julioy

Distinguished
Jul 24, 2011
3
0
18,510
Hi everybody! I'm new to the PC world and I've heard good things about tom's hardware so I thought I'd drop by and kindly ask for help. I've decided to make the jump to PC gaming and I've been researching the parts I'm gonna use. Thing is, I can't decided on anything. So first off, let me give you guys the info:

Approximate Purchase Date: I will be buying anywhere from August to November 2011. I've got about 1000 bucks so far so I just need 500 more.

Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) The max I'm willing to pay is $1500 and that is solely for the PC itself (Was well as Windows 7 OEM). I already have everything else (monitor, keyboard, mouse etc)


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (Crysis, Metro 2033, Total War, Civ 5,), Photoshop, Video Editing (Sony Vegas Pro), research, internet surfing, word processing (I Already have MS Word).


Parts Not Required: I have everything other than the PC (Full HD monitor, keyboard, MS Word, mouse, Speakers,).


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I mostly use Newegg and Amazon but if you guys have any other recommendations I'm all game.


Country of Origin: United States


Parts Preferences: I really don't have preference as long as they're good. The only reason I'd go with Nvidia is for PhysX but that's not all too important.


Overclocking: Maybe if I learn how to do it well.


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe if you guys think it would be a good idea.


Monitor Resolution:1920x1200


Additional Comments: It would be cool if it had some internal lights, but that's not necessary. Also, if budget permits, a bluray drive would be awesome.

So, with that info in mind, my question is: Following the above guideline, if you had 1500 bucks, what would you build? I really need the input and I would love to see what you guys suggest. I'm gonna keep researching and checking this thread out till I have a build in mind. Once I do I'll post it here to see what you guys thing. But like I said, if you had 1500 bucks, what would you build?

Thanks in advance to anyone who helps, I know you guys take time out of your busy days to help noobs like me and I greatly appreciate it.
 

mjmjpfaff

Distinguished
looks like you will benefit from a 2600k. yes the k version because oc'ing is really easy you can get that processor up to 4.4 ghz w/out even touching the voltage just upping the cpu multiplier to 44x.

i7 2600k & PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II 950W- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.691418 415$ after mail in rebate

GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3 & Corsair Force 3 60GB- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.689700 260$ that ssd would be for your os and most used apps

Palit GeForce GTX 570 & ADATA XPG Gaming v2.0 Series 8GB- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.688944 350$ after mail in rebate

Hyper 212 Plus- http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-Sleeve-RR-B10-212P-G1/dp/B002G1YPH0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311537238&sr=8-1 30$

Windows 7 OEM 64BIT- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986 100$

BLU-RAY Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151222 60$

Zalman Z9 Plus- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811235027 55$

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=f3%201tb 60$

Total=1330$
you can add another gpu but that would put you over 1500$. well just put the extra 170$ towards the gpu later.

 

julioy

Distinguished
Jul 24, 2011
3
0
18,510


I could cough up enough money to afford a GTX580 over the 570. You do think that would be wise? (GTX580 is 200 bucks more which will put me just 30 bucks above budget, still acceptable).
 

mjmjpfaff

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I think if you were wanting the most performance for money.

Go with ATI 6950's in crossfire, you will be running right under a 590 and you will spend less on the two than you would on the 1 580 evga junker.

Go for like the sapphire 6950 2gb non-ref design. *comes with dirt3 for free* @ 244.99 each ($489 total)

just some food for thought
that would put him way over his total and give him no upgrade path
 

mjmjpfaff

Distinguished
That is because you would be at the top of the gaming community.


Not everyone likes to have to go through the process of selling things they bought weeks earlier just because they were tryna penny pinch their way to a 580..
ok buddy i have a single 560 ti...im 15 and 20$ is a lot of money to me. back off man
 

mjmjpfaff

Distinguished
I am just saying that not everyone has the time or effort to sit for weeks at a time waiting for a product to be shipped just to try to resell it a week or two later because you now have the extra money to buy a better card.

The process of doing that takes alot longer than some people can wait.

First you have to buy it, wait for it to come to u. use it till you gain the extra money, then post it on a site to sell and wait for god knows how long (depending on brand/quality/version/site) and onces its sold then you will have even more money then when you were first trying to sell it then you feel you should just wait a few more weeks till the next check comes in so you can afford the even better version and its a never ending cycle of waiting.

Not everybody can wait forever :p
wait i was talking about sli'ing the 2 cards how did you get off into selling the one 580 he has for a newer card??
 

julioy

Distinguished
Jul 24, 2011
3
0
18,510
The only thing that worries me about crossfire or sli is that I'm inexperienced and don't want to screw it up. That's why I'm thinking of maybe going with a single GTX580 now and then upgrade later on when I have both more money and more experience.
 

mjmjpfaff

Distinguished

i think a single gtx 580 wont max out every game at your resolution but 2 will for sure
 
Dual gtx 570's in SLI, Windows 7, after market cpu h/s (thermal paste included, etc...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0026FCI2U/ref=sr_1_6_olp?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1311560207&sr=1-6&condition=new $89.99 FREE SHIPPING
Cooler Master HAF ATX Mid Tower Case, RC-922M-KKN1-GP (Black)

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Computer-Cooling-R4-LUS-07AR-GP/dp/B002LE8BJA/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_b $14.31 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25
Cooler Master Computer Case Cooling R4-LUS-07AR-GP 200mm Red LED Case Fan

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811996037 $11.99
Biostar CABLEUSB3.0 USB 3.0 Cable Bracket

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.687384 $434.98 save: $15.00 - $35.00 Mail In Rebates FREE SHIPPING
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX850 V2 850W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
EVGA 012-P3-1571-KR GeForce GTX 570 HD w/Display-Port (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130613 $314.99 - $289.99 after mail-in rebate card FREE SHIPPING
EVGA 012-P3-1571-KR GeForce GTX 570 HD w/Display-Port (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.689907 $324.98 save: $25.00 FREE SHIPPING
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002G1YPH0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER $29.49 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler, RR-B10-212P-G1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428 $64.99 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-3-5-Inch-Internal-HD103SJ/dp/B002MQC0P8/ref=sr_1_1?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1311298228&sr=1-1 $59.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Samsung Desktop Class Spinpoint F3 1 TB SATA 3.0 Gb-s 32 MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare-OEM Drives, HD103SJ

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204 $19.99 FREE SHIPPING
ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986 $99.99 FREE SHIPPING
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM

Total: $1,465.69 *not including mail in rebates

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=19&product_id=2919 <----- more pics, specs, and professional reviews of that case