First build from mac user..

[shoolie22]

So I've decided to go back to a PC for my gaming needs, my mac has been great but I miss pulling all nighters playing games and my mac just isn't cutting it lol. I've never built my own PC before but I want to get my monies worth so I've been trying to do some research to build one that will last me for quite a bit while staying around the $1500-1700 range. Ok so here goes sorry if I put some crap in here that isn't compatible I'm a total noob .

ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Mobo

177.99

Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core

314.99

EVGA SuperClocked 015-P3-1582-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support

499.99

G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900)

69.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

89.99

LITE-ON Blu-ray Burner with 3D Playback SATA iHBS212-08 LightScribe Support

99.99

Antec Twelve Hundred V3 Black Steel ATX Full Tower Unbeatable Gaming Case

159.99

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready

134.99

Subtotal $1,549.92

Few questions I know I need some fans and I was planning on getting a liquid cooler what would you guys suggest?

I read the mobo is a micro will that give me any problems if I want to add a second video card since I read that the GTX 580 is pretty huge?

I didn't include a SSD reason being it would take me out of my price range, I plan on getting one in the future but for now not having one will not effect my gaming performance only load times correct?

And one last question, lol, is all of this compatible and what would you guys forsee being my biggest obstacle in putting this together being it is my first time even building a pc?

Any help or corrections is greatly appreciated!

Oh also forgot do you guys suggest waiting for Bulldozer to come out to see if prices drop, or will they probably stay the same for a while?

 

[Zero_]

Check my sig for a better $1500 build.

i5 + 2x HD6950 > i7 + GTX580.

 

[shoolie22]

The $1500 link isn't working, but I checked your $2000 build and if I take away some stuff like the 3d glasses kit, one of the gfx cards, and the ssd it comes out to about $1531. Would that be better than what I originally posted? Or stick with the gtx 580 and add your fan making it come out to around $1635?

 

[baiano]

Check my sig for a better $1500 build.

i5 + 2x HD6950 > i7 + GTX580.

As per www.videocardbenchmark.net, the GTX580 is only marginally better than a single HD6950. Since 2x HD6950 is only about $50 (or less, depending on manufacturer) more than the GTX580 that swap seems like a no brainer.

 

[Zero_]

The $1500 link isn't working, but I checked your $2000 build and if I take away some stuff like the 3d glasses kit, one of the gfx cards, and the ssd it comes out to about $1531. Would that be better than what I originally posted? Or stick with the gtx 580 and add your fan making it come out to around $1635?

Bitly has failed me should be OK now.

You don't need a i7 for gaming. The i5 is just as good. And a 2x HD6950's perform on par with a GTX590 more or less. The $1500 build also features a SSD, which is kinda essential for this kinda budget.

 

[PennyLife]

CPU
The 2600k will perform better for video rendering and with applications that utilize the hyperthreading, but the 2500k will perform just as well when it comes to gaming. My advice, get the 2600k if you can afford it and want it, get the 2500k if gaming is the most intensive thing you plan to do.

Motherboard
That's a good motherboard, but I would recommend going with a standard-sized ATX motherboard instead of the micro ATX, especially with the big case you selected. (Unless you've just decided that you like the Asus Maximus board more.) Here are a couple of other options:

Asus P8Z68-V Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131730

ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157264

GPU
If you want the GTX 580, I say go with the GTX 580. Generally, when somebody wants that kind of a card, they just want to get maximum performance with minimal fuss. If you go with CrossFire/SLI setup, you can can use 2 lower range cards together to give you even better performance than a single GTX 580, but you might also have to deal with issues associated with that kind of a setup, namely drivers and compatibility with games.

 

[shoolie22]

Ok so I changed the build up a bit, I've decided to go against running two gfx cards since I've read the hassles you get from heat and power consumption are not worth the gains.

Intel Core i7-2600K Processor 3.4GHz 8 MB Cache Socket LGA1155
$315

ASUS LGA 1155 SATA 6Gbps USB 3.0 Supported Intel Z68 ATX DDR3 2400 Motherboards P8Z68-V PRO
$210

EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Superclocked 1536 MB GDDR5 PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics Card
$496

Corsair Vengeance 8 GB ( 2 x 4 GB ) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) 240-Pin DDR3 Memory Kit for Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and AMD Platforms SDRAM CMZ8GX3M2A1600C​9
$55

Seagate Barracuda Green 2TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive ST2000DL003
$80

Antec ATX Full Tower Gaming Case, Twelve Hundred V3 (Black)
$160

Corsair Professional Series Gold 850-Watt 80 Plus Gold Certified High-Performanc​e Power Supply - CMPSU-850AX
$175

Lite-On LightScribe 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS424-98 - Retail (Black)
$31

Noctua 6 Dual Heatpipe with 140mm/120mm Dual SSO Bearing Fans CPU Cooler NH-D14
$85

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder DVD 1 Pack
$92

All from amazon.com total $1699 not including shipping or taxes
Or if I switch out the GTX 580 for a 570 it comes out to $1543
(whats the difference between a 570 and a 570HD? lol)

What do you guys think?

I left out a SSD since I don't mind the load times and it would take the price a bit out of what I was thinking of spending.

 

[PennyLife]

Sounds like a fantastic build, congratulations!

It's like the 2011 version of the build I did in Q2 2010 that I am still using right now. I used the then popular i7-930 and GTX 480, as well as an equivalent Asus X58 motherboard, and similar specs all round. Although I did use a different case, the Silverstone RV02, which is great.

Between the GTX 580 and the GTX 570, it depends on how graphics intensive the games are that you play, what resolution you play at, and how much money you want to spend. The 570 will play every game out currently at 1900x1200, high details, good frame rates. The GTX 580 will do the same, but with somewhat better framerates. The 580 basically gives you the security of knowing that you couldn't have done any better, so you don't worry about what it can and can't do. At least that is true for me with the GTX 480 I got over a year ago. Was satisfied with it then because it was the best single GPU card available, and I haven't looked back since because it still plays everything out perfectly well. Basically, for me the benefit of going with the top card back then is that I won't have a desire to upgrade until maybe the GTX 600 series of cards comes out.

 

[shoolie22]

Ok last changes before I finally order my gaming pc, let me know what you guys think. And any suggestions on a gaming monitor below $200 are welcome!