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First build questions - need help deciding.

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Approximate Purchase Date: This week.


Budget Range: 750$-800$


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Internet, Music, Movies


Parts Not Required: monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers.


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: I would like to start off with these 3 items -

Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: Yes


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments: Up to 550$ with these 3 items so I have around 200-250$ left to spend.

Just need to add a case, hard drive, 4GB memory, DVD, and a power supply that would allow me to crossfire by adding a second GPU.

Does anyone run a setup similar to this? Thanks in advance for any information and advice.

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Homebuilt system Authority

Hi there, welcome to the forums.

Here's my list of suggestions.

Hard drive: Samsung Desktop Class Spinpoint F3 1 TB SATA 3.0 Gb-s 32 MB Cache $60
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002MQC0P8/ref=s9_simh... One of the fastest HDD's out there!

Ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory $48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

DVD Burner: Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner $21
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

PSU: Antec TruePower New TP-650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

That rounds it up! about $200 :D 
Homebuilt system Expert

First suggestion is ditch the i5 2500 and get the i5 2400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168.... Use the $20 savings and get a HD 6950 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... and enjoy a better gaming experience. Also I recommend all the parts Striker listed as they are very nice. Sapphire will honor there mail in rebate so you will pay a little over budget now but end up only $3 over which for the much improved level of peromance is worth it imho. Or if budget is tighter get a 6870 for $185 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... get the 6870 and the 2500 if you absolutely want the 2500. Could actually get a 6870 and 2500k using Strikers parts recommendations and have an even better performing pc. Ill stop with the ideas there. Hope it helps.
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Great info guys thanks so much.

So I'm switching my processor to either the i5 2400 or 2500k... If i go i5 2400 I should grab the 6950. and 2500k maybe the 6870?

I'm gonna make an updated parts list tonight with all the parts striker has recommended.

the 2500k is a bit more expensive but I've heard great things about it.. Should I just aim for that?

Hmm Guess I can't wait till tonight.. This was pretty much the only build I could keep under 800$ barely.

Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... -21$

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... -55$

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... -65$

SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... -170$

Antec TruePower New TP-650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... -80$ (great price)

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - 48$

GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... -170$

Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... -190$

That totals me out at 799$!

Also I wasn't able to look through the bundles that well but I'll try more after work.

With the 2500k and the 6870 I believe I had the total at 900$.

Nice I like the fact that mobo is able
to be a combo with either the 2400 or 2500k at
a 35$ dollar difference. is it worth the upgrade or should I stick with the 2400 and
the 6870?
Homebuilt system Authority

Well, they are pretty similar. The only difference is that the 2500k can overclock. And when I say overclock, I mean OVERCLOCK A LOT. Many people are hitting 4.5GHz on air, which is a HUGE increase in performance. However, you could probably hit 3.8-4.0 on stock cooling, which is still a big jump.

And when you consider how easy it is to overclock nowadays, I would go ahead and throw down the $35 to get the 6870+2500k. Just my opinion though.

So I took your advice on the 2500k and got this build set up -

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

SAPPHIRE 100314SR Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


with the rest of pieces that strike suggested -


Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD Internal Hard Drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Antec TruePower New TP-650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

This totals me out right at 808$ which is a little over budget but seems worth it.

Did I miss anything? thanks again for all the advice / information.

Edited the above post so the links all work.

Unfortunately the power source ran out of stock today. and 26$ more on amazon makes me very sad.

Should I just look for a comparable one with wattage. Or do you guys have any favored brands / types?




Also Thanks again Striker and Derp you guys have been a lot of help!! :wahoo:  :wahoo: 
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