Another $2000 Battlefield 3 build

jbenton

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Nov 4, 2011
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Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next month

Budget Range: $2000 - slightly higher than this is ok

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (BF3), Downloading

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Not needed:

Speakers
Headset
OS

Country: US

Parts Preferences:

Fast SSD (120GB maybe?)
Very good GFX card...Starting out with 1 graphics card, might eventually get a 2nd card
Very Large slower drive to store extra data
Monitor needed - 24" to 27"
Case: Thermaltake Level 10 GT?

Overclocking: No

Cooling: No liquid cooling

SLI or Crossfire: Possible in the future

Monitor Resolution: Pretty high

Additional Comments:

Motherboard LGA 2011 just came out, but it is probably too early, or unnecessary, to get it?
 

Area85Gaming

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Nov 11, 2011
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Are you going for a single or surround monitor setup?

-1 on the TT Level 10 GT. It's a HUGE case with a lot of unneeded space and a price you can afford not to pay, spend the money on something else.

SSD: Crucial M4 128GB

Video Card: MSI Lightning GeForce GTX 580 Twin Frozr III for single monitor setup, ASUS Radeon HD 6970 for 3-screen setup.

HDD: Seagate Barracuda XT 3TB 7200RPM 64MB cache

Monitor: 27" Samsung P2770HD (Single monitor setup), 3x ASUS VE247H 23.6" (Multi-monitor setup) --- Both are 1920x1080

CPU: Intel i5-2500K 3.3GHz (3.7Ghz Turbo Boost)

Cooler: Noctua NH-D14

Case: I have problems with cases myself. Find yourself a good, cheap, but well reviewed and well liked case to suits you. The Level 10 GT is just overkill.

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 8GB or Corsair Vengeance 8GB (whatever your preference is)

MoBo: ASRock Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155

I would wait on the LGA2011, seeing as the market is still fresh for it.
 

jbenton

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Totally awesome suggestions...

1x 6970 (comes with free copy of BF3 :D )
$400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102956

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

SSD Hard Drive (128GB)
$210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

16GB (4x4) 2133Mhz G.Skill
$170
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231473

ASRock Z68 Extreme Motherboard
$125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

1kW Modular Power Supply
$180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182239

Cooler Master HAF Adv
$140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

Nocturna CPU Fan
$87
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

27" Samsung Black Rose
$300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001392

TOTAL: $1827

I know I left off a few things (case fans, keyboard, etc).
But this is what I have so far.

Do you see any problems/incompatibilites yet?
 

gmcizzle

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$400 for a 6970 is high, even if it does include BF3. Also, $170 for RAM is totally unnecessary, get 2x 4gb now and another set if you need more way down the road. Spending $50 on RAM and putting the extra $100 into a GTX 580 is a much better option. 5ms monitors are not gaming monitors, you want a 2ms one, here are some option:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236123
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236103

If you want a 120hz refresh rate monitor, which is very good for gaming and 3D ready, and don't have to have > 23" then go with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236104
 

jbenton

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@geekapproved
I read somewhere that faster RAM freq = better performance. Might be only barely (unnoticeably) better, if at all. I will recompute for 1600RAM

@gmcizzle
Good ideas. I was thinking of eventually adding a 2nd GFX card, but in the meantime, a 580 will give me super performance by itself. I will recompute for one of the monitors you suggested.


Thank you all for your invaluable feedback!!!!
 

jbenton

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Nov 4, 2011
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It looks like I can do this build, and I still have some money left over. (current subtotal is at $1800).

1x EVGA 580 GTX 1.5GB DDR5
$490
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-130-587

i5-2500K 3.3GHz
$215
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

SSD Hard Drive (128GB)
$210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

8GB (2x4GB) 1600 G.Skill
$110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231459

ASRock Z68 Extreme Motherboard
$125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

1kW Modular Power Supply
$180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182239

Cooler Master HAF Adv
$140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

Nocturna CPU Fan
$87
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

Asus 25" 2ms Monitor (the 23" 120Hz is still under consideration)
$260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236123

Total $1817

I will wait a few months before buying a $430 3TB HD, so I won't include that here.

The main purpose of the system from the start was gaming.

I might do a little bit of Photoshop work on the side.
I might also do a little bit of game-screen-movie capturing using FRAPS or GameCam while playing BF3.

With these considerations in mind, (esp. the video capturing/recording while gaming), should I add something else to the system? More RAM maybe?
 

gmcizzle

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I would go with a Corsair PSU personally, something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139034&Tpk=corsair%201050w if you wanted to SLI your 580 down the road.

Everything else looks good, although you are paying a high premium on the memory for lower timings, which won't make much difference in gaming. You could get 8gb of RAM for $45 but if you want the better timings then stick with those.
 

jbenton

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Nov 4, 2011
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About ready to buy. You all are awesome! Thank you so much for the suggestions!

Changed to recommended card, recommended (normally) timed ram, cheaper case, added a good BD burner.


1x MSI 580 GTX 1.5GB DDR5
$500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127579

i5-2500K 3.3GHz
$215
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

SSD Hard Drive (128GB)
$210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

8GB (2x4GB) 1600 G.Skill
$45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

ASRock Z68 Extreme Motherboard
$125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

Corsair 1kW Modular Power Supply
$210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139034

Cooler Master HAF Advanced Case
$140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

Nocturna ND CPU Fan
$87
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

Asus 25" 2ms Monitor
$260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236123

LiteOn BD/DVD
$95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106346

Razer Imperator 6400dpi Mouse
$75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826153079

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Keyboard
$130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823114012

3M Mouse Pad
$5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826998093


Total: $2097