Critique my build

[kenobi13]

I've been racking my brain for the past month or so putting together a system. It started with the idea of just buying a dell and leaving it at that. With more research I found that I could build a nicer pc for just about the same amount. This is one of the numerous builds I have come up with. I'm still very new to the site so I'll try my best to stick tot the build format everyone uses here.


Budget
About $1100

When

This week

Location
so-cal,Usa

vendors used
newegg, microcenter,using willcall for both
Open to others

Uses

Design, print layout,3d, photoshop,video editing etc/ Gaming/web surfing etc
This is mainly going to be my at home work machine with the occasional game thrown in.

Equipment not needed.
Monitor, os, keyboard etc..

crosffire/sli

Nah.. not righ now at least

Overclocking
Probably..




Build

burner

LG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS70 OEM - OEM
Item #: N82E16827136238

case

COOLER MASTER RC-692-KKN2 CM690 II Advanced Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811119216

HD

Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EARS 1TB 5400 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822136490

GPU

MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video ...
Item #: N82E16814127565

PowerSupply

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power ...
Item #: N82E16817139020


Memory

G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR
Item #: N82E16820231416

Mobo

ASRock P67 EXTREME4 GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813157265
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


Cpu
i5 2500k 3.3


This build puts me at right about 1050 with tax before rebates. I am very open to any suggestions. Is the ps adequate for this build? I havent built a pc in over 10 years so I'm pretty excited.

 

[wip99gt]

That's a good build for the most part. The hard drive you picked out is a good storage drive but not so good as a boot drive. I'd get a WD black hard drive if you're using it for windows.

 

[morgoth780]

the psu should be adequate, but not if you want to sli later
also, switch your hard drive to a samsung spinpoint f3 1 tb. same storage, and higher rpm

 

[kenobi13]

So replace the HD with at least a 7200rpm model. How about the CPU? I can get an i7 for about $100 more. Is it worth it? I have an i5 machine at work and pretty much handles everything. It's slow to render but It only has a gt 220 in it.

 

[morgoth780]

for gaming, i7 is useless
but you could probably take advantage of it. It just depends on whether you want to save on some other stuff.
what games are you planning on playing? cause if you're not going to play any real gpu intensive games, you could probably get away with a gtx 460
also...whats your monitor resolution?

 

[kenobi13]

At least 1080p, probably dual 24"s like at work. I play fps games on my consoles but I would like to make the jump back into pc.

 

[morgoth780]

well, then 1gb of vram is plenty, but i'm assuming that you would game on one monitor, and surf the web, chat, monitor temps, etc. on the other? cause I don't really get how you could game on both at once if you're playing an fps. gtx 560 ti would probably be your best bet, maybe gtx 570 if you could get that, though it is quite a bit more.

 

[kenobi13]

I'm sorry I need the dual monitors for work. I do a lot of print layout, its easier than switching back n forth between programs constantly. I'd game on one monitor.

 

[morgoth780]

well, that's pretty much everything I can recommend. It all seems fine, but I'd suggest getting a little bit of advice from Why_me and azshinobi, they're ninjas at finding what's wrong with builds.

I guess you could maybe consider a z68 board, it's worth the extra

 

[kenobi13]

Thanks for your help. Like I mentioned before, I haven't built a pc in about ten years. so everything is really new to me. I've been working on macs fir the past few tears so I haven't really needed to keep up with all the new gear.

 

[Why_Me]

Shop Amazon and pay no sales tax

This build includes a i7 2600K, and a gtx 570 with the option to add another one later on in SLI.

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Computer-Case-RC-692-KKN2/dp/B00336EM0W $92.10 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Computer Case RC-692-KKN2

http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Computer-Power-Supply-HCG-900/dp/B0046L2KQ6/ref=sr_1_8?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1317784649&sr=1-8 $114.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
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

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271 $124.99
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354587 $279.99
Core i7 2600K LGA 1155 Boxed Processor

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-Sleeve-RR-B10-212P-G1/dp/B002G1YPH0/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1317784945&sr=1-1 $26.77 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler, RR-B10-212P-G1

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballistix-Channel-240-Pin-BL2CP51264BA160A/dp/B004UQ1KK4 $54.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB Dual Channel Kit DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM BL2CP51264BA160A

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-7200-12-Internal-ST31000524AS/dp/B004IZN3YI/ref=pd_sim_e16 $54.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1 TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s with NCQ 32MB Cache 3.5 Inch Internal Bare Drive ST31000524AS

http://www.amazon.com/Liteon-iHAS324-DVD-RW-Optical-Drive/dp/B002QGDWLK/ref=pd_sim_e20 $18.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25
Liteon iHAS324 24X DVD-RW SATA Optical Disk Drive

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SAO0Z4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER $336.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
MSI nVidia GeForce GTX570 Twin Frozr II OC 1280MB DDR5 2DVI/Mini HDMI PCI-Express Video Card N570GTX TWIN FROZR II/OC

Total: $1,104.80 *not including shipping (motherboard)

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z68%20Extreme3%20Gen3 <----- Another look at that Asrock board

http://www.asrock.com/microsite/IntelZ68/index.asp <----- Z68 Features

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

Another case worth taking a look at. More space to work with, and more extras.

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Carbide-Tower-Gaming-Computer/dp/B0055Q7BR4/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1317788362&sr=1-1 $99.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Corsair Carbide Series 400R Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case - CC-9011011-WW

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139008 <---- another look at that case on newegg

 

[kenobi13]

Wow, you took my initial build and streamlined it, Thank you.

I've swapped out the case for this. I don't mind paying an extra $60 besides, I really don't like the 400 case.

Corsair Obsidian 650D Aluminum Mid Tower ATX Enthusiast Computer Case - Black CC650DW-1 - Corsair

MSI nVidia GeForce GTX570 Twin Frozr II OC 1280MB DDR5 2DVI/Mini HDMI PCI-Express Video Card N570GTX TWIN FROZR II/OC

Liteon iHAS324 24X DVD-RW SATA Optical Disk Drive

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1 TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s with NCQ 32MB Cache 3.5 Inch Internal Bare Drive ST31000524AS

Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB Dual Channel Kit DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM BL2CP51264BA160A

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler, RR-B10-212P-G1

Antec Computer Power Supply HCG-900

This brings the amazon total to $760

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg total $135

intel core i7 2600k 3.4.......$301

intel core i5 2500k 3.3........$195


i7 build $1196
i5 build $1089


I'm still on the fence on the cpu. What pluses do I get with the i7? The price difference is really small but I dont want that to be the sole reason.
+1 on the cpu cooler, I was going to use the stock cooler to save some cash and you worked it back in there.

 

[DobermanTech]

I would go for the i5. There are many better things to spend $100 on. One thing I would really recommend would be picking up an SSD. For daily use, it makes my computer so much "snappier." I don't have a top of the line SSD, but it does wonders. I would recommend a 128GB SSD and then a 1-2TB HDD like a caviar green. I love my M4 128GB/2TB Caviar black combo!!

 

[kenobi13]

I've read that it loads programs faster as well. I'd like to add an ssd but my budget just wont allow it right now. I really don't want to settle for other parts just to accommodate something I can get later.

 

[Why_Me]

Wow, you took my initial build and streamlined it, Thank you.

I've swapped out the case for this. I don't mind paying an extra $60 besides, I really don't like the 400 case.

Corsair Obsidian 650D Aluminum Mid Tower ATX Enthusiast Computer Case - Black CC650DW-1 - Corsair

MSI nVidia GeForce GTX570 Twin Frozr II OC 1280MB DDR5 2DVI/Mini HDMI PCI-Express Video Card N570GTX TWIN FROZR II/OC

Liteon iHAS324 24X DVD-RW SATA Optical Disk Drive

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1 TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s with NCQ 32MB Cache 3.5 Inch Internal Bare Drive ST31000524AS

Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB Dual Channel Kit DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM BL2CP51264BA160A

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler, RR-B10-212P-G1

Antec Computer Power Supply HCG-900

This brings the amazon total to $760

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg total $135

intel core i7 2600k 3.4.......$301

intel core i5 2500k 3.3........$195


i7 build $1196
i5 build $1089


I'm still on the fence on the cpu. What pluses do I get with the i7? The price difference is really small but I dont want that to be the sole reason.
+1 on the cpu cooler, I was going to use the stock cooler to save some cash and you worked it back in there.

Design, print layout,3d, photoshop,video editing etc/ Gaming/web surfing etc This is mainly going to be my at home work machine with the occasional game thrown in.

You stated your main usage for this build, and you have access to Microcenter. The 2600K is the obvious choice hands down. The 2600K is hyper threaded and is a perfect fit for your needs.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/288?vs=287 <----- Intel Core i5 2500K vs Intel Core i7 2600K

Here's another case to consider. This case down below has excellent cooling/airflow, has multiple fan controllers, and dust filters,etc... It's new on the market...it just came out on newegg two weeks ago, and I believe amazon has it now also w/free shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009 <---- You can turn the "LED" off on those fans also

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139010 <---- that same case in "white"

 

[kenobi13]

i7 it is. The corsair500r looks too much like the 400r and I just don't like the look of the case. I really like the clean lines of the 650.