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New PC, First build advice.

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Approximate Purchase Date: Over a period of a couple months, completed before Dec 20th.


Budget Range: $1000ish +/- a bit.


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, SWTOR specifically and games like Witcher 2, Diablo 3 and probably BF3. (mainly want to be able to run SWTOR at MAX).


Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers (ill use headset for now)


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Probably Newegg (unsure really, I'm new at this) - there is no Microcenter near me.


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: Intel


Overclocking: Maybe - I'd like to, don't know how to.


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe - in the future. I'd like to start with a card then SLI it later on for a little more power. But again, not really sure how this is accomplished.


Monitor Resolution: Need a monitor


Additional Comments: Based on the research I've done on this board and others, it looks like the i5 is the way to go. This is the first time I have adventured into the land of building my own PC. Any and all direction is welcome. I don't particularly want a SSD. They are expensive and from what I have read, it doesn't really affect gaming to the point where it is really required. I would like to keep the majority of the budget on purely gaming beastliness.

Thanks a ton.

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The i5-2500K is an excellent choice. It isn't that hard to overclock, especially if you get a motherboard with UEFI (visual BIOS) that you can use in Windows. And with monitor resolution don't settle for anything less than 1080p (same resolution that Blu-Rays and a lot of higher-end HDTVs use) - even most budget, sub $150 monitors will give you the full 1080p no problem. Here's a sub-$1000 build that I usually recommend, mine is pretty similar to this:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 - $54.99
PSU: Corsair Builder Series CX 600 - $69.99
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3P - $179.99
CPU: 3.30GHz Intel Core i5-2500K - $219.99
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212+ - $29.99
RAM: Patriot Gamer Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) PC 1600MHz - $54.99
HD: Western Digital Caviar Black 750GB 7200 RPM - $54.99
Optical: Lite-On 24x DVD Burner - $20.99
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 6870 1GB - $199.99
Keyboard / Mouse: Logitech MK520 - $52.99
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit - $99.99
Monitor: Hannspree HF-257 24.6" Widescreen HD Monitor - $179.99

Total: $1214.99

Build comes to $884.64 without OS, keyboard/mouse, or monitor.

The thing about SSDs that you have to keep in mind is that while they are indeed faster than regular HDs, you are right that the performance will not be that much improved when you play games, or do any sort of heavy video or photo editing. Where you'll see the most performance with an SSD is if you pair it with a solid 1, 2, or 3TB hard drive and use the new smart caching feature on Z68 or P67-based motherboards. That's where you'll see the most improvement with an SSD.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... $148.98 FREE SHIPPING
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9B

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $124.99
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?Ite... $304.98 FREE SHIPPING
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-Sleeve-RR-B10... $27.06 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler, RR-B10-212P-G1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... $67.48 $5 off w/ promo code EMCKAHH23, ends 9/28
ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-PCI-Express-N560GTX-TWIN-FROZ... $224.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
MSI GeForce GTX560 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/Mini HDMI PCI-Express Video Card N560GTX TI TWIN FROZR II OC

Total: $889.48 *not including shipping, rebates, and promo codes

http://www.amazon.com/ML228H-22-Inch-Ultra-Slim-Widescr... $154.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Asus ML228H 21.5" 1920X1080 2ms Full HD LED BackLight LED Monitor Slim Design 250 cd/m2 10,000,000 :1 (ASCR)

or...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $139.99 FREE SHIPPING
Gateway FHX2152Lbd Black 21.5" 1920x1080 2ms Full HD LED BackLight LCD Monitor Slim Design 250 cd/m2 1000:1

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z68%20Extre... <----- ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3

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


***Cheaper alternatives down below.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $113.99 FREE SHIPPING
GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $99.99 - $74.99 after mail-in rebate card FREE SHIPPING 10% off with promo code OCZSEPSAVING, ends 9/30
OCZ ZS Series OCZ-ZS750W 750W ATX12V v2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Performance Power Supply

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-N560GTX-Frozr-II-OC/dp/B0050I... $179.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
MSI N560GTX Twin Frozr II/OC Video Card

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballistix-Channel-240-Pin... $29.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Crucial Ballistix Sport 4 Dual Channel Kit DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM BL2CP25664BA160A

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $119.99 FREE SHIPPING
HANNspree By Hanns-G HF225DPB Black 21.5" 5ms Full HD WideScreen LCD Monitor w/Speakers 250 cd/m2 X-Contrast 30,000:1 (1000:1)

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-560-amp... <----- gtx 560 vs gtx 560ti

Your argument for the extra small SSD seems pretty valid, I'm seriously considering adding one of those in the future now. Also, there are rumors of the new intel 2700 coming out soon and dropping the price of the i7. Since I have predicted my build to take a couple months, should I hold off and buy a processor last in order to see if the new processors come out and drop the prices? Maybe get a i7 later at the i5 price now? Also - what is the nvidia equivalent to the 6870? I'm assuming its the 560.
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Refskeg said:
Your argument for the extra small SSD seems pretty valid, I'm seriously considering adding one of those in the future now. Also, there are rumors of the new intel 2700 coming out soon and dropping the price of the i7. Since I have predicted my build to take a couple months, should I hold off and buy a processor last in order to see if the new processors come out and drop the prices? Maybe get a i7 later at the i5 price now? Also - what is the nvidia equivalent to the 6870? I'm assuming its the 560.

The release of the 2700K isn't going to affect the price of the 2500K so it won't make a difference to most peeps who are building gaming rigs. As far as the 6870...click that benchmark link I posted up above at the bottom of that post. You can get by with a 650w psu for dual 6870's, but those cards don't o/c near as well as the 560 and 560ti and they run hotter than the Nvidia cards.

Also with your budget, the SSD is the very last thing you want to purchase.

OK. I have put together a partial list of parts on Newegg: First Build

I do not have a GPU on the list yet as I have not decided whether to go with a 560ti or a 570... I plan on SLIing in the future so I went with the bigger PSU.
Any advice on GPU selection, does the rest of the list look up to snuff? Is there anything else I need to consider buying to complete my build?

Refskeg said:
OK. I have put together a partial list of parts on Newegg: First Build

I do not have a GPU on the list yet as I have not decided whether to go with a 560ti or a 570... I plan on SLIing in the future so I went with the bigger PSU.
Any advice on GPU selection, does the rest of the list look up to snuff? Is there anything else I need to consider buying to complete my build?

Your list is empty. Look at an 850w psu if you decide to go with a 570 and another one in the future.

Refskeg said:
Your argument for the extra small SSD seems pretty valid, I'm seriously considering adding one of those in the future now. Also, there are rumors of the new intel 2700 coming out soon and dropping the price of the i7. Since I have predicted my build to take a couple months, should I hold off and buy a processor last in order to see if the new processors come out and drop the prices? Maybe get a i7 later at the i5 price now? Also - what is the nvidia equivalent to the 6870? I'm assuming its the 560.


Release of the new processors may or may not drive price down, but since you are already waiting a few months, wait until Black Friday deals on Newegg. They will substantially reduce the total cost for your build. I'd suggest you get a decent idea for which components you'd like (you my have to be a little flexible if trying to get a Black Friday deal since the exact components may not be part of a sale, but almost always something similar to what you were wanting will be on sale) and then buy everything that day.

Thats weird, I'll just link everything here.

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

COOLER MASTER HAF 922
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

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=N82E168...

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

= $735 without any rebates/combos/etc. - just wanted to get a basis for all the parts I'll need.



I still need a monitor and GPU to complete the list. I'm thinking more along the lines of the 560ti if ill need to bump up to an 850w PSU to SLI 2 570s.. I don't even think I need all that 570 power to run SWTOR at max.. I'm sure a 560 will do for now and ill just pick up another 560ti down the road to add to it.

I had planned to wait until Black Friday originally, at least for the more expensive parts. I will definitely wait until Black Friday to pick up a monitor.

Nice... Build looks like a good start... Good thing you got started here early so you'll have plenty of time to browse around and get suggestions. Esp. if building in Dec. Definitely consider following Burnley's Black Friday advice then, and buy it all at once so you don't get stuck w/ parts when you change your mind.

Many recommend the Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB for speed and low price.

If you still need a monitor and a GPU, it'll be tough to get good equipment w/ about $265 dollars left. And if those two things equalled $265 you would still have to pay tax and shipping off of newegg that would probably up your costs an additional $100 bucks or so.

You probably need to add Windows 7 to that build too.

Consider popping Why_Me's and g-unit's builds into separate wishlists on newegg and also separate wishlists for other recommended parts titled: cases/motherboard's/PSU's etc. so that you don't lose the valuable suggestions, and can mix and match at your leisure.

Yeah, I'm definitely going to go over my $1000 mark. I will check out the Spinpoint. The GPU will be a 560ti for sure, I am going to have to skimp a little on the monitor probably. Going to push for a 24", I saw a couple of monitors around $200 that looked decent. I can pick up Win7 for $37 with my wife's faculty email address. I'm keeping in mind that prices will drop for Black Friday so in the end, it will all be less than what my budget is. It's not a very firm budget anyway :heink: 

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