New Gaming Build - $1200-1400

feelyc0406

Distinguished
Apr 9, 2011
4
0
18,510
Hello, first of all thank you for reading this thread. I'm building my first computer and any help on it would be greatly appreciated. Any recommendations, advices, and comments are welcome!


Approximate Purchase Date: Within a week

Budget Range: $1200-1400 - can't go above $1400, and I would prefer to be in the $1300 range

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming is my main priority, with movies and surfing following up.

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Speaker/Headphone

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, Nvidia GPU

Overclocking: No - maybe in the future

SLI or Crossfire: No - maybe in the future

Monitor Resolution: 1600x900

Additional Comments: Need to buy an OS (Windows 7) and quietness is a plus. I will be moving the rig maybe 1-2 times a year, so keep that in mind.

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

My friend helped me come up with some of the initial parts - please, if they are 1) not compatible and/or 2) replaceable with better/different item, then feel free to criticize!


Case: Still need some help with choosing a case.
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $99.98
COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $79.99
Antec Nine Hundred Two V3 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $109.99
COOLER MASTER RC-692-KKN2 CM690 II Advanced Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $89.99

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K - $224.99

Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 - $34.99

Mobo: Still need help with the mobo.
MSI P67A-GD65 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $179.99
GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD3-B3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $134.99
ASRock P67 EXTREME4 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard (This is sold out, however) - $159.99
ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard (This is sold out, however) - $189.99

Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBXL - $84.99 (w/o $15 off promo)

GPU: EVGA SuperClocked 012-P3-1572-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - $359.99

PSU: XFX Core Edition PRO750W (P1-750S-CAB9) 750W ATX12V v2.2 & ESP12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - $119.99

SSD: OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - $124.99

HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $64.99

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM - $99.99


Thank you in advance!
 

Nerdbox87

Distinguished
Jun 12, 2010
226
0
18,710
Hi,

Decent build, I'd be skipping the SSD or downgrading to a 60gb model and spending the money elsewhere on a gaming build.

Case:

Coolermaster 690 II Advanced $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216&cm_re=CM_690_ii-_-11-119-216-_-Product

CPU & Cooler:

2500k $224.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072&cm_re=2500k-_-19-115-072-_-Product

Hyper 212+ $34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&cm_re=Hyper_212%2b-_-35-103-065-_-Product

Motherboard:

Asus P67 Pro $189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131703&cm_re=asus_p67_pro-_-13-131-703-_-Product

RAM:

4GB Ripjaw X 1600mhz CL8 $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231443&cm_re=ripjaws-_-20-231-443-_-Product

GPU:

Powercolor 6950 (Cheapest which unlocks to 6970, better value for money than the GTX 560) $269.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131393&cm_re=6950-_-14-131-393-_-Product

PSU:

TX-750 v2 (Plenty for crossfire if you ever need it) $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021&cm_re=TX750-_-17-139-021-_-Product

HDD:

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=spinpoint%20f3%201tb

OS:

Windows 7 64bit Home Premium OEM $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754&cm_re=windows_7-_-32-116-754-_-Product

SSD:

OCZ Vertex 2 60gb $124.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227550&cm_re=OCZ_vertex_2_60gb-_-20-227-550-_-Product


Total $1274.90 (Excl. Rebates)


*Any additional money should be spent on a decent 1920x1080 24" Monitor, as this PC is already big overkill for your resolution. I'd be dropping the SSD and throwing this in;*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049
 

vibhas

Distinguished
Oct 9, 2010
309
0
18,810


I'd keep this mainly, cept swap out the case for the storm scout as it has a handhold you can use to carry it, and perhaps downgrade the RAM to 1600MHZ CL9 ripjaws X series (Save $5), and keep the OP's 500GB spinpoint HDD if he only needs that much, saves another $15 and the power supply for this cheaper and better PSU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207009&cm_re=xfx_750w-_-17-207-009-_-Product
 

helluvagood

Distinguished
Oct 3, 2009
6
0
18,510
I would get rid of the SSD and put some of that $$ for a higher end GPU, like a gtx570 or 6970. SSDs are more of a luxury and won't really affect your games (only load times, but load times on PCs are quick enough)
 

feelyc0406

Distinguished
Apr 9, 2011
4
0
18,510
Thanks for all the responses everyone.

Case: Still in a turmoil with this one... the CM690 II Advanced seems like an extremely nice case in addition to the ones I listed.

CPU + Cooler: Same CPU, but is the Hyper 212+ necessary?

Mobo: The one Nerdbox87 recommended (Asus P67 Pro) is sold out; any other viable matches from that one or from the one I listed?

RAM: They're both the same Ripjaws X Series, but I upgraded them to 2x4GB. Now, the second one is $15 cheaper (until 4/13) but I don't know what the difference is between the two.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311&cm_re=G.SKILL_Ripjaws_X_Series_4GB-_-20-231-311-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231426&cm_re=G.SKILL_Ripjaws_X_Series_4GB-_-20-231-426-_-Product

GPU: Keeping the 560 GTX TI, but if I upgrade it to the 570 I will need a new PSU right?

PSU: Seems like 750w is what I should be aiming for. There's two here that was recommended - same price, but which is more superior?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021&cm_re=TX750-_-17-139-021-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207009&cm_re=xfx_750w-_-17-207-009-_-Product

HDD: Will upgrade it to the Samsung Spinpoint 1TB

SSD: Downgrading it to the 60gb as advised


Also, won't I need an optical drive? Any good ones out there?
 

vibhas

Distinguished
Oct 9, 2010
309
0
18,810


The XFX power supply is better than the TX power supply (According to reviewers) by a country mile. The difference between good and great. The Ripjaws X series is better, and only $70 with the rebate compared to the normal ripjaws series. The XFX 750W power supply can fit 2 560's or 2 570's comfortably.
 

feelyc0406

Distinguished
Apr 9, 2011
4
0
18,510
Ah I didn't see that the first one isn't the X series. I will update my first post to the recommendation you gave me. Thank you!

Edit 1 - Updated the original post. Still need help with several things: 1) Is the Hyper 212+ necessary? 2) Case and Mobo choices and 3) Any good drives

If Newegg doesn't have anything (or is sold out, for example) then sites such as Tigetdirect and Amazon will be perfectly fine.

Edit 2 - Upgraded the GPU to a GTX570.