$1500 Gaming Rig

[mrwhit30ut]

Approximate Purchase Date: Very soon, Like Next week maybe.

Budget Range: $1500 give or take a few for extra performance

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Video Editing

Parts Not Required: Just the system is part of the $1500 budget, I will get peripherals in a second budget, which I will list my choices below the build.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Tigerdirect (One by my house), Microcenter (One by my house).

Country: (e.g.: India) America.

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, Nvidia GPU

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Most definetly

Monitor Resolution: HD (1920 x 1080p)

Additional Comments: I am super OCD about cable management, and I am very particular about which case I am going to get. Also right now because of the prices of HDDs I will only be getting an 120 SSD, don't worry, I am good at not downloading stuff. All parts are off newegg for now, just to check prices.

Computer:

CPU: Intel i5 2500k(Combo with MoBo)

Cooling:CM Hyper 212 Evo

Thermal Goo:Arctic Silver 5

MoBo:Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD4 (Combo with Processor)

GPU:MSI GTX 580 Lightning Edition

RAM:G.Skill Sniper 8GB (will probably buy a second set eventually)

SDD:Corsair Force Series GT 120GB

Case:Corsair Obsidian 650D

PSU:Corsair AX850(Combo With Case)

Disk Drive:Asus 24x OEM

Peripherals
Keyboard: Razer Black Widow Ultimate
Mouse: Razer Mamba
Monitor: Any Suggestions?
Headphones: Razer Tiamat 7.1(Not released yet, slated for Q4) or Steelseries Siberia V2 Diablo 3 Edition

Just give me your opinions and suggestions, And advice on building computers is cool too.

 

[spentshells]

You can use a smaller power supply if you want to save a few dollars.
Get a better cooler since this is a high end gaming machine
Scythe mugen 3 or the latest cooler master 612
These are better coolers and only 10 dollars more.
Thermal paste I will suggest getting Arctic silver mx4 or better.
The burn in process for the AC5 is a waste of time.
As for a monitor I like bigger screens so I'd say buy a tv. 32" or something.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

I don't know if I really need a better cooler, but I will definitely switch the paste to the MX4. I just would like a monitor for now because I will eventually have 3 of them. and A smaller power supply will hold GTX 580 SLI?

 

[spentshells]

Sorry I did not see that you were looking to do SLI if so I would stick with the 850 or even a more powerful model.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Well your PSU is a wee bit too small for SLI.....not a single 850 watter on nVidia's approved list

http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html

2nd RAM set (16GB) won't help you in gaming

The 212 is a great budget cooler but $1500 deserves a better one methinks....

$25 Hyper 212
$50 Scythe Mugen 3 (5-7C better than 212)
$50 Hyper 612 (6-8C better than 212)
$80 Thermalright Silver Arrow (7-10C better than 212)

The 612 has finally arrived here in the US and given it's performance, I'd jump on the 212's big bruddah in a heartbeat

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=797&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=4

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1683510310

I'd also drop the AS5 for Shin Etsu..... same thermal properties but w/o AS5's 200 hours of thermal cycling curing issue.....who wants to wait a cupla months before dialing in ya OC's.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm

Due to the unique shape and sizes of the particles in Arctic Silver 5's conductive matrix, it will take a up to 200 hours and several thermal cycles to achieve maximum particle to particle thermal conduction and for the heatsink to CPU interface to reach maximum conductivity.

Shin Etsu has same thermal performance but w/o the curing issue.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=12

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150080

 

[Why_Me]

I don't know if I really need a better cooler, but I will definitely switch the paste to the MX4. I just would like a monitor for now because I will eventually have 3 of them. and A smaller power supply will hold GTX 580 SLI?

A few changes I can see to that build. btw all Cooler Master cpu coolers come with a small tube of excellent thermal compound... TX -2 I believe.

If you plan you plan on eventually running three monitors you want a 3GB 580 for the extra VRAM at high resolution. MSI has a great one...the Lightening Xtreme Edition.

And although an 850w psu will push two of those cards it will run hot and balls to the wall and have a short life span not to mention when your psu goes it sometimes has a habit of taking other components with it like your board. It's the reason 950+ psu's are recommended on here for dual 580's.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.775928 $319.98 - $35.00 Mail In Rebates save: $40.00
CORSAIR Professional Series HX1050 1050W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Power Supply
Corsair Carbide Series 500R Black Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

 

[mrwhit30ut]

UHHH, I like the 650d so much though. Is there really a need for the extra 3GB of vram though?

 

[Why_Me]

UHHH, I like the 650d so much though. Is there really a need for the extra 3GB of vram though?

The 650D is a beautiful looking case but it has one drawback and that is it doesn't have side cooling. Cards like that MSI card vent heat inside the case, not out the back which means the inside of your case gets hot. with side cooling like that 500R, 400R, most CM cases, etc... they apply air from the side of the case towards the vid cards, mobo, etc... that's where the 200mm side fan comes in handy on cases like that 500R, CM 922, HAF - X, CM Sniper, etc...

http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=msi+gtx+580+lightning+xtreme+review&oq=msi+gtx+580+lightning+extr+review&aq=0ls&aqi=g-ls1&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=13460l15918l1l20232l5l5l0l0l0l2l794l3779l6-5l5l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=38f9734dbf923bbb&biw=1440&bih=775 <---- There's some reviews on that MSI 3GB card along with benchmarks. That card actually loses FPS with low resolution due to RAM latency with all that VRAM but it shines in high resolutions like tri monitor set ups...seeing how that's what that card was made for.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

So, A side 200mm fan is key? About the GPU, What resolution does it start loosing FPS at, because I will be playing with 1 card, for a couple months until I can afford another upgrade. And what would be the minimum PSU requirement to SLI and Overclock dual 580s, Because I'm not going to get a non ref card made by MSI and not overclock, that is just stupid.

 

[Why_Me]

So, A side 200mm fan is key? About the GPU, What resolution does it start loosing FPS at, because I will be playing with 1 card, for a couple months until I can afford another upgrade. And what would be the minimum PSU requirement to SLI and Overclock dual 580s, Because I'm not going to get a non ref card made by MSI and not overclock, that is just stupid.

You want 950+ watt psu for that. 1000w is ideal so you have headroom for the over clocking. Any side fans will do, but those 200mm ones are nice for the fact they are quiet and have plenty of push to them. That 650D doesn't have any vent holes on that clear plastic side (none that I could see anyways) to put a fan on there. You could make some with a dremel though ...Iv'e done it on other cases, but not with the hard see through plastic but it should work. Without that side ventilation and fan it's a hot box with cards like those MSI cards.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

I'm thinking about the HAF X, but I really don't want to spend that much on a case now. And I don't really like the look of the 500r. Any suggestions forum?

 

[Why_Me]

I'm thinking about the HAF X, but I really don't want to spend that much on a case now. And I don't really like the look of the 500r. Any suggestions forum?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.775927 <------ How about this one ?

 

[mrwhit30ut]

I like that one, but I think I am going to go with the white one. Do you know if that includes a mesh side pannel? I'm almost positive it does. Now on to cpu cooling solutions, any cheap ones I should look into besides the Hyper 212 EVo?

 

[Why_Me]

I like that one, but I think I am going to go with the white one. Do you know if that includes a mesh side pannel? I'm almost positive it does. Now on to cpu cooling solutions, any cheap ones I should look into besides the Hyper 212 EVo?

The white version comes with a mesh panel...it's identical to the graphite one. The EVO is about as good as it gets for the money, if you want a step up from the EVO for about $15 - $20 then the CM 612 that just came out. It's new on the market and if you google the reviews that cooler rocks for the price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103103 <---- that one. you can also add another fan to it for a "push - pull" effect.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

Methinks that is what I am going to do. So 600t White, with CM 612.

 

[phenom90]

this cooler is cheap and good as well...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181011

despite the msi has the twin frozr cooler which cools better than nvidia reference cooler... but i would still prefer nvidia solutions... as reference cooler exhaust heat outside the case... rather than inside by most of the custom cooling solution like msi....

 

[mrwhit30ut]

Thanks for that tip, I understand the fact that MSI cards do not vent outside the case, but that is why I am buying a case with a 200mm fan on the side that I will use for intake, to flush that air out of there. As with the A70, I've heard it is good, but most of the reviews say its HUGE! can anyone confirm that it will fit into a 600t?

 

[mrwhit30ut]

Problem, Did newegg stop carrying the MSI GTX 580 Lightning Extreme Edition, or am I just going crazy. because I cannot find it on newegg. HELP!

 

[Why_Me]

That's weird. It was listed on there yesterday as "out of stock", and I don't see it now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127589 <---- They have it as "deactivated" which happens if a product has been out of stock X amount of days.

https://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=msi%20gtx%20580%20lightning%20xtreme&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=1710l8458l0l12806l13l13l0l0l0l0l805l9672l5-1.12l13l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbm=shop&source=og&sa=N&tab=wf&ei=t2DlTqKVD5PJsQKSmMGBBg&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&fp=d6a6b13212a1ff43&biw=1440&bih=775 <---- that's what came up on google shopping.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

Well that is weird, they should restock it though, but If they don't would the 1.5 GB version be a good choice? I really don't see a + of having 3GBs of VRAM, I heard with these in SLI the 6GB actually bottleneck the GPU.

 

[Why_Me]

Well that is weird, they should restock it though, but If they don't would the 1.5 GB version be a good choice? I really don't see a + of having 3GBs of VRAM, I heard with these in SLI the 6GB actually bottleneck the GPU.

The only advantage that those 3GB cards have is when someone is using super high resolution as shown in the benchmarks. Dual 1.5GB 580's should do fine, or better yet dual 6970's. MSI makes a killer one with great cooling.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

I don't know, do you have any 6970 benches vs 580 benches? In reality though, I have enough for the 580. Should I go with that? I mean what would be your recommendation, I prefer nvidia over AMD for CUDA.

 

[Why_Me]

I don't know, do you have any 6970 benches vs 580 benches? In reality though, I have enough for the 580. Should I go with that? I mean what would be your recommendation, I prefer nvidia over AMD for CUDA.

I'm Nvidia all the way myself...but then again I'm a fanboy and I don't mind admitting it. The only time the AMD cards have a major advantage over Nvidia cards is peeps using multiple monitor set ups because of that 2GB VRAM those cards have. Toms, Anantech, Hardware Canucks, etc... will have benches for those cards.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600083901%20600095874&IsNodeId=1&name=Radeon%20HD%206970 <--- there's those cards...but it looks like MSI charges an extra $50 for their version of that card. The Saphire or Gigabyte on there looks to be the better deal price wise.


For the heck of it I would google dual gtx 580's in SLI with tri monitors to see what the bench.

 

[JrFreak]

Here's a good case for $60...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208036