Building New i5 System for around $800

[BASIQ]

[strike]Looking for some help with my new system.

About Me:
I do lots of web graphic design. with Photoshop and Dreamweaver CS5
My main and only browser is Firefox 7. I have lots of addons
I use iTunes for music since I have an iPod Classic, Nano, Shuffle, iPad and iPod Touch.
I am actively playing AOE Online, RAGE, TF2, Minecraft, L4D2, Crysis2, Dues Ex and Dead Island
Monitors are a pair of Asus 24" monitors running 3840x1080 via DVI.
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Finally I am going to be running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and I don't mind onboard Audio and Ethernet.


My Current Build
CPU: C2D E7400 2.8 Wolfdale [OC'd to 3.2]
MBD: Asus P5Q [P45/LGA775/SATA3/USB2]
GPU: Radeon 5750 1GB [PCI Express 2.0x16]
RAM: 2x2GB A-Data DDR2-800 Plus 2x1GB Kingston DDR2-667
HDD: 1x100GB 7200RPM | 2x2TB 5400RPM | 1x1TB 7200RPM | 1x650GB 5400RPM
CASE: Cooler Master Centurion 534 Case

This one will be sold to my brother, so I don't want to upgrade it.


My New Build
CPU: i5 2400 3.1 Sandy Bridge [Stock]
MBD: ASRock P67 EXTREME4 [P67/LGA1155/SATA6/USB3]
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 460 Superclocked 1GB
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB)
CASE: Rosewill CHALLENGER Mid Tower
HDD: WD 500GB 7200RPM SATA6 [Plus all above drives except the 100GB]
PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W
-------------------------------------------------
$747.40 plus shipping. [$697.4 after MIR's]

I am thinking of downgrading the Motherboard to the MSI P67A-C43 though. It would save around $45
I want quality and power, but I dont need the newest ultimate best, top of the line stuff either.
I am looking for something that's fast and powerful, but would prefer to spend under $800.[/strike]

You guys being almost no help in my thread, caused me to do tons of research on my own. Which I thought was the point of asking experts in the first place..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130571
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795

As of this moment, the build will cost me
$753.69 after instant rebates
$698.69 after Mail In Rebates
$626.69 after newcustomer10 rebates

 

[funguseater]

You system looks good but I would spring for the 2500K so you could overclock it and easily improve performance.

 

[BASIQ]

You system looks good but I would spring for the 2500K so you could overclock it and easily improve performance.

Well, I am now considering it.
Do you really think OC'ng will be that big of a boost in the future? According to the CPU chart, there is like NO difference between the 2400 and the 2500 at least at stock speeds. The 2500 can OC to like 5.7GHz while the 2400 only goes to 3.99GHz but it seems that these days the bottleneck is in the GPU and if you get a better one you can keep up with the current games and so on.

I upgrade my GPU yearly and right up until RAGE, I never had any lagging or FPS issues.
My GPU overheated and now has annoying artifacts but the overall system kicks most games asses.


Also, with the motherboards. I am no longer considering the MSI P67A-C43 as an optional board as it has NO front panel USB 3 ports. WTF right? I am still up for a cheaper MOBO but I would prefer front panel USB3 [unless there's a reason why I don't need it]

 

[BASIQ]

Now I am in debate over these 3 motherboards
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130571
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157229

And these power supply's
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371048
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153116

Also, someone said my hard drive choice is bad... Why?
I am SO freaking confused xD I am normally good at computers but this domain I am a little rusty on...

 

[Guest]

I recommend xfx or seasonic power supplies. Seasonic makes high quality power supplies. Xfx is made by seasonic.

XFX $89 before mir. $59 after.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207014

 

[Guest]

I personally buy either asus or msi mobos. I've personally found asrocks flimsy. I don't know about gigabyte though.

 

[Silvune]

I think the Asrock Z68 Extreme3 gets recommended a lot round here because it is feature rich and is good value.

I don't think the HDD is a bad choice.

Thermaltake are not really the sort of brand where you can buy a unit that is not in one of their known good lines (such as Toughpower XT and Toughpower Grand) without seeing a high quality review for it first. So discount that.

I don't see any reason to pay more for the 700W ModXStream over the 600W version as functionally they are identical (same number of connectors, same lengths etc), it isn't significantly more powerful (the 600MXS has 504W combined on it's 12V rails, the 700MXS has 554W combined).

The 600MXS has the advantage over the Antec HCG-620 of being modular, but the HCG-620 has the advantage of having longer cables (50/65cm to first connector vs 45cm - which will make cable managing easier), having a higher temperature rating (50C vs 40C) and being more efficient. You will have to balance whether any of these things is worth the price difference between them.

 

[FinneousPJ]

You need at least a 6950 for that dual monitor setup...

 

[BASIQ]

You need at least a 6950 for that dual monitor setup...

I agree, but I only tend to use one monitor when I game, I disable the other.
Dual screen gaming sucks. Trippe monitor gaming is awesome but I am not ready to drop that kind of cash.

 

[BASIQ]

Best answer selected by BASIQ.

 

[BASIQ]

Final Build Specs. Purchased from Newegg/eBay today

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz
ASUS P8P67 LE REV3 [P67/LGA1155/SATA6/USB3]
PNY NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1 GB W/3D Vision
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W High Performance
WD Caviar Black 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s
Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower

All for $691.41 [After $25 MIR]