Hello,
I'm looking to build a PC for gaming and here's the checklist I found on this forum. Sorry it'll be a bit long!
Approximate Purchase Date: Week of Nov 7th, 2011
Budget Range: $1500
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming
Parts Not Required: DVDROM, Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: www.tigerdirect.ca, www.ncix.com
I did, if not all, my searches on TigerDirect so maybe some parts NCIX will be cheaper.
Country of Origin: Canada
Overclocking: Yes
SLI or Crossfire: No, but possible in the future so I better get a CrossfireX-Ready MB
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Here's the list of parts I'm looking at... please advise on what should be modified and why. Thanks!
CPU:
Intel Core i7-2600K BX80623I72600K Unlocked Processor - Quad Core, 8MB L3 Cache, 1MB L2 Cache, 3.40 GHz (3.80 GHz Max Turbo), Socket H2 (LGA1155), 95W, Fan, Retail - $320
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7073159&Sku=I69-2600K
CPU FAN:
Cooler Master RR-212E-20PK-R1 Hyper 212 EVO Universal CPU Cooler - 120mm Fan w/ PWM, LGA 1366, 1156, 1155, 775, FM1, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2 - $42
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1284316&CatId=798
or something cheaper
Corsair CAFA50 A50 Air Series Performance CPU Cooler - 120mm, LGA 775, LGA 1366, LGA 1156, AM2, AM3 - $30
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6101294&CatId=493
or maybe hydro?
Corsair CW-9060001-WW Hydro H40 CPU Liquid Cooler - Socket LGA775, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1366, AM2, AM3, FM1 - $60
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1241960&CatId=499
MB:
GIGABYTE GA-Z68AP-D3 Intel Z68 Motherboard - ATX, Socket H2 (LGA1155), Intel Z68 Express, DDR3 2133MHz, SATA 6.0 Gb/s, RAID, 7.1-CH Audio, Gigabit LAN, SuperSpeed USB 3.0, CrossFireX Ready - $110
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1165562&CatId=7212
PSU:
Corsair CMPSU-650TXV2 Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 Power Supply - 650 Watts, ATX, 140mm Fan, 80 Plus Bronze, SLI Ready, Active PFC - $85
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7195036&CatId=1483
SSD:
Corsair CSSD-F120GBGT-BK Force GT Series Solid State Drive - 120GB, 2.5", SATA III, 6Gbps - $190
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=744446&CatId=5300
or
OCZ VTX3-25SAT3-120G Vertex 3 Solid State Drive - 120GB, 2.5", SATA III - $200
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=91218&CatId=5300
HDD:
Seagate ST31000524AS Barracuda Hard Drive - 1TB, SATA 6Gbps, 7200 RPM, 32MB - $140
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=61389&CatId=2459
VCARD:
Sapphire 100312-3SR Radeon HD 6950 Video Card - 2GB, DDR5, PCI-Express 2.1 (x16), HDMI, Dual DVI, DisplayPort, DirectX 11, Dual-Slot, CrossFireX Ready, FREE Dirt3 Game Download Coupon - I already have this, no change! Bought it for $270 before tax
RAM:
Corsair CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 Vengeance 8GB PC12800 DDR3 RAM - 1600MHz, 2x4096MB, Non-ECC, Unbuffered - $70
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7025810&CatId=3473
or
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory - $53
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=44267&vpn=F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL&manufacture=G.Skill
CASE:
What's a good case that looks good, can fit the parts (long video card, huge cpu fan), and cheap! Check out TigerDirect.ca or NCIX.com and let me know!
Ok so that's my list. For the video card, I unlocked it to a 6970 and using 6970 speeds (880mhz/1375mhz). I'm thinking of getting a CPU fan because I want to OC it. What I'm wondering is that since the stock CPU can Turbo Boost to 3.8ghz, that means stock fan can handle when it's running at 3.8ghz? So only if I want to OC over 3.8ghz should I get the CPU fan?
As for the motherboard, I'm not sure what to get but I want to use SSD SATAIII so what's the best motherboard for that? I chose this one cause it's the cheapest Z68 w/crossfire ready, DDR3 2133mhz (could be 1600mhz), USB 3.0, etc.
For the RAM, I read that since the CPU can only support up to 1333mhz, there's no use of getting anything faster. But I've also read it's good to get 1600mhz as long as the volts is 1.5v or less. I think the G.Skill might be better for a cheaper price but TigerDirect doesn't have them. Maybe I'll just hop over to NCIX for them if they're really better.
Lastly, I always tend to cheap out on the PSU but I believe this one I have should be good. It's Tier 2 from this site (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?108088-Official-XS-Power-Supply-Ranking-Phase-I) and it's only $85 so I think I can live with that.
Please comment or give suggestions to what I can improve/cheap out on and why!
Thanks in advance!!!
B.
I'm looking to build a PC for gaming and here's the checklist I found on this forum. Sorry it'll be a bit long!
Approximate Purchase Date: Week of Nov 7th, 2011
Budget Range: $1500
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming
Parts Not Required: DVDROM, Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: www.tigerdirect.ca, www.ncix.com
I did, if not all, my searches on TigerDirect so maybe some parts NCIX will be cheaper.
Country of Origin: Canada
Overclocking: Yes
SLI or Crossfire: No, but possible in the future so I better get a CrossfireX-Ready MB
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Here's the list of parts I'm looking at... please advise on what should be modified and why. Thanks!
CPU:
Intel Core i7-2600K BX80623I72600K Unlocked Processor - Quad Core, 8MB L3 Cache, 1MB L2 Cache, 3.40 GHz (3.80 GHz Max Turbo), Socket H2 (LGA1155), 95W, Fan, Retail - $320
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7073159&Sku=I69-2600K
CPU FAN:
Cooler Master RR-212E-20PK-R1 Hyper 212 EVO Universal CPU Cooler - 120mm Fan w/ PWM, LGA 1366, 1156, 1155, 775, FM1, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2 - $42
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1284316&CatId=798
or something cheaper
Corsair CAFA50 A50 Air Series Performance CPU Cooler - 120mm, LGA 775, LGA 1366, LGA 1156, AM2, AM3 - $30
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6101294&CatId=493
or maybe hydro?
Corsair CW-9060001-WW Hydro H40 CPU Liquid Cooler - Socket LGA775, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1366, AM2, AM3, FM1 - $60
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1241960&CatId=499
MB:
GIGABYTE GA-Z68AP-D3 Intel Z68 Motherboard - ATX, Socket H2 (LGA1155), Intel Z68 Express, DDR3 2133MHz, SATA 6.0 Gb/s, RAID, 7.1-CH Audio, Gigabit LAN, SuperSpeed USB 3.0, CrossFireX Ready - $110
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1165562&CatId=7212
PSU:
Corsair CMPSU-650TXV2 Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 Power Supply - 650 Watts, ATX, 140mm Fan, 80 Plus Bronze, SLI Ready, Active PFC - $85
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7195036&CatId=1483
SSD:
Corsair CSSD-F120GBGT-BK Force GT Series Solid State Drive - 120GB, 2.5", SATA III, 6Gbps - $190
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=744446&CatId=5300
or
OCZ VTX3-25SAT3-120G Vertex 3 Solid State Drive - 120GB, 2.5", SATA III - $200
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=91218&CatId=5300
HDD:
Seagate ST31000524AS Barracuda Hard Drive - 1TB, SATA 6Gbps, 7200 RPM, 32MB - $140
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=61389&CatId=2459
VCARD:
Sapphire 100312-3SR Radeon HD 6950 Video Card - 2GB, DDR5, PCI-Express 2.1 (x16), HDMI, Dual DVI, DisplayPort, DirectX 11, Dual-Slot, CrossFireX Ready, FREE Dirt3 Game Download Coupon - I already have this, no change! Bought it for $270 before tax
RAM:
Corsair CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 Vengeance 8GB PC12800 DDR3 RAM - 1600MHz, 2x4096MB, Non-ECC, Unbuffered - $70
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7025810&CatId=3473
or
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory - $53
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=44267&vpn=F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL&manufacture=G.Skill
CASE:
What's a good case that looks good, can fit the parts (long video card, huge cpu fan), and cheap! Check out TigerDirect.ca or NCIX.com and let me know!
Ok so that's my list. For the video card, I unlocked it to a 6970 and using 6970 speeds (880mhz/1375mhz). I'm thinking of getting a CPU fan because I want to OC it. What I'm wondering is that since the stock CPU can Turbo Boost to 3.8ghz, that means stock fan can handle when it's running at 3.8ghz? So only if I want to OC over 3.8ghz should I get the CPU fan?
As for the motherboard, I'm not sure what to get but I want to use SSD SATAIII so what's the best motherboard for that? I chose this one cause it's the cheapest Z68 w/crossfire ready, DDR3 2133mhz (could be 1600mhz), USB 3.0, etc.
For the RAM, I read that since the CPU can only support up to 1333mhz, there's no use of getting anything faster. But I've also read it's good to get 1600mhz as long as the volts is 1.5v or less. I think the G.Skill might be better for a cheaper price but TigerDirect doesn't have them. Maybe I'll just hop over to NCIX for them if they're really better.
Lastly, I always tend to cheap out on the PSU but I believe this one I have should be good. It's Tier 2 from this site (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?108088-Official-XS-Power-Supply-Ranking-Phase-I) and it's only $85 so I think I can live with that.
Please comment or give suggestions to what I can improve/cheap out on and why!
Thanks in advance!!!
B.