Final Check on Gaming PC

[usncooper]

CPU: i5 2500k

MOBO: ASRock Z68 Extreme3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

GPU XFX Radeon HD 6950 1gb dual fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150552

PSU: PC Power and Cooling Silencer 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703026

RAM: G Skills 8gb (2x4gb)
240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

Case: Rosewill Challenger

HD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint 1 TB 7200RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Optical: SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner 22X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233

Are all components compatible? Does it look like the best build for my money?
Main concerns are PSU, MOBO, and GPU..
Plan to order this evening! Thanks for the help!
(Budget of ~$850)

Also, anyone have an idea of what kind of frame rates or general overall performance I might see?

 

[Outlander_04]

the rosewill challenger is the case equivalent of a 3 legged mongrel dog .

Id spend a little more on a quality case

 

[usncooper]

Recommendation? The rest of the components are okay then?

 

[Outlander_04]

Budget quality case
Antec 300
or Antec 300 illusion
Coolermaster HAF 912

The rest of the build hits the sweet spot for price and performance and quality exactly right .

 

[usncooper]

Def. gunna spend the extra 10 bucks on the antec 300 illusion.. thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Mvx15n]

I recommend to get at least a 750w PSU just in case you want to crossfire the 6950.

 

[Deallean]

Also, why that brand of 6950? Go with the Sapphire instead, 10 bucks cheaper, better brand IMO, and just as good:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102949

 

[usncooper]

Rodger that about the PSU. Looking into those now.. also, and I don't know how I didn't think of this before. Should I look into CPU Cooler? Hyper 212+ or evo?

 

[Deallean]

If you save the 10$ on the card, I would recommend picking up an Asus board as well:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131706

 

[Why_Me]

the rosewill challenger is the case equivalent of a 3 legged mongrel dog .

Id spend a little more on a quality case

:lol: +1

 

[Deallean]

Rodger that about the PSU. Looking into those now.. also, and I don't know how I didn't think of this before. Should I look into CPU Cooler? Hyper 212+ or evo?

Hyper 212+ is a great cooler especially if you can get it on a discount, although 50$ is good still too.

 

[usncooper]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Theres the Hyper 212+ for $26..

Although I was pretty set on the board I had chosen.. any reasoning behind why you recommended the Asus board?

About the card.. I'm familiar with the XFX brand.. never dealt with sapphire.. You folks are always knowledgeable however. Anyone else to back Sapphire?

 

[Deallean]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Theres the Hyper 212+ for $26..

Although I was pretty set on the board I had chosen.. any reasoning behind why you recommended the Asus board?

About the card.. I'm familiar with the XFX brand.. never dealt with sapphire.. You folks are always knowledgeable however. Anyone else to back Sapphire?

I would pick up that 212+ without looking back, excellent price! And on second thought go with XFX, they have a good warranty and if you are used to them thats great too The Asus board is great for overclocking, lots of support for it in the OC community too, plus its just an excellent brand.

 

[usncooper]

Agree entirely with the Asus being an excellent brand. I'll look into that card more! Also, the 212+ is in the cart.

 

[usncooper]

Question! Should I reconsider a GTX 560 ti? I have no preference between ATI or nVidia.. discuss!

 

[striker410]

You're fine with ASRock. ASRock is actually Asus' budget line. Nothing can touch the featureset of the Extreme3 at that price IMO.
I second XFX, they make superior cards. Not to say that Sapphire isn't a good brand, though.

Eh, the 560 Ti is better when overclocked, but the 6950 wins at stock. If you play multi monitor, then the 6950 wins without a doubt. It's pretty even.

 

[usncooper]

Not planning on overclocking to be honest.. a bit hesitant to push limits on expensive parts. Any idea what kind of performance will be achievable with the build at hand guys?

 

[striker410]

Well if you're gaming, it's all probably gonna boil down to the GPU. Your CPU is plenty fast. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/331?i=188.191.194.200.206.210.213.216.219.238 According to this, you should see decent performance at 1080p.

 

[Why_Me]

You're fine with ASRock. ASRock is actually Asus' budget line. Nothing can touch the featureset of the Extreme3 at that price IMO.
I second XFX, they make superior cards. Not to say that Sapphire isn't a good brand, though.

Eh, the 560 Ti is better when overclocked, but the 6950 wins at stock. If you play multi monitor, then the 6950 wins without a doubt. It's pretty even.

Asrock hasn't had anything to do with Asus for almost two years now. They split ways and Asrock is gaining on Asus in a fast way.

 

[striker410]

Oh really? Damn, I'm outta the loop. Nice catch.

 

[usncooper]

Earlier it was brought up that I should consider a 750W PSU.. anyone have any recommendations?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341049
This one has good reviews, however, not very many of them.

To the Asus/ASRock bit.. ASRock is a safe bet for the MOBO then? Can all (or atleast most) agree on this?

 

[Why_Me]

Earlier it was brought up that I should consider a 750W PSU.. anyone have any recommendations?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341049
This one has good reviews, however, not very many of them.

To the Asus/ASRock bit.. ASRock is a safe bet for the MOBO then? Can all (or atleast most) agree on this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341049 $99.99 - $74.99 after mail-in rebate card FREE SHIPPING
OCZ ZS Series OCZ-ZS750W 750W ATX12V v2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Performance Power Supply

Save some money on that asrock board ...

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-Z68E3G3 $124.99 Free Shipping
ASRock Z68 EXTREME3 GEN3 LGA1155

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

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

 

[usncooper]

You guys are great. Really think I'm doing the best I can for my money. Going to post the final build here for one last scan by all who cares.

CPU: i5 2500k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

MOBO: ASRock Z68 Extreme 3 Gen 3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

GPU: XFX Radeon HD 6950 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150552

PSU: OCZ ZS Series 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341049

Case: Antec 300 Illusion
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

RAM: GSkills Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2x4GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

CPU Cooler: Hyper 212+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

HD: Samsung Spinpoint 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Optical: Samsung DVD/CD Burdner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233

All compatible/ready to rage o some BF3, I hope!
Going to Crossfire the 6950's in the near future.

 

[striker410]

Looks good!