1 upgrade and 1 new build

username455

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Hello everyone,

time to upgrade one computer and build a new one along with it. exciting!



Approximate Purchase Date: Whenever the motherboards are available

Budget Range: 1500-2000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (BFBC2, SC2, BF3 when its released)

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg

Country of Origin: US

Parts Preferences: intel/nvidia

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

My only request is a Sandy Bridge CPU.

As for the upgrade, I am keeping the harddrive and gtx 460. new motherboard/cpu/psu/ram. (will use the same as above)

thanks!
 

omnisome

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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758&cm_re=windows_7_professional-_-32-116-758-_-Product - Operating System ($140)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072&Tpk=i5-2500k - Intel Core i5-2500K ($230)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231426 - RAM ($85)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=hd103sj - Samsung HD103SJ ($65)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127555&cm_re=hd6950-_-14-127-555-_-Product - MSI Radeon HD6950-2GB ($275): Can be unlocked to HD6970
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204 - Optical Drive ($20)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 - Corsair TX750 by Seasonic ($110)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147094 - Rosewill Thor-Gamer ($150): Supports extended-ATX, micro-ATX, standard-ATX and XL-ATX motherboards.

SSD: Wait until 2011 second-quarter.
Motherboard: Wait until April or later this month.


$1,038.92 after rebates; Before motherboard and SSD
 
Price point seems to be popular of late, seems I have answered this same question at least 8 times today :). However I can't spend that much money w/ you keeping the 460 if you don't want to SLI. In case you're willing to reconsider, the build below does SLI .... Subract $170 if you're not convinced it's worth while.

Upgrade build (keeping HD, 460 GTX, speakers, monitor, KB, Mouse and OS)

Case - $160 - Antec DF-85 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129087
Case Fans - Later - Antec Red 120 mm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835209013
PSU - $120 - Antec CP-850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024
MoBo - $495 - Asus P8P67 Pro Available in few days
CPU - inc - Intel i7-2600k included in above
Cooler - $40 - Scythe SCMG 2100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142
TIM - $5 - Shin Etsu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150080
RAM - $155 - (2 x 4GB) Mushkin CAS 7 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226178
GFX - $170 - Asus GTX 460 whatever ya got
GFX - Later - Same
SSD - $250 - Vertex 3 10 days away
Card Reader $35 AFT XM-35U http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820176016
DVD Writer - $22 - Asus 24X DRW-24B3L w/ LS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135221

Total $1,452


Upgrade build (don't need speakers, monitor, KB, Mouse) Case / PSU / Mobo capable of SLI addition in future.

Case - $160 - Antec DF-85 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129087
Case Fans - Later - Antec Red 120 mm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835209013
PSU - $150 - Antec CP-1000 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371036
MoBo - $495 - Asus P8P67 Pro Available in few days
CPU - inc - Intel i7-2600k included in above
Cooler - $40 - Scythe SCMG 2100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142
TIM - $5 - Shin Etsu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150080
RAM - $155 - (2 x 4GB) Mushkin CAS 7 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226178
GFX - $510 - Asus 580 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130589
GFX - Later - Same
HD - $160 - Spinpoint F3 1TB / WIn 7 64 pro Combi http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.591405
SSD - $250 - Vertex 3 10 days away
Card Reader $35 AFT XM-35U http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820176016
DVD Writer - $22 - Asus 24X DRW-24B3L w/ LS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135221
OS - inc - Win 7-64 Pro OEM included w HD

Total $1,982
 

username455

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Thans for the replies!

Now a few questions,

Both suggested 8gb of ram. And I see they are "designed" for sandy bridge. But I heard with intel ddr3 you are supposed to get 3 sticks of ram (6gb). Was that for old i7 CPUs?

If I never plan on SLI, is 1000w or even 800w necessary? I was thinking 600-750.

i7 2600k vs i5 2500k. Is i7 $100 better?

Shouldn't I get a hdd with 6.0gb/s?

Why win7 pro instead of home?

And finally does thermal paste expire? I have some leftover from a few years ago hehe.

Thanks again, and sorry for so many questions
 

username455

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Thought of a few more..

Do I need a SSD? I'm pretty patient with boot up times, and that's generally what they are used for correct? Or does having windows loaded on a ssd make everything faster?

IF I don't feel like spending $500 on the gtx 580, what are some good alternatives (sticking with nvidia)?

The monitor I have (asus ve247h) is discontinued. Any suggestions for a monitor for the new build?
 

omnisome

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Marketing.



A good 750w should be enough for Crossfired HD6950s but nVidia cards generally use more, depends on the video card.



i7-2600K isn't a necessity for gaming and for $100 less you get a better "bang for buck" processor.



Not an overt difference between SATA2 and SATA3 and Samsung's HD103SJ is retailing at $55 at the moment which is a must buy. Regarded as the best HDD on the market for the price.



I don't know if it can expire but if you've had it a few years then you're probably best using the retail one from Intel.
 

omnisome

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perfrel.gif





SSD does the same job as a HDD but has no moving parts and has much faster read/write times, most people buy a small one because they're expensive and install the OS and Drivers to it.




Three close nVidia alternatives:
GTX570
GTX560-SLI
Heavily overclocked GTX560

Two GTX560s in SLI should give you around 10% better performance than a single GTX580 and generally come $30 cheaper; Disadvantages include higher temperatures, less space in your case and more noise.
 

username455

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Thanks for the reply!

I'm still unsure however with the ram? 3 sticks or 2 edit: never mind, I looked at the motherboard lol


So it looks like

Core i5 2500k
750w psu
Gtx 570 or 580
Asus p8p67 pro
6 or 8 gb ddr3 1600 ram
Samsung hdd
Scythe heat sink

Sounds good to me! Unless there any other suggestions
 

username455

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Hey, I had one more quick question

with my previous build I bought a 12" extension for the 8 pin power cable. Will that be necessary with the antec df-85 case? the PSU is mounted on the bottom which is why I ask.

just waiting for the motherboards to be in stock!