[New Build] ~$1300 - Gamer - First time builder - Currently using a P4

[dagoop]

Approximate Purchase Date: 11/21

Budget Range: $1300 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Games, Music, Videos

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers - I need new ones, if there's room for them I do need them all badly, I may be able to repair my Klipsch promedia 2.1s as I really enjoy their sound.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: None, no real experience although my last WD harddrive failed after only a year

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: I don't believe so, though I'm open to it.

Monitor Resolution: Depends, I need a new monitor too

Additional Comments: I've not been able to run a current game on max settings since 1999. I'm currently behind this sexy ride known as a pentium 4 with an AGP graphics card and a 19" CRT monitor.

I do need a decent mouse and keyboard. I've been playing on crap for a long time so if someone recommends even just a mediocre piece, it'll probably feel sexy to me. I have a pair of Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speakers. I've enjoyed them for years but something is wrong w/ the plug that goes into the input jack. I constantly have to twiddle it to make one speaker work. If I can fix it and get more life out of it, fine, but I am open to suggestions.

I am an audiophile. Good sound is important to me and I'm willing to pay for it. I'm open to the possibility of a sound card if we can make it happen though that might be something to just add down the road. I want to get this thing up and running Battlefield 3, Skyrim etc. with full-on sexytime.

I do plan on doing some minimal overclocking. I keep hearing that the i5-2500k is stupid easy to overclock so I'm going to give it a shot. No experience.

About the monitor : In the future I may want to watch tv on it. Should I bother with a gpu with a tuner on it now? Should I be looking in the television section for my screen? I don't own a tv. When I want to watch a show I just get the whole package from netflix or watch it on hulu or something.

Any help is appreciated, thank you so much.
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Motherboard : GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 ($169)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128498&Tpk=GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3]

Processor : Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz ($179.99 - sale at CompUSA)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072]

Memory : CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 ($44.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345]

Graphics card : MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti ($244.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565]

HDD: WD Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s ($149.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136283]

Optical Drive : ASUS 24X DVD Burner ($19.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204]

Case : Thermaltake Armor A60 Gaming Mid-Tower ($74.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133181&Tpk=VM20001W2Z]

Power : CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 ($94.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021]

Monitor : ASUS ML248H 24" 2ms ($199.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236111&Tpk=ML248H]

Windows 7 Home Premium - $99.99

 

[Emelth]

Your build is great I would just change the HDD to a Samsung Spinpoint F3 or a Seagate Barracuda

 

[dagoop]

Am I going to need any extra cooling? I see other people with similar builds recommend extra cooling and then I also see that the design of the ram I'm getting can possibly be too big to fit with a fan? Is that right or does it depend on the case?

 

[dagoop]

Last bump and some other things to consider.

After further research, I think I want to get a generation 3 motherboard or a board that can handle the upcoming technology, is that just defined as the PCIe-3.0?

Is my PSU beefy enough to handle SLI if I get another twin-frozr down the road?

Thank you.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

If you are going to overclock the Intel® Core™ I5-2500K you are going to want to add in a good 3rd party HSF (heatsink/fan). I have used the Cooler Master hyper 212+ on my Intel Core i7-2600K and it works well and has a nice price.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Yes your PSU should and handle another but it is close you can more to 850 to give you a little breathing room.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team