How does this i5-2500 gaming build look?

[Ian Stoeckley]

Hey all, I am looking to build a computer. I was wondering what thoughts were on this build? Primarily intended as a high end gaming machine. I already have a monitor, mouse, and keyboard. I also have an Antec 902 case to put i all in. The cost of the parts below is about $1063. My goal is to stay around 1000 or so. Any suggestions or critiques?


1 SAPPHIRE FleX 100312FLEX Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity SAPPHIRE FleX 100312FLEX Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

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

1 CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply

1 SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-222AB SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-222AB

1 XIGMATEK LOKI SD963 92mm HYPRO Bearing CPU Cooler bracket included I7 i5 775 1155 AMD and dual fan push pull compatible XIGMATEK LOKI SD963 92mm HYPRO Bearing CPU Cooler bracket included I7 i5 775 1155 AMD and dual fan push pull compatible

1 MSI P67A-G43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard MSI P67A-G43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard


2 G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH

1 Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500 Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500

 

[AdrianPerry]

Overall your along the right lines, but heres a few things to consider:

GPU - Good choice, no problems there
HDD - Samsung SpinPoint F3's 1TB are considered better than WD Blacks and are cheaper.
PSU - 650w is more than enough for a single 6950, but not enough if you wanted to add another card at some point. Either drop down to a 500w PSU and save some money (stick with Corsair, they are a solid manufacturer) or jump up to a 750w leaving you enough headroom to add another card in the future.
CPU Cooler - The hyper 212+ ($29 on NewEgg) is a bigger (120mm fan) and will provide better cooling performance for just a couple $ more.
Motherboard - No problems
RAM - The price difference in 1333MHz RAM and 1600MHz RAM is very minor, id recommend looking at the G.Skill 1600MHz CL9 1.5v RAM if you can fit it into budget
CPU - i5-2500k = Amazing performance and amazing value.

 

[jmsellars1]

- i5-2500 is $20 more than the i5-2400 just for the sake of +200Mhz, i would get the i5-2400

- You only need around 500W max

- Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB is just as good as the WD Black and it's a lot cheaper.

- 8GB is more than enough RAM for gaming

- You can't overclock on an i5-2400 or i5-2500 so you don't need a P67 motherboard, H61 or H67 would be fine.

- You don't need 2GB of graphics memory unless you are playing at 2560x1440 or across 3 monitors, you wouldn't even use it on a single monitor at 1920x1080

- Coolermaster Hyper 212+ is probably better value than that Xigmatek.

 

[AdrianPerry]

Yeah sorry i miss-read the above, are you looking at i5-2500 or i5-2500k (because theres a big difference)...