1st Gaming Build Advice...

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jimmymac1976

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Aug 15, 2011
5
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18,510
Hello everyone,

I am for the first time building my own gaming PC. I could use any advice as to what I could improve for performance, graphics, etc. Also any information about the memory would be helpful also because I am a bit confused with the memory timing and how to determine what is acceptable, whether it be DDR3 2133 or 1600 etc... Thank you!!!

Here is what I have come up with for the system...



Update

COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
Model #:RC-942-KKN1
Item #:N82E16811119225
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Mail in Rebate
Note (Add)
$199.99 -$10.00 Instant $189.99


Update

StarTech PCSCREWKIT Assortment of screws, nuts and standoffs
Model #:pCSCREWKIT
Item #:N82E16811999950
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Note (Add)
$36.99 -$14.00 Instant $22.99


Update

ASUS P8Z68-V PRO LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
Model #:p8Z68-V PRO
Item #:N82E16813131730
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Note (Add)
$209.99 -$10.00 Instant $199.99


Update

EVGA 01G-P3-1561-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support FPB Video ...
Model #:01G-P3-1561-AR
Item #:N82E16814130604
Return Policy:VGA Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Mail in Rebate Card
Note (Add)
$239.99 $239.99


Update

COOLER MASTER Silent Pro Gold Series RSA00-80GAD3-US 1000W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS ...
Model #:RSA00-80GAD3-US
Item #:N82E16817171056
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Note (Add)
$229.99 -$30.00 Instant $199.99


Update

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
Model #:BX80623I52500K
Item #:N82E16819115072
Return Policy:CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
In Stock
Note (Add)
$219.99 $219.99


Update

Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Model #:CT064M4SSD2
Item #:N82E16820148441
Return Policy:Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
In Stock
Note (Add)
$149.99 -$35.00 Instant $114.99


Update

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-17000CL11D-8GBXL
Model #:F3-17000CL11D-8GBXL
Item #:N82E16820231468
Return Policy:Memory Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Note (Add)
$129.99 -$30.00 Instant $99.99


Update

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Model #:WD1002FAEX
Item #:N82E16822136533
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Note (Add)
$89.99 $89.99


Update

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Model #:DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS
Item #:N82E16827135204
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Note (Add)
$20.99 $20.99


Update

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Model #:AS5-3.5G
Item #:N82E16835100007
Return Policy:Consumable Item Refund Only Return Policy
In Stock
Note (Add)
$12.98 $12.98


Update

Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler
Model #:NH-D14
Item #:N82E16835608018
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Note (Add)
$89.99 $89.99


Update

Kingwin ATS-W24 Anti-Static Wrist Strap w/ Grounding Wire
Model #:ATS-W24
Item #:N82E16899226001
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Note (Add)
 
Solution
N
1. The case will come with all the screws and standoffs that are required.

2. Go with an Antec, Corsair, XFX, or Seasonic power supply instead of that CoolerMaster one you have listed...it isn't really considered a quality unit.

3. The thermal compound that comes with that Noctua cooler is excellent so feel free to drop the Arctic Silver.

4. Change that Western Digital drive to a 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3. It's $60 on Newegg and is just as fast, if not faster. SATA III (6Gb/s) is a marketing gimmick for mechanical hard drives. They can't saturate the bandwidth of SATA II, so why pay more for no benefit?

5. As far as memory is concerned, 1600 C9 is the sweet spot for price/performance. Anything higher and you pay a lot for little...
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genghiskron

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Mar 15, 2011
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this is a good start, but its one of those builds i love to see because youre going to be able to get way more than you thought you could by moving some money around. if you wouldnt mind filling out the form linked in my signature so we have all the information necessary to help you.
this build totals $1421 and has 2x gtx 560 ti's and the 128gb version of the SSD.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
2x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130651
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157229
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.694806
total = $1420
 
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N

nd_hunter

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Jul 26, 2009
675
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19,060
1. The case will come with all the screws and standoffs that are required.

2. Go with an Antec, Corsair, XFX, or Seasonic power supply instead of that CoolerMaster one you have listed...it isn't really considered a quality unit.

3. The thermal compound that comes with that Noctua cooler is excellent so feel free to drop the Arctic Silver.

4. Change that Western Digital drive to a 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3. It's $60 on Newegg and is just as fast, if not faster. SATA III (6Gb/s) is a marketing gimmick for mechanical hard drives. They can't saturate the bandwidth of SATA II, so why pay more for no benefit?

5. As far as memory is concerned, 1600 C9 is the sweet spot for price/performance. Anything higher and you pay a lot for little benefit. 8GB of 1600 C9 is around $50. That 2133 will get you maybe 5% more fps for 100% more cost (after the discount).

6. I think the ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3 is the board to get in the $180-200 price range.

7. Take the money saved from the screw kit, HDD, memory, and thermal compound and up that 64GB Crucial M4 to the 128GB version. Or up your GPU to a GTX 570 or HD 6970, since this is a gaming build.
 
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Solution
J

jimmymac1976

Distinguished
Aug 15, 2011
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18,510




Thank you!!! I tried to get the combo CPU and memory but it wouldn't let me save it to my wishlist on Newegg, so hopefully they have it when I build it in a month. Also I decided to downgrade from the HAF X 942 to the case you suggested. I figured that the fans would be sufficient for cooling and I only plan to run one video card right now, until SLI is needed in whatever games I plan on playing in the future.

Thank you very much for all your advice, you saved me some $$$ for sure!!!

Respectfully,

James
 
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