New Core i7 2600k Build

[travis442]

Alright its finally time to upgrade the desktop I'm using from 2003 just isn't cutting it any more. Here is what I have put together so far, I'm definitely open to suggestions but I want to stick with the i7.....

Approximate Purchase Date: As soon as I decide on components

Budget Range: ~$1400

System Usage from Most to Least Important: General purpose able to handle Adobe CS3 and up with ease plus some video and photo editing

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, Monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, MicroCenter

Overclocking: Yes (Probably not from the start but eventually)

SLI or Crossfire: Want the ability

Additional Comments: The parts I have listed below are all from Newegg, there are some of them that I know that I can get cheaper at MicroCenter and probably will but easier to list them all out from the same place. I already have Windows 7 Ultimate 64 which I plan to run on the machine.

Here are the parts that I have so far, if possible I would like to find a cheaper graphics card as that one is a little more than I was wanting to spend.....

[strike]G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBXM - $64.99[/strike]

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL - $99.99

[strike]EVGA 012-P3-1570-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - $359.99[/strike]

EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1563-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support - $269.99

[strike]COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case - $199.99[/strike]

COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $109.98

ASUS P8P67 DELUXE (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $239.99

XFX Black Edition P1-750B-CAG9 750W ATX12V v2.2 / ESP12V v2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular - $159.99

Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K - $328.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - x2 $129.98

LITE-ON DVD Writer - Bulk - Black SATA Model iHAS224-06 LightScribe Support - OEM - $18.99

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel - $29.99

My current total comes up to $1348 and looking at it there is probably some room to save on maybe a smaller case, that one is probably way overkill.

I appreciate the help.

Travis

 

[WR2]

Hello travis442

I think the next spot after the case to do some budget trimming would be using the Asus P8P67 Pro instead of the Deluxe.
After that stepping down to the GTX 560 Ti (this is for video editing, right?)
And finally, even choosing the i5 2500K over the 2600K.

 

[WR2]

The one place I'd suggest upgrading would be going with 8GB RAM over 4GB.
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) RAM $100 25 off w/ promo code EMCKGJE69, ends 3/21
Still a few hours left to grab that special promotion.

 

[travis442]

Good catch on the RAM I definitely wanted 8GB not sure how I accidentally chose the 4GB, what do you think of the RAM I chose I think its a little bit of an upgrade over the RAM you suggested?

Do you know what some of the main differences are between the PRO and the Deluxe? I'll take a look at the video card that you suggested and see if I can't find a case that would work for me.

 

[WR2]

When you look at the RAM side-by-side you see they're pretty much identical.
Since the one set no longer has the $25 off promo either one is fine.

 

[travis442]

I went ahead and changed cases to the 922, do you think I'll still have plenty of room for the Hyper 212 cooler? Now I'll take a look at the graphics card that you are suggesting.

 

[WR2]

No problems with the CM Hyper 212+ fitting in the HAF 922.
Here is a good look at the case: Cooler Master HAF 922 Case Review @ Guru3D
Cooler Master HAF 922 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets

 

[travis442]

Hello travis442

I think the next spot after the case to do some budget trimming would be using the Asus P8P67 Pro instead of the Deluxe.
After that stepping down to the GTX 560 Ti (this is for video editing, right?)
And finally, even choosing the i5 2500K over the 2600K.

So I have updated the video card, is that the one that you were suggesting? That move saved me $100.

 

[WR2]

I'm having trouble finding a side-by-side comparison of the two motherboards.

P8P67 DELUXE webpage

P8P67 PRO webpage

 

[travis442]

So I'm thinking about building this computer this weekend and have found all of my parts locally for about the same price except for the RAM if I can order something from Amazon I can have it here on Friday the other pieces I'm going to pick up from MicroCenter, does anybody have any other recommendations on 8GB of ram that either place might have?

 

[travis442]

I'm having trouble finding a side-by-side comparison of the two motherboards.

P8P67 DELUXE webpage

P8P67 PRO webpage

I've decided that if I'm going to overspend anywhere I would like for it to be on the motherboard and the processes so I think I'm just going to stick with the Deluxe version, thanks for the links though.

 

[WR2]

Here is a worth option in stock @ NewEgg this morning. GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD4-B3
It finally showed up @ NewEgg for the first time today.

GA-P67A-UD4-B3 webpage

GIGABYTE P67A-UD4 Motherboard Performance Review

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

You have a very nice build right now but I would see if you can find the money to put an SSD drive in as a boot drive. Even picking up the older Intel X25-M 80GB drive would give you a big improvement on boot times and access times for any program on the drive.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

delete for dup.

 

[travis442]

So I have picked up and ordered most of my pieces only one that I haven't gotten is the motherboard and I think I'm going to be able to pick up the Deluxe version on Friday and if not I have found the Pro version and from reading it doesn't sound like I will be losing much ability.

I was wondering if there are any additional cables that I'm going to need to pick up in addition to what comes with the motherboard? How about Thermal compound is there some of that with the processor or should I pick up some?

Just trying to prevent any last minute trips to the store over something that I might have forgotten.

 

[WR2]

You're in good shape. You won't need any cables or thermal compound.

Here is the accessory pack for the Deluxe:

Thermal compound is that tube, lower left the CM Hyper 212+ accessory pack

 

[travis442]

You're in good shape. You won't need any cables or thermal compound.

Here is the accessory pack for the Deluxe:
http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/13-131-701-Z05?$S640$

Thermal compound is that tube, lower left the CM Hyper 212+ accessory pack
http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/35-103-065-Z06?$S640$

Thanks, I got the cooler in this morning but hadn't opened the box yet to see what all it came with and I couldn't find a place on the box were it said.

What do you think about the SSD for the OS?

RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1 64GB SATA 6.0Gb/s 2.5" Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - $119.99

If I get one I'll either have to get it from MicroCenter or TigerDirect someplace local since its too late to order anything for a build this weekend.

 

[WR2]

That's a great price on the RealSSD C300.
I think they're closing out the C300s and getting ready to release the C400s, or maybe the Crucial M4. Due out 'sometime in March' last I heard.
NewEgg has sold out and not got the stock replenished.

Let me see if I can find a link for you.

 

[WR2]

C300 Read/Write speeds 355MBs / 75MBs
C400/C4 Read/Write speeds 415MBs/175MBs

 

[WR2]

Crucial RealSSD m4 Promises 415 MB/s Performance
Still nothing firm on the date.

 

[travis442]

That's a great price on the RealSSD C300.
I think they're closing out the C300s and getting ready to release the C400s, or maybe the Crucial M4. Due out 'sometime in March' last I heard.
NewEgg has sold out and not got the stock replenished.

Let me see if I can find a link for you.

Is it a drive that you would recommend?

Also I haven't installed a Raid 0 before and was looking for some info on what the process should be for the ASUS boards any idea on links I should take a look at for that? If I do end up getting the SSD I would assume the process would be that I install the OS on the SSD and then go back through and setup the other 2 drives as Raid 0, or is it all done in the same step?

I really appreciate all the help.

 

[travis442]

Crucial RealSSD m4 Promises 415 MB/s Performance
Still nothing firm on the date.

For the increase in performance I would be getting over the HDD I think I would be fine with just getting the C300 for now and saving a few bucks.

 

[WR2]

That's exactly the way I look at it too. The performance increase in 'real world' tasks isn't quite so dramatic as the raw specs suggest. The C300 is still a great choice and I'd do the same, grab the savings and a fast SSD.

 

[WR2]

If I were doing the build with your parts I'd install just the SSD initially. If it looks easier for you to mount the HDDs at this time you could do that as well, but for now I'd leave the HDDs data and power cables disconnected.

Once you get the first boot go into BIOS and switch the SSD drive over to AHCI.
After rebooting then install the OS and after that get all the available Windows updates out of the way. Do some of the usual stability and performance tests.

Then you could install the HDDs / attach the power and data cables. In BIOS you set up the RAID and your next boot into Windows it should see a new HDD which is your RAID array.

 

[WR2]

Here is a Step-by-Step Guide to Building a PC

Look over the forum's "System won't boot" checklist to see some of the common build errors and how to avoid them.

-> The usual advice; read the manual / install guide; look at the parts, read the manual again and if everything makes sense and looks right - then go ahead with the install.

While you're waiting you can download the online version of the motherboard manual and start getting familiar with it.