Need Assistance on Remaining Parts for Build

[willdoctor]

Approximate Purchase Date: 1-2 Weeks

Budget Range: ~$1000

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

Parts Not Required: Tower, Power Supply, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, Monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: 1. Amazon, 2. Newegg

Country of Origin: U.S.

Parts Preferences: Intel Chip, ATI video card

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Additional Comments: I have the following parts already purchased.:

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

COOLER MASTER GX Series RS650-ACAAE3-US 650W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171052

This is my first build and I'm stuck on what mobo/cpu combination to purchase. I was leaning towards the 1156 sockets but I wanted to ask you guys first. I would prefer an ATI card, (6950!). Although my budget is ~1000, I am pretty flexible.

 

[theavatar]

A 1156 build offers best value for money in my opinion, if you aren't a real tech head and just want a fast gaming platform that isn't going to cost the Earth a 1156 is pretty safe. 1366 offers better choices but at a cost. 1155 are currently under recall due to sata issues, so give them a miss.

How about this for a 1156 build?

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128425
Why: Inexpensive but with decent chipset. Often recommended. Two pci-e slots if you want x-fire (don't worry about speeds it makes very little difference in reality, just google it if you want proof) ~$115

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115067
Why: Intel i5 Quad core at an AMD price. Great deal and good performance. ~$209

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275
Why: 4gig ripjaws, pretty standard and that's all you need. ~$49

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284
Why: Reliable and popular choice. Good price for a good performance. ~$88

Optical drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106292
Why: Basic blu-ray/dvd combo, affordable. I've been using the lite-on brand for a while without any issues. ~$60

Video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102921
Why: 6950 as requested. ~$240 after mail in rebate.

Keyboard & Mouse: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.592015
Why: Same that I have, no dramas here. Think gaming mouse are a waste of money. ~$36

Speakers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121034
Why: Basic 2.1 setup, good enough for most things. ~$30 after rebate

Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009255
Why: Don't know much about monitors, but seems to be good value. ~$190

NOTE: That being said about that particular monitor, I have an ACER G245H 24" Glossy style LCD that I picked up here in Australia for about $180 after rebate. It's a bit bigger than the one I linked and I can say that I have found it very good so far. Given that things tend to be cheaper in the US you should find one there for less than I paid here.

Doing the math in my head that is about $1000 give or take fifty bucks.

There aren't many games out there this won't run with EASE. Better than my rig and mine can max out anything I've thrown at it so far.

Thoughts?

 

[banthracis]

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128425
Why: Inexpensive but with decent chipset. Often recommended. Two pci-e slots if you want x-fire (don't worry about speeds it makes very little difference in reality, just google it if you want proof) ~$115

That mobo doesn't work for Xfire. Min is x8, not x4. Especially on the P55 chipset with it's half speed PCIE lanes, x4 is horrendous. Plus, in xfire, you end with with worse performance than a single x8 or x16 chip since Xfire scales to speed of slowest GPU.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/p55-pci-express-scaling,2517-3.html

WD HD is also a bad choice. Go with samsung spinpoint F3's or 7200.12's. $20+ cheaper and faster and better performing. WD hasn't been the best HD choice for a long time now.

Monitor wise, you'll be better off with this Asus. Same stats, but better warranty and service.
$180 w/ $10 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236112

Alternatively, you can get a 21.5" 1080p asus for $135 AR and promo code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236100

Don't bother with a blue ray player unless you actually plan on using it. Digital distribution really negates the need for blue ray.

Another thing to consider is that 1156 and AM3 and both dead sockets, no more cpu's being made. If you can wait until April, SB will be back, and bulldozer should be out around then as well.

Also, return that PSU. It's a piece of crap. Ripple is so far off spec I'm surprised CM is allowed to sell that thing.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story3&reid=188

to the OP: Do you need an OS for your build?

 

[theavatar]

Agreed on the motherboard, had a better look and it isn't the best choice, but only if you intend to crossfire. For one card it is adequate.

Banthracis: When offering your opinion on a choice offered, it is good protocol to suggest a better one. Which would you recommend to suit the OP's budget?

+1 the Samsung, I'm a bit out of date.

As for the Blu-ray it would be worth asking the OP. I personally don't use one but it depends on whether he purchases games online or not, retail box games will move to blu-ray eventually.

So, would you use blu-ray? If not you could save yourself a few bucks there.

+1 the Asus monitor, looks good and as I said I don't know much about monitors. Better warranty and service is always a plus.

The OP is on a budget so newer sockets will most likely be out of the price range for the time being. I'm not sure which pricepoints will come in with bulldozer, hopefully attractive ones as I'm waiting for that myself. As for intel 1366 is more costly and 1155 has the plague.

The PSU is the weak link here. A corsair tx650 would be a better choice at only slightly more in terms of monetary sacrifice. The cooler master psu's aren't famous for being the best BUT the GX 650 is listed as AMD certified for the 6950 as long as you only want to run ONE of them. Reviews are one thing, but of the dozens of GX650s that have moved from my friends store, none have come back.

I did forget the OS however *headslap*

I habitually buy my HDDs overseas where they offer to preinstall Windows for you.

 

[banthracis]

waiting for OP to respond to whether he needs an OS or not. THat $100 make a big diff with his budget. I usually wait on full builds till I get all the info I need to make a good rec.

Technically the 1155 i5 2500 is the same price as an i5-760, slightly more for the k version. It's just not being sold thanks to it's chipset being recalled. If OP is willing to wait a big for SB, then I'd recommend a 1155 mobo, if not, then I'd go with a phenom II x4 build.

Could do an 1156 build, but for straight out gaming, long as OP is gaming at 1080p, there really isn't much diff since he'll be GPU limited, not CPU.

P7p55 d-e pro for 1156, GA 890x ud3 for Phenom II x4. SB, well depends on if mobo makers have any changes to board designs once they release boards with new chipsets.