1100 euro gaming system, HALP! <3

[Salem]

Hello!

It's time for a new gaming PC, so I've been browsing and reading a lot, but as a community you will know a lot more than me, so here we go;

I've been pondering the following setup.

Motherboard:
Asus P8Z68-V PRO (~153 euro)

Storage:
OCZ Vertex 3 120GB (SATA III) (~210 euro)
This one's for the OS and program files and perhaps a choice game or two. I've an old Western-Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200RPM SATA 2 drive on which the rest of my games and films and such would have to reside for now.

Videocard:
Asus ENGTX570 DCII/2DIS/1280MD5 (~305 euro)
From what I hear the stock fan is pretty good so I think I will not replace it with a third-party cooler, but the thermal paste is not, so I aim to replace that with either Arctic Silver 5 or Shin Etsu. Not sure which is better.

Processor:
Intel Core i5 2500K (~180 euro)

RAM:
Corsair Dominator-GT CMT4GX3M2A2000C8 - 2x2048MB DDR3 2000MHz (~119 euro)
It's one of those paired sets that comes with a little heatsink-fan module on top, which seems like it's worth the extra money, seeing how hot memory tends to get.

Power unit:
Is my old one good enough? It's a Corsair TX 650W.

I'm not settled on a case yet, or additional fans for it.
Antec 902 Nine Hundred Two (V3) or Antec Twelve Hundred looks good, but considering my PC won't contain all that much, the 1200 seems like a waste of money and space. Insights / suggestions please?

My main requirement for the case is excellent airflow.

Notes:
Money isn't so much an issue, but I won't want to throw money away for tiny gains either.
Later on, I'll add a sound card, fan controller and perhaps a better CPU cooler. And maybe an optical drive.

 

[Why_Me]

Do you have a link to the site your using ?

 

[Salem]

I've not settled on a site, most of the sites will be local, and tend to be in Dutch, so I don't think that would help much.
All the same, here it is: http://www.cdromland.nl/

Why do you need it though? This site available in Dutch and German. And not English. :/

 

[Why_Me]

I've not settled on a site, most of the sites will be local, and tend to be in Dutch, so I don't think that would help much.
All the same, here it is: http://www.cdromland.nl/

Why do you need it though? This site available in Dutch and German. And not English. :/

That RAM you have selected is 1.65v and the recommended RAM for these 1155 boards is 1.5v or lower. Also that fan is a hose job seeing how there is no need to o/c your RAM in order to o/c your cpu with these 1155 boards. The cpu multiplier is isolated on these boards.

In order to run dual 570's you want a 850w psu. I would do something like this....

http://www.cdromland.nl/productinfo/161578/Gigabyte/Moederbord_Intel_Gigabyte_GA_Z68X_UD3H_B3_S1155 € 149,95
Moederbord Intel Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 S1155

http://www.cdromland.nl/productinfo/351115/Noname/Gskill_Ripjaws_X_2x4GB_DDR_3_1600Mhz_XMP € 84,95
G.skill Ripjaws X 2x4GB DDR 3 1600Mhz XMP

or...

http://www.cdromland.nl/productinfo/351108/Corsair/Corsair_2x4096MB_DDR3_1866_CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9 € 97,95
Corsair 2x4096MB DDR3 1866 CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9

http://www.cdromland.nl/productinfo/152888/Corsair/Corsair_CMPSU_850HXEU_850Watt_PSU € 149,95
Corsair CMPSU-850HXEU 850Watt PSU

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4113/gigabyte_z68x_ud3h_b3_intel_z68_motherboard_review/index1.html <----- Review of that Gigabyte Z68 motherboard...it hit over 5.0Ghz on there.

For a case...I would look at a Cooler Master mid tower...maybe the 922 HAF or Storm Enforcer...decent size cases with good airflow.

 

[Salem]

Thanks for your time so far,

I'm pretty sure I do not want to run a dual graphics card system.
For the single graphics card, would the Corsair 650W be enough?

The RAM I picked because I read that extra Mhz makes a bigger difference than slightly better timings nowadays.
The fan module seemed nice to keep the system that much cooler. I guess I'm a bit obsessive about getting the system temperature down as low as I can without going for water-cooling, as my current system has the videocard and memory both run fat hotter than I'd like, and that's with third-party GPU and CPU coolers.

or...

http://www.cdromland.nl/productinf [...] 3M2A1866C9 € 97,95
Corsair 2x4096MB DDR3 1866 CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9

My initial choice was the 1600 variety of the module, though then I read that the higher speed modules are supported but require modifications of the bios, as they'll be set to a lower speed by default.

Could you expand on the voltage issue you mentioned?
On the ASUS site here, they say that the Asus P8Z68-V PRO does support the 2000Mhz memory modules.

Where did you get the 1.5v / 1.65v info? I've not been able to find anything about that, and I'd like to understand before I make a choice on motherboard and memory.

 

[Salem]

Derp. Not allowed to edit my messages.
So here's an extra one:

I'll go look into those cases now.

 

[Why_Me]

Thanks for your time so far,

I'm pretty sure I do not want to run a dual graphics card system.
For the single graphics card, would the Corsair 650W be enough?

The RAM I picked because I read that extra Mhz makes a bigger difference than slightly better timings nowadays.
The fan module seemed nice to keep the system that much cooler. I guess I'm a bit obsessive about getting the system temperature down as low as I can without going for water-cooling, as my current system has the videocard and memory both run fat hotter than I'd like, and that's with third-party GPU and CPU coolers.

or...

http://www.cdromland.nl/productinf [...] 3M2A1866C9 € 97,95
Corsair 2x4096MB DDR3 1866 CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9

My initial choice was the 1600 variety of the module, though then I read that the higher speed modules are supported but require modifications of the bios, as they'll be set to a lower speed by default.

Could you expand on the voltage issue you mentioned?
On the ASUS site here, they say that the Asus P8Z68-V PRO does support the 2000Mhz memory modules.

Where did you get the 1.5v / 1.65v info? I've not been able to find anything about that, and I'd like to understand before I make a choice on motherboard and memory.

That Corsair 650w of yours will power a gtx 580 let alone a 570. So your good there.

These 1155 builds aren't like any in the past. There is absolutely no need to o/c your RAM. There is no need for a memory fan, and no need for water cooling. Peeps hit 4.8ghz - 5.0ghz on air so why would you want to even think about water cooling ? And yes the board manufactures recommend 1.5v RAM, not some crap RAM that has to be volted to 1.65 in order for it to get it's rated timings and speed. It's in the SB reviews on this site, Anandtech, Guru3d, etc... 1.5v RAM or less for 1155 boards. 1.65v will work, but there's a chance your going to fry something so why take the chance ?

For a single card board, this one down below has gotten great reviews.

http://www.cdromland.nl/productinfo/161581/Asrock/Moederbord_Intel_Asrock_P67_PRO3_B3 € 109,95
Moederbord Intel Asrock P67 PRO3 B3

 

[Salem]

Ah, indeed. And yes, I would rather like to avoid a PC-sprinkler-installation if at all possible.

Righto on the RAM, not sure which one I'll pick yet, but I'm learning towards the 1866Mhz Corsair ones you linked earlier for merely emotional reasons; they've been good to me in the past. But I'm clear on the voltage issue now.

As for the cases, Storm Enforcer seems to lack 25mm of space to accomodate the graphics card, if I leave the HDD bay in place, which is a rather handy thing to have.
I'm failing to find the same maximum compatibility stats for the 922 HAF.

I think I prefer the 922 HAF, especially if it has space for the videocard without having to remove the HDD bay.


As for the Intel Asrock P67 PRO3 B3, I'm sceptical towards Asrock in general. And I really like Asus, even though Asrock was spawned from Asus. Part of the reason is that the utilities and BIOS that ASUS provides seem to be rather excellent. Are there any single card ASUS boards you'd recommend?

 

[Salem]

Oh, and I just noticed that the Dominator-GT modules in my original post are 2x2GB. I didn't notice that when I changed my choice from the Vengeance 2x4GB 1600 Mhz modules.

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.cdromland.nl/productinfo/161537/Asus/Moederbord_Intel_Asus_P8P67_B3_S1155 € 139,95
Moederbord Intel Asus P8P67 B3 S1155

 

[Salem]

Wikipedia says that the Z68 chipset comes with SRT, which seems beneficial as most of my games with be on a HDD rather than the SSD.

Is this practical at all?
It says Smart Response Technology would only be active if the disk controller is in RAID mode. As the Asus P8Z68-V PRO has two disk controllers, how would this work?

I realise I sound a bit like a kid who wants the latest toys, because they're the latest toys, but it seems like the Z68 chipset is better than the P67 chipset to me.
Though whether it has any practical benefits is beyond me.


I'm feeling like a bit of a dumbass, but could you check if the 922 HAF has enough space for the video 570 please?
It seems to, judging by overall depth and photographs, but I'm failing to find exact stats.

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.coolermaster.nl/product.php?category_id=19&product_id=6606 <---specs on that case

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=19&product_id=2919 <---- Reviews on that case...some using a gtx 570

http://www.cdromland.nl/productinfo/161583/Asus/Moederbord_Intel_Asus_P8Z68_V_S1155 <---- SSD caching, etc...and decent price on that board.

 

[Salem]

D'oh! Thanks. :3

I guess I'm all set then, save for a nagging doubt that I should perhaps grab a HAF 932 Advanced instead, for bigger and more fans.

Think that would be worth it?

 

[Why_Me]

D'oh! Thanks. :3

I guess I'm all set then, save for a nagging doubt that I should perhaps grab a HAF 932 Advanced instead, for bigger and more fans.

Think that would be worth it?

Either case will work for a 570. Those 922's are a large...like big but the CM 932 is a nice case also. It's a tough call on those two cases...both are nice.

 

[lothdk]

Just to give you one more case to consider.

If, as you say, you are not going for SLI (though it would still be able to run it), another case for you to consider could be the Fractal Design Define R3 Black Pearl .
Here is a review of the case.

 

[Salem]

I'll give it a ponder then. Thanks a lot for your help, Why_Me. <3

I've pondered, and I've decided to go for the HAF 932 Advanced. It's only issue is that it lacks a dust-filter for the intake fan, so I'll have to make one myself.


For prosperity's sake, this is what I'll be going with:

Case: Coolermaster HAF 932 Advanced
Motherboard: Intel Asus P8Z68-V S1155
CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K
Memory: Corsair 2x4096MB DDR3 1866 CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9
SSD for OS: OCZ SSD Vertex 3 2,5" 120GB VTX3-25SAT3-120G
Graphics card: Asus ENGTX570 DCII/2DIS/1280MD5

Which will cost between €1000 and €1100.


In addition to the components I already have lying around:

HHD for storage: Western-Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200RPM SATA 2
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-650HXEU 650Watt PSU

Which would cost an extra ~150 euro.

 

[Why_Me]

I'll give it a ponder then. Thanks a lot for your help, Why_Me. <3

I've pondered, and I've decided to go for the HAF 932 Advanced. It's only issue is that it lacks a dust-filter for the intake fan, so I'll have to make one myself.


For prosperity's sake, this is what I'll be going with:

Case: Coolermaster HAF 932 Advanced
Motherboard: Intel Asus P8Z68-V S1155
CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K
Memory: Corsair 2x4096MB DDR3 1866 CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9
SSD for OS: OCZ SSD Vertex 3 2,5" 120GB VTX3-25SAT3-120G
Graphics card: Asus ENGTX570 DCII/2DIS/1280MD5

Which will cost between €1000 and €1100.


In addition to the components I already have lying around:

HHD for storage: Western-Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200RPM SATA 2
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-650HXEU 650Watt PSU

Which would cost an extra ~150 euro.

I hope you plan on playing some BF3 with that build. It would be a shame if you didn't.

 

[Salem]

Just to give you one more case to consider.

If, as you say, you are not going for SLI (though it would still be able to run it), another case for you to consider could be the Fractal Design Define R3 Black Pearl .
Here is a review of the case.

Thanks, checked it out. It has superior soundproofing and dustfilters over the HAF, but, well, I'm sold on the HAF 932 Advanced really.

 

[Salem]

I hope you plan on playing some BF3 with that build. It would be a shame if you didn't.

Heh. I have a huge list of games waiting for me!

Battlefield Bad Company 2 is one of them atleast? That's aaaaalmost BF3. But I'm sure the friend who's making me play BF:BC2 will make me play BF3 aswell. :3

I should be set for a good while with this beasty!

 

[Salem]

Can someone mark this as [solved] please?