$2K Gaming PC, First time builder.

[nerdbird3]

Approximate Purchase Date: (This Thanksgiving)


Budget Range: ($1500~$2000)


System Usage from Most to Least Important: (Gaming, Watching Movies, Video Editing, Internet)


Parts Not Required: (Speaker)


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: www.newegg.com


Country of Origin: U.S.


Parts Preferences: N/A


Overclocking: No


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe


Monitor Resolution: 2048*1152


Additional Comments: I would like to build an efficient and quiet PC.


Hello there, it's my first time posting on this forum. I am a first time builder, so I have to make sure everything is compatible. Please point out if any component isn't compatible. Also, does the CPU pack with thermal paste? I see many folks pick up TP on this forum. Do I need a heat sink for my CPU? Lastly, would a 650W PSU be good enough to boot my system? Please feel free to add/comment on my build. Thanks! =)




Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950 $294.99

ASUS P6TD Deluxe LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard $229.99

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9S-4GBRL *3 = 12GB $236.97

Western Digital Caviar Green WDBAAY0010HNC-NRSN 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $74.99

SAPPHIRE 100290SR Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Eyefinity 6 Edition Video Card $379.99

HP 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA BD Combo Model BD240I-h01 LightScribe Support $89.99

XCLIO A380BK Fully Black SECC 1.0mm thickness ATX Full Tower Computer Case $99.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply $89.99

Dell SP2309W 23-inch Full HD Widescreen Monitor with Webcam $219.99

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM $99.99

Dell Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Bundle with USB Adapter $54.99

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM $9.99
Total Cost before Tax: 1726.88

 

[vindictive]

That case only has 2 fans with no exhaust? gross lol.
get this combo http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.540792 $600 for i7 950 + x58 sabertooth + Haf X (much better case..)

12GB of ram is excessive, 8GB is fine. EDIT: forgot this is i7 8GB isn't what you want, you want 3 sticks. So 2x3GB or the 12GB you have.

get the samsung f3 1tb for $70 its faster and cheaper.

Do you plan to CF eventually? or now for $2000, if so get a radeon 6870 as they scale better in CF than 5870 and are cheaper.

if you want to CF someday, get the xfx black edition 750 W for $110 after MIR. scored 10 on performance on jonnyguru.com, only 4 psu's have done that.

and you don't need a cooler unless you plan to OC.

 

[1-anh]

Hey welcome to Toms hardware.

First off, when purchasing at newegg I have noticed if you can bundle up items it will help save money. I am from canada so we dont have that option but people in the states can.

1) For your motherboard, consider the Gigabyte X58A-UD3R which has sata 6GB/s and usb 3.0 connectivity compared to the one you had originally chosen. It is also a little bit cheaper.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423&cm_re=gigabyte_x58-_-13-128-423-_-Product

2) +1 on the samsung spinpoint 1TB HDD. But if you are spending so much money on performance, consider an SSD for boot + applications/games.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227550&cm_re=ocz_vertex_2-_-20-227-550-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227590&cm_re=ocz_vertex_2-_-20-227-590-_-Product

3) 8GB wont work well on X58 because it is designed for triple channel memory. Either 6/12/18/24 GB.

4) I would consider the 6870 as well or even wait until the 69xx series is released mid december.

5) For the monitor I would pick up a quality IPS panel such as the Dell 2209WA which runs at 1680x1050 or Dell 2211H which runs 1920x1080. Both are excellent value monitors.

 

[etk]

3) 8GB wont work well on X58 because it is designed for triple channel memory. Either 6/12/18/24 GB.

8GB will work fine, dual channel RAM won't run perceptibly slower than tri-channel. Consider buying your RAM in a kit though, rather than individual sticks. It makes the RMA process easier if it comes to that.

 

[vindictive]

I thought with x58 it was triple or single? I didn't think it could run double :O

 

[nerdbird3]

Thanks for your input vindictive!! The combo seems like a good deal to me xP Can I ask a noob question?? How do you find out the case with no exhaust? And yes, I plan to CF someday.

 

[etk]

I thought with x58 it was triple or single? I didn't think it could run double :O

You can run double channel in any X58 board, just make sure you use the 2 slots closest to the CPU on the P6TD per the users manual.

(Kind of a bad setup though since you would want to use the two further slots if you had a big cooler.)

edit: The two closest out of the three that you will be using, not the two closest out of the 6...Just take a look at the manual, it has puictures.

 

[vindictive]

Thanks for your input vindictive!! The combo seems like a good deal to me xP Can I ask a noob question?? How do you find out the case with no exhaust? And yes, I plan to CF someday.

Well heres out it is on every case (of course there's always a few exceptions even though I can't think of any haha).
Front (intake), side fans (intake), top (exhaust), back (exhaust).

Hot air rises so top are exhaust and you want cool air coming in through the front, to run over your parts and out the back.
(the case I'm going to purchase soon really uses the hot air rises. It has 3 120mm intake fans on the bottom and 1 120mm exhaust on the top.) Silverstone RV02 by the way

 

[Guest]

Nice Build