New High End Gaming Desktop for Summer - ~$2000

[DungeonOgre]

Hi Tom's Hardware,

I've done a lot of research, as this is my first time building a PC. I was just wondering what you all think of this build?

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=16433605

The plan is to keep the final price under $2500 (including S&H and warranties, but preferably closer to $2000 if I can). I also plan to SLI the GTX 580 in the future, and OC the processor to suit my gaming needs.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Approximate Purchase Date: Beginning - End of July

Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) : ~$2000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: High End gaming

Parts Not Required: Sound Cards, Webcams, Monitor Speakers, Touch Screens

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: New Egg (minus one having a better deal)

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: Nvidia / Intel

Overclocking: Yes - later on

SLI or Crossfire: Yes - Not now, but likely later

Monitor Resolution: Any

Additional Comments: Thanks!

 

[mjmjpfaff]

fill this out please- http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

no need for a sound card that one is probably as good as or worse than the onboard sound. no need for thermal paste the hyper 212 plus comes with some and the hyper 212 plus is 10$ cheaper at amazon.

 

[rvilkman]

Replace the 500G WD black with Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB gets you more space and is faster than the WD for about the same cost.

There is probably a better SSD available at about the same price as well, but I'm no expert in SSD's so I'm sure others can give you pointers on the SSD.
Probably a OCZ agility 3 or so would be better.

Otherwise looks to be pretty solid, unless you intend to SLI the 580GTX at some point, then you could use a little bit more juice for your PSU since 850W is borderline for the OC'd 2500k and 580GTX SLI.

 

[DungeonOgre]

HD changed to Samsung Spinpoint 1TB

Removed Ceramic paste (left over, and didn't intend to leave it in there)

Changed SSD to the 128 GB version. I selected a OCZ SSD, but saw that it had a lot of corruption issues.

Changed PSU

Removed MX-4 paste, since I don't need it.

 

[Silvune]

More efficient, modular and a bit more powerful:
Lepa G900 W 80Plus Gold Modular $130 ($6 shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194083

The Azza Solano doesn't have native support for 2.5" drives, so make sure the one you get comes with an adapter (or buy one or figure out some other mounting solution), IIRC the Crucial C300s don't come with such an adapter.
Maybe something to bear in mind is that the HDD installation system in the Azza is not going to be the easiest once the whole build is completed, so it would be more difficult to install more HDDs later in that case than in some other cases.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

get a crucial m4 128gb ssd for 220$ it is faster and cheaper.

also get gtx 560 ti sli or 6950 2gb cf it is cheaper and gives a lot better performance than a single gtx 580. even though in sli it will give better performance there will soon be something better out and you will fell bad about dropping 1000$ on gpu's when you can buy something better for 300$.

you can also get a cheaper psu- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139022&Tpk=tx%20850 - a tx 750 will also run the cards with ease

also get this ram 85$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428&cm_re=gskill_ddr3_1600-_-20-231-428-_-Product

this case is better 120$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146067&cm_re=nzxt_phantom-_-11-146-067-_-Product

the hyper 212 plus is cheaper at amazon by 10$ and it ships for free

you may want a better keyboard 40$- http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-JQD-00001-SideWinder-X4-Keyboard/dp/B002ZV51DI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307903795&sr=8-1