First build, need advice

[xadorus]

Hey building my first gaming rig here from cyberpower. So could anyone give me an input on the components? Thanks in advance!

*BASE_PRICE: [+1069]
BLUETOOTH: None
CARE1: Ultra Enhanced Packaging Solution - Protect Your Dream System During Transit [+19]
CARE2: CoolerMaster Thermal Fusion 400 Extreme Performance CPU - Thermal Compound Optimized for Thermal Dissipation [+10]
CARE3: Professional Wiring for All WIRING Inside The System Chassis - Minimize Cable Exposure, Maximize Airflow in Your System [+19]
CAS: CoolerMaster Elite 430 Mid-Tower Gaming Case with Side Panel Window [-11]
CASUPGRADE: None
CD: Samsung SH-B123L 12X BLU-RAY Player & DVDRW Combo [+58] (BLACK COLOR)
CD2: None
CPU: Intel(R) Core™ i7-2600K 3.40 GHz 8M Intel Smart Cache LGA1155 (All Venom OC Certified)
CS_FAN: Maximum Enermax 120MM Case Cooling Fans for selected case (Maximum Silent Operation) [+29] (500-1,200 RPM T.B. Silence Black Color with Blue LED Twister Bearing 8-14 dBA [+0])
FA_HDD: None
FAN: Asetek 510LC Liquid Cooling System 120MM Radiator & Fan (Enhanced Cooling Performance + Extreme Silent at 20dBA) [+0] (Dual Standard 120MM Fans (Push-Pull) [+9])
FLASHMEDIA: None
FREEBIE_CU1: FREE Game - Shogun 2 Limited Edition Coupon: Total War [+0]
FREEBIE_RM: 30 GB Kingston 2.5 inch SATA Gaming MLC Solid State Disk [+0]
GLASSES: None
HDD: 640GB SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 64MB Cache 7200RPM HDD [-24] (Single Hard Drive)
HDD2: None
IEEE_CARD: None
KEYBOARD: I-Rocks KR-6401-BK Black USB Wired Slim Chocolate Key Style Keyboard [+5]
MB_ADDON: None
MEMORY: 4GB (2GBx2) DDR3/1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Module [-64] (Kingston HyperX [+21])
MONITOR: None
MONITOR2: None
MONITOR3: None
MOTHERBOARD: [CrossFireX] Asus P8P67 Intel P67 Chipset DDR3 ATX Mainboard w/ UEFI, DIGI+VRM, 7.1 HD Audio, BT GO!, GbLAN, USB 3.0, 2x SATA-III RAID, 2 Gen2 PCIe, 2 PCIe X1 & 3 PCI [B3 Stepping] [+45]
MOUSE: XtremeGear Optical USB 3 Buttons Gaming Mouse
MULTIVIEW: Non-SLI/Non-CrossFireX Mode Supports Multiple Monitors
NCSW: None
NETWORK: Onboard Gigabit LAN Network
OS: Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 7 Home Premium (64-bit Edition)
OVERCLOCK: No Overclocking
POWERSUPPLY: * 750 Watts - Corsair CMPSU-750TX 80 Plus Power Supply - Quad SLI Ready [+73]
RUSH: NO; READY TO SHIP IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
SERVICE: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
SOFT1: Free Microsoft(R) Office(R) 2010 STARTER EDITION (Reduced-Functionality versions of Word and Excel that include advertising) [+0]
SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
SPEAKERS: None
TEMP: None
TVRC: None
USB: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
USBFLASH: None
USBHD: None
USBX: None
VC_PHYSX: None
VIDEO: AMD Radeon HD 6850 1GB GDDR5 16X PCIe Video Card (HIS IceQ X Powered by AMD [+5])
VIDEO2: None
VIDEO3: None
WNC: None
_PRICE: (+1263)

Well, I know this is impossible but I want this rig to last me a few year (4+). The reason I went to upgrade the 4gb kingston hyper x was because you get a free 30gb SSD, and I suppose that could be used as a boot drive? But I hear that its very tight space and may not be enough or needs management. I thought I would save some money getting hyper x and 30gb SSD for +45 dollars; instead of buying ram on my own, which would come out to be roughly the same.

As for the power supply, 750 might be overboard, but they didn't have any lower option brand named available. Plus this has a 10 dollar MFR, so I felt it isn't a bad deal.

Any thoughts? Thanks again!

 

[DXRick]

Good build!

Since you are getting the 2600K CPU, and it's a gaming rig, I would change two things:

1. Get 8GB memory.
2. Get the HD 6950 video card.

If you can't afford that, change the CPU to 2500K and/or pick a cheaper motherboard. 2500K + HD 6950 is a great gaming combo.

 

[xadorus]

Hrmm, that does seem like a good choice, but is the 6950 worth the extra 90 bucks or so, enough to get a lower cpu and cheaper mother board? I changed the settings, and it came out to be 1333, that is if I buy the ram myself. Will a i7 and 6850 do?

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Simple answer if you are doing video/audio or heavy multi-threaded work the Intel® Core™ I7 2600K is the best processor, if on the other hand you are going to be using this system to mainly game, go with the Intel core I5 2500K. It will save you around a $100 and for gaming there really isn’t any different in performance.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[xadorus]

[CrossFireX] GigaByte GA-P67A-UD3-B3 Intel P67 Chipset DDR3 ATX Mainboard w/ 7.1 HD Audio, GbLAN, USB3.0, 2x SATA-III RAID, 2 Gen2 PCIe, 3 PCIe X1 & 2 PCI [B3 Stepping

would this be a good motherboard? over the asus I had originally, if i change this, I could get the upgrade 6950

 

[xadorus]

*BASE_PRICE: [+1069]
BLUETOOTH: None
CARE1: Ultra Enhanced Packaging Solution - Protect Your Dream System During Transit [+19]
CARE2: CoolerMaster Thermal Fusion 400 Extreme Performance CPU - Thermal Compound Optimized for Thermal Dissipation [+10]
CARE3: Professional Wiring for All WIRING Inside The System Chassis - Minimize Cable Exposure, Maximize Airflow in Your System [+19]
CAS: CoolerMaster Elite 430 Mid-Tower Gaming Case with Side Panel Window [-11]
CASUPGRADE: None
CD: Samsung SH-B123L 12X BLU-RAY Player & DVDRW Combo [+58] (BLACK COLOR)
CD2: None
CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-2500K 3.30 GHz 6M Intel Smart Cache LGA1155 (All Venom OC Certified) [-94]
CS_FAN: Maximum Enermax 120MM Case Cooling Fans for selected case (Maximum Silent Operation) [+29] (500-1,200 RPM T.B. Silence Black Color with Blue LED Twister Bearing 8-14 dBA [+0])
FA_HDD: None
FAN: XtremeGear Liquid Cooling System 120MM Radiator & Fan (Enhanced Cooling Performance + Extreme Silent at 20dBA) (Dual Standard 120MM Fans (Push-Pull) [+9])
FLASHMEDIA: None
FREEBIE_CU1: FREE Game - Shogun 2 Limited Edition Coupon: Total War [+0]
FREEBIE_RM: 30 GB Kingston 2.5 inch SATA Gaming MLC Solid State Disk [+0]
GLASSES: None
HDD: 1TB SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 64MB Cache 7200RPM HDD (Single Hard Drive)
HDD2: None
IEEE_CARD: None
KEYBOARD: I-Rocks KR-6401-BK Black USB Wired Slim Chocolate Key Style Keyboard [+5]
MB_ADDON: None
MEMORY: 4GB (2GBx2) DDR3/1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Module [-64] (Kingston HyperX [+21])
MONITOR: None
MONITOR2: None
MONITOR3: None
MOTHERBOARD: * [CrossFireX] GigaByte GA-P67A-UD3-B3 Intel P67 Chipset DDR3 ATX Mainboard w/ 7.1 HD Audio, GbLAN, USB3.0, 2x SATA-III RAID, 2 Gen2 PCIe, 3 PCIe X1 & 2 PCI [B3 Stepping] [+0]
MOUSE: XtremeGear Optical USB 3 Buttons Gaming Mouse
MULTIVIEW: Non-SLI/Non-CrossFireX Mode Supports Multiple Monitors
NCSW: None
NETWORK: Onboard Gigabit LAN Network
OS: Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium (64-bit Edition)
OVERCLOCK: No Overclocking
POWERSUPPLY: * 750 Watts - Corsair CMPSU-750TX 80 Plus Power Supply - Quad SLI Ready [+73]
RUSH: NO; READY TO SHIP IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
SERVICE: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
SOFT1: Free Microsoft® Office® 2010 STARTER EDITION (Reduced-Functionality versions of Word and Excel that include advertising) [+0]
SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
SPEAKERS: None
TEMP: None
TVRC: None
USB: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
USBFLASH: None
USBHD: None
USBX: None
VC_PHYSX: None
VIDEO: AMD Radeon HD 6950 2GB GDDR5 16X PCIe Video Card [+133] (Major Brand Powered by AMD)
VIDEO2: None
VIDEO3: None
WNC: None
_PRICE: (+1276)

This is the new build, would this be a better option? Will the i5 2500k have longevity in gaming and applications. I mostly use photoshop for creating publications but nothing too extensive. Thanks.

 

[DXRick]

This is the new build, would this be a better option? Will the i5 2500k have longevity in gaming and applications. I mostly use photoshop for creating publications but nothing too extensive. Thanks.

Now you mention Photoshop.

The 2600K + 6850 is faster at Photoshop. The 2500K + 6950 is better for gaming. It's up to you. You can look around at various GPU charts to see what you would need for gaming based on the games you want to play and what resolution and quality settings you want to play them at.

 

[xadorus]

Well, photoshop isn't all that extensive, I just make pictures and format them to scientific publication styles, really nothing professional as you may be thinking. Decisions decisions! Cyberpowerpc charges +133 for the 6950 gpu although if bought separately should just be only 70 bucks more. I think they overcharge for the upgrade from 6850 to 6950, weird. I think I will stick to the original setup, I will mainly use it for mmorpgs, total war, and maybe the occasional fps. I hear the 6850 plays very well at the highest settings. Thanks man for helping me out!

 

[xadorus]

Best answer selected by xadorus.