New $1000 build - Have some questions..

[chiptouz]

Hello all,

Been building computers for a while but haven't built one in about a year and a half.

I plan to overclock to 4.5ghz.

Approximate Purchase Date: I anticipate that this build will be done in about a week or so.

Budget Range: $1000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, photoshop,internet use

Parts Not Required: Monitor, Speakers - See others below

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: Intel, Asrock

Overclocking: Yes, 4.5ghz

SLI or Crossfire: Not immediately

Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050

Additional Comments:

Here are the part that I currently own:

EVGA 01G-P3-1561-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604&Tpk=gtx560ti fpb

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-053111-Index-_-PowerSupplies-_-17139006-L03B

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

LG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ SecurDisc Tech - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136149

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102005

Here are the parts that I am buying

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

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
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

Scythe SCMG-2100 Sleeve CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142

CORSAIR XMS 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1600C9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145324

2 - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795

Windows 7 64bit home premium

Questions:

1. For the money am I better off buying two of the WD 1tb drives and doing a raid0 setup instead of buying the Crucial ssd and one WD 1tb drives and using the SSD drive for the Intel Smart Response Technology? What would be better for gaming performance?

2. I want this build to last about 4 years FPS gaming wise? Ny current system is about done. You can click on the left to see it. My wife does digital photography (photoshop) and she will be using the machine too.

3. Any advice?

 

[mjmjpfaff]

that low voltage ram isnt good get this 75$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345&cm_re=ddr3_1600mhz-_-20-145-345-_-Product
get this cpu cooler- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142&cm_re=scythe_cpu_cooler-_-35-185-142-_-Product
your tr2 psu isnt that good ive read multiple times that something is wrong with it i dont remember where but it is all over the forums

 

[mjmjpfaff]

i think you should get 2 wd drives i think ssd caching is not that great. you wont see any gain in performance gaming wise only faster loading times

 

[chiptouz]

MJMJ,

Thanks for the quick responses. That is what I was thinking about with the ssd. You know going from what I have to this machine will be so much better that I would probably not miss the faster load times....

I like your idea on the scythe....

Is it a big deal that the corsair ram is not on the asrock compatability list?

Any advice on PSU's?

Chip

 

[chiptouz]

MJMJ,

What have you heard about this ram?

Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104173&Tpk=KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX

 

[mjmjpfaff]

the ram i posted is compatible. is your psu still unopened because i would return it and get a xfx/corsair psu

 

[chiptouz]

the ram i posted is compatible. is your psu still unopened because i would return it and get a xfx/corsair psu

Yeah, no worries...I havent technically bought it yet, but an using some gift cards and some best buy reward points. So basically anything that best buy sells will work.

What you think about this:

CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-850HX 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011&Tpk=CMPSU850HX

 

[mjmjpfaff]

all you need is an hx 750 get it newegg
if you havent bought the gpu then get this one- http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004XUCCRM/ref=dp_olp_new_map?ie=UTF8&qid=1306786609&sr=1-5&condition=new
also you dont need a sound card onboard sound is great
get this dvd drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204&cm_re=asus_dvd_burner-_-27-135-204-_-Product
with all that money saved lookup these 2 cases & see which one you like- nzxt phantom, corsair graphite 600t

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Enforcer-Interior-SGC-1000-KWN1/dp/B004WK3KKQ/ref=sr_1_7?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1306786833&sr=1-7 $89.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Storm Enforcer USB 3.0 Mid Tower ATX Case with Window and Black Interior (SGC-1000-KWN1)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021 $109.99 - $99.99 after mail-in rebate card FREE SHIPPING
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply

http://www.amazon.com/ASRock-P67-Extreme4-B3-Motherboard/dp/B004QTHYZK/ref=sr_1_6?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1306786691&sr=1-6 $159.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
ASRock P67 Extreme4 B3 Intel P67 ATX DDR3 2133 Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.644259 $296.98 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-Sleeve-RR-B10-212P-G1/dp/B002G1YPH0/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1306789496&sr=1-1 $28.78 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler, RR-B10-212P-G1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565 $249.99 (Before $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) FREE SHIPPING
MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

*Below are reviews/benchmarks of that MSI 560

http://www.guru3d.com/article/msi-n560gtx-ti-twin-frozer-ii-review/

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/27/msi-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-review/1

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/msi_gtx560_twinfrozr_2/

 

[mjmjpfaff]

the evga is cheaper has 2 fans also and is oc'd higher. the storm enforcer is a very good case also if you dont want to spend that much money. the scythe cpu cooler cools better and for a consitant oc of 4.5ghz i think you might as well invest in a better cooler. i would get that combo why_me posted

 

[JackNaylorPE]

-Tall heat sinks on RAM will likely hit cooler. These won't
$75 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145324

-I wouldn't buy a MoBo w/ only a one year warranty.

-WD Black, Seagate 7200.12 or Spinpoint F3.

-Corsair Force 2 120GB is supposed to eb released this coming week at $220 .... Vertex 3 shud drop to match .... both do 550 MBps

 

[Why_Me]

the evga is cheaper has 2 fans also and is oc'd higher. the storm enforcer is a very good case also if you dont want to spend that much money. the scythe cpu cooler cools better and for a consitant oc of 4.5ghz i think you might as well invest in a better cooler. i would get that combo why_me posted

Not only is that MSI card I posted clocked higher than the EVGA (and only $5 more), it has far superior cooling so that it can be pushed even higher, hence the reviews.

 

[ammar711]

GPU:
MSI N560GTX-Ti Hawk GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
270$

RAM:
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM
100$

Case:
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
100$
or (if you can't afford it)
COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
60$

Rest Is Good

 

[Why_Me]

GPU:
MSI N560GTX-Ti Hawk GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
270$

RAM:
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM
100$

Case:
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
100$
or (if you can't afford it)
COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
60$

Rest Is Good

That MSI Hawk is a sucker card. You can pick up any MSI or Gigabyte card for $250 + Free Shipping not to mention the $20 mail in rebate and pump it up to the same clock speeds as that Hawk with the MSI Afterburner proggy which is free btw. Then you can combo that G.Skill RAM with the cpu to save another $25.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

Not only is that MSI card I posted clocked higher than the EVGA (and only $5 more), it has far superior cooling so that it can be pushed even higher, hence the reviews.

no it isnt the evga is at 900mhz and the msi at 880mhz also the cooling is comparable not far superior and the evga has direct exhaust

 

[chiptouz]

the evga is cheaper has 2 fans also and is oc'd higher. the storm enforcer is a very good case also if you dont want to spend that much money. the scythe cpu cooler cools better and for a consitant oc of 4.5ghz i think you might as well invest in a better cooler. i would get that combo why_me posted

I agree with both of you guys 100%. I worked out a deal with my wife. She needed the photoshop software and I got the card. Kind of a win/win when she hates my computer hobby.

 

[chiptouz]

all you need is an hx 750 get it newegg
if you havent bought the gpu then get this one- http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004XUCCRM/ref=dp_olp_new_map?ie=UTF8&qid=1306786609&sr=1-5&condition=new
also you dont need a sound card onboard sound is great
get this dvd drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204&cm_re=asus_dvd_burner-_-27-135-204-_-Product
with all that money saved lookup these 2 cases & see which one you like- nzxt phantom, corsair graphite 600t

MJMJ

I already own the creative card and the case. They are from my previous build. Wont the ram on the creative card take some cycles away from onboard sound? Also, as much as I would like a new case, the one that I have is ok...

 

[chiptouz]

Any more comments? I am order in the next day or so...

 

[chiptouz]

Best answer selected by chiptouz.