First Build - BF3 maxed gaming rig /w SSD

[Chrysopoeia]

Currently I am on a 5+ year old Dell, and before I had other Dells.

So this will be my first self-build. I have watched some youtube vids and decided its easy enough.


I plan on using this pc to run Battlefield 3 on maxed settings. The alpha and beta stage of the game shows that you can max it with a gtx 460 @1080p however AA is not enabled at this stage in development yet. So I assume for that resolution and with AA you will need a gtx 570/580

I will also use the pc to browse and watch video.



Please look over my choices and tell me if you notice any conflicts or unforeseen problems with putting it together.

Will I need any extra wires, cables, connectors ?



Asus P8P67 DELUXE

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131701


I5 2500k intel

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072


Cooler Master 212

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065


G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314


Crucial M4 64GB SSD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441


SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB Hard Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185


CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650M 650W Modular High Performance Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139031


LITE-ON DVD Burner

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289


Windows 7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986


Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153


EVGA GeForce GTX 570 1280MB GDDR5 PCI Express

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130593

 

[genghiskron]

i wouldnt assume that this build can max bf3. i think the best way to go about this is to decide on a budget and build the best gaming system you can.

please fill out the form linked in my signature so we have all the information necessary.

 

[008Rohit]

1. Get a Z68.
2. SLI two GTX 560Ti s.

That can maxx out BF3 I beleive.

 

[Chrysopoeia]

1. Get a Z68.
2. SLI two GTX 560Ti s.

That can maxx out BF3 I beleive.

SLI is overkill unless you have really old cards.

This is benchmarks from the Alpha showing you dont need all that to Max at 1080p resolution

http://gamegpu.ru/plugins/content/jumultithumb/img.php?src=Li4vLi4vLi4vaW1hZ2VzL3N0b3JpZXMvVGVzdF9HUFUvQWN0aW9uL0JhdHRsZWZpZWxkXzNfQWxwaGFfL0JBVF8zX0RYMTEucG5nJmFtcDt3PTkzMCZhbXA7aD0wJmFtcDtxPTIwMCZhbXA7emM9MCZhbXA7Zmx0cltdPXdtaXx3YXRlcm1hcmsvd3MucG5nfEJSfDMw

The z68 has no feature iam interested in.

I wont be transcoding video while playing games, I wont need onboard graphics and I wont be using the ssd as a cache, using ssd as a bootdisk for the system and games is faster.

So I dont see anything the z68 has I would want.

 

[Chrysopoeia]

i wouldnt assume that this build can max bf3. i think the best way to go about this is to decide on a budget and build the best gaming system you can.

please fill out the form linked in my signature so we have all the information necessary.

We dont have to assume much anymore now that the Alpha has been going for awhile. I have looked at people playing the Alpha and the rigs they run to max the game.




Approximate Purchase Date: within the month. Beta Starts soon !


Budget Range: 1300-1500 should do it


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Battlefield 3, Guild Wars 2, maybe Farcry 3 single player, and other single player.


Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers,


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com or Amazon.


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: Asus, EVGA, Intel, Corsair


Overclocking: Yes a bit the I5 2500k is good overclocker


SLI or Crossfire: Na, wont need it. If good games come in the future that need more power I will have new cards to choose from then.


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments: I dont need a pretty PC It sits in my desk unseen.

 

[Chrysopoeia]

Go with the 128GB Crucial M4 SSD imo, will leave you with plenty of room for games/os. 64GB just doesn't cut it for the price imo. If it means waiting an extra month to get the SSD then I would say do it since you are getting the better version that wont be filled day 1 of use.

I could just skip out on the storage mechanical HD till I need it and put that money into the 128 gig SSD instead.

 

[Chrysopoeia]

Alpha was dumbed down btw, so using that as a reference is fail.

"Dumbed Down" = no AA option.


The Alpha had no AA enabled. But I think we will see it in the beta and we will know what card you need to run @ max with full AA

I doubt it will require SLI

 

[mjmjpfaff]

alpha is not the real game. it isnt as demanding as the real bf3. but i do think that 2 6950's or 2 560 ti's should max it out

i5 2500k & Scythe Mugen 3- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.710631 257$ the scythe mugen 3 should be able to easily handle 4.5ghz oc's

Crucial m4 64gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441 115$

windows 7 home premium oem- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986 100$

OCZ ZS 750w- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341049 90$

Asus P8Z68-V & Corsair 8gb 1600mhz- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.715129 223$

Rosewill Blackhawk- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147107&Tpk=rosewill%20blackhawk 90$

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

Galaxy GTX 560 ti- http://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Geforce-GTX560-Video-56NGH6HS4IXZ/dp/B004J68FFI/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1313854613&sr=8-22 234$x2=468$

Asus DVD Burner- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204 20$

Total= 1423$

 

[Chrysopoeia]

I doubt any single card setup out right now will be able to max it.

This is why we don't speculate things we have no clue about.

Well its not a speculation that a single little gtx 460 can max the graphics.

We just dont know how much full AA will effect and drawdown the FPS.

Gameplay on a gtx 460 @ max 1080p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lkCCQ2CEEY

 

[Chrysopoeia]

All you really need is an average of over 30 FPS, anything more and you are just blowing money.

I think a single gtx 570 will do it with full AA and max settings.

 

[Chrysopoeia]

They had to literally turn features off for people to play the Alpha testing. Not just turn off AA but actual features developed into the engine.

Any videos atm are irrelivant since its not the actual BF3 game play.

BF3 alpha gameplay can be run by a 460gtx because they had to let the mass population be able to test it.

You don't release the test phases of a game to 5% of the gaming population. You want everyone to be able to test it so you remove some things like destructableness and etc to dumb it down for their weak graphics cards.

Research is your friend.

I dont know anything about those other features being turned off. Ill look but I saw Destructible buildings in the Alpha.

It was pretty awesome.. You can take down buildings with the AT weapon. Chunks of buildings fall off and hit the ground and clouds of smoke go up.

So the destructibles are enabled in the Alpha.

 

[Chrysopoeia]

Fail troll logic is fail

There are things called hit registries, having a higher fps helps improve those types of things.



Picture a perfect hit registry, to achieve this you need say 200fps. Then you take a 60fps build and add the registry and vuala, the reason why people make builds that go higher than 60fps.

That is a bunch of bull crap nonsense.

 

[genghiskron]

im not here to tell you what computer to buy. if you think a gtx 570 will max it, i will help you build a great gtx 570 system. i think mj, however, is on the right track towards getting you the best system you can have for your budget.
even for the same price, i think dual hd6870's are going to give you vastly more performance (~60%) than a single gtx 570 and i have zero doubt that the game will support sli and crossfire setups.

 

[Chrysopoeia]

Its always better to go with a higher end single GPU then it is to go with a SLI or Crossfire of lower cards.

I will use whatever that will be.

And I think we will know soon enough in the Beta when AA and all other features are enabled. As they have to test everything in the beta for all systems not just low end ones.

 

[Chrysopoeia]

I want some of what your smoking dude.

Pass that my way.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

I want some of what your smoking dude.

Pass that my way.

do you want any advice on your rig? i think thats why you came here in the first place.

 

[Chrysopoeia]

do you want any advice on your rig? i think thats why you came here in the first place.

The GPU for my RIG is up in the air ATM till beta comes out and we hear how AA effects the game.

But I plan on using the i5 2500k overclocked on some kinda p67 with 8 gigs of ram and an SSD.

I think i found a good cooler that will working for overclocking.

I also researched it and iam pretty sure it will fit in my Motherboard and leave clearance for my memory.

Big heat sinks on the memory shouldn't be a problem.


The idea of just using a 128 gig SSD is temping since iam using p67 and not z68 with the cache. Instead having a big bootdrive SSD for system and games.

I will go for the bigger crucial unless there is a better one.

Will it matter if i have CL 8 or 9 memory much ?

 

[mjmjpfaff]

if you are going with cl8 skip it and just go to 1866mhz ram. the gskill 8gb 1600 cl8 ram and 8gb 1866 cl9 are the same price. the 1866 ram is faster

 

[mjmjpfaff]

yes oc'd though

 

[Chrysopoeia]

if you are going with cl8 skip it and just go to 1866mhz ram. the gskill 8gb 1600 cl8 ram and 8gb 1866 cl9 are the same price. the 1866 ram is faster

So get these 1866 gskills cl9: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231455


Ive never overclocked memory before but I assume I just change some settings in the boards UEFI

 

[mjmjpfaff]

i still think that you should get 1600mhz cl9 ram. you wont see a performance boost. i was just showing you how bad of a deal cl8 ram is.
so you want a gtx 570 rig? ok-

Windows 7- 100$

i5 2500k & Scythe Mugen 3- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.710631 257$ this cpu cooler cools much better than the hyper 212 plus

ASUS P8P67 EVO & Corsair 8gb 1600mhz- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.712030 233$ i think the evo is a much better deal than the deluxe

Silverstone Raven RV03- http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Extended-90-Degree-Motherboard-RV03B-W/dp/B004X19B02/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313866291&sr=8-1 140$

Crucial M4 128gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442 212$

Corsair HX850 & Samsung F3 1tb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.707984 215$

ASUS DVD Burner- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204 20$

MSI GTX 570 Lightning- http://www.amazon.com/MSI-N570GTX-Twin-Frozr-Power/dp/B004XVMAKU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313866733&sr=8-1 325$

Total=1502$

 

[jeremy1183]

You COULD also wait for the OFFICIAL specs for BF3 to be released and build your system after seeing what the game needs. Or not.

 

[Chrysopoeia]

The Alpha System requirements will stay the same except for the GPU

During the beta next month we will see what cards can max the game with full AA.

But the needs of the processor, ram, OS, ect will not change.

I will make my final decision for a GPU to max BF3 during the Beta Stage after players have confirmed with benchmarks what will run full AA

I can do the build and add the GPU last.

 

[jeremy1183]

The Alpha System requirements will stay the same except for the GPU

During the beta next month we will see what cards can max the game with full AA.

But the needs of the processor, ram, OS, ect will not change.

I will make my final decision for a GPU to max BF3 during the Beta Stage after players have confirmed with benchmarks what will run full AA

I can do the build and add the GPU last.

Too bad you can't select yourself as best answer...because that's it.

 

[x Heavy]

Here is what I am doing to crush BF3 Retail.

MSI Z68 1155 with I-2600 i7 CPU
MSI x2 in SLI Lightning Extreme Frozer III cards
G-skill 2133 RAM in a quad channel matched set 16 gb total. Matched set means it will be 4 ram sticks carefully numbered together and matched by hand for you.
HAF X Case. Additional 200 mm fan installed up top and more fans installed here and there all over.
Vertex 3 SSD. I have two on way, two more planned and one big ol fat 3 TB for system backup etc.
Two blue ray - DVD- CD rom drives
Okgear EMI rounded cables. I ordered specific lengths as needed. Some are really short and go straight to the MoBo without hanging wires all over the inside of the case.
I intend to Raid 5 the Vertexes, stick a older drive in for swap and just totally overclock the beast.
Cooler master V8 Should have gotten the V10 but... eh....
Extension cable for the CPU power.
Professional Corsair Modular PSU 750 protected by a sine wave 810 watt Cyber power. If that is not strong enough, I stick that on this computer and get a bigger UPS.
Budget? Hell I had high hopes but now grimly throw down a few ounces of bullion to raise the 2 to 3K that is needed to properly finish this system.

Eventually it will recieve a LS Raid controller card into a MSI Z68-G80 motherboard for read and write speeds into the thousands with 8 SSD's and more 3 terabytes shoved into the bottom cage for video, backup etc.

An additional enclosure with decent fan to start off. (4- in 3)

This rig is not perfect, but it is specifically being built to run BF3 as if your hardware is part of the battle. Now the only thing left to do is replace the computer desk and find me a 120 hertz monitor that will maintain 120 fps or 60 minimum.

What frightens me is by the time I get this thing running in a month or less... new introductions of hardware across the board will enable those lucky enough to build systems that will probably ... gain an edge over mine.

That is where the capacity for overclocking all the MSI stuff comes in. I don't intend to give up without a fight. Gone are the days I come around a corner and see someone and die while shooting that second or third bullet.

One more thing important to me. I am first loaded and MOVING in a map. Anything less is unacceptable to me. Now game developers have patched previous games to give a timer and force me to wait 12 seconds or so before anyone else have a chance to load in.

The only problem I have left to ponder is simply a Big fat sound card with Ampification for USB Logitech G35 headsets. I cannot stand that soft footstep that stabs me in the back with the previous generic non amped cards on USB.