New 2600k Gaming Build, Requesting Advice

[RedXIII]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within 3 weeks


Budget Range: $1500 - $2000 -> Pretty flexible, but don't want to waste money; keep price/performance in mind.


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming


Parts Not Required: Anything not listed below


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Anything Canadian. Usually whatever is lowest on shopbot.ca


Country of Origin: Canada


Parts Preferences: Intel & Nvidia


Overclocking: Yes


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200


CPU: Intel 2600k ($309) *Already bought*

Cooling: Corsair H70 ($86)
I was considering a real water solution, but since the 2600k OCs quite nicely, I figure this should suffice. Any comments on whether I should remove and apply my own thermal paste? I've heard argument for and against.

Mobo:
ASUS P8P67 Pro ($199)
ASUS Sabertooth P67 ($227)
A ton of options and a ton of variations. Not really sure what to go with. I'm looking for a strong OCer. A bit of an ASUS fan, but open to any other suggestions.

GPU:
EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti Fermi 850MHZ 1024MB *SLI* ($470)
EVGA GeForce GTX 570 Fermi 732MHZ 1280MB ($330)
EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Fermi 772MHZ 1536MB ($535)

The extra cost of the 580 as compared to the 570 doesn't seem to be justified in terms of performance. Trying to decided between dual 560ti and a single 570-possibly SLI later. Suggestions?

RAM:
Corsair CMZ8GX3M2A1600C8 Vengeance 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL8-8-8-24 Dual Channel Memory Kit ($119)
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL7D-8GBXH 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL7-8-7-24 1.5V Memory Kit ($126)
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL8-8-8-24 1.5V Memory Kit ($96)
I'm thinking I'll go with that last one? Agree?


PSU:
Corsair TX750W 750W ATX 12V 60A 24PIN ATX ($100)
My PSU knowledge is subpar, so any advice would be appreciated. I know that 750W is overkill, but I would like to reserve the ability to SLI; unless 750W is still too much even with SLI?

Tower:
COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 ($155)

SSD: ($150~)
I know next to nothing about SSDs. I would ideally like a 60GB~ or 120GB for my OS. Recommendations?

HDD:
Western Digital WD Caviar Blue 1TB SATA 6GB/S 7200RPM ($64)

Audio:
Any recommendations? I use headphones and I'm not much of an audio fanatic, so I don't plan on spending much on this.

Total: $1500 - $1700~

Comments or suggestions?

 

[crewton]

You can save a little on the case by grabbing http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043 It's a great case and lots of fans for air movement.

For SSD I'd get vertex 2 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227550 the vertex 3s are out making the 2s nice for the buying especially if you want to buy 2 for raid 0. Plus vertex 3 are expense and for the most part sold out everywhere http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227706&cm_re=vertex_3-_-20-227-706-_-Product

 

[crewton]

Oh as for the PSU, 750W is great for SLI 560s. I think the 570s need 850W but not sure on that one.

 

[specter800]

8GB of RAM is cool and all, but (and I may be alone on this) I think you could save $70 by getting 4GB at the same speed for $50. What you do with those $60 is up to you, but it could take some strain off your wallet. Besides, you can always buy another 4GB set later if you need it.

 

[RedXIII]

You can save a little on the case by grabbing http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043 It's a great case and lots of fans for air movement.

For SSD I'd get vertex 2 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227550 the vertex 3s are out making the 2s nice for the buying especially if you want to buy 2 for raid 0. Plus vertex 3 are expense and for the most part sold out everywhere http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227706&cm_re=vertex_3-_-20-227-706-_-Product

I've been looking at the HAF X for a while and I'm pretty set on it. The 1200 is also pretty nice, but probably my second choice. Also, I just looked again and found a HAF X for $155, just below the sale price for the 1200.

That Vertex 2 seems to have a fair bit of negative feedback regarding drives dying quickly. Apparently the new 25nm chips are subpar as compared to their original 35nm. Seems like I may have to cross my fingers and hope it works :s
There is a pretty hot deal ending today on NCIX
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=53308&vpn=OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G&manufacture=OCZ%20Technology&promoid=1312

Oh as for the PSU, 750W is great for SLI 560s. I think the 570s need 850W but not sure on that one.

850W is indeed needed for duals 570s. 1000W if OCing.
Think it is worth spending more and going for a gold/silver certified unit?

8GB of RAM is cool and all, but (and I may be alone on this) I think you could save $70 by getting 4GB at the same speed for $50. What you do with those $60 is up to you, but it could take some strain off your wallet. Besides, you can always buy another 4GB set later if you need it.

I currently have 4GB but sometimes I find that it cuts it a bit low. I also run some virtual machines, so some extra RAM would go a long ways in that regard. I probably should have mentioned that above.

Any other comments?

Thanks

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

For gaming, understand very few games will take advantage of more than 3 threads so you can do one of 2 things. In the bios disable hyper-threading and you will pick up a total of 100MHz over the Intel® Core™ I5 2500K or you can simply go with the Intel® Core™ I5 2500K and save yourself about $100. If you are going to do any audio or video work then staying with the Core I7 2600K would be for the best.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[Why_Me]

Forget NCIX. Direct Canada does free shipping on order over $50 CAD not to mention they beat the prices in the US let alone Canada.

dual 560's in SLI > single 580 dual 560's ftw imo.

btw Seasonic makes that psu for Corsair just like it makes this own down below for XFX. This one though is free shipping for $5 less.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15180AC6621&vpn=P1750SCAB9&manufacture=XFX $95.99
XFX 750W PRO750W Core Edition Single Rail ATX 12V 62A 24PIN ATX Power Supply 80PLUS Bronze

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD0300&vpn=GA-P67A-UD4-B3&manufacture=GIGABYTE $178.70
Gigabyte P67A-UD4-B3 ATX LGA1155 P67 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI SLI SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15380BD5211&vpn=F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL&manufacture=G.SKILL $87.07
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=25350DR0783&vpn=WD1002FAEX&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD $82.69
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB SATA3 6GB/S 7200RPM 64MB Cache 3.5IN Dual Proc Hard Drive OEM

this cpu cooler down below is as good as it gets.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14650AC9691&vpn=Silver%20Arrow&manufacture=THERMALRIGHT $66.86
Thermalright Silver Arrow 4 HeatPipes CPU Heatsink LGA1366/1156/1155/775/AM3/AM2 With 160MM Pwn Fan

 

[RedXIII]

Forget NCIX. Direct Canada does free shipping on order over $50 CAD not to mention they beat the prices in the US let alone Canada.

DirectCanada is pretty impressive.

dual 560's in SLI > single 580 dual 560's ftw imo.

I'll probably go with that , unless anyone has a reason why I shouldn't.
Is the superclocked version worth while for an extra $20? I'm guessing no.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD0300&vpn=GA-P67A-UD4-B3&manufacture=GIGABYTE $178.70
Gigabyte P67A-UD4-B3 ATX LGA1155 P67 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI SLI SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard

Any particular reason for this recommendation, other than being cheaper?

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15380BD5211&vpn=F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL&manufacture=G.SKILL $87.07
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory

Is it worth spending an extra $10 for slight better timings (CL8-8-8-24)?

this cpu cooler down below is as good as it gets.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14650AC9691&vpn=Silver%20Arrow&manufacture=THERMALRIGHT $66.86
Thermalright Silver Arrow 4 HeatPipes CPU Heatsink LGA1366/1156/1155/775/AM3/AM2 With 160MM Pwn Fan

Any idea how the Silver Arrow compares to the H50/70 in a push/push setup? I've heard that the SA is better, but I haven't heard by what amount. What I like about the H50/70 is that it is pretty small and easy to clean, while performing pretty good. The SA apparently performs better, and is cheaper but it is huge and seems to be a pain to clean.