Advice on New Build (~ $2000)

[aktennisswag]

Hey guys, I'm building my first PC and I need some advice on parts. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next 2 weeks


Budget Range: $1500 - $2000


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Demanding games, internet surfing, watching movies


Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, speakers


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: Nvidia Graphics, Intel processors


Overclocking: No


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe


Monitor Resolution: Not yet determined, might be used with 1080p HDTV

Additional Comments: First time building PC, needs to be easy to put together. Must be able to play demanding games (BF3, Crysis) on ultra settings, and please comment on anything that I need to improve/add (fans, extra accessories). Thanks in advance

So far I have:

Motherboard
ASUS Sabertooth X58 - $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665
CPU
Intel Core i7 - 2600 Sandy Bridge - $300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115071
RAM
G. Skill Ripjaws series 16 GB - $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231312
Video Card
EVGA GeForce 580 GTX - $500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130587
Sound Card
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty - $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019
Hard Drive
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200 RPM - $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284
DVD Burner
ASUS 24X DVD drive - $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
Case

Cooler Master HAF 922
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
Power Supply

Antec 900w - $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371050
OS

Windows 7 64 bit - $220

 

[cutebeans]

Get a i5-2500. No difference in gaming with the i7

You chose a 1366 socket. You need 1155.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131711

Get this 8gb. 16gb for gaming won't help anything.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

Get this 500gb and wait till HDD prices come down.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701

You don't need a soundcard and just get windows 7home premium. Chances are you won't even use the features of the ultimate edition.

 

[nd_hunter]

Here's a decent rig for $1700, leaving a little left over for a nice monitor, if you so choose. A couple notes...even though you said no to overclocking, the CPU is unlocked if you change your mind in the future. It really is quite simple on this platform. Whether you overclock or not, the aftermarket cooler will keep your CPU cooler than stock which will increase its lifespan. This budget calls for an SSD, and word around is that the 128GB Crucial M4 is the best for price/performance. The PSU might seem quite large for a single-GPU system, but it is a great unit and will allow for a second GTX 580 be added later on. The motherboard also allows for SLI.

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
$214.99

CPU Cooler: Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
$34.99

MOBO: ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157264
$199.99 ($10 MIR available)

RAM: 8GB (2x4GB) Corsair Vengeance Low Profile DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
$49.99

GPU: EVGA SuperClocked GTX 580
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130615
$499.99

SSD: 128GB Crucial M4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148448
$214.99

HDD: 500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.12
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701
$59.99

Optical: Sony Optiarc 24x DVD Burner w/ LightScribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040
$19.99

PSU: OCZ ZX Series 1000W Fully-Modular 80PLUS Gold
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341045
$199.99 ($30 MIR available, 10% off with promo code OCZModular, ends 11/6)

Case: Corsair Carbide 500R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009
$139.99 ($15 MIR available, $10 off with promo code EMCJKHJ27, ends 10/27)

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
$99.99

TOTAL: $1734.89 before tax/shipping/rebates.

Here's a nice 27" 1920x1080 LED monitor by ASUS with a quick 2ms response
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236103
$329.99

 

[aktennisswag]

I think I will end up just going for this build. It's cheaper, and probably makes more sense than my layout. Any idea of how easy a build this would be?

 

[Atotalnoob]

FYI, you don't need to buy a sound card.

You need get a Spinpoint F3. I'd go for a 1TB model.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

have you ever though of a tri monitor setup? here is a comparison- http://promos.asus.com/US/Eyefinity/index.htm
Gateway 21.5" 2ms- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824113023 x3=420$

i5 2500k- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 215$

Asrock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271 125$ still an 8+4 phase board, same as the extreme4

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099 35$

Gskill Sniper 8gb 1600mhz- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416 47$

Corsair Force 3 120gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233206 180$

Seagate 500gb hdd- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701 60$

Sony 24x DVD Burner- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040 20$

Silverstone Raven RV03- http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Extended-90-Degree-Motherboard-Mounting/dp/B005JW6VUW/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1319687806&sr=1-3 140$

Gigabyte 6970 2gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125394 x2=680$

Seasonic 850w PSU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151100 125$

Total=2047$

 

[nd_hunter]

have you ever though of a tri monitor setup? here is a comparison- http://promos.asus.com/US/Eyefinity/index.htm
Gateway 21.5" 2ms- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824113023 x3=420$

i5 2500k- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 215$

Asrock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271 125$ still an 8+4 phase board, same as the extreme4

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099 35$

Gskill Sniper 8gb 1600mhz- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416 47$

Corsair Force 3 120gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233206 180$

Seagate 500gb hdd- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701 60$

Sony 24x DVD Burner- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040 20$

Silverstone Raven RV03- http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Extended-90-Degree-Motherboard-Mounting/dp/B005JW6VUW/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1319687806&sr=1-3 140$

Gigabyte 6970 2gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125394 x2=680$

Seasonic 850w PSU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151100 125$

Total=2047$

^^I like this build, but the OP wants nVidia . The Extreme3 is a nice board, but it lacks a USB 3.0 header which is why I edited my post and changed that to the Extreme4. I also changed the case from an RV03 to the Carbide 500R...figured that might be easier for the OP...?

 

[nd_hunter]

I think I will end up just going for this build. It's cheaper, and probably makes more sense than my layout. Any idea of how easy a build this would be?

I don't think this will be difficult at all. Just make sure to read through the following guides before you start. It might also help to watch a few youtube videos. That will give you the visual aspect of building a computer.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/274745-31-step-step-guide-building <--Guide to building a rig
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-boot-video-problems <--Troubleshooting guide

 

[mjmjpfaff]

^^I like this build, but the OP wants nVidia . The Extreme3 is a nice board, but it lacks a USB 3.0 header which is why I edited my post and changed that to the Extreme4. I also changed the case from an RV03 to the Carbide 500R...figured that might be easier for the OP...?

the rv03 doesnt have that header it has usb cables that plug right into the usb in the back so that is why i picked it over the 500r. and because it is one of the best air cooled cases on the market

 

[aktennisswag]

Best answer selected by aktennisswag.