$1500 Gaming Machine

[Rancid504]

I have convinced my friend to build a computer instead of buying one. I would to get everyone's opinion on this build, specifically if there are any changes that could be made.

Approximate Purchase Date: About a week


Budget Range: $1500 can go over slightly but not to much


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing the internet, general usage


Parts Not Required: He needs to buy everything.


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: NewEgg


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: by brand or type: Going with Sandy Bridge

Overclocking: Most likely. I have heard that it has become as easy as adjusting a simple setting with Sandy Bridge.


SLI or Crossfire: SLI in the future.


Monitor Resolution: Resolution with be 1080p


Additional Comments: Here is what he and I have chosen thus far.

Monitor: Asus VH242H : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052 - $180.00

OS: Windows Home Premium: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754 - $100.00

Case: CollerMAster HAF 922 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197 - $100.00

ODD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204 - $20.00

PSU: SeaSonic 750watt (Will this power two GTX570 in SLI) : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151087 - $150.00

Motherboard: Asus p8p67 PRO : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131682 : $190.00

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500k (Can someone recommend a hsf) : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 : $225.00

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint f3 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181 - $55.00

RAM: GSkill Ripjaws (Should he stick with 4gb for gaming or get 8gb) : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303 - $65.00

GPU: EVGA GTX570 Superclocked : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130595 : $370.00

Speakers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836113026 - $30.00

Keyboard & Mouse: Have yet to choose.

Total: $1485

Any thoughts? something that should be changed?

 

[gkay09]

^ Nice build, some suggestions
1. Monitor - Cheaper here
http://www.jr.com/asus/pe/ASU_VH242H/?JRSource=linkshare&SiteID=dZCX6Je2w8Q-VgKf589DB5PBhTfBsR1qdA
Or for the same price, you get a 2ms one with Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

2. CASE - Free Shipping @ Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RC-922M-KKN1-GP-Tower-Black/dp/tags-on-product/B0026FCI2U

3. A good combo of Mobo + RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.585339

4. PSU - 750W would be fine for GTX 570SLI, but this is a good deal on Corsair 850HX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.587645

5. HDD -
Just $5 more, you get the Samsung F3 1TB @ amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-Cache-Desktop-HD103SJ/dp/B001U3S5S0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1294721354&sr=1-1

6. DVD - Cheap and is pretty good
Free shipping with promo code EMCKJKD32, ends 1/12
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

7. Speakers - Cheaper + Free Shipping @ amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing-VS2620-Speakers-Computers/dp/B0025VKUQG

8. KB + Mouse
Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700 - It is a dented box, but is new and fully warranted
$55 coupon code: logi_mk700_1411 (expires January 10 )
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/promotional-items/devices/7146?ci=0

 

[Why_Me]

This is primarly the same build with just a few minor changes. The monitor in this build is identical to the one you posted except it has a faster response time (2ms) and it's a 1/2" smaller. The mobo is the AsRock Extreme... I also added a h/s and thermal compound.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=192 <---As far as that Sea Sonic psu goes...it's a good one.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026FCI2U/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=10R1WVX9RVBK1GD98ZKV&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846 $99.98 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master RC-922M-KKN1-GP HAF 922M ATX Mid Tower Case (Black)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151087 $149.99
SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.584425 Combo Discount: -$16.00 Combo Price: $238.98
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157217 $152.99
ASRock P67 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154003 $6.99 FREE SHIPPING
Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303 $64.99 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127552 $349.99 (Before $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
MSI N570GTX-M2D12D5 GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040 $19.99
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner LightScribe Support - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181 $54.99 FREE SHIPPING
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754 $99.99 FREE SHIPPING
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059 $179.99 FREE SHIPPING
ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 20000 :1 (ASCR) Built-in Speakers

Total: $1,418.87 *not including rebates, shipping, etc...

 

[Why_Me]

^ Nice build, some suggestions
1. Monitor - Cheaper here
http://www.jr.com/asus/pe/ASU_VH242H/?JRSource=linkshare&SiteID=dZCX6Je2w8Q-VgKf589DB5PBhTfBsR1qdA
Or for the same price, you get a 2ms one with Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

2. CASE - Free Shipping @ Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RC-922M-KKN1-GP-Tower-Black/dp/tags-on-product/B0026FCI2U

3. A good combo of Mobo + RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.585339

4. PSU - 750W would be fine for GTX 570SLI, but this is a good deal on Corsair 850HX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.587645

5. HDD -
Just $5 more, you get the Samsung F3 1TB @ amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-Cache-Desktop-HD103SJ/dp/B001U3S5S0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1294721354&sr=1-1

6. DVD - Cheap and is pretty good
Free shipping with promo code EMCKJKD32, ends 1/12
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

7. Speakers - Cheaper + Free Shipping @ amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing-VS2620-Speakers-Computers/dp/B0025VKUQG

8. KB + Mouse
Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700 - It is a dented box, but is new and fully warranted
$55 coupon code: logi_mk700_1411 (expires January 10 )
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/promotional-items/devices/7146?ci=0

Some nice finds gkay. I must typing while you posted

 

[gkay09]

^ Thanks,... and nice build there,...
Ya I guess you were typing then,... Happens to me most of the times,...

 

[mdd1963]

570 is a solid card....

Might not need SLI if res kept at 1080P, moderate AA/AF.....

Nice rig....

 

[Rancid504]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I will definitely switch to the monitor suggested, and also purchase the case and hard drive from Amazon as gkay suggested in order to save on shipping. I will most likely end up going with the CPU and hsf combo suggested by Why_Me.

 

[Rifleman00]

$10 off windows home premium use promo code EMCKJJJ88