New build, $1300 budget, primarily for gaming

foilphob

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Jan 10, 2010
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18,510
Hello,

With my laptop finally dying, I've decided to use this as the universe telling me to now build my dream PC. I've spec'd it out, but really don't know if they will work together well/if it is the most effective way to spend the cash of the computer. I'm building this with the intention of being able to game off it for a few years, and to continually beef it up over time.


Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next week


Budget Range: $1300 before rebates


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, movies, basic usage


Parts Not Required: Monitor, keyboards/mouse, speakers


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com, due to the cheapish shipping and lack of tax


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: I prefer Intel over AMD, but that's about it


Overclocking: Yes, in the near future


SLI or Crossfire: Yes, in the near future


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments: I really like the case, but everything is up in the air.




CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

MOBO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130602

OS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

Hard drives
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

Drives
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151222

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146072

GPU (currently OOS, any better ideas?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127555


I'm planning on comboing the Memory and the PSU, and the CPU with the Motherboard.
 
Solution
I'd get the one with 2 fans instead XFX HD-695X-CDDC Radeon HD 6950 2GB it's the same price anyway.

CPU: check
MB: check
Memory: check
GPU: check
Case: check
PSU: check
DVD/Bluray: check
HDD: check
SSD(optional): check

You got it all. The Mobo & case come with all the required things to hook things up.
CPU comes with a heatsink and everything to get it running as well.

Once you start overclocking you need to get an aftermarket heatsink & fan.
CoolerMaster Hyper 212+ from amazon is ~30 or the Xigmatek Gaia from newegg about the same price.
You may also need thermal paste depending on if the after market hsf comes with it or not.
Lots of options exist, but they are then another thread :)

rvilkman

Distinguished
It is next to impossible to find a 6950 that unlocks now, so I would say that check out the XFX 6950 models. They seems to have decent rebates and you can get them for like 250 for the 2GB model.

Everything looks good though, so once you decide on the video card you'll be all set.
 

rvilkman

Distinguished
I'd get the one with 2 fans instead XFX HD-695X-CDDC Radeon HD 6950 2GB it's the same price anyway.

CPU: check
MB: check
Memory: check
GPU: check
Case: check
PSU: check
DVD/Bluray: check
HDD: check
SSD(optional): check

You got it all. The Mobo & case come with all the required things to hook things up.
CPU comes with a heatsink and everything to get it running as well.

Once you start overclocking you need to get an aftermarket heatsink & fan.
CoolerMaster Hyper 212+ from amazon is ~30 or the Xigmatek Gaia from newegg about the same price.
You may also need thermal paste depending on if the after market hsf comes with it or not.
Lots of options exist, but they are then another thread :)

 
Solution
You said 1920 x 1080. Id take the 69xx at 2560 x 1600 but not at 1920 x 1200. Guru3D uses the following games in their test suite, COD-MW, Bad Company 2, Dirt 2, Far Cry 2, Metro 2033, Dawn of Discovery, Crysis Warhead. Total fps (summing fps in each game @ 1920 x 1200) for the various options in parenthesis (single card / SL or CF) are tabulated below along with their cost in dollars per frame single card - CF or SLI:

$250.00 6950 (479/751) $0.52 - $0.67
$210.00 560 Ti - 900 Mhz (495/862) $0.42 - $0.49

When paired, as your planning, that's a perty significant advantage at 15% while being significantly cheaper.

Better case, same price

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129097

Get the combo, save $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.674899

Dump the tall heatsinks

The only cooling effect of these big coolers is that they "look cool". While they served a purpose (when they were effective) w/ DDR2, they are absolutely useless on DDR3.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=67&limit=1&limitstart=1
At more than 2" tall in certain areas the Corsair Vengeance could pose a problem for users like me who use large coolers such as the Scythe Mugen 2. I was able to use the Corsair Vengeance only after I mounted the fan on my cooler on the backside. Size is definitely a concern with heat spreaders of this size and therefore I encourage users to check that they will have enough space under their heatsinks before purchasing the Corsair Vengeance kit.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=67&limit=1&limitstart=6
The problem I have with the Corsair Vengeance is the same I have with many kits of RAM on the market. Companies insist on putting large coolers on their RAM and it limits the choice in CPU heatsinks that can be used within users system. DDR3 does not require these elaborate coolers with its lower voltages which translate to lower temperatures then RAM saw during the DDR, and DDR2 era. Corsair is correcting this with low profile versions of its Vengeance line but ultimately I would like to see the average size of coolers drop instead of having to look for specific low profile versions of a memory line.

$60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145324