$1800 gaming rig - are these good choices?

[jamessteinfeldt]

Approximate Purchase Date: December 2

Budget Range: $1500-$1800

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming!

Parts Not Required: Monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse, secondary hdd

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, or Tigerdirect


Parts Preferences: Prefer Intel for cpu, Nvidia for gpu, but could be convinced otherwise.

Overclocking: Yes; Just the cpu for now. Overclocking RAM seems unnecessary and the gpu comes overclocked, but maybe I'm wrong?

SLI or Crossfire: I was thinking of one graphics card for now, with the ability to add a second down the road.

Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Additional Comments: This will be my first time buildling a pc from scratch. I've upgraded or replaced nearly every component in a pc, but never built one from entirely new parts. So if you have advice on this I'd appreciate it as well. I've heard solid state drives require special attention during your initial setup to make them more efficient.

Intended Parts:

Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 DELUXE (REV 3.0)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131701
$224.99

CPU: Intel i7 2700k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115095
$100
I know that the 2700 is not necessary for gaming, but I'm getting this as part of an accommodation through Intel Retail Edge super cheap

CPU Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212 heatsink/fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
$29.99
I looked in to water cooling, but it doesn't seem worth it when viewing the risks/costs associated with it, but I could be convinced otherwise.

CPU Cooling: Second fan for Cooler Master H212
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103069
$16.99
This fan goes on the back of the H212 and provides cool air intake

Graphics: EVGA Superclocked GTX 580 1.5gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130590
$509
I've heard that the EVGA cards get super hot, and running them in SLI might not a great idea. I want to SLI down the road though. Thoughts?

SSD: OCZ Vertex 3 128gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227706
$299.99
Appears to be the fastest SSD out there, but might have one of the highest failure rates. I'm very open to better suggestions here. I want high performance, but I don't want to have to RMA anything.

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
$39.99
Seems like the best RAM for gaming without breaking the bank. Faster RAM might not even make a difference on my mobo?

Case: Cooler Master HAF X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225
$199.99

PSU: CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX1200 1200w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139014
$299.99
Probably overkill for the current setup, but keep in mind I will be adding a second GTX 580 in the future and I'm overclocking. Maybe a 1000w psu will be ok? Corsair's 1050w is about $80 cheaper, but I don't want to skimp now and screw myself over.

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
$99.99


Disc Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
$19.99



So what do you guys think of this rig? I want this computer primarily for gaming, and I want to be able to max out anything that's out right now at 1920x1080 at 60fps. Like I mentioned I plan on overclocking my cpu, and adding a second gtx 580 later, but I could be convinced to do a different setup. I listed the regular prices of all the items above (except that cpu I'm getting a deal on), because I'm not sure if they will be on sale when I make my purchase. I'd prefer to stay close to $1500, but $1800 is my max. And again, this is my first time building a rig from scratch so any advice in that department is welcome as well. Your help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[jamessteinfeldt]

bump?

 

[gripssl]

I am building a very similar rig at the moment...as well as planning on just adding another EVGA GTX 580 3GB should the time come as my only needed upgrade.

Everything looks great to me....my suggestions:

SSD - Crucial m4 256GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148443

The M4 is the best speed and reliability in 1 package you can get and for $80 more you double your drive space.

RAM - G. Skill Sniper 8GB CAS7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231459

I would do 16GBs if it were me because I just like having no shortage of RAM but you can always add later. The snipers CAS7 should be the best for gaming there is.

PSU - Corsair HX1050

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139034

This would save you about $80 and allow for the changes I suggested and stay within the price range. I don't think you will need the full 1200W PSU even when you do go to SLI. You already were leaning this way though.

The both of us are building a rig for the same reason only your price point is $1800 only I spent $2200 after taxes.

You are on the right track as far as my research tells me. You are just down to finalizing you preferences and pulling the trigger.

 

[danraies]

The HX1050 will be fine for two 580's and an overclock.

Dont' waste your money on CAS7 RAM. There's a black friday deal right now for a 16GB kit of CAS9 RAM for $65 (that is otherwise the same). Even if there's not a sale, you should still go CAS9 because the performance won't be any different with sandy bridge.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231315

I usually recommend the Crucial M4 128GB SSD (I have one myself) because they're proven to be reliable. If you go with the M4 you will not be disappointed. However there are some articles recently that give an edge to some others. The Samsung 830 and Patriot Wildfire are looking attractive lately.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-price-ssd,3070-6.html
The OCZ are very fast but they don't have a good reputation, and the real-world performance difference between the fastest SSD's and the mid-range SSD's do not even come close to making up for reliability differences.

 

[spentshells]

Simply get the 2600k and overclock the extra 200 mhz.
On a 1800 dollar build I will have to say get a better cooler for another 20 dollars.
Get 16GB of ram. It is so cheap and it barely affects your budget.
the 1050 watts PSU will be fine as mentioned above.
I know they are really pricey but you should get a HDD for storage.
Get this model GTX 580 card instead of what you have.
External exhaust is great but flippin loud.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127579

2700K for a 100 dollars ? Which truck is that off of.

 

[jamessteinfeldt]

Thanks for the advice guys. Sounds like I should probably go with the 1050w psu instead. The Crucial m4 looks like a better choice for the ssd as well.

As far as an extra hdd, I already have a 1tb wd caviar black that I'm putting in for files/docs. I'm not sure about 16gb of ram? I've never heard of a game using more than 8gb?

Also, as for the 2600k vs 2700k, I'm able to purchase the 2700k for $100, so it wouldn't make sense to pay $200 extra for the slower cpu.

 

[danraies]

You probably won't need 16GB of RAM today but a 4x4GB kit (1600mhz, CL9, 1.5V) is only $65 and you might need 16GB eventually. On the other hand, it's easy enough to get a 2x4GB kit today and then add a second 2x4GB kit if you ever need it.

 

[nonnac7]

You are correct that the evga 580 runs super hot(its because it is a reference cooler), if your looking for something that runs cooler at about the same price checkout the MSI N580GTX Lightning.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127579

 

[Somebody_007]

Get an 850w psu.

 

[danraies]

If you have any thoughts of ever overclocking do not get an 850W PSU for two 580's. 950W at least with plenty of power to the +12V rails.