1st time build need HELP! 2000-2500$ Gaming Desktop

[thegamersnation]

Hello everyone,

**updated post with some great suggestions...thoughts?**

I have never built my own PC and recently thought it would be a nice project w/ great reward!

Basically i would like to get the best of the best (in my price range).


Approximate Purchase Date: September 30th


Budget Range: 2000-2500$


System Usage from Most to Least Important: GAMING, watching movies, Home, music, surfing the internet


Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, OS


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, ncix.com, tigerdirect.com, Bestbuy.com, evga.com


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: I would like to use an AMD CPU/EVGA motherboard(open to better options) with 22" LCD or LED monitors x2 and a full tower case


Overclocking: Yes


SLI or Crossfire: Yes, leaning towards crossfire


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments: I would like to have a cool & quiet PC


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Here is a list of a few things i have my eye on:

Monitors x3
Gateway FHX2152Lbd Black 21.5" 1920x1080 2ms Full HD LED BackLight LCD Monitor Slim Design 250 cd/m2 1000:1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824113023&Tpk=gateway%2021.5%202ms&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1jrcafffeutf5

Video Cards x2
GIGABYTE GV-R697OC-2GD Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125371&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1ec92xx1jbzwt

Hard Drives
Corsair Force Series GT CSSD-F120GBGT-BK 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233191&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=s7hu9jygb805

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=N82E16822152185

PC tower case
Silverstone Tek Extended ATX/ATX/SSI-CEB Full Tower Case with 90-Degree Motherboard Mounting with Window Side Panel Computer Case RV03B-W (Matte Black)
http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Extended-90-Degree-Motherboard-RV03B-W/dp/B004X19B02/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315365620&sr=8-1&tag=vglnk-c1001-20

Power supply
XFX Core Edition PRO850W (P1-850S-NLB9) 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1uyh97u4jdb48

Processor
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1jtw4rdqr5h6n

CPU fan/heatsink
Scythe SCMG-3000 120mm Heat Pipe CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185168&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1smikvcrjexj1

DVD-CD burner & reader
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=N82E16827118039&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=887fd4x16wh9

Mother board
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271&Tpk=asrock%20z68%20extreme3&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=flhzuzyfih1m

Memory
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=N82E16820233186&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=wcsez8hsehns


thank you for your feed back(if i am missing any parts please let me know)

 

[danraies]

There's a lot of personal preference involved here. You can fill out the following if you want:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

We need all of the details about your system usage, parts preferences (specifically nvidia/ati), overclocking plans, and monitor resolution.

Basically, though, you're going to want to start with an i5-2500K on a motherboard like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157269
If you want to spend more on your graphics cards and less on your mobo you could go with something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
The second is better for its value, but the first is within your budget.

After that, it depends on how much you want to spend on your graphics cards. A pair of 3GB 580s will be about $1100 but a pair of 2GB 6950s is a little over half that.

 

[sneeks83]

yeah i would recommend getting the i5-2500k on your budget and go with the 2 6950's and set up an eyefinity set up with 3 asus 24" 2ms response time monitors about 200 a pop. so 600 on monitors another 600 on vid cards the processor mobo another 600 approx so you got 1800$ give or take and you need an SSD and a really nice PSU and case and have 700 left i def would say get the crucial 128gb ssd for 200$ get a samsung spinpoint f4 for 80$ and then a nice coolermaster Haf case for 150$ with the last 200+ get a good power supply from corsair seasonic or antec for about 200 you should be able to get a gold or sivler certified 850+watt

 

[mjmjpfaff]

Gateway 21.5" 2ms- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824113023&Tpk=gateway%2021.5%202ms x3=420$

i5 2500k- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 220$

Asrock Z68 Extreme3- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271&Tpk=asrock%20z68%20extreme3 125$

Corsair 8gb 1600mhz- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186 53$

Corsair Performance 3 128gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233154 208$ much faster

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1tb- 60$ good choice

Svythe Mugen 3- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185168 50$

Silverstone Raven RV03- http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Extended-90-Degree-Motherboard-RV03B-W/dp/B004X19B02/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315365620&sr=8-1 140$ cools better than the HAF X thanks to its unique design

XFX 850w PSU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011 120$

sound card- not needed unless you have a 300$ set of speakers

Network card- not needed just get your internet via ethernet cable and plug it into the motherboard's lan port

Sony 24x dvd burner- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039 20$

Media reader- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223103 15$ do you really need one?

Gigabyte 6970 2gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125371 360$x2=720$

Total=2151$

 

[tomskent]

2000-2500 is a high amount of money that will get you an extremely fast gaming system.
Id say 3 of those 24" asus monitors you have posted, i5 2500k cpu, coolermaster hyper 212 + cooler, biostar tz68A+ mobo, 8 gb of corsair ddr3 1600mhz RAM, your choice case, 850 watt modular psu, 120gb corsair Force 3 SSD, WD Cav Black 1tb HD, blu-ray burner, 2 x 6950 2gb flashed to 6970's

 

[mjmjpfaff]

finding those 6950's are hard these days. also biostar mobo's are not the best quality. you will have better luck with asus asrock and gigabyte.

 

[danraies]

Gateway 21.5" 2ms- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824113023&Tpk=gateway%2021.5%202ms x3=420$

i5 2500k- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 220$

Asrock Z68 Extreme3- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271&Tpk=asrock%20z68%20extreme3 125$

Corsair 8gb 1600mhz- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186 53$

Corsair Performance 3 128gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233154 208$ much faster

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1tb- 60$ good choice

Svythe Mugen 3- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185168 50$

Silverstone Raven RV03- http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Extended-90-Degree-Motherboard-RV03B-W/dp/B004X19B02/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315365620&sr=8-1 140$ cools better than the HAF X thanks to its unique design

XFX 850w PSU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011 120$

sound card- not needed unless you have a 300$ set of speakers

Network card- not needed just get your internet via ethernet cable and plug it into the motherboard's lan port

Sony 24x dvd burner- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039 20$

Media reader- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223103 15$ do you really need one?

Gigabyte 6970 2gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125371 360$x2=720$

Total=2151$

That's at least a really good start - you'd be happy with this build. I would upgrade/downgrade in reference to this build.

 

[thegamersnation]

That's at least a really good start - you'd be happy with this build. I would upgrade/downgrade in reference to this build.

i updated according to mjmj's list. how would you rate my current setup? any key parts missing?


thank you again!

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

The build looks good I really can't see anything that you are missing or would cause a concern. Looks like you are going to have fun.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[thegamersnation]

2000-2500 is a high amount of money that will get you an extremely fast gaming system.
Id say 3 of those 24" asus monitors you have posted, i5 2500k cpu, coolermaster hyper 212 + cooler, biostar tz68A+ mobo, 8 gb of corsair ddr3 1600mhz RAM, your choice case, 850 watt modular psu, 120gb corsair Force 3 SSD, WD Cav Black 1tb HD, blu-ray burner, 2 x 6950 2gb flashed to 6970's

by "2 x 6950 2gb flashed to 6970's" you mean they come this way? or do it myself? im assuming these are a better value then buying 2x 6970s's? would the overclocked 6970's out perform the overclocked 6950's(flashed to 6970's) or are they close?

 

[mjmjpfaff]

i updated according to mjmj's list. how would you rate my current setup? any key parts missing?


thank you again!

2 6970's are for a tri monitor setup hence why i listed the 3 monitors. for a single 1080p setup 2 6950's will be fine. but for the money you are spending you can get a tri monitor setup which is really nice because you can see more than people with only 1 screen. that is because you have a higher resolution. that card reader you posted is ridiculous the one i posted can do more for a lot less. drop the thermal paste both the hyper 212 plus and scythe mugen 3 come with decent paste. the hyper 212 plus is a decent cooler for a 1000$ rig. the scythe mugen is quieter and cools better. heat is what kills a cpu. the tx850 is the old version and only 80 plus efficient. the one i posted is 80 plus bronze and cheaper. xfx is a solid brand like corsair. the corsair performance 3 has a lot of problems. that is why i chose the performance gt it fixed a lot of the 3's reliability problems. a blu-ray burner should be an upgrade. they will really only be the standard when games are put on them. if you want to just watch movies a blu ray drive will do but they are still very expensive. what the RV03 (the case i posted) also has over the 932 is that it has fan filters so tons of dust wont get on your parts. the rv03 is one of the best cases for airflow and it is still extremely quiet. flashing is not a good idea you can potentially ruin your cards and it is not the easiest thing to do.

 

[danraies]

i updated according to mjmj's list. how would you rate my current setup? any key parts missing?


thank you again!

Looks pretty good to me. One optical drive is all you're going to need. Also that card reader looks fine but you can get those same functions for FAR cheaper. You probably won't have to spend more than $20. I'm not an expert on card readers but just make sure the connector on the card reader isn't SATA. SATA connectors work fine, but you won't ever need SATA transfer speeds so there's no reason to take up a SATA connection for the card reader.

I agree with a lot of mjmjpfaff's suggestsions. You will love a three monitor setup and it's within your price range. I don't know why the HAF doesn't come with dust filters, but if you really want to go with that case, you're going to want those. The RV03 is a nice case but that $28 shipping is annoying and makes it $38 more than the HAF on newegg. Still, it's within your range. I wouldn't go bluray for now. It's really hard to get a computer to reliably plays bluray movies. DVD drives are $20 so just get one of those and add a bluray in a year or so.

I would like to reiterate that flashing the 6950s is pretty hard if you don't have experience with it and in my opinion it's not worth the risk.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

Looks pretty good to me. One optical drive is all you're going to need. Also that card reader looks fine but you can get those same functions for FAR cheaper. You probably won't have to spend more than $20. I'm not an expert on card readers but just make sure the connector on the card reader isn't SATA. SATA connectors work fine, but you won't ever need SATA transfer speeds so there's no reason to take up a SATA connection for the card reader.

I agree with a lot of mjmjpfaff's suggestsions. You will love a three monitor setup and it's within your price range. I don't know why the HAF doesn't come with dust filters, but if you really want to go with that case, you're going to want those. The RV03 is a nice case but that $28 shipping is annoying and makes it $38 more than the HAF on newegg. Still, it's within your range. I wouldn't go bluray for now. It's really hard to get a computer to reliably plays bluray movies. DVD drives are $20 so just get one of those and add a bluray in a year or so.

I would like to reiterate that flashing the 6950s is pretty hard if you don't have experience with it and in my opinion it's not worth the risk.

get the RV03 at amazon 140$ free shipping.

 

[thegamersnation]

2 6970's are for a tri monitor setup hence why i listed the 3 monitors. for a single 1080p setup 2 6950's will be fine. but for the money you are spending you can get a tri monitor setup which is really nice because you can see more than people with only 1 screen. that is because you have a higher resolution. that card reader you posted is ridiculous the one i posted can do more for a lot less. drop the thermal paste both the hyper 212 plus and scythe mugen 3 come with decent paste. the hyper 212 plus is a decent cooler for a 1000$ rig. the scythe mugen is quieter and cools better. heat is what kills a cpu. the tx850 is the old version and only 80 plus efficient. the one i posted is 80 plus bronze and cheaper. xfx is a solid brand like corsair. the corsair performance 3 has a lot of problems. that is why i chose the performance gt it fixed a lot of the 3's reliability problems. a blu-ray burner should be an upgrade. they will really only be the standard when games are put on them. if you want to just watch movies a blu ray drive will do but they are still very expensive. what the RV03 (the case i posted) also has over the 932 is that it has fan filters so tons of dust wont get on your parts. the rv03 is one of the best cases for airflow and it is still extremely quiet. flashing is not a good idea you can potentially ruin your cards and it is not the easiest thing to do.

so i should not go for the CORSAIR Performance 3 Series because of some problems...i was looking for the performance gt you mentions but could not find it..mind linking me to it? thank you

 

[mjmjpfaff]

so i should not go for the CORSAIR Performance 3 Series because of some problems...i was looking for the performance gt you mentions but could not find it..mind linking me to it? thank you

sorry i meant force gt 120gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233191

 

[mjmjpfaff]

that rig looks awesome. cant wait till i get some $ and get myself a 3 screen setup.

 

[thegamersnation]

that rig looks awesome. cant wait till i get some $ and get myself a 3 screen setup.

THANK YOU! for all the help everyone!!! i think this is it ....going to start ordering these part and see what this bad boy can do!




(OH AND ON A SIDE NOTE....WHAT IS THIS AMD BULLDOZER I KEEP SEEING? I TRIED GOOGLING IT BUT NOT QUITE SURE IF ITS WORTH WAITING FOR...ARE THEY A NEW SET OF PROCESSORS?)