Building a computer

[saturnsown]

I am trying to do my due diligence and do all my research before committing to anything. I need a new computer to do any gaming at all, listing my current computer doesn't matter, if I tried to do any major gaming right now the computer would probably catch fire. So all that said I want to build a computer that can to some big time gaming graphics and a lack of bottle necks and all that...help.

 

[vindictive]

This is a very uninformative post.
fill this out: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

 

[saturnsown]

Approximate Purchase Date: About a month from now

Budget Range: $1500 Before Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor (I have a LCD monitor but it is oldish I would like an upgrade here), I have an oldish 5.1 speaker system but it is oldish, have a copy of Windows 7

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: by brand or type Would like to go the AMD route for CPU (mostly looking at good price for the performance...so I am not stuck on AMD) and I want an Nvidia Graphics Card (I am stuck on Nvidia, I love their features and I have always used them so I know them a bunch more.

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024 << Currently would like to upgrade monitor

Additional Comments: I don't really care what the box looks like I am actually ok with a beige box....and I know with my budget will limit my gaming abilities but all I care is that I get the best gaming for my buck.

 

[vindictive]

You don' want AMD cpu if you are stuck on Nvidia and plan on SLIing sometime. Unless you are okay with hacking (people here say modding, but its hacking.. haha) the mobo or buying an older chipset (which i wouldn't recommend, no sata 3 or usb3.0)

If you go Intel CPU you can go AMD or Nvidia GPU, AMD CPU = AMD GPU.

Best bang for buck wise (gaming) I'd go with an X4 955BE and CF 6870's.

 

[saturnsown]

Is that combo going to be better than going with an intel and a Nvida?

 

[vindictive]

for gaming you will get more GPU power out of going with the cheaper AMD option.
but the i5 760 for example outperforms the X4 in everything else but they are roughly equal in gaming.

 

[saturnsown]

Ok...one dumb question and curiosity.

1. If I raised my budget to $2000 would it vastly effect things?
2. you mean an X4 and 2 6870s right?

 

[vindictive]

I'll just set up a general build and you can add/upgrade where you choose.
and yes to #2.

Intel i5 760 - $205 (prices will be dropping right before x-mas because intel Sandy Bridge CPU's are coming out Jan 9th.)

ASUS P7P55D-E PRO - $185 (newegg isnt carrying it anymore because of SB. Amazon has it)

OCZ Vertex 2 120GB SSD - $220 (Games, OS, Apps)

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB - $70

Sapphire Radeon 6870 x 2 = $500

XFX Black Edition 750W - $130 (internet is to slow to check price but thats what it was last time I checked)

4GB (2x2GB) G.Skill RIpjaw DDR3 1600 Cas 8 - $75

Cooler Master Storm Scout/ Cooler Master 690 II Advanced - $80

SCMG-2100 (scythe-mugen 2 rev.b) - $40

Shin-Etsu TIM - $5

Cheapest SATA Dvd burner/reader - $20

Just pick up an Asus 23"/23.6" monitor 1920x1080 for $200

total= $1730
If you want to cut down, get 1 gpu or a smaller SSD.
If you want to upgrade, get the HAF-X/DF-85 case and/or 8GB of RAM.

 

[saturnsown]

More curiosities...

4 Gbs is plenty for gaming?
Will the prices stay down on those i5s?

Shin-Etsu TIM << With this setup are you thinking I should overclock?

 

[vindictive]

its enough, it won't raise FPS with 8 but it helps with details.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ram-memory-upgrade,2778-9.html

The prices should be dropping right before x-mas because Sandy bridge is coming out Jan 9th and will replace the i5's.
I think the i5's will be around $180 right before x-mas.

and I'd OC to 3.6ghz.. Right after 3.6ghz it takes allot more vcore volts to keep it stable for minimum performance gains

 

[saturnsown]

I looked at that article....8Gbs doesn't seem like it does a whole bunch but 12 does...is 12 worth the extra money?

Also it is not worth the money to buy a computer from a gaming computer place is it over putting one together myself (I do know how to put computers together and have many times).

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Here's a recent build I did to hit the $1500 mark....prices may be a bit outdated.

Case - $140 - Antec DF-85 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129087
Case Fans - Later - Antec Red 120 mm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835209013
PSU - $120 - Antec CP850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024
MoBo - $200 - Asus Sabertooth http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665
CPU - $295 - Intel i7-950 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115211
Cooler - $40 - Scythe SCMG 2100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142
TIM - $5 - Shin Etsu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150080
RAM - $110 - 3 x 2GB Mushkin CAS 7 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226155
GFX - $270 - EVGA GTX 470 SC http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130549
GFX - Later - Same
HD - $75 - Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200 rpm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
SSD - Later - OCZ Vertex 2 3.5" 120GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227590
DVD Writer - $80 - ASUS BR Model BC-08B1LT http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135220
OS - $100 - Win 7-64 Home OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754
Monitor - $190 - ASUS VH242H1920x1080 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

If ya going to the $2k mark, get the things marked for "later" expansion (extra fan, GFX card and SSD) now.

 

[saturnsown]

No Solid State Drive? won't that really help the performance especially for gaming?

 

[saturnsown]

So my question is...after I spend the money on a good cpu and graphics....does it make sense to buy a ton of memory? The difference between 4 and 8 Gbs of memory almost isn't there but 12 Gbs there is a sizable difference.

 

[Guest]

most games dont utilise more than 4GB of Ra.Therefore Going for 8GB and 12GB will certainly be a waste of money.Drop the i7 950 and go for the i5 760.i7 are for multitasking and encoding.For gaming the i5 itself is a beast.

 

[Guest]

Cpu:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115067 i5 760 204$
Mobo:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188057 3*SLI Support 250$
Ram:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226134 Mushkin 4 GB DDR3 1600 84$
HDD:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185 Samsung I TB 70$
SSD:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227395 OCZ 120GB 230$
GPU:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127513 *2 SLI GTX 470 600$
Case:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160 Cooler Master HAF 932 140$
PSU:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207001 XFX 850W 150$
Monitor:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236047 ASUS 25.5 inch 250$ AR
Total:1975$ with monitor
This Build is for 2k

If you want a build around 1.5k drop the SLI

 

[vindictive]

^same exact build I posted with less ram, different Mobo. And 1 model psu up of the same series which is a waste because 2 gigabyte super overclock gtx 470's won't even draw 700w.
And no CPU cooler.

 

[saturnsown]

Vindictive --- I am more trusting of your answers than people that are just dropping in their ideas so my question to you is the lot of memory like say 12 Gbs a waste of money?

 

[saturnsown]

And another question...are people telling me the Nvidia 470 because of the price and I may have the chance to SLI the 470 over the price of the 480?

 

[Guest]

the 470 is a better value for money and 3 way SLI Capable.If you want to go higher then go for the 580 or HD 5970.
Gaming is mainly dependent on GPU and CPU.More than 4 GB of RAM does not make a huge impact in gaming

 

[saturnsown]

Ok so if I get an i5 760 is the difference between a 6870 and 470 personal preference or is one better?

 

[saturnsown]

That is good to hear (says the Nvidia fan)

And I should be picking a mobo just based on needs or is there something else that I am missing everyone that has given me a build suggestion has suggested a different mobo idea (though I think they have all been Asus...or most of them have anyway)

 

[saturnsown]

I am looking at at this point:
i5-760
nVidia 470 (budget may predict if I go SLI...would like a board that has the possibility to do SLI even if I don't get SLI right away)
I figure ATX just easier to upgrade something that isn't a tiny bit bigger than your freaking huge graphics card.
And DDR3 if I am considering SLI it seems silly to skimp and get DDR2.

 

[cyberthug]

I would like a question too, hope you don't mind.

Wouldn't going for i7 CPU make him add DDR3 ram? And won't it mean a difference in gaming?

 

[saturnsown]

Everything I have heard is the i7 makes no major difference over the i5-760 for gaming...though don't take my word for it I am the one asking all the question...and yes I want DDR3.