$1000 gaming PC

[freesmackies]

I'm looking to build my first gaming PC, and I've done a lot of looking online, as well as talking to some of my friends, but before I pull the trigger on anything, I'd like to get some of your opinions as well.


Approximate Purchase Date: As soon as I figure out the proper/best parts


Budget Range: Roughly $1000


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, TV/Movies, Internet, etc.


Parts Not Required: Monitor


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com


Country of Origin: U.S.


Parts Preferences: AMD


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe


Monitor Resolution: Will be using my 32" LCD TV, so I'm not exactly certain


Additional Comments: N/A


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


Parts I'm fairly certain about (always open to recommendations though):

AMD Phenom II X6 1100T Black Edition Thuban 3.3GHz, 3.7GHz Turbo 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDE00ZFBGRBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103913

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

GEAR HEAD Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 12X DVD-RAM SATA 24x DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827269008


Parts I need the most help with:

Trying to decide between 3 video cards;

SAPPHIRE FleX 100314FLEX Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102924

ASUS ENGTX560 TI DCII TOP/2DI/1GD5 GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121425

GIGABYTE Super Overclock Series GV-N560SO-1GI-950 GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125369

And 2 motherboards;

ASRock 890GX PRO3 AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157244

ASUS M4A89TD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131655


I have not looked at any keyboards or mice yet, but those aren't my biggest concern, so any suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[crewton]

If you are wanting to buy now and want the best bang for your buck you should go with an i5 2500k. If you hate intel then sure go with AMD but if you want the best performance for gaming you'll have to go intel until AMD releases bulldozer.

graphic card: asus 560 ti is a great card. I prefer my MSI for the lower temps

motherboard: again depends if you want to switch to intel or not. Otherwise I'd wait for a 900 series to come out or get an AM3+

 

[freesmackies]

I don't necessarily hate intel, it was just that their processors were a lot more expensive.

And if I switch to the intel processor, I pretty much need to change most of the other stuff too, don't I? If so, if you have any recommendations on that, I would appreciate that as well. Brand doesn't matter to me, so much as getting the most value out of my dollar.


EDIT: So I went through and redid some of the stuff. How does this set up seem?

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.644341

ASRock P67 EXTREME4 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157229

And I believe I can leave the rest of the stuff (the case, psu, optical drive, and hard drive) alone, correct?

With the video card, I saw a lot of people recommending the Radeon 6950 with this set up as well, but I noticed that the PCI Express is 2.1 x 16, rather than the PCI Express 2.0 x 16 on the other cards, as well as what is listed in the configurations on the mobo. Would the 6950 fit in this set up, or am I missing something?

 

[genghiskron]

their processors WERE a lot more expensive FOR THE MONEY. now they ARE just better (i5-2500k), and a better value (i3-2100)

 

[crewton]

I believe 2.1 has some of the capabilities that will come with PCIe 3.0. The 6950 2GB is a great card. Didn't know if you wanted to push your budget further with that ($50more).

The asrock p67 extreme 4 is a great motherboard and with the i5 2500k you will be spending 70 dollars more, but you'll get a lot more out of it.

Rest of the build looks good. if you plan on adding another card in the future you should also go with a 750W power supply.

 

[freesmackies]

Would the 6950 fit on that mobo though? Because I don't mind spending the extra money if it's worth it.


And I updated to this psu;

CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

 

[crewton]

Ya, in fact you can fit 2 of them.

 

[freesmackies]

Any suggestions on those then, because there are three different versions of the Twin Frozr that you said you had on newegg all within about 10 bucks of each other, and I can't really notice too much of a difference except one seems a little faster.

I was thinking about getting this one.

MSI R6950 Twin Frozr III PE/OC Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127575

Also, do you recommend additional cooling, or should the fans that come with the case be enough?

 

[crewton]

There is enough air going with what it comes stock with. A side fan puts extra cooling on the graphic cards to help with that.

I love the Twin frozr models. They really keep the graphic cards cool.

edit: I stated to flash the 6970 bios on it but I'm sure it has the dual bios switch or not. I thought the R6950 meant reference but now not so sure.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Total $982

Case - $120 - Antec 902 V3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129097
PSU - $100 - XFX 750 W Core Edition PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207015
MoBo - $380 - ASUS P8P67 Pro http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.642515
CPU - incl above - Intel Core i5-2500K Inc in above
RAM - $75 - (2 x 4GB) Corsair CAS 9 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145324
GFX - $220 - EVGA GTX 560 Ti 900 Mhz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130651
GFX - Later - Same
HD - $65 - Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200 rpm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
DVD Writer - $22 - Asus 24X DRW-24B3L w/ LS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135221

If you going 2560 x 1600 I'd get the 6950 but the 560 Ti (900MHz) does better in Guru3D's gaming suite with 479 for the 6950 and 495 fps for the 560. When paired, it's 759 fps for the 6950 versus 862 for the 560. The 6970 gets 825 fps in CF.

 

[genghiskron]

i personally think that a $290 hd6950 is absurd. Id rather be $30 closer to my second 6950. but its an opinion, nothing more, the twin frozr is a great cooling system.

 

[freesmackies]

Awesome. Thank you for all of your help, I really appreciate it.

I have another stupid question for you, involving the cables. Do these parts all come with the necessary connecting cables or is that something I'm going to need to purchase separate?

 

[genghiskron]

you shouldnt need any more cables if you have a dvi cable with your monitor/tv thingy.

 

[freesmackies]

i personally think that a $290 hd6950 is absurd. Id rather be $30 closer to my second 6950. but its an opinion, nothing more, the twin frozr is a great cooling system.

What version do you recommend?