Please Verify $1500 Gaming Machine

[ramsejp]

Can you guys please verify that I have everything I need before I place this order? I'm hoping to order from newegg in the next few days.

I may overclock the CPU but won't be doing it for now. I'm thinking I'll get a few years out of this box.

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 ...
(combo with GPU)

MOBO: ASRock P67 Extreme6 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX ...
$194.99

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 ...
$104.99

SSD: OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid ...
$129.99

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s ...
$64.99

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire ...
$109.99

GPU: XFX HD-687A-ZNFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express ...
$539.99 (combo with CPU)

DVD: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
$16.99

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and ...
$99.98

Monitor: Asus ML228H 21.5" Full HD LED BackLight LED Monitor Slim Design
$149.99

Keyboard: Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000
$18.99

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders ...
$99.99

Total: $1,530.88 (+$8.69 S/H -$65 mail-in rebate = $1,474.57)

Missing anything? Anything you would change?

Thanks.

 

[martian11]

I like the build.

Some questions (I don't have concrete answers to them, but just food for thought): Is the SSD really worth it for gaming? Or can that $$$ be better spent elsewhere? Do you need such an expensive case? There are some cheaper mid tower options out there (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061).


Here are some minor changes I would make:

- forego the SSD and just go pure HDD
- get a cheaper case that still has good cooling capabilities (good ventilation and then install fans yourself to save $50)
- pay $5 for a keyboard instead of $19
- walk onto any university campus and find a student that can get a free copy of windows and pay them $10 for their trouble.


This will save you around ~$285 without really degrading any of your performance. With that money, I would get a different monitor (with a cushy $435 budget after removing the monitor you currently have selected). Namely, I'd get one of the newer 120 hz 2 ms LCDs. A monitor with less ghosting will give you a more enjoyable gaming experience than an SSD or a nicer case.

Here's a list of 120 Hz, 2 ms LCDs:
- BenQ XL2410T [LED] - $470
- Acer GD235HZ - $350
- Alienware Optx AW2310 $450
- ASUS VG236H [includes 3D kit] - $500


There's also a Samsung 120 Hz monitor floating around out there, but it's 5 ms so I didn't include it.

 

[ramsejp]

Thank you for the feedback martian.

Though I'd like it to be an total gaming machine, I know I'll also have to use it for work from time to time, as will my wife. :/ It will also get moderate use as a music and video editing setup. If it was just me, though, I would tweek it a little more for gaming. As it is, I'll need it to be a powerful multi-tasker that can last me a while. I put together my current desktop almost 10 years ago and it's still running Windows 2000! I like to get my money's worth.

I do like you're idea about the OS. I think I'll talk to a couple of friends before I purchase the software.

Thanks again.

Anyone else have any ideas or see anything worth changing?

 

[aznshinobi]

Probably not, but you could go to my link in the siggy and see if you like the 1200-1500 build. I think your build overall though is pretty sweet.

 

[ramsejp]

Probably not, but you could go to my link in the siggy and see if you like the 1200-1500 build. I think your build overall though is pretty sweet.

Thanks shinobi. The build in your sig looks pretty similar to what I have except for a few minor things. I could probably make due with the 2500 but I do tend to run my systems for a while and figured I'd go ahead and get the 2600.

I want to make sure I have enough power though. Is the 750W going to be enough? What if I do decide to OC the 2600 later? I know I'd probably want to add better cooling to the CPU but will everything else I have support it?

Thanks.

 

[aznshinobi]

Yes it will be enough, but don't cheap out on a 750w psu. Make sure its good on the efficiency. Your Corsair seems fine so, yeah. Yes they will all support it, as for cooling, get the Hyper 212+ off my website in my siggy, it's an Amazon recommended product. Plus cheaper than newegg, free shipping and two fans come with it.

The Asrock Extreme4 would also be a good choice because it is cheaper but also for the fact that it can equally overclock to 5.1ghz (2500K) on air cooling. So just a suggestion to save a bit of money. I don't think your going to tri-SLI or tri-fire right?

 

[ramsejp]

Hmm, yeah the 6 is about $40 more. No, I won't be doing any tri-SLI or tri-fire. Any other reason to get the 6? I see that there is an additional year of warranty and maybe more USB 3 ports. That's not worth $40 is it?

Also, you put 2500k and I'm planning to get the 2600k. Can the 4 support OC'ing the 2600k if I decide to do it later?

Thanks.

 

[aznshinobi]

Yes the 4 will OC the 2600K, I just used the 2500K as that's what I saw from the Newegg reviews.

 

[ramsejp]

So no real reason for me to get the 6 then?

 

[aznshinobi]

Yeah no reason, but if you plan to link your computer to a server or do LAN party battles anything involving dual LAN ports, get the 6, but otherwise I find it meh to get one.

 

[MC-OC]

dont forget thermal compound

 

[ramsejp]

I'm not planning to get an additional heat sink right now. Do I still need it or doesn't the CPU come with some?

 

[aznshinobi]

CPU comes with on stock cooler