Verify my 2600k Build

[WWBD]

Approximate Purchase Date: Now or May

Budget Range: $1300 Before Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: HD Video Editing (hobby, home video stuff), Gaming

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, case, power supply

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, Newegg

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: I've listed some initial choices below.

Overclocking: Maybe (I hear it's super easy with SB)

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments:

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Hi all, so this will be my first build. The computer will be used primarily for everyday activities (including editing HD videos of my kid). I will play a game or three each year, but I'm not a hardcore gamer. Therefore I'm spending a little less on the GPU compared to the CPU and RAM. Here's what I've got so far (looking to spend about $1300).

The only potential upgrade I could foresee in the next few years would be adding an SLI card and plugging in some more RAM (so I've left 2 slots free).

I'm not sure whether or not I need a CPU cooler or not. They are a mystery to me.

I like quiet over all else!


Theoretical build so far:


CPU: i7-2600k ($315)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070&cm_re=i7_2600k-_-19-115-070-_-Product

Motherboard: ASRock P67 Extreme ($159)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157229

Memory: GSkill Ripjaw 8gb 2x4gb, Cas 7 ($149)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231401&cm_re=gskill_ripjaw_x-_-20-231-401-_-Product

GPU: geforce 460 (MSI cyclone 1gb) ($199)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127510&Tpk=msi%20cyclone%20gtx%20460

SSD: Crucial c300 64gb ($135)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148361&cm_re=crucial_c300-_-20-148-361-_-Product

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint 1TB ($65)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&cm_re=samsung_spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product

DVD Burner: LG 22x ($20)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136222

Case (Already Purchased): Fractal Design R3 Titanium ($130)

PSU (Already Purchased): Antec True Power 750 ($88)



Thanks!

 

[sadams04]

Looks pretty good! My thoughts are below...

MEM - Change that to DDR3-1333 1.5v CL7. You won't notice a difference between DDR3-1600 and DDR3-1333 at CL7 and the 1.5v modules are more stable on a SB setup...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231440

GPU - The GTX 460 1GB is a fine card, but at the $200 price point the HD 6950 will give you more muscle, and require less power (less heat).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150523&cm_re=6950-_-14-150-523-_-Product

CPU Cooler - If you are going to overclock you need to pick up a cooler. The Hyper 212+ gives great results at a budget friendly price.
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-Sleeve-RR-B10-212P-G1/dp/B002G1YPH0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303135504&sr=8-1

 

[DXRick]

I would get one of the CAS9 1600 memory kits for around $80 and spend the money on an HD 6950 with 2G memory.

 

[nd_hunter]

According to this article, speed and timings don't matter too much in the real world (at least when it comes to gaming). I second DXRicks' recommendation. A 2GB 6950 can be unlocked to a 6970.

 

[WWBD]

Ok good info and something to think about. If you had to put your money into one aspect of memory (besides # of gb), which would it be? Latency or speed?

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Sandy Bridge likes DDR3 1600 cas 8 or 9 best. Cas 7 will help in video encoding and massive multitasking.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/memory/2011/01/11/the-best-memory-for-sandy-bridge/1

 

[DXRick]

I don't think it is worth a 1% increase in speed. Why is CAS8 faster than CAS7?

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Why is CAS8 faster than CAS7?
..

It's not.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

The Intel® chipset based boards like H67 and P67 like the 1.5 volt memory while it is possible to use higher voltage memory from my understanding it leads to being less stable system. So set the voltage in the bios when you start the boot up to 1.5v.

Christain Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[DXRick]

It is in the H.264 Video Encoding table. Must be an anomaly.

 

[WWBD]

This is great info, guys. I'm definitely going to move some of my funds from memory to GPU. Can any of you tell the difference between these two cards?

Sapphire 2gb 6950 - $299
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-DVI-I-SL-DVI-D-PCI-Express-100312-2SR/dp/B004TA6RY0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303237924&sr=8-2

Sapphire 2gb 6950 - $274
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-DVI-I-SL-DVI-D-PCI-Express-100312SR/dp/B004FPYJFI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303237924&sr=8-1

I also have to make sure the card will fit in my case (Fractal Design R3). Getting some mixed signals on that one.

 

[vibhas]

This is great info, guys. I'm definitely going to move some of my funds from memory to GPU. Can any of you tell the difference between these two cards?

Sapphire 2gb 6950 - $299
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-DVI-I-SL-DVI-D-PCI-Express-100312-2SR/dp/B004TA6RY0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303237924&sr=8-2

Sapphire 2gb 6950 - $274
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-DVI-I-SL-DVI-D-PCI-Express-100312SR/dp/B004FPYJFI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303237924&sr=8-1

I also have to make sure the card will fit in my case (Fractal Design R3). Getting some mixed signals on that one.

One's a 'newer' version. To cut a long story short, they've done something very small and basic (i.e. changed glue company or w/e) and charged you $25 for that 'difference'

 

[someone19]

I just built a system almost identical to yours, I saved some money by reusing an old case, and I got the sapphire 5830 extreme 1gb for $130

Other major parts are
i7-2600k
AsRock p67 Extreme4
Gskill Ripjaws X 1600 cas 9 2X4gb
Crucial C300 128gb
Samsung F3 1tb
Antec EA-650

The system is up and screaming like a beast. I'm running the stock cooler and its nice and quiet, as well as efficient. The Asrock board is very easy and a solid foundation, and the C300 laughs at Win 7 - crazy fast.

The 5830 is a previous generation card, and so it doesn't run crysis2 at max everything, but depending on your monitor, and a realistic look at what you really want the graphics to do, do you really need the latest and greatest?

Just my .02

BTW - LOVED the looks of the FD case, just wish I had the extra $100 for it.

 

[WWBD]

Hey Someone! Glad to hear a similar build is working out for you. Yeah, the FD cases are a bit expensive. To make matters worse, I ordered mine at the end of last year, when they weren't available in the U.S. yet. So I paid $50 to ship it from canada! :O

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I'd get the Asus P8P67 Pro w/ 2600k for $485. The extra year's warranty alone over the Asrock boards is easily worth the $10...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.622003

CPU - If money's tight, can save $100 w/ the 2500k

RAM - The GFX card would be the bottleneck on this box in gaming but memory will be the issue in video editing. As that's the most demanding task you listed, stick w/ the CAS 7 DDR3-1600. These are $5 cheaper. I use them a lot in CAD / video editing builds and they have performed without incident. ... and 1.65 volt memory is just fine on 1155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226178
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/corsair-vengeance-crucial-ballistix-kingston-hyperX,2907.html
http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/overclocking/39184-p67-sandy-bridge-overclocking-guide-beginners.html

If ya can manage it, I'd try and invest another $40 for a 560 Ti (900 MHz) ..... you'll want to take advantage of CUDA capability for video editing but that limits you to nVidia cards.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125363

Use this to unlock your CUDA capability for video editing in CS5 as the only cards which employ CUDA by default in CS5 are the GeForce GTX 285, GTX 470, Quadro 4000, Quadro 5000, Quadro 5000M, Quadro FX 3800, Quadro FX 4800, Quadro FX 5800, Quadro CX

http://www.studio1productions.com/Articles/PremiereCS5.htm

If using other software, here's a good CUDA source:

http://www.elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=732&Itemid=29

 

[WWBD]

There is a good deal on memory right now ($75 for Ripjaws 8gb 1600 cas 9) at Newegg. That memory is also in combo with the Asus P8P67 (Rev 3.0) mobo. I am a complete noob when it comes to mobo's and am having a really hard time differentiating between the two dozen or so P67 models out there. Is that Asus a good board? JackNaylor, I know you recommended the Pro version - but is the regular version decent?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.632744

The ASRock P67 Extreme was my initial choice just because it featured the "Tom's Hardware Enthusiast recommended model" on Newegg. But perhaps I don't need whatever advantages it offers over the cheaper boards. I'd also like to save a little cash since I just splurged on a 128gb Crucial C300 instead of the 64gb model.

 

[vibhas]

buy the $75 ripjaws 1600 CAS 9 ram now. It ends tomorrow (remember to type in promo code at cart). its the best deal ive seen on ram in the last 6 months . CAS 9 is 1% slower than CAS 7, so double the cost for 1% performance hardly seems to even fit the law of diminishing returns. More like the law of no returns :/. If its such an issue, you can overclock and volt your own ram. Make it 1600 CL7 by yourself, instead of paying double for the ole factory to do it for you. It doesnt matter really though..