First Gaming Build - Eyefinity

titan31

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Aug 16, 2011
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Hi,

I'm looking to build my first PC in a few weeks, so just asking here for some advice.

Approximate Purchase Date: Will order parts next week

Budget Range: As long as it doesn't get too crazy, anything is ok. I dont want a €10000 PC

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming/Movies/Programming/Internet

Parts Not Required: OS, Mouse

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: hardwareversand.de, anywhere that delivers to Ireland really

Country of Origin: Ireland

Parts Preferences: Eyefinity Build so ATI

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Yes

Monitor Resolution: Resolution I want is either 1920x1080 or 1920x1200

Additional Comments: As quiet as possible


I've done a bit of research and so far have decided on

CPU: i5 2500k

RAM: 8 GB( 2 x 4) G.Skill RipJaws-X PC3-12800U CL9

GPU: 2 x ATI 2GB 6950(Sapphire or Asus)

SSD: 64GB Crucial M4

HDD: 1000GB Samsung Spinpoint F3

Don't know enough about Mobos,Cases,PSUs or Coolers to choose on them, so any help would be appreciated.

Oh, need 3 monitors too.
 

jeremy1183

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Apr 29, 2011
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The monitors is really up to you on what you like. Your the one who will have to look at them everyday. It's kinda like choosing a case. The rest of your build looks pretty good actually. Here are some ideas on the rest.....please include your approx budget when you reply so we can refine these....

Monitor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049 $199 each

Mobo- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128506&Tpk=z68xp%20ud3p $189

CPU Cooler-Hyper 212+ $30

PSU- Corsair AX 850- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139015&Tpk=corsair%20ax%20850 $189

Case- Cooler Master 690II Advanced (10 fans) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216 $89

Compare these prices with the site that you would like to buy from (if they offer them) and let me know if the budget is to high
 

titan31

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Aug 16, 2011
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Hi

That looks ok, is 850 too much for the PSU? I've been recommended the SuperFlower Amazon 650, but I was thinking that would be too little for Crossfire.

Monitors, I was going to buy the Dell u2311h but they seem to have been discontinued, so awaiting the release of the new one but if it's not out soon, I'll need to go for something else. That monitor you posted looks good.

On budget, I'd rather not go above €2500 for everything, but that's high enough imo that budget isn't a factor in choosing what to buy
 

danraies

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Aug 5, 2011
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Good start. 850W is a good number for the psu. 650W is almost certainly too low. 750W might be enough, but if it were me I'd go 850W to be safe. jeremy1183's mobo is good because it supports two PCIe 2.0 x16 slots in an x8/x8 configuration - that's important for a crossfire setup.

You'll probably want a bigger SSD. An SSD doesn't help a gaming machine unless you can store the games on the SSD. I'd go 120GB+ if you can.

For quiet cases I've got to put in a pitch for Zalman. The Zalman Z9 Plus is a favorite of mine if you can find it. Newegg is out of them.
 

Ninja Pants

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Jul 10, 2011
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750 is recommended to crossfire 6950's, 850 is fine, a little overhead never hurts but I would not advise 650.

My recommendations:

PSU - Corsair TX750 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMPSU-750TXV2UK-Enthusiast-Performance-Supply/dp/B004O0P9VC/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1313571077&sr=1-1
Mobo - ASRock extreme 4 http://www.amazon.co.uk/AsrockZ68-Extreme4-Motherboard-Supports-CrossFireX/dp/B0050DQSLW/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1313571145&sr=1-2
Case - Coolermaster HAF-922 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coolermaster-HAF-922-Tower-Chassis/dp/B00290GKJO/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1313571350&sr=1-4
SSD - Consider a 120GB if you can fit it in budget
GPU - I'd take the Saphire 2GB
Cooler - again depends on how much you want to spend, the CM Hyper 212+ is great value but there are better if your prepared to pay (D-14 for example but its almost 3 times the cost)

But basically what Jeremy suggested is perfectly good too. Just a few alternatives :)

GL with the build.

[Edit] in the time it took me write that, danraies beat me too it :) Sorry to reiterate RE the PSU wattage.
 

titan31

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Aug 16, 2011
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On the SSD, I'd only going with the 64 GB M4 instead of the 128GB M4 as SSDs arent at a great point now. Through reliability issues, and the fact that they're jsut going to get cheaper and better, I went with the 64GB so that I can fit Windows and one game on it,probably Skyrim when it comes out.

I'm fine with the HDD atm and buying a larger SSD on it's next generation.

On the cooler, the Hyper 212+ or the Scythe Mugen 2?
 

Ninja Pants

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Jul 10, 2011
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Only considerations with the Mugen 2 is will the RAM fit and will it fit in your case? The RipJaws-X will be fine, just make sure it will fit in the case you choose (In the HAF-922 I mentioned it will but otherwise just make sure because it is a large cooler).

With the Hyper 212 consider changing out the stock fan otherwise its a good compact unit.

They are quite comparable but if it was me I would get the Scythe Mugen 2 as will produce the lower CPU temps of the two, just make sure it fits :)
 

titan31

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Aug 16, 2011
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Ok, so far going with

CPU: i5 2500k

RAM: 8 GB( 2 x 4) G.Skill RipJaws-X PC3-12800U CL9

GPU: 2 x ATI 2GB 6950(Sapphire or Asus)

SSD: 64GB Crucial M4

HDD: 1000GB Samsung Spinpoint F3

Case: Coolermaster Haf-922

PSU:Corsair AX 850

CPU Cooler-Hyper 212+ $30

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3, Intel Z68, ATX

DVD: Samsung SH-223C bare schwarz SATA

Mouse: Roccat Kone(+)

Keyboard: I'll find something

OS:Free

Monitors:?

Is there anything else I'm missing?That all works together nicely,ya?

I noticed that the Haf-922 doesnt have a slot for an SSD specifically, is that just getting some sort of adapter for the drive bay?
 

Ninja Pants

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Jul 10, 2011
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Unfortunately the Crucial M4's do not come with a 2.5 - 3.5inch mounting adaptor so yes you would need to purchase one.

Otherwise looks good, would get another 200mm CM Mega Flow fan for the case though. Maybe consider a blue ray / DVD combo optical drive, but if you wont use it then ignore that.

Monitor's are hard to recommend when buying three because the costs can become massive but ill add this (not the best but very good value) to the list of what Jeremy recommended above: http://www.amazon.co.uk/VE247H-Widescreen-Response-Intelligence-Technology/dp/B004T2LMP2/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1313619941&sr=1-2
 

titan31

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Aug 16, 2011
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Will probably spend max €250 per monitor, so about $350.

I'm not too sure whether to get an IPS panel, was looking at the Dell U2311h,but it's been discontinued or just go with an ordinary TN panel.

I have a Blu-Ray player so don't really need a blu-ray drive.
 

titan31

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Aug 16, 2011
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Well,it was more that the U2311H was such good value that I was considering getting it rather than any love fo IPS panels. Fact it had a DisplayPort was more of a positive than IPS.

The U2312hm is out soon I think, it's listed on Dell US website so has to be close, but I could just as easily go with a good TN panel. I'm not huge into playing FPS competively, more strategy, so 2ms Response time doesnt actually bother me, I'd rather good image quality.