$1600 CAD Gaming & Video Editing build comparison

SageRamirez

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Mar 12, 2011
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So, I'm back once again. Had some financial set-backs and personal goals change, so I didn't get the computer built before that I planned on. Been revamping my plan to build one however, and I've got 2 systems, little slightly different in specs, that I've been planning out, and I'd like to get word on which would be better.

Approximate Purchase Date: First week of October

Budget Range: $1600-$1700 CAD

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Video Editing & Gaming, pretty close together

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitors, Speakers, Blu-Ray Reader

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: http://www.newegg.ca

Country of Origin: Canada

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, Nvidia GPU

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Yes

Monitor Resolution: 2 Monitors @ 1600x900, TV @ 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Not included in the budget, but I'm getting a Blackmagic Intensity Pro capture card regardless, for most of the HD video source.

BUILD 1:

Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K
Motherboard:ASRock Z68 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
RAM: G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR x2 for 16GB total
GPU: ZOTAC AMP! ZT-50402-10L GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card x2
Boot Drive: Intel 320 Series SSDSA2CW120G3B5 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Storage Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Storage Drive 2: Western Digital Caviar Green WD25EZRSDTL 2.5TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Case: COOLER MASTER RC-692-KKN2 CM690 II Advanced Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
PSU:COOLER MASTER GX Series RS750-ACAAE3-US 750W ATX12V v2.31 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Cooling:COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler

BUILD 2:

Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K
Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V PRO LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS (Model:p8Z68-V PRO)
RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 15000) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9B (Model:CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9B) x2 for 16GB total
GPU: ZOTAC AMP! ZT-50402-10L GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card x2
Boot Drive: Corsair Force Series CSSD-F60GB2-BRKT-A 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (Model:CSSD-F60GB2-BRKT-A)
*Storage Drive: Boot Drive: Corsair Force Series CSSD-F60GB2-BRKT-A 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (Model:CSSD-F60GB2-BRKT-A)
Storage Drive 2: Western Digital Caviar Green WD25EZRSDTL 2.5TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Case: Antec Lanboy air Blue Black / Blue ATX Mid Tower Computer Modular Case
PSU: Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-900 900W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply (Model:HCG-900)
Cooling:COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler

If I went with the first build, I'd be using the 1TB hard drive for the editing programs primarily (Audacity, Premiere Pro, & Sony Vegas, as well as making a Hackintosh hard drive so I can take advantage of Final Cut Pro X), whereas with the second build, that's what the second SSD would be for. Less space in that case, but would give more of a speed advantage. Also, I do realize that 16GB is a little more then necessary, however I do also realize when it comes to multi-tasking, and getting multiple renders and such going, it does still make a difference compared to having 8GB.

The whole time I was trying to plan out one build, there were certain parts, such as the RAM and the cases that I was having trouble deciding between, which is why I went with planning the two builds, just to get opinions.
 
FREE SHIPPING

These two retailers (Direct Canada & Best Direct) are affiliated, both use the same shipping addy out of Richmond, BC, and both offer free ground shipping.

http://www.directcanada.com/contact/

http://www.bestdirect.ca/contact/

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11180AC2450&vpn=CC600TM&manufacture=CORSAIR $139.69
Corsair Graphite Series 600TM Mid-Tower Case ATX 4X5.25 6X3.5INT 4 Channel Fan Ctrl No PS MESH Panel

or...

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11180AC6193&vpn=CC-9011011-WW&manufacture=CORSAIR $94.50
Corsair Carbide Series 400R Mid-Tower Case ATX 4X5.25 6X3.5INT USB 1394 No PS

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/236580/P1850SNLB9/XFX/ $109.20
XFX 850W Core Edition Single Rail ATX 12V 70A 24PIN ATX Power Supply 80PLUS Bronze

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/235447/Z68%20Extreme4/ASRock/ $196.90
ASRock Z68 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1155 DDR3 3PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 SATA3 USB3.0 SLI CrossFireX Audio Motherboard

or...

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10530BD2499&vpn=P8Z68-V%20PRO&manufacture=ASUS $190.32
ASUS P8Z68-V Pro Z68 LGA1155 ATX 3PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2 PCI B3 Motherboard

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12200BD9917&vpn=BX80623I72600K&manufacture=INTEL $309.79
Intel Core i7 2600K Quad Core Unlocked Hyperthreading Processor LGA1155 3.4GHZ Sandy Bridge 8MB

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/218427/RR-B10-212P-G1/COOLERMASTER/ $22.00
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus Direct Touch 4 Heatpipe Heatsink AM2 AM3 LGA1366 LGA1155 LGA1156 120MM

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15380BD5211&vpn=F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL&manufacture=G.SKILL $48.05
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/234369/0F12115/Hitachi/ $119.79
Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA3 3.5IN Internal Hard Drive OEM

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/225965/DRW-24B1ST%20Bulk/ASUS/ $16.79
ASUS DRW-24B1ST 24X SATA DVD Writer OEM Black

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12980BD1893&vpn=N570GTX%20Twin%20Frozr%20II/OC&manufacture=MSI $339.92 MIR $309.92
MSI N570GTX Twin Frozr II OC GeForce GTX 570 Fermi 732MHZ 1280MB 3.8GHZ GDDR5 PCI-E 2XDVI Video Card

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/234806/CT064M4SSD2/CRUCIAL%20TECHNOLOGY/ $99.79
Crucial M4 SSD Micron C400 64GB 2.5IN Solid State Disk Flash Drive SATA3 6Gbps

or...

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/234805/CT128M4SSD2/CRUCIAL%20TECHNOLOGY/ $200.00
Crucial M4 SSD Micron C400 128GB 2.5IN Solid State Disk Flash Drive SATA3 6Gbps

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/233971/Intensity-Pro/BlackMagic/ $184.80
Blackmagic Intensity Pro 2D PCIe Capture / Playback Card HDMI-IN

http://www.asrock.com/microsite/PCIe3/ <----- PCI-E 3.0