Advice on building a new system!

[jasoneduke]

Hi Everyone!

I currently am putting together a new system that I plan on purchasing this week coming. It's been a while since I've done this so I was hoping for some good direction. I have spent a good bit of time reading reviews and picking out parts so I don't think im too far off. Any advice is appreciated. In addition to below I have found an 800watt power supply for about $75.00. I have not picked out a cd/dvd rom yet so some direction there would be nice.

My main goal of this system is to play starcraft 2 on ultra settings and do normal web browsing. Is this system total overkill for that?

I dont mind spending the money but I wouldn't mind saving some too!

Look forward to hearing from you!!

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811119137
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$5.00 Instant
$84.99
$79.99


SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822152244
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$42.99


CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9
Item #: N82E16820233144
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
-$30.00 Instant
$134.99
$104.99


ASUS Rampage II Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131352
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
-$60.00 Instant
$359.99
$299.99


Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52400
Item #: N82E16819115074
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$194.99

I went back and forth between this processor.. the i5 750 and the i7 920.... thoughts?

CORSAIR CAFA70 120mm Dual-Fan CPU Cooler
Item #: N82E16835181011
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$15.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$46.24


EVGA 01G-P3-1366-TR GeForce GTX 460 SE (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Item #: N82E16814130591
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116758
Return Policy: Software Standard Return Policy
-$30.00 Instant
-$10.00 Combo
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$339.98
$299.98

 

[Why_Me]

Your build is "imbalanced". You have a $300+ mobo and a sucky vid card and the 2400 is a "locked chip" that will not O/C. You need a "K series chip" for that.

If you want to go with Asus then try this....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.575884 Combo Price: $394.98
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
ASUS P8P67 PRO LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.591429 Combo Price: $149.98
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Take a look at the new gtx 560 cards like this own down below for example...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565 $249.99
MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Car

 

[lancerzero9]

I too just completed my first system build in a long long time.

800 watts for a power supply is a bit overkill unless you plan on going SLI with 2 GTX 460s. That card is great if you're overclocking it, but for some reason StarCraft 2 can be a bit of a system hog for an RTS. Especially the menus for some odd reason. On another note, I noticed the higher the wattage for the power supply the more connectors it comes with. My Corsair 750 watt psu has many unused power connectors right now. Wish I went modular.

I was looking into getting the GTX 460 or 470 as well, but then the Radeon HD 5870 1GB came on sale and I have not regretted buying it. Currently playing Dead Space 2 in full 1080p with almost all settings at max. The CPU doesn't even go past 20% usage for this game and most others so CPU isn't as important as GPU.

And fill your case with as many fans as it holds. I7s/I5s run hot. Just make sure you have the fans pointed in the correct direction (intake/exhaust).

You should be fine on memory as I only have 6GB and have yet to hit 100% even under abnormal conditions.

Windows 7 professional is kinda pointless in my opinion. I suggest looking on the many different websites that compare the different versions of windows and asking yourself if its really worth the extra $200 over Home Premium as its only $100 on newegg.

My only question is if you have another hard drive laying around that you will be using with the one you have listed. Because 320GB for $43 is steep. I bought a 7200rpm 1TB Seagate drive for $60 and that is a common price. Triple the storage for only $17 more...

And really consider getting an SSD. Even a small one (30GB) just to put windows on as your primary boot device. You will not regret it as your computer will boot to windows crazy fast.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Your mixing and matching incompatible and old and outdated components. For example, you picked the top MoBo from 2 years ago and put in an incompatible CPU that came out a just this month

Case - $90 - Coolermaster HAF-922 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
Case Fan - Later - CM Red 200 mm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103072
PSU - $100 - XFX Black Edition 750 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207003
MoBo - $395 - ASUS P8P67 Pro http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.575884
CPU - incl above - Intel Core i5-2500K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070
Cooler - $40 - Scythe SCMG 2100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142
TIM - $6 - Shin Etsu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150080
RAM - $80 - (2 x 4GB) Corsair CAS 9 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260
GFX - $250 - Asus GTX 560 Ti http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121424
GFX - Later - Same
HD - $55 - Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200 rpm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
DVD Writer - $22 - Asus 24X DRW-24B3L w/ LS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135221

Total $1038

The system is designed to allow the addition of a 2nd GFX card in the future....w/ PSU and case to handle CPU OC'ing plus twin GFX cards

 

[jasoneduke]

Your build is "imbalanced". You have a $300+ mobo and a sucky vid card and the 2400 is a "locked chip" that will not O/C. You need a "K series chip" for that.

If you want to go with Asus then try this....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.575884 Combo Price: $394.98
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
ASUS P8P67 PRO LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.591429 Combo Price: $149.98
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Take a look at the new gtx 560 cards like this own down below for example...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565 $249.99
MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Car

@ Why_Me- Thanks for the insite. I took your advice on both of the combo's you presented and it saves me some cash that I will put into the video card. Is the manufacturer of the memory going to make a big difference for me? Such as going with Rip Jaw? Thanks again!

 

[lancerzero9]

Your mixing and matching incompatible and old and outdated components. For example, you picked the top MoBo from 2 years ago and put in an incompatible CPU that came out a just this month

True. I would recommend buying one of Neweggs combo deals. http://www.newegg.com/Store/ComboDeals.aspx?ComboStoreID=1&name=CPUs-Motherboards

 

[lancerzero9]

Memory manufacturer doesn't matter in my opinion. The only difference is in the warranty. If it has a good warranty its fine. OCZ got out the dimm business because so many small companies got in it and all do it fairly well. At least that is their reason.

 

[residentdean]

Memory does matter! When it comes to overclocking some memory overclocks better than others. Think about it. Read the reviews, Crosair and G. Skill although make very good memory so I think you should Stick to either or company.

 

[jasoneduke]

Your mixing and matching incompatible and old and outdated components. For example, you picked the top MoBo from 2 years ago and put in an incompatible CPU that came out a just this month

Case - $90 - Coolermaster HAF-922 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
Case Fan - Later - CM Red 200 mm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103072
PSU - $100 - XFX Black Edition 750 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207003
MoBo - $395 - ASUS P8P67 Pro http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.575884
CPU - incl above - Intel Core i5-2500K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070
Cooler - $40 - Scythe SCMG 2100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142
TIM - $6 - Shin Etsu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150080
RAM - $80 - (2 x 4GB) Corsair CAS 9 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260
GFX - $250 - Asus GTX 560 Ti http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121424
GFX - Later - Same
HD - $55 - Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200 rpm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
DVD Writer - $22 - Asus 24X DRW-24B3L w/ LS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135221

Total $1038

The system is designed to allow the addition of a 2nd GFX card in the future....w/ PSU and case to handle CPU OC'ing plus twin GFX cards

JackNaylorPE- This system looks good. May I ask why you opt for this case vs the one I had chosen? I dont know if you play starcraft 2, but is there a good monitor you would recommend to compliment this system?

 

[jasoneduke]

I too just completed my first system build in a long long time.

800 watts for a power supply is a bit overkill unless you plan on going SLI with 2 GTX 460s. That card is great if you're overclocking it, but for some reason StarCraft 2 can be a bit of a system hog for an RTS. Especially the menus for some odd reason. On another note, I noticed the higher the wattage for the power supply the more connectors it comes with. My Corsair 750 watt psu has many unused power connectors right now. Wish I went modular.

I was looking into getting the GTX 460 or 470 as well, but then the Radeon HD 5870 1GB came on sale and I have not regretted buying it. Currently playing Dead Space 2 in full 1080p with almost all settings at max. The CPU doesn't even go past 20% usage for this game and most others so CPU isn't as important as GPU.

And fill your case with as many fans as it holds. I7s/I5s run hot. Just make sure you have the fans pointed in the correct direction (intake/exhaust).

You should be fine on memory as I only have 6GB and have yet to hit 100% even under abnormal conditions.

Windows 7 professional is kinda pointless in my opinion. I suggest looking on the many different websites that compare the different versions of windows and asking yourself if its really worth the extra $200 over Home Premium as its only $100 on newegg.

My only question is if you have another hard drive laying around that you will be using with the one you have listed. Because 320GB for $43 is steep. I bought a 7200rpm 1TB Seagate drive for $60 and that is a common price. Triple the storage for only $17 more...

And really consider getting an SSD. Even a small one (30GB) just to put windows on as your primary boot device. You will not regret it as your computer will boot to windows crazy fast.

Lancerzero9- I am going to get a SSD... From other posts I have read the new technology should be coming out some time soon this year and it's advised that I wait ? What are you thoughts on that? Also, JackNaylorPE suggested a 750w power supply... That sounds right according to what you were saying as well.. Yes? Thanks Man

 

[lancerzero9]

Not sure about the new SSD tech. I know the current OCZ and Intel stuff is pretty solid. If your just going to get a small SSD just for the Windows7 boot drive than I see little point in waiting as the small SSDs are cheap. If your talking about getting a bigger one for full big boy use than maybe waiting would be a good idea.

As for the psu, 750 watts is plenty unless your overclocking the CPU and installing 2 video cards and overclocking them both as well. Then I would look into 850 watts or more. Otherwise 750 will do fine if your not overclocking and want even a second vid card too.

 

[jasoneduke]

Best answer selected by jasoneduke.