New Computer Build seeking advice

[ddlhs03]

Hey guys,

Looking for some advice on my new build that I plan on making in the next couple of weeks. Hoping to overclock CPU & RAM and use this machine for when Diablo 3 comes out.

Should I spend the extra money on a GTX 590? Is there a better Motherboard? I heard the Z68 chipset has SSD caching, so I thought I'd go with it. Is Corsair still the best RAM chip maker? Saw a lot of people going with G Skill, which is substantially cheaper.

Hoping this system lasts 4+ years.

DD's Intel Gaming Build

Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K - 314.99
Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V Intel Z68 - 189.99
RAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR GT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) with Airflow Fan Model - 189.99
Graphics Card: ASUS ENGTX480 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 1.5GB GDDR5 Vi - 299.99
SSD: OCZ Vertex 3 MAX IOPS 120GB SATAIII VTX3MI-25SAT3-120G - 309.95
Case: NZXT ZERO 2 Crafted Series CS-NT-ZERO-2 Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case - 119.99
Power Supply: CORSAIR Professional Series HX750 (CMPSU-750HX) 750W SLI Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular - 139.99
Cooling: ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX-B 135mm Long life bearing CPU Cooler Blue LED - 69.99
DVD Burner: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - 20.99

Total $1,665.91

________________________

I'll also be porting over the following from my old computer
Main Monitor #1: SAMSUNG 20.1" 5ms LCD Monitor
Monitor #2: SAMSUNG 20.1" 5ms LCD Monitor
Monitor #3: SAMSUNG 24" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor
Video Card #2: GeForce 8600 GTS
Hard Drive #2: 1TB Western Digital WD1001FALS

I don't think monitor technology has changed much in the past 4 years.

 

[rolli59]

I would swap the GPU for GTX570 which has similar performance but runs cooler. Corsair and Gskill are the most popular brands at the moment and similar in quality.

 

[z_4]

Why have so much money spent on RAM? Here's a cheaper one by Kingston.

Have your SSD switched with OCZ Agility 3. It's cheaper and performs almost the same Have a look at this link

Don't buy that Video Card. It generates a lot of heat(link)

Alternate option include a Radeon 6970 2GB or GTX 570. Out of them I would recommend a 6970 because of more memory and it's subsequent help in multi-monitor setup.

Considering the fact that you will be using three monitors, Why not think about a Crossfire setup of 6970. Here's the build with screenshot.

Case( Same as yours ) : NZXT Zero 2

CPU: i5-2500k. Here's a review of it.

Motherboard : Gigabyte GA Z68X

Graphic Card : 2X Sapphire 6970

Cooler : Xigmatek Gaia

Optical Drive : Asus DVD

HDD : Seagate Barracuda(1 TB)

Power Supply : Corsair Enthusiast Series TX750

RAM : Kingston Hyper (2X4 GB)

SSD : OCZ Agility 120 GB



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Here a link on crossfire performance of 6970.

Total cost : 1707 USD. (This one include a HDD as well.)

If you want to save some money, remove the hard disk as you already own one.

 

[ddlhs03]

z_4 - Thanks for the reply

Hows the quality of Kingston? I've had RAM go bad before and don't mind spending more for a computer that lasts.

Thanks for the heads up on the heat of the 480 i'll be switching that out for the 570,580, or 590. I just like nvidia.

I thought i'd go with that SSD after seeing this: http://www.harddrivebenchmark.net/high_end_drives.html This is the MAX IOPS edition so i think its different from the one in the other benchmark you linked to.

I already have a 8600 GT, so going CrossFire or SLI seems very costy, plus the games I play only use 1 monitor, so 1 beefy GPU should do the trick and the weak 8600 GT can handle the 3rd monitor.

I also have a 8800 GTX, but its starting to show its age with blue spots and lines so I'm going to leave that in the old machine.

 

[rolli59]

Kingston is one of the older ram manufacturers and known for quality products!

 

[mjmjpfaff]

for a gaming build the best cpu for you is a 2500k

ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104246&cm_re=kingston_hyperx_ddr3_1600-_-20-104-246-_-Product

ssd- pretty much the same speeds for a lot less: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233181&cm_re=corsair_force_ssd-_-20-233-181-_-Product dont mind the bad reviews they fixed the problem

case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108230&cm_re=ironclad-_-11-108-230-_-Product , or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146068&cm_re=nzxt_phantom-_-11-146-068-_-Product

gpu: x2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150517&cm_re=6970-_-14-150-517-_-Product

psu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17-152-043&SortField=1&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=4&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=%28keywords%29&Page=1#scrollFullInfo gold rated and the reviewers on newegg rate it very well and tomshardware trusts the brand (dont ask me to find that article i will be online all night)

cpu cooler-scythe mugen 3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185168&cm_re=scythe_mugen-_-35-185-168-_-Product

Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128493&cm_re=gigabyte_z68-_-13-128-493-_-Product

 

[mjmjpfaff]

sorry i didnt mean x2 for the gpu's. only if you can afford it.