Building an 800 euro ($1150) gaming PC

[marinusV]

I am planning on buying a Gaming PC, and I was wondering if my selection of parts is good.
I also have a few questions about some of the parts I have chosen.

Approximate Purchase Date: within two months


Budget Range: 800 euro (1150 US Dollar)


System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies


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


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: www.alternate.nl


Country of Origin: The Netherlands


Parts Preferences: intel CPU


Overclocking: Maybe in the future


SLI or Crossfire: Yes, within 1 to 2 years


Monitor Resolution:1680x1050


Additional Comments: altough the website where I want to buy the PC is Dutch, a lot of it is written in English.


these are the part I've chosen: (all prices in euro's)

GPU: MSI N560GTX-Ti Twin Frozr II/OC - 199,90
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Grafische_kaarten_NVIDIA_GeForce_GTX/MSI/N560GTX-Ti_Twin_Frozr_II-OC/511504/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Grafische+kaarten&l2=PCIe+kaarten+NVIDIA&l3=GeForce+GTX


Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-2500K (Boxed, FC-LGA4, "Sandy Bridge") - 179,90
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/CPUs_Socket_1155/Intel(R)/Core_en_trade_i5-2500K/483770/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Processoren&l2=Desktop&l3=Socket+1155


motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 (Retail, RAID, Gb-LAN, Sound, µATX) - 119,90
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Moederborden_Socket_1155/GIGABYTE/GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3/554245/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Moederborden&l2=Intel

RAM: Corsair 4 GB DDR3-1333 (Light-Retail, CMV4GX3M1A1333C9, Value) - 26,90
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Geheugen_DDR3-1333/Corsair/4_GB_DDR3-1333/468949/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Geheugen&l2=DDR3&l3=DDR3-1333

PSU:
OCZ Fatal1ty 750W (Retail, 4x PCIe, Kabel-Management, Zwart/Rood) - 96,90
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Voedingen_meer_dan_600_Watt/OCZ/Fatal1ty_750W/461235/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Voedingen&l2=meer+dan+600+Watt

DVD: LiteOn IHAS124 (Bulk) - 18,99
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/DVD-reWriters_Serial-ATA/LiteOn/IHAS124/348042/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=DVD+%2F+Blu-ray&l2=DVD-branders

case: Sharkoon T9 Value white edition (Retail, USB 3.0, Zwart) - 54,90
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Behuizingen_Midi_Tower/Sharkoon/T9_Value_white_edition/499041/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Behuizingen&l2=Midi+Tower

Harddisk: Hitachi HDS721010CLA332 (Bulk, Deskstar 7K1000.C, 24/7) - 46,99
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Harddisks_3,5_inch_SATA/Hitachi/HDS721010CLA332/389211/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Harddisks&l2=Serial-ATA

together that is 741,46, and the store will assemble it for 55,- making it 791,46

I have a few question's about this build:
1: does this motherboard have 2x 8 pins connectors or better for SLI?
2: Is this case any good, I have no idea wat makes a case good, and i can't find any reviews on this case, It just look nice and has 3 build in case fans.

If you have any suggestion on how to improve this build or make it cheaper, please tell me!

thank in advance for any suggestions or information.

 

[sadams04]

Answers:
1.) That Gigabyte motherboard has PCIe slots that will do 8x/8x for dual GPUs in SLI. The power supply will need to have the power connectors for powering the grapics cards. If you are planning on a second GTX 560ti you will need a power supply with four 6-pin power connectors for PCI devices. That 750w OCZ power supply meets the needs, but isn't in the same quality class as an Antec, Corsiar, XFX or Seasonic. May want to switch that out...
2.) That case looks fine. Don't see any concerns...

As far as the parts go...
PSU - As stated above not the best manufacturer. Consider changing.
MEM - That is "value ram" but it would probably be fine. If you can stretch the budget a bit I would go with the G.SKILL below (lower latency)
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Geheugen_DDR3-1333/G.Skill/4_GB_DDR3-1333_Kit/508489/?
HD - The Samsung F3 would be a better choice (faster).
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Harddisks_3,5_inch_SATA/Samsung/HD103SJ/358022/?

Enjoy that build!

 

[seller417]

with your budget (and if you build the pc yourself) you should be able to fit in an SSD to run your OS (64GB range) as that would make a world of difference and run much quieter.

I agree with the above posters recommendation on going with a quality brand psu.

Also go to Newegg and check out the compnents you decide on. Even if you cannot buy from them newegg, it is good to see feedback from current owners.

If you decide to build the pc yourself, there are plenty of guides that will walk you through the process step by step. There are also youtube vids that will help too.

Good Luck

 

[mosox]

^+1 sadams04


cases:

http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Behuizingen_Midi_Tower/Zalman/Z9_Plus/491144/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Behuizingen&l2=Midi+Tower

http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Behuizingen_Midi_Tower/Antec/Three_Hundred/299750/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Behuizingen&l2=Midi+Tower

http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Behuizingen_Midi_Tower/LanCool/PC-K59/504933/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Behuizingen&l2=Midi+Tower

mobos

http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Moederborden_Socket_1155/ASRock/P67_Extreme4_%28B3%29/533500/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Moederborden&l2=Intel

http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Moederborden_Socket_1155/GIGABYTE/GA-P67X-UD3-B3_%28rev._1.0%29/550620/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Moederborden&l2=Intel

PSU

http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Voedingen_meer_dan_600_Watt/XFX/750W_Black_Edition/534948/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Voedingen&l2=meer+dan+600+Watt

http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Voedingen_meer_dan_600_Watt/Corsair/CMPSU-750TXV2/517599/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Voedingen&l2=meer+dan+600+Watt

 

[marinusV]

thanks for the answers, but I have a problem when using the PSU's you recommended:
I am using the PC builder option on the website to pick all the parts, and when I use the XFX 750W Black Edition, the XFX 750W core edition, or the Corsair CMPSU-750TXV2 it sais I need a PSU with 2 separate 12 volt circuits to be able to use SLI (wich I am planning to do in the future) and the website sais those PSU's don't have that. Is this a mistake from the website, or are all those PSU's unable to use SLI?

I also like to keep this motherboard when there is nothing wrong with it because it is z68 and cheaper then the ones suggested.

 

[mosox]

If you still have the option to pick one of those PSUs, ignore that message, it doesn't matter how many 12V rails. If not list all the 750W PSUs they let you use.

That mATX mobo has a smaller gap between the video cards' slots so worse cooling for the first card in SLI or CF.

Alternative for the video card (cool and quiet)

http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/Grafische_kaarten_AMD_Radeon_HD6000/XFX/HD6950_XXX_%28HD-695X-ZDDC%29/554447/?tn=HARDWARE&l1=Grafische+kaarten&l2=PCIe+kaarten+ATI%2FAMD&l3=Radeon+HD6000

 

[sadams04]

Not sure what rules the web site is following, but both the power supplies that mosox linked to will be fine. The TX750 has 62A on the 12v rail, and the XFX is the same. The web site may be accounting for power supplies that have multiple smaller 12v rails instead of the "good" PSUs with a single rail...

 

[marinusV]

I send the store an E-mail about the PSU problem, they'll probably respond tomorrow. I think i'll take the XFX 750w core edition if they fix it and let me use it, because it is the cheapest. About the alternative for the GPU: I have spend several hours trying to find out if the 6950 or the 560 - Ti is better, and I still don't know, I believe their just equal in performance. I picked the MSI N560GTX-Ti twin frozr II?OC one because it supposedly runs very cool and pretty quiet, wich is good for SLI in an mATX motherboard, and because it has a 3 year warranty, and I also read somewhere that SLI has less issues than crossfire. If someone however knows a good reason to buy a 6950 instead of this 560-Ti, tell me.

I also changed the RAM to the suggested 4GB G-SKILL RAM.

 

[marinusV]

with your budget (and if you build the pc yourself) you should be able to fit in an SSD to run your OS (64GB range) as that would make a world of difference and run much quieter.

do you realy think a SSD will increase my performance that much? because a 64 GB SSD is at least 100 euro's, and that pretty expensive...

 

[marinusV]

I've got a reply from the store already, they told me it was a mistake and that the PSU's all are able to power multiple GPU's.
I've narrowed my choice down to the XFX 750w core edition (90 euro) and the Corsair CMPSU-750TXV2 (97 euro): which one should I choose?

 

[seller417]

I will never own another PC (that is primarily for gaming) that does not have a SSD running the OS. I boot up in like 10 seconds...that alone is worth it to me. They are pricy though. That is why i suggested you build it yourself and put the extra 55 into the SSD.

 

[chesteracorgi]

Both of the PSUs will do a fine job. While I prefer Corsair, XFX is a good OEM for PSUs as well.

I'd recommend an upgrade in your case for better cooling, but the one you have listed is OK.

 

[mosox]

The XFX (video card) has lifetime warranty in the USA, might want to check that.

 

[patti88]

He's from Netherlands and is using a diff curency, that's hardly relevant in this thread -.n

 

[marinusV]

thanks for all the suggestions, this is how my build looks like now:

GPU: MSI N560GTX-Ti Twin Frozr II/OC
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-2500K (Boxed, FC-LGA4, "Sandy Bridge" )
motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 (Retail, RAID, Gb-LAN, Sound, µATX)
RAM: G.Skill 4 GB DDR3-1333 Kit
PSU: XFX 750w core edition
DVD: LiteOn IHAS124 (Bulk)
HDD: Samsung HD103SJ (Bulk, SpinPoint F3)
case: Sharkoon T9 Value white edition (Retail, USB 3.0, Zwart)

I think the only thing that possibly has to be improved is the case: because I'm planning to SLI in the future, and have a mATX motherboard the card can get pretty hot because the're so close together. Can anyone suggest a cool case around 70 euro (or below) because I'm not shure if this case will keep two 560 Ti's so close together cool enough.

 

[seller417]

why are you going with a mATX board?
Why not go with an ATX board and give yourself more space between gpu's?...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502&cm_re=z68-_-13-128-502-_-Product

its only a $5 difference

 

[marinusV]

why are you going with a mATX board?
Why not go with an ATX board and give yourself more space between gpu's?...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502&cm_re=z68-_-13-128-502-_-Product

its only a $5 difference

because they don't sell that one where I am buying my pc (www.alternate.nl) this one is the cheapest SLI motherboard and had good reviews. The next least expensive ATX motherboard is the ASRock P67 Extreme4 (B3), 17 euro's more expensive, but I read that ASrock is a spin off from ASUS (they're both owned by asustek) and that it has an inferior quality compared to other large brands such as ASUS or Gigabyte.

and even if I would have an ATX motherboard, would this this case be good and cool enough?

 

[marinusV]

Best answer selected by MarinusV.

 

[swoonpappy]

ASRock makes fine mobos. I would spend the extra $$ for the atx board.