Suggestion for new build

[drthrd]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next 2 months

Budget Range: Under 1000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Read below

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

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Does not matter to much as long as it is a good site. Rather have a site that I can call in a order like. TigerDirect I seen here about NCIX.Is NCIX good?

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: Do not care

Overclocking: Doubtful but maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Doubtful but maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

I will be using the computer for editing and converting video. Using programs like DVDStyler, WinFF, VirtualDub, etc... . I use encryption, TrueCrypt for external drives and system partitions/drives, and AxCrypt for files. Online chat, surf the net, instant messengers, email. Will be using LibreOffice/OpenOffice. Some gaming. I probably will play some high end games but not many.

Seen some good barebones on TigerDirect but not sure how good the PSU is that comes with them. Already have a IDE hard drive and IDE DVD burner but want an additional hard drive and DVD burner. Want both as SATA drives. If the motherboard has no IDE ports will have to use them converters and if it does have IDE ports that good but in either case I will not get the speed out of them like I can out of SATA drives

I was thinking of a i5-2500K or Phenom II x4 with at least 8 GB of RAM or would 4 GB do? . Or wait for the AMD Bulldozer I did not choose the i7 or Phenom II x6 because from what I have seen they say they are not really that good for gaming. And as for as the i7 its a bit to pricey for me. Want something that will last for awhile. For a video card I was thinking something like the GeForce GTX 550 Ti.

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119240 $79.99 FREE SHIPPING
COOLER MASTER Storm Enforcer SGC-1000-KWN1 Black SECC / ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ATX PS2 / EPS 12V (optional ) Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049 $89.99 - $64.99 after mail-in rebate FREE SHIPPING
Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-750 750W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271 $129.99
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.694806 $264.98 FREE SHIPPING
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 $27.99 FREE SHIPPING
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039 $19.99 FREE SHIPPING
Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner 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 AD-7260S-0B - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185 $59.99 FREE SHIPPING
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127594 $239.99 - $219.99 after mail-in rebate card FREE SHIPPING
MSI N560GTX-Ti Twin Frozr II GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Total: $912.91 *not including rebates

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

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-PCI-Express-Graphics-01G-P3-1460-KR/dp/B0050I1PHO $184.88 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
EVGA GeForce GTX 560 1024 MB GDDR5 PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics Card 01G-P3-1460-KR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.694804 $259.98 - $15.00 Mail In Rebates FREE SHIPPING
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory with heatshield Model PSD38G1600KH

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z68%20Extreme3%20Gen3 <---- another look at that board

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-560-amp-edition-gtx-560-directcu-ii-top,2944.html <----- gtx 560 vs gtx 560ti

 

[chesteracorgi]

Why_me has excellent recommendations, but to keep in your budget I'd recommend this GTX 465: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162052. Just a tad off on performance and at @ $129 brings the price down $90.

 

[photonboy]

Graphics cards:
New cards are coming out fairly soon which are SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED using the new 28nm process for lower power. Performance will be 2.5x to 3x for the same power which also means much quieter:

AMD 7000 series (Q4 2011)
NVidia 600 series (Q2 2012)

If you can't wait, I recommend the GTX560Ti. The graphics card is the bottleneck in modern gaming systems. The GTX560Ti can basically max out most games, however as you drop BELOW this card you have to turn down the quality.

On the other hand, as you go above a GTX560Ti the heat, noise, and price also go up. Don't SLI or Crossfire either (read recent micro-stuttering review here at Tomshardware).

Other advice:
I think the above recommendations are mostly good. Some points on those:
1) GTX465. Absolutely not. It runs hot for its performance. Also when you're spending roughly $900 on a system is it not worth spending a little more to have a far, far better Gaming System? (read my above graphics comments)

2) NCIX is a good site to compare prices.

3) I prefer Asus or Gigabyte, but whichever board you get READ REVIEWS.

4) I highly recommend TWO HARD DRIVES:
- Drive #1: Windows drive. Smaller capacity and faster (i.e. 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Western Digital)
- Drive #2: slower and more capacity (for IMAGES of Windows, multimedia and other backups). Western Digital has a free, basic version of Acronis True Image which works as long as you have one WD drive on your system. Manually create weekly backups and delete all but the last three in case of a main drive physical failure, virus etc.

- Case: I love my Antec 100 case. It has a nice TRAY on the top, two fans (use lowest setting) and a cable management system which works well. **READ THIS: If you get the Antec 100 case be aware that the entire front piece unclips. That works great, but it took me an hour to realize this.

- third case fan: I recommend another 120mm case fan for the bottom-front. If you get the Antec 100 case it just clips on the back of the front section. Get the QUIETEST one you can find (500RPM to 800RPM) that doesn not vary its speed.

- PSU: Antec makes great PSU's, as do others. It also depends on sales. Look for 600W to 850W, specifically that the AMPS are at least 1.25x that of the graphics card requirement.

SUMMARY:
Write down each component (including Windows 7 64bit OEM) and spend time thinking about it.

Consider using an older card until the new AMD's are released if you can wait (or longer for NVidia). The new AMD's may only be three months away and likely will give you at least 2x the value for the money.

 

[photonboy]

I forgot this:

CPU heatsink/fan. For as little as $20 you can get a non-stock heatsink/fan combo that makes a huge difference in noise, even in idle on your system.

http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=60868&vpn=CNPS5X%20SZ%281366%20Ready%29&manufacture=ZALMAN%20TECH&promoid=1365

The above one is on sale now (at least in Canada) and incredible value for the price. Just an example.

 

[drthrd]

Graphics cards:
New cards are coming out fairly soon which are SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED using the new 28nm process for lower power. Performance will be 2.5x to 3x for the same power which also means much quieter:

AMD 7000 series (Q4 2011)
NVidia 600 series (Q2 2012)

If you can't wait, I recommend the GTX560Ti. The graphics card is the bottleneck in modern gaming systems. The GTX560Ti can basically max out most games, however as you drop BELOW this card you have to turn down the quality.

On the other hand, as you go above a GTX560Ti the heat, noise, and price also go up. Don't SLI or Crossfire either (read recent micro-stuttering review here at Tomshardware).

I think I picked the wrong time to get a new computer. New CPU's and GPU's lol. I just wonder if it is worth waiting for the AMD Bulldozer. How good will the AMD Bulldozer be and how well will it compete with the i5. Since no one has said anything about the Phenom II x4, I assume everyone that has replied does not think the Phenom II x4 is the right CPU for what I will be using the computer for.

3) I prefer Asus or Gigabyte, but whichever board you get READ REVIEWS.

I know Asus, Gigabyte and MSI as far as motherboards go. Would try something else though if the reviews are good and if I can find out more about the company and how good their products are. As far as video cards I do know much about the different brands.

4) I highly recommend TWO HARD DRIVES:
- Drive #1: Windows drive. Smaller capacity and faster (i.e. 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Western Digital)
- Drive #2: slower and more capacity (for IMAGES of Windows, multimedia and other backups). Western Digital has a free, basic version of Acronis True Image which works as long as you have one WD drive on your system. Manually create weekly backups and delete all but the last three in case of a main drive physical failure, virus etc.

I will have 2 hard drives but the old ones will be converted unless the new motherboard has IDE. So I might get a small cheap SATA drive and a big SATA drive.

- Case: I love my Antec 100 case. It has a nice TRAY on the top, two fans (use lowest setting) and a cable management system which works well. **READ THIS: If you get the Antec 100 case be aware that the entire front piece unclips. That works great, but it took me an hour to realize this.

- third case fan: I recommend another 120mm case fan for the bottom-front. If you get the Antec 100 case it just clips on the back of the front section. Get the QUIETEST one you can find (500RPM to 800RPM) that doesn not vary its speed.

Is this http://store.antec.com/Product/enclosure-gear_for_gamers/one-hundred/0-761345-15240-2.aspx the case your talking about? If so yeah it looks nice has more fans and bays than their other more expensive ones. That COOLER MASTER is nice too though, more bays and USB 3.0.

- PSU: Antec makes great PSU's, as do others. It also depends on sales. Look for 600W to 850W, specifically that the AMPS are at least 1.25x that of the graphics card requirement.

Not sure about the PSU. Will have to look closer at them. I do not see why Antec makes so many.I do not fully understand the difference between the different series(Earthwatts,True Power, etc...) either.

SUMMARY:
Write down each component (including Windows 7 64bit OEM) and spend time thinking about it.

Consider using an older card until the new AMD's are released if you can wait (or longer for NVidia). The new AMD's may only be three months away and likely will give you at least 2x the value for the money.

From reading the replies, I definitely need to put more thought into this.

What older card could I get that would run most games now without a problem that do not cost too much?