Thoughts on my first gaming desktop build?

[Guest]

This is my gaming build, and I plan on overclocking the CPU to about 4- 4.5GHz. Any thoughts?

Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 Pro Rev 3.1 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131771
CPU: Intel Core i5 2500k http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
CPU Fan: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
PSU: Antec High Current Gamer Series 750W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 2x4GB 1600MHZ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445
GPU: GeForce GTX 560 Ti http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697
Optical Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.696141

Also, the RAM I've chosen does have heat spreaders, right? Is that RAM worth it, or should I choose this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345 or this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314 ?

Thanks

 

[Outlander_04]

Its a good build and it will work well .

I doubt you wll get much gaming improvement by over clocking . The graphics card will be the limiting factor , not cpu speed

Your original ram is the best

 

[genghiskron]

great build. three suggestions:

dual fan (cooler, quieter) 560ti with a higher factory overclock:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.717976
faster hdd
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=f3%201tb
optional ram+mobo (i dont think that ram is worth $20 more, even though its "better", only by an extremely small margin)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.715129

 

[_Pez_]

Hard drive sucks, get WD black or blue.

 

[Guest]

great build. three suggestions:

dual fan (cooler, quieter) 560ti with a higher factory overclock:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.717976
faster hdd
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=f3%201tb
optional ram+mobo (i dont think that ram is worth $20 more, even though its "better", only by an extremely small margin)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.715129

Thanks for the reply. That hdd isn't faster though, its 3GB/s as opposed to 6gb/s? And I might consider changing the ram to another 1600 MHz with a 9-9-9-24 which will save me like 20$. And thanks for that combo link.

 

[Guest]

Its a good build and it will work well .

I doubt you wll get much gaming improvement by over clocking . The graphics card will be the limiting factor , not cpu speed

Your original ram is the best

Thanks for the response - I could overclock the GPU card too then Will I need GPU cooling if I do that? Also, that RAM is the best of the 3, but its 20$ more expensive just for better latencies, and i'm not sure if it's worth it.

 

[geofelt]

1) very good build.

2) Heat spreaders are mostly marketing, and can sometimes interfere with a cooler(not the hyper212)
Get the cheapest kit and save a bit. You would not notice any decrease in fps if you went to 1333 0r 1066; consider them if there is a big enough price break.
3) The GTX560ti is a great card. But, it will be the limiting factor for gaming. If you can save a bit elsewhere, add to your graphics budget, and look for a GTX570 perhaps.

4) A Antec 300 illusion is now $50 after rebate with free shipping:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

5) The 750w psu is stronger than the 500w you need for a GTX560ti. Perhaps you are planning on sli?
My take on sli as an upgrade, is that it likely won't happen. Within 6 months, we will see 28nm graphics cards from amd and nvidia. They will be faster, cooler, and cheaper to make. It is unlikely that anyone will want to get a second obsolete card as an upgrade. More likely one will just sell the old card in favor of the next best thing.
If you adopt this upgrade plan, you can save a bit by spending less up front on a sli capable motherboard, a smaller psu, and even case cooling.
A 600w psu can drive a GTX580 today.

6) Make plans to get a SSD for the os and apps sometime; they truly make your system faster. Not so much for gaming, but everything else.

7) If this is your first build, take the time to download and read the motherboard and case manuals now.

-------good luck----------

 

[Guest]

1) very good build.

2) Heat spreaders are mostly marketing, and can sometimes interfere with a cooler(not the hyper212)
Get the cheapest kit and save a bit. You would not notice any decrease in fps if you went to 1333 0r 1066; consider them if there is a big enough price break.
3) The GTX560ti is a great card. But, it will be the limiting factor for gaming. If you can save a bit elsewhere, add to your graphics budget, and look for a GTX570 perhaps.

4) A Antec 300 illusion is now $50 after rebate with free shipping:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

5) The 750w psu is stronger than the 500w you need for a GTX560ti. Perhaps you are planning on sli?
My take on sli as an upgrade, is that it likely won't happen. Within 6 months, we will see 28nm graphics cards from amd and nvidia. They will be faster, cooler, and cheaper to make. It is unlikely that anyone will want to get a second obsolete card as an upgrade. More likely one will just sell the old card in favor of the next best thing.
If you adopt this upgrade plan, you can save a bit by spending less up front on a sli capable motherboard, a smaller psu, and even case cooling.
A 600w psu can drive a GTX580 today.

6) Make plans to get a SSD for the os and apps sometime; they truly make your system faster. Not so much for gaming, but everything else.

7) If this is your first build, take the time to download and read the motherboard and case manuals now.

-------good luck----------

Thanks for the response. I've read tons of good reviews for the case I've chosen, and it also is a great case for airflow, which is key for me because I don't want my computer overheating. I might upgrade the graphics card, but apparently you can play the top end games on max settings with the 560 Ti? I chose the 750W because I want to overclock the CPU and possibly the GPU, so I thought i'd need the added power. It also allows me option to SLI or crossfire in the future. I'll consider a SSD, but are they really worth it?

 

[geofelt]

1) Get the case you love. You will be looking at it every day. Any case with two 120mm intake fans or equivalent will be fint for cooling.
Personally, I have gone to smaller cases. I have a GTX580 and an overclocked 2600K in a lian li V351. The temperatures are a bit high, but stable, primarily because I can't fit a good cooler in it. I have ordered a Silverstone TJ08B-E micro ATX case to replace the v351. Not because of any real issues, but because my son will get it to replace a broken case. You will find that a micro-ATX motherboard(mine is a Asus P8P67-M PRO) is cheaper, but don't plan on sli with one.

2) At 1080P, the most common resolution, you can play games at near top settings for the most part. If you want the max eye candy, a bit better like the GTX570 would be better, and GTX580 would be about as good as it gets.
If you will use a 2560 x 1600 monitor, or are looking at triple monitor gaming, then something stronger, or sli might be appropriate. I suggest you get a EVGA card, they have a 90 day trade up program if you quickly decide you want more.

3) Overclocking adds minimal load on the psu.

4) I am not much in favor of overclocking the graphics card. Vendors are wise to this, and have already binned their parts so that they can factory overclock the best chips and charge a bit more for that. For a bit more, you can get a factory overclocked card that will have a factory warranty.

5) I am a big fan of the SSD. Everything seems quicker. The only downside is cost. Plan on $2 per gb for a 80gb to 120gb SSD for the OS and apps. Prices are coming down, so be prepared for that. Today, I like Intel 320 or 510 for the reliability, they have had fewer returns in the past.
http://www.behardware.com/articles/810-6/components-returns-rates.html
Dont pay too much attention to synthetic performance benchmarks; all SSD's do about the same in real world applications, particularly for the OS.

 

[Guest]

1) Get the case you love. You will be looking at it every day. Any case with two 120mm intake fans or equivalent will be fint for cooling.
Personally, I have gone to smaller cases. I have a GTX580 and an overclocked 2600K in a lian li V351. The temperatures are a bit high, but stable, primarily because I can't fit a good cooler in it. I have ordered a Silverstone TJ08B-E micro ATX case to replace the v351. Not because of any real issues, but because my son will get it to replace a broken case. You will find that a micro-ATX motherboard(mine is a Asus P8P67-M PRO) is cheaper, but don't plan on sli with one.

2) At 1080P, the most common resolution, you can play games at near top settings for the most part. If you want the max eye candy, a bit better like the GTX570 would be better, and GTX580 would be about as good as it gets.
If you will use a 2560 x 1600 monitor, or are looking at triple monitor gaming, then something stronger, or sli might be appropriate. I suggest you get a EVGA card, they have a 90 day trade up program if you quickly decide you want more.

3) Overclocking adds minimal load on the psu.

4) I am not much in favor of overclocking the graphics card. Vendors are wise to this, and have already binned their parts so that they can factory overclock the best chips and charge a bit more for that. For a bit more, you can get a factory overclocked card that will have a factory warranty.

5) I am a big fan of the SSD. Everything seems quicker. The only downside is cost. Plan on $2 per gb for a 80gb to 120gb SSD for the OS and apps. Prices are coming down, so be prepared for that. Today, I like Intel 320 or 510 for the reliability, they have had fewer returns in the past.
http://www.behardware.com/articles/810-6/components-returns-rates.html
Dont pay too much attention to synthetic performance benchmarks; all SSD's do about the same in real world applications, particularly for the OS.

Thanks for the response... do you know where I can get a factory overclocked card? I think I'll stick with the 560 Ti for now, as top settings are fine and I will get the EVGA 560 Ti.

 

[genghiskron]

most of the 560 ti's on newegg have some sort of factory overclock. the base clock is 822mhz. the evga 560ti you originally chose has an 850mhz overclock and a reverence cooler.
this asus 560 ti is overclocked at 900mhz, and has an excellent dual fan cooler. it also happens to be cheaper than the evga in a combo deal:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.717976&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=2cnmeea0xjxl

not only does the asus have a higher factory overclock, its superior cooling system will generally allow it to hold an even higher one.

 

[Guest]

most of the 560 ti's on newegg have some sort of factory overclock. the base clock is 822mhz. the evga 560ti you originally chose has an 850mhz overclock and a reverence cooler.
this asus 560 ti is overclocked at 900mhz, and has an excellent dual fan cooler. it also happens to be cheaper than the evga in a combo deal:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.717976&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=2cnmeea0xjxl

not only does the asus have a higher factory overclock, its superior cooling system will generally allow it to hold an even higher one.

Thanks! How exactly do mail in rebates work?

 

[Guest]

Also, there seems to be a lot of bad reviews.. only 69% were 5 eggss... whereas my previous card had nearly all 5 eggs :/

 

[genghiskron]

im not here to sell you asus cards. if you dont want it, dont get it.