$1000 Intel Gaming Rig (bye bye bulldozer)

[torque79]

Approximate Purchase Date: ASAP

Budget Range: $800-$1000 canadian (with tax and shipping, without MIR)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, movies, video encoding for blackberry playbook, general use

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: canadacomputers.com, ncix.com, newegg.ca, tigerdirect.ca

Country of Origin: Canada

Parts Preferences: none, looking for gamer level value for dollar regardless of manufacturer

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in a couple of years

Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050 (for now)

Additional Comments: my primary concern is getting good value for my money, longevity and ability to upgrade


Core i5-2500k ($248.60 w tax, local pickup)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7073161&CatId=6988

Cpu cooler:
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus - $27 ($32.76 w tax)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=8_129&item_id=025125

Mobo
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6gb/s USB 3.0 ATX ($169.50 w tax, $20MIR)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=ASRock+Z68+Extreme3+

RAM

Mushkin Silverline 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz CL9 DIMM (997002) ($62.15 w tax)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_311_312_612&item_id=040920

Video Card
Gigabyte (GV-N560OC-1GI) nVidia GeForce GTX 560Ti (900MHz) 1GB (4000MHz) GDDR5 Dual Dual-Link DVI/Mini-HDMI PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics Card
($271.20 w tax, $30 MIR)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=036039

PSU
Corsair CMPSU-600CXV2 Builder Series™ CX600 Power Supply - 600W, 80 Plus, 120mm Fan, Single +12V Rail, Active PFC ($79.10 w tax local pickup, $20 MIR)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=422166&CatId=5432

Hard Drive
Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 2TB 3.5" SATA3 6Gb/s 7200rpm 64MB Cache OEM (0F12115) ($113 w tax)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=15_210_212&item_id=035599

Total $976.31 taxes in($90 MIR)

 

[geofelt]

What will you use for a case?
The Antec Three Hundred Illusion is a good value:
http://204.14.213.185/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

How many of the ATX expansion slots do you plan to use?

Consider a M-ATX motherboard with 4 slots, like this ASRock Z68M/USB3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 for $95
http://204.14.213.185/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157270

 

[joshybo7]

the power supply would be too weak for sli or crossfire (although i realize that is not an immediate concern for you) also there is a new version of that cpu cooler out with some improvements http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099&Tpk=212%20evo

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

I am using the Cooler Master hyper 212+ with two fans and it does work well for me on my Intel® Core™ i7-2600K. At idle I am running temperatures in the low 30s. Otherwise I think you have a good understanding on your build but you might want to check newegg.ca to see if they have some better prices for you and really think about going up to the Corsair TX750 for a PSU if you are even thinking about SLI or Crossfire in the future.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[ARchamps]

For that price, you can add like $15 and get a better PSU. The Seasonic one that I have had better reviews. You are missing a case! Antec 300 or HAF 912 are good choices for the $$. They only come with 2 stock fans though.

Use Directcanada.com to price match. They usually have lower prices. NCIX has an online price match system. I'm sure TigerDirect and Canada Computers will price match in store.

 

[torque79]

thanks for the replies, I've never seen directcanada.com before I'll have a look. Newegg.ca does have very competitive prices, but for some reason right now my local retail stores do better when I consider shipping costs. that's not usually the case.

I appreciate the link to the updated cpu cooler. small cost for an obvious improvement.

I already have a case from my old build, I will be using my Antec 900. It's a beast, with 2 front 120mm fans, one rear, and a huge (200mm?) top case fan. Won't have USB3 on the case USB ports but I dont care about that.

I guess you're right about the power supply, I never know what to get for those. the last modular one I got had cables a little short and difficult to use with my case (bottom psu mount). Unfortunately that will put me a little over budget but at least I have MIR's after.

 

[geofelt]

Your Antec 900 is very good.
Don't worry about front usb3.0. The motherboard does not have internal usb3.0 connectors anyway.
I actually prefer the rear ports since I can leave my backup external drive connected, powering it on only when I do a backup.

Stick with your initial build.

Corsair is a quality vendor, and a 600w psu will power a graphics card as good as a GTX580.

 

[snoshy]

you should upgrade to the newly released hyper 212 evo.
the new fan and design is just way better

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/cooling/heatsinksfans/13336-cm-hyper-212-evo-cpu-cooler-review?start=6

 

[torque79]

If I should have more psu power output for SLI, I'd rather pick that up now.

In case anyone else is shopping around I found a Fatal1ty 750w modular PSU for the same price as the Corsair tx750, but it also has flat cables for ease of cable management and a MIR lasting only this week:

OCZ OCZ750FTY 750W Fatal1ty Series Power Supply - 750 Watts, 80 Plus Bronze, SLI Ready (Dual GPU), 135mm double ball-bearing fan with red LED lighting
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6285097&csid=ITD&body=REBATES

 

[Why_Me]

That Corsair 600w Builders series psu is manufactured by CWT for Corsair and it's not normally a psu that would ever get recommended on here.


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/

This allows you to add another one of those cards later on in SLI.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=13220AC2351&vpn=OCZ-ZS750W&manufacture=OCZ $$86.26 MIR $71.26
OCZ ZS Series 750W ATX12V V2.2 24PIN ATX SLI Ready 80PLUS Bronze Performance Power Supply 135mm Fan

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950BD2247&vpn=Z68%20Extreme3%20Gen3&manufacture=Others $145.80
ASRock Z68 EXTREME3 GEN3 ATX LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E SATA3 USB3.0 SLI CrossFireX Motherboard

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/232639/BX80623I52500K/Intel/ $219.79
Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/237385/RR-212E-20PK-R1/COOLERMASTER/ $29.43
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo 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 $51.27
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/225965/DRW-24B1ST%20Bulk/ASUS/ $19.80
ASUS DRW-24B1ST 24X SATA DVD Writer OEM Black

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/233111/ST31000524AS/Seagate/ $52.79
Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 7200.12 1TB SATA 32MB Cache 3.5IN Internal Hard Drive OEM

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD9294&vpn=GV-N560OC-1GI&manufacture=GIGABYTE $244.69 MIR $214.69
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 560 Ti Fermi 900MHZ 1GB 4.0GHZ GDDR5 2XDVI Mini HDMI DIRECTX11 PCI-E Video Card

Total: $849.83 *not including rebates and tax

Here's a case worth looking at imo...

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11180AC6193&vpn=CC-9011011-WW&manufacture=CORSAIR $89.69
Corsair Carbide Series 400R Mid-Tower Case ATX 4X5.25 6X3.5INT USB 1394 No PS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139008 <----- that same Corsair case on the newegg US site

 

[torque79]

Why Me you are the MAN. you managed to save me around $100 and gave me new sources to look at for pc parts. Unfortunately ground shipping from the west coast will take a while to get to me in Toronto area but I've already been patient waiting for bulldozer, what's another couple of weeks. Your reply was immensely helpful, thanks.

 

[torque79]

Best answer selected by torque79.