$1200 New Sandy Bridge build

eggchen

Distinguished
Mar 2, 2006
3
0
18,510
Need some advice on a new build. Haven't built a system since 2006. Have an idea of what I want and some parts but need some suggestions and advice on getting closer to my budget.

-----------------------------------
Approximate Purchase Date: Will likely start to order parts this week or next. Mainly waiting on 1155 motherboards which look like the B3 models are starting to hit some sites now.

Budget Range: $1200 before or after. Have some leeway here.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming(Crysis2, Skryim?, Civ5, SC2) and Video Editing(Premiere and AE CS5, Vegas)

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Mainly newegg and microcenter.

Country of Origin: US

Parts Preferences: No preference with the exception of Intel cpu.

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (Will likely start with single GPU and add a second later)

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200 (Single 24" monitor right now but will likely be adding another soon)

Additional Comments: I'll most likely be taking a trip to Microcenter to grab the CPU and any other component that is a good deal. I would say this rig will be mostly for gaming but I will be doing a fair amount of video editing as well.

-------------------------------------------------

CPU: i7-2600k (Open to i5 but seems like this is the best choice for editing and should handle gaming fine) Picking up from MicroCenter for $299

Mobo: P67,Not entirely sure what model yet.

Case: NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146067
Case is not set in stone, just think the white is pretty sleek. Seems like a decent case.

GPU: SAPPHIRE 100312SR Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102914
Not sold on this card but I have heard good things with the OC to a 6970. Open to the idea or a GTX 5 series.

PSU: COOLER MASTER Silent Pro M700 RS-700-AMBA-D3 700W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171037

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

SSD: OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD3-2VTX120G 3.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227590

HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
I know the Sata3.0 will work but should I be looking for a SATA6.0 drive? Is it worth it?

Optical: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X 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 - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

In my newegg cart that puts me at $1,289.58 not including a mobo.

So I'm trying to cut a little cost here and slim down that number.







 

omnisome

Distinguished
Dec 12, 2010
1,192
0
19,360



CPU: The i5-2500K for $70 less (Newegg prices) gives you better performance for the price.
Case: Whatever floats your boat.
Video Card: Nice choice, I assume you know about the BIOS-flashing?
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015 (Save $45 and get a better power supply!)
HDD: 6GB/s is hardly necessary and besides, the Samsung HD103SJ is the best "bang/buck" drive on the market
Optical Drive: Right, okay.
 
I agree with you Omnisome, about everything except your PSU recommendation. I would get this personally:
Antec Truepower New TPN-650 80Plus Bronze Modular $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371021
As it is newer, more efficient, has more cables and longer cables.

If he can get the rebate on the following then this would also be a better option:
XFX 650W XXX Edition 80Plus Bronze Modular $95 ($30 rebate, $11.83 shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207002

I would also seriously consider this, after reading two positive reviews of it from kitguru and hardwareheaven:
Xigmatek NRP-PC702 700W 80Plus Bronze $75 ($2 shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815010

I also think that it could possibly be a mistake buying the older Antec Earthwatts 650, when there is a new Green version around, unfortunately I have not seen a review of it yet, so that is unconfirmed.
 

envymert

Distinguished
Feb 26, 2011
391
0
18,790
Might even want to spend a little more now and grab an 850W-1000W so you can use a crossfire setup later. If you were adding a second monitor I know 6850's in CF are insane. Not sure of you preference but with me I am asking some of the very same questions but I like to have all my eye candy CRANKED and experience no stutter/dips in FPS. But even with my current 5970 in metro 2033 at 1920x1080 with graphics cranked I can notice it in gameplay. Since you like FPS games you may want to give yourself the headroom of SLI/CF ....Think Battlefield 3 and RAGE both out this year and the graphics look awesome.
Just an opinion hope this helps

Also ....... Big trouble in little china is awesome. Love Eggchen in it !
 
Newegg are covering themselves to a certain extent, because there are plenty of ~750W PSUs on newegg which are basically crap. Multiple reviews show the power consumption of systems with two 6950s barely breaks 500 watts.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6950-crossfirex-review/14 - Showed 473 watts
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4061/amds-radeon-hd-6970-radeon-hd-6950/24 - showed 509 watts
I suppose if there was going to be massive overclocking, unlocking to a 6970, plus loads of harddrives, fans, etc then a 750W unit would be called for.
Besides 650 is "too much" for a system with a single 6950, I would only recommend something between 500 and 600 watts.
 

eggchen

Distinguished
Mar 2, 2006
3
0
18,510
I appreciate the suggestions so far. I'm leaning more towards the i5 now.

Going to take a look at some of the PSUs now. Didn't get a chance to read any reviews on them yesterday.