New Build - Multipurpose under $1200 - Thoughts?

[cee_jay]

Hello everyone. I'm finally going to take the leap and try to build my own computer. I've put together a system (after careful perusal of the budget gaming builds, reviews, and some other sites), and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

The machine is (as most are) a multipurpose system, but since I like to game and that will probably be its most resource-intensive task, I've designed the system with an eye to gaming, but not high-end gaming.

I tend to stay with a computer for a long time, upgrading components when possible (current PC is an 8-year old Sony VAIO with an upgraded video card, RAM, etc...) so I'm trying to think in those terms. I know, everything is obsolete in 3 months, but I'm hoping that this will serve for a while.

For that reason, I decided to upgrade to the I-7 and accompanying mobo (figuring it will get obsolete slower), which pushed me over my $1,000 target, but I can live with under $1,200.

I am a total newb at builds, though, so I would greatly appreciate any input on corners I could cut, where I've perhaps overbuilt or under-researched compatibility, etcetera...

Here's the template
Approximate Purchase Date: this week


Budget Range: ($800-$1200 after rebates)


System Usage from Most to Least Important: online research, writing, streaming video, gaming, surfing


Parts Not Required: Monitor (will be using a new 24-inch ASUS monitor)


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, though I'm not wedded to it.

Country of Origin: US


Parts Preferences: Intel-based, none beyond that


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: Yes


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 (ASUS 24-inch)


Additional Comments: Unconcerned about Bling, would like a reliable and stable PC.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Here's the build:


(2) SAPPHIRE 100284L Radeon HD 5750 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102859
$259.98
($15.00 Mail-in Rebate Card)

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
-$10.00 Instant
$69.95
$59.95


ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665
-$10.00 Instant
$199.99
$189.99


CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
-$30.00 Instant
$119.99
$89.99
($10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card)

Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115211
-$5.00 Instant
$299.99
$294.99

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311
$139.99

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&cm_re=samsung_spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product
$79.99

Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7261S-0B LightScribe Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040
$18.99

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 92mm Fluid Dynamic CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134
$39.98

Grand Total: $1,163.85 (plus $16.33 shipping) - $40 MIR

Where am I overpaying? Where am I underbuilding?

Any input is appreciated!

 

[uncfan_2563]

Nice build. I've got that motherboard and i think you'll enjoy it.


one problem
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231311
$139.99


the 1366 platform uses triple channel memory, so you'll be looking for sets of 3, not 2.

 

[mgrzTX]

Nice build there!

1) As was said, triple channel
2) There are a couple of combo deals w/ your parts

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.523542

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.526778

3) Why the 2 5750s? Why not just say a 5850?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477

With the 5850, combo deals, Triple Channel Ram, and a few promo codes:

psuoct
BHD102010
USXFX585477

Brings my total to: 1,109.81$ plus the same 40$ MIR

Great build though.

 

[uncfan_2563]

2 5750s out perform a 5850 in ideal conditions i think

 

[tootall2010]

Like uncfan said you got the wrong ram for your motherboard. The gtx 460 is cheaper and better then 5750 crossfire. Also if your just doing online research i7 is over kill. If your not going to overclock then don't get an aftermarket cpu cooler. Also the cm 212 offers more bang for your buck.

 

[mgrzTX]

2 5750s out perform a 5850 in ideal conditions i think

Alright, I just wasn't sure. Of coarse there's the age old, well what about when that doesn't cut it? I would go w/ the 5750s though if they are indeed better and cheaper.

 

[uncfan_2563]

well even a single 5770 is enough for the priority he seems to have given gaming

 

[cee_jay]

Thanks, mgrz!

I'll definitely use those combos if I can, appreciate your tracking them down.

As UNC said below, I read some reviews that indicated that two 5750s were comparable to a 5850 at a cost savings. But your price is actually the same as the two 5750s, with the $20 off. If I order today.

Thanks for taking the time to look the build over.

 

[geofelt]

1) with a X58 motherboard, I would get a triple channel ram kit, probably 6gb(3 x 2gb) If you really want 8gb, then a 12gb kit( 3 x 4gb). If you want, you can keep 2 x 4gb and get 8gb, but realize that you will operate in dual(not triple) channel mode. Not a biggie for performance. Get the cheapest kit that is supported by the motherboard. The i7 is insensitive to ram speeds. Do not pay much more for faster speeds or better timings.

2) I would go with a stronger single card vs dual cards. Multi cards may not scale well in all games, and generally, nvidia scales better than amd anyway. A single card preserves your option for dual cards later. Graphics is more important than cpu when gaming. A GTX470 or 5870 would be appropriate for a i7-950 and a 1080P monitor. Some scientific apps can make use of the Nvidia cuda capabilities.

3) Get a card with a dual slot cooler. Fancy coolers do a great job of getting heat of
f of the cpu die, but they just dump the heated air back into the case where case cooling has to deal with it. The hotter case air hurts both gpu AND cpu cooling.

4) Get a cooler with a 120mm or greater sized fan. Your system will be quieter. Don't spend a bunch, you can get the cm hiper for $30:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

 

[cee_jay]

Thanks to all for input. I'll chew on this a bit and post a revised build. I appreciate it.

 

[cee_jay]

Thanks to all who posted --

Here is the revised build (without the bundles, as of now, because purchase date may be pushed back).

Further comments would be appreciated.

New Graphics Card (scaled back)
EVGA 768-P3-1362-AR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) Superclocked 768MB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130564
$219.99
-$25.00 Instant

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
-$10.00 Instant
$69.95
$59.95


ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665
-$10.00 Instant
$199.99
$189.99


CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
-$30.00 Instant
$119.99
$89.99
($10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card)

Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115211
-$5.00 Instant
$299.99
$294.99

New Ram to fit mobo
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231223

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&cm_re=samsung_spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product
$79.99

Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7261S-0B LightScribe Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040
$18.99

New Cooling 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
$29.99

Grand Total: $1,064.87 (plus $16.33 shipping)

Where am I overpaying? Where am I underbuilding?

Any input is appreciated!

 

[geofelt]

I think you are right on, and don't need to change a thing.

If you are near a microcenter, you can get a 950 for $299 as a walk in price.

 

[mgrzTX]

Looks great to me!

 

[mgrzTX]

I bought a pair of shoes and clothes from----top99shopping.com-----

they have the lowest price and high quality,the lowest goods just

11$

Ohhh yea, cee_jay! Don't forget the latest pair of kicks for your rig!

 

[sportsfanboy]

Another thing to consider is, I just saw the 6 series cards from ATI on sale on new egg. For a few bucks more think about two 6850's instead of two 5750's.

 

[cee_jay]

Thank you all!

Now I just have to figure out where the $$$ is coming from.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[batuchka]

I suggest u reconsider: $180 HD 6850 now matching or even beating 1GB/256 bit GTX 460 and HD6k tweaking CF scaling:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3987/amds-radeon-6870-6850-renewing-competition-in-the-midrange-market/6

As for your logic of an i7 and going easy on GPU for future prrof some articles of interest ^^


The Game Rundown: Finding CPU/GPU Bottlenecks, Part 2
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/game-performance-bottleneck,2738-16.html

Conclusion: A Trend Toward 3+ Cores

The average optimal number of CPU cores suggested by the test results is 2.75, showing a clear trend towards at least three CPU cores.The question of whether the CPU or GPU is most important is easily answered. If you don't have a multi-core CPU, then upgrade it. If you have a dual-core CPU at around 3 GHz, then invest your money into a graphics card, as most games are GPU-limited. This is not something that will change with new DirectX 11 games.