard, serves-my-purposes 3-piece Altec Lansing speakers
Things I Plan to Replace:
MB, CPU, Video Card, RAM, Optical, OS, Case
After visiting Fry's today I have a better sense of a few things but even more options for others. I'm totally in love with the Raven 2 case and consider it pretty much a requirement at this point (or the Fortress 2, but that's a luxury I don't really need right now).
I have no experience with overclocking but I'd like to try; I'm thinking I would like to go for between 3.6 and 3.8GHz. Suggestions on an appropriate aftermarket heatsink + fan would be greatly appreciated; I'm doing research on them but having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around the mounting directions given the the Raven's 90° MB rotation. I want the heatsink fan blowing upward, correct? Reading the reviews and trying to determine which ones will do that is driving me a little batty so I'd love to hear some personal experience.
Here's the primary candidate build now:
CPU: AMD Phenom II 955 (according to a review i read, OCs as well as the 965 and is currently on sale for $130 at Fry's)
MB: MSI 870A-G54
Vid: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 460 1GB
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 4GB (2x2) DDR3 1600
Optical: Samsung SH-S223L
Case: Silverstone Raven 2
OS: Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium OEM
Cooling: ??? The ZALMAN CNPS10X Performa 120mm is looking pretty good, but I'm concerned (as with several other options as well) that it will block the RAM too severely to fit any sticks with heat fins, which the Ripjaws listed above certainly have... :-/
This currently rings in at $847 and I don't want to stray much above that. I welcome any feedback on this build. Many thanks in advance for your replys!