$1100 gaming rig, need suggestions

[stevex033]

Approximate Purchase Date: (within 2-3 weeks.)

Budget Range: ( 1000-1200) Before Rebates if possible.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: (gaming, wathcing movies, surfing the web)

Parts Not Required: (keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: ( newegg.com, microcenter nearby if better pricing.)

Country of Origin: ( USA - Michigan)

Parts Preferences: by brand or type (Going to try and stick Intel and Nvdia but am open for suggestions.)

Overclocking: If not hard to learn and will extend life of pc, "YES"

SLI or Crossfire: In the future

Monitor Resolution: (1920x1080, 1920x1200)

Additional Comments: (going to try to keep it as quiet as possible since it will be in bedroom.)

This is what I have so far, again I am not stuck on anything this is just what I have figured, and I am a first time PC builder.

CPU + MOBO -
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
ASUS P8P67 EVO (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$399.98

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.660791

MEMORY -
G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBECO
$65.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231321

GPU -
EVGA SuperClocked 012-P3-1573-KR GeForce GTX 570 HD w/Display-Port (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP ...
$319.99 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130620

PSU -
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active ..
$129.99 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

HDD -
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$65.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

CASE -
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$89.99 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

CD -
ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM -
$20.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

TOTAL - 1091.91 AR

The few questions I do have is.

1. Is it better to buy a already overclocked GPU from a vendor. Also can you overclock it further if wanted?
2. For the PSU - I notice modular is better in post, but is it worth it ?

Thats about it.

 

[striker410]

Hi there Steve,

Damn fine job. That is a very good looking build.
A few things though.

-That eco ram is a tad expensive. You'd be better of with the 1600mhz $50 Ripjaws in my opinion.

-The GTX 570 is excellent, but also consider the 6970. I believe the 6970 bests the 570 in some games/apps.

-The modular PSU provides better cable managment. If you are going non-modular, the 750 or 850TX will do just fine.

Question 1: Yes you absolutely can,
Question 2: Answered above.

Hope that helps ya out!

 

[mdd1963]

The GTX570 is a very nice GPU.

But....

One can find the 6950 for about $230 with careful shopping....; rivals the GTX570 in most games, especially at higher res.

 

[stevex033]

I was considering the 6950 too, but in like FFXIV I heard the 6950 doesnt compare to the 570. I know in most the other games I play they are pretty good rivals.

What would you guys think if I shaved off a couple of bucks with this PSU. Would it really make it difference.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

Is there a big difference between 80+ silver and bronze ?

 

[striker410]

That 750TX is just fine. There is a minimal difference. Silver is nice, but don't buy just because it's silver. It's a bonus, not a deciding factor.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/293?vs=306 Lol, 570 clearly wins. A 6970 is a better bet.

 

[stevex033]

Is 8 gb better in sb now or is that overkill ? And should I stay with 4 gb

 

[striker410]

Yes 8GB is overkill. It's pretty popular though, most people think more ram= better performance. 8GB is good for futureproofing IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY. It's better to spend that money on something else.

 

[stevex033]

Im currently on my mobile phone does my current mobo have 4 dimms so if i wanted I could do 4x2 ? I read on my most where people try this and they say only 3 work correctly and then they only have a stable 6 gb

 

[stevex033]

Also is realtek ALC892 audio pretty good right now I notice on my current p4 computer my logitech g5 hs is weird on audio my vent is way louder than most my games and in my games the voice chat In them are even lower. I forgot what someone tols me they are not certified surround sound capable or something can anyone confirm this is really my issue

 

[striker410]

Im currently on my mobile phone does my current mobo have 4 dimms so if i wanted I could do 4x2 ? I read on my most where people try this and they say only 3 work correctly and then they only have a stable 6 gb

It would be better to do 2x4. The mobo supports up to 16GB in this fashion.

 

[ignoranceabound]

8GB of RAM is not overkill; I remember not too long ago when 4GB was overkill and now it's the minimum requirement in most people's minds.

Go with a 6970 if you are planning to CF; you're going to want the extra power with multiple monitors; for a single monitor the GTX 570 is just as fast as the 6970 and it's significantly cheaper.

If you're going to spend that much on a PSU get this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152044

Corsair is overpriced.

 

[striker410]

8GB of RAM is not overkill; I remember not too long ago when 4GB was overkill and now it's the minimum requirement in most people's minds.

Go with a 6970 if you are planning to CF; you're going to want the extra power with multiple monitors; for a single monitor the GTX 570 is just as fast as the 6970 and it's significantly cheaper.

If you're going to spend that much on a PSU get this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152044

Corsair is overpriced.

Can you provide me with a source that says you need more than 4GB for gaming? I agree that if he has the money he should get it, but it's not an essential upgrade at all.

I sorta disagree also. Corsair IS overpriced, but you get what you pay for with them. I personally would not trust raidmax. They make to many crappy PSU's.

The 6970 and GTX 570 perform on par. I would agree the 6970 is a good choice, but the 570 and 6970 perform on par with each other. No one has the upper hand.

 

[ignoranceabound]

Hold your AMD hat fanboy; I said they were just as fast.

I figured he might tab out of WOW and play another game while waiting for a dungeon? If he can't swing the extra $35-40 for the 4GB of RAM he shouldn't be buying a gaming computer.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Xigmatek/NRP-MC851/6.html Go with this PSU http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Xigmatek/NRP-MC851/6.html review.

I would definitely put a Raidmax in my computer before a Corsair CX series POS.

 

[striker410]

Well we disagree which is fine. That's what forums are for! Get different opinions and formulate your own view. Still trying to figure out how you figure me an AMD fanboy though.....

 

[stevex033]

Cx it is a hx corsair psu

 

[striker410]

Yeah, the HX is fine. We may disagree, but the HX is widely considered to be a top quality line.

 

[stevex033]

About the memory are the Eco Sticks good or should I go with some ripjaws 8 gb

 

[striker410]

I would go with some ripjaws. That eco ram is pretty expensive, and isn't very "eco".

 

[stevex033]

I just read a lot of reviews that they are good overclock because of the low voltage 1.35 vs 1.5 also are gigabyte mobo better than asus ?

 

[striker410]

It's your call on the ram.

For the mobo question, both companies make nice mobo's. You have to compare the featureset vs. price and decide which is a better value.

 

[stevex033]

Cas 7 is better than cas 9 so I will have to look when I get off work and see which set of rip jaws will fit in my price range I am starting to have regrets on the Eco

 

[striker410]

Cas 7 is better, but 1600mhz cas 9 ram is better than 1333 cas 7 ram.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2792/5 As you can see, 1600mhz cas 9 is a bit faster. And since it's cheaper, there's an obvious winner.

 

[stevex033]

Would you recommend this memory for the 45 bucks ?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo

N82E16820231431

 

[striker410]

That's $134 ram... and it's not 1.5v. Not worth it IMO. Get some like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428&cm_re=g.skill-_-20-231-428-_-Product Remember, the timings can be tightened a bit. But honestly, the difference is going to be very minimal.

 

[stevex033]

Do u think the heatsinks on them are low enough to fit a cm hyper 212 on my mobo