$1000 Gaming PC, Battlefield 3 and SC2

[jguanz]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Approximate Purchase Date: This month (December 2011)

Budget Range: $1000 (with a little wiggle room)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (4-8 hours a week), media center, coding, web surfing.

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com, Amazon.com

Country: United States

Parts Preferences: Pretty open.

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I haven't built a new pc in a while. I'm aiming for something that will play Battlefield 3 at high at 1920x1080 (maybe ultra if I reflash the 6950?) and SC2. I also would very much like a quiet PC.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CPU:
Intel I5-2500k - $224.99

Motherboard:
Asrock Z68 Extreme3 - $124.99

RAM:
G.Skill 8gb 1600 - $43.99

SSD:
Corsair Force 3 60gb - $109.99

Graphics Card:
XFX HD 6950 - $270
NOTE: I've read about unlocking shader cores/reflashing the BIOS to make this behave like a 6970. Any comments on this are much appreciated, as this is probably the most 'iffy' part of the build for me. Thanks.

Case:
CM HAF-912 - $50

CPU Cooler:
CM Hyper 212+ - $25

Power Supply:
Cooler Master 600W silent PSU - $90

Total: ~$940

Thanks all for your help.

 

[jguanz]

PSU changed. Very curious if anyone has experience with the Cooler Master Silent Pro M600 RS-600-AMBA-D3 and if this will suit my needs if I decide to crossfire an additional 6950 flashed to 6970.

 

[raptorxrx]

The flashing won't work anymore. Just pay the extra or live with the 6950. As for your PSU, check jonnyguru.com, and hardwaresecrets.com. They have some of the best PSU review's out there. Cooler Master generally has crappy PSU's, and I would lean more torward's antec/corsair/seasonic/xfx. All depends on the PSU. And no xFire on a 600w psu.

 

[avieor]

You can no longer flash your 6950 card, so forget it. If you want an upgrade over the 6950 the gtx570 is what I would recommend. Otherwise, the 6950 will do fine.

 

[dragonfly789]

You can no longer flash your 6950 card, so forget it. If you want an upgrade over the 6950 the gtx570 is what I would recommend. Otherwise, the 6950 will do fine.

Second that. Totally agree with you.

GTX 570 will outperform the HD 6950. Since you have a little wiggle room in your budget, why not?

Still a brilliant rig if you go with what you original posted though. Apart from the PSU that is...

 

[raptorxrx]

Yes, the PSU isn't great. If you want to SLI/Crossfire look at Corsair's 850w offerings. And look at the Crucial M4 to the SSD you linked. In real world performance they'd seem the same, but the M4 is extremely reliable.

 

[aznshinobi]

Why do people think that Coolermaster PSUs suck? The Silent Pro series are one of the better modular PSUs out there, super quiet too. Sporting a 700w myself.

But if you want to CF you'll need at least a 750w, the 600w won't cut it. I'd get the OCZ ZS 750. One of the better priced good performing PSUs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341049

As for the GPU save a bit and go with the 6950 1GB version it'll save you some and still perform the same as the 6950 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125385
The 6950 is fine by itself. It has enough overclocking headroom to get to the same performance as the 6970 but of course that's if you want to overclock. I strongly suggest it. Plenty of youtube how-tos and google tuts. Google is your friend.

PS: I just noticed you said, IF you Crossfire, if you don't the 600w would be fine, the 750w I suggested is recommended if you Crossfire 6950's.

 

[aznshinobi]

Yes, the PSU isn't great. If you want to SLI/Crossfire look at Corsair's 850w offerings.

Don't want to flame, but back up this statement.
CM 600 Silent Pro reviews:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Cooler-Master-Silent-Pro-M-600-W-Power-Supply-Review/929/10
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=134

As for the CF/SLI, the 6950 has a TDP of 200w-210w and that's with overclocking.
You'd only need a 750w at most and that'll give you large headroom to overclock the CPU. Corsair PSUs are good, but terrible for the value. They price non-modular 750w's and the price of modular 750w's.
As of now the TX750 is $105, that's $5 more than modular PSUs that offer the same efficiency and performance. Usually Corsairs are even more expensive (about $10-$20 more).

OP This is probably better PSU for the price, modular for $100, Enermax being a solid buy.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194086

 

[raptorxrx]

Don't want to flame, but back up this statement.
CM 600 Silent Pro reviews:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Cooler-Master-Silent-Pro-M-600-W-Power-Supply-Review/929/10
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=134

As for the CF/SLI, the 6950 has a TDP of 200w-210w and that's with overclocking.
You'd only need a 750w at most and that'll give you large headroom to overclock the CPU. Corsair PSUs are good, but terrible for the value. They price non-modular 750w's and the price of modular 750w's.
As of now the TX750 is $105, that's $5 more than modular PSUs that offer the same efficiency and performance. Usually Corsairs are even more expensive (about $10-$20 more).

OP This is probably better PSU for the price, modular for $100, Enermax being a solid buy.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194086

You win.

But that doesn't put down Corsair. Yes they are more expensive, but that's because they replicate Seasonic. Oh and a have a Cooler Master too. Just a bad one, so that's why I'm not recommending them.

 

[aznshinobi]

Sorry if I came off as a dick, I just hate Corsair from their pricing. Also just wanted to clear up how much power you actually need for Crossfire with 6950s.

 

[jguanz]

Alright, I've decided to go with a GTX 570, and a Corsair 750w.

Corsair 750w - $105, $95 after rebate.

EVGA GTX 570 - $340

Aznshinobi, thank you for your input. The OCZ and Enermax are great deals, though I get an overwhelming popular vote for the Corsair, and it's only $5 more, and $5 less w/ rebate. So, hopefully I'm going a good route. Flame on if not. Thanks.

 

[raptorxrx]

Sorry if I came off as a dick, I just hate Corsair from their pricing. Also just wanted to clear up how much power you actually need for Crossfire with 6950s.

You didn't, you were right and made sure everybody knew the facts, it's all good. And OP, looks good with the 570 and Corsair PSU.

 

[jguanz]

Best answer selected by jguanz.