~$1,000 Semi-Gaming/School(Compiling,etc.) Build

[blazure]

I work with compiling and interpreting via C++ and Java. I also like to get on gaming every once in a while, perhaps Team Fortress 2, League of Legends, or Portal 2, for now. Work with GIMP or Inkscape every once in a while. I think that's as intense as I go.

My past computers have each lasted roughly about 6-7 years. I'd like to make this one future-compatible and power efficient.

Approximate Purchase Date: within a week (been staring at specs for a while, off and on)

Budget Range: About 800 - 1200 After Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Multitasking - Compiling, gaming, Skype, Graphic design (OpenGL and GIMP), standard word processing, etc.

Parts Not Required: Hard drive, opticals, mouse, keyboard

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com though suggestions are welcome

Country: United States

Parts Preferences: No real preferences, though I've tended to stay away from small brand names

Overclocking: Yes - never oc'ed before, but will at some point in the future.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe - dual monitoring at the moment via iGPU, perhaps triple in the future?

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: Power-friendly (save money long-term), low noise/heat preferred, but not required. I'm also not sure how much Wattage I should get for my PSU. Wondering whether there is Linux driver support for the hardware (MB).

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 ...

MB: GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard *(edited)

PSU: CORSAIR Professional Series HX650 (CMPSU-650HX) 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply OR COOLER MASTER Silent Pro M600 RS-600-AMBA-D3 600W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Bronze Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply(*edited)

Monitors: Acer G235HAbd 23'' 5ms 1920x1080 WideScreen LCD monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1, VESA Compatible x 2 (*edited)

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL or CORSAIR XMS3 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX16GX3M4A1600C9 *(edited)

Might eventually add a discreet graphics card. Wondering how iGPU on i7 is. A few months down the road, I may or may not add dGPU: HIS H677FN1GD Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (maybe)


Final price: around $1,050

Any suggestions, incompatibilities, bottlenecks? Will i7 support 1600 RAM? I saw somewhere they only use up to 1066 or 1333.

Thank you!

 

[Lowlyworm]

The Chipset you have selected the P67 doesn't support on board graphics and unless you plan on purchasing the graphics card at the same time,you would be better of with the ASUS P8Z68 boards. For my case I bought the Thermaltake Overseer abd absolutely love it though its a little over $100.

 

[inzone]

The cpu is a good choice you do want to go with a Z-68 motherboard if you are thinking future proof. Ram is cheap right now so you might want to double that to 16gb. Your not seriously going to try to use the onboard graphics are you ?

 

[blazure]

@Lowlyworm Thanks, I took the MB from the wrong page. I updated it with the actual Z68 I was thinking about.

@inzone Yes ... it can't still be that bad esp. since it's CPU now can it? lol Anyone actually tried onboard graphics? Let me remind you, I was on a desktop with integrated graphics that won't run Portal 2, choppy Portal 1, and low FPS for League of Legends on very low settings (mind you 1.5 Mbps DSL doesn't help). Anyways, I can add the discreet graphics later after I discredit myself.

 

[inzone]

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$124.99 and a $10 rebate makes it $114.99 and free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

CORSAIR XMS3 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX16GX3M4A1600C9
$79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233203

EVGA 01G-P3-1560-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
$219.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130634

Here are some links you can look at for your build to see what you want to doabout any changes to your build or not.

 

[blazure]

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$124.99 and a $10 rebate makes it $114.99 and free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

CORSAIR XMS3 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX16GX3M4A1600C9
$79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233203

EVGA 01G-P3-1560-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
$219.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130634

Here are some links you can look at for your build to see what you want to doabout any changes to your build or not.

Thanks for the tips.
Thinking about ASRock, but I'd lose a DisplayPort (assuming no dGPU)and 4 SATA 6.0's, but it looks cooler .
Quad channel RAM isn't supported by either motherboard, so I don't know if it'd work.
I'll think about getting a video card.

 

[blazure]

Any more ratings/suggestions?

 

[ultimabeam]

a few things:

1) i'd highly recommend a monitor capable of 1920x1080. there are some in the 21-22" range for 100-120 bucks.
2) the i7-2600k is a waste at your budget range. you'll get 95% of the performance at 2/3 the price from an i5-2500k.
3) 750w is overkill from your power supply. even if you do add a midrange graphics card (which i think you absolutely should if you want to play TF2, Portal 2, etc.), you won't need more than 600w max.
4) as mentioned above, get a graphics card. a 6850 or gtx 560 will do just fine for your needs.

 

[g-unit1111]

2) the i7-2600k is a waste at your budget range. you'll get 95% of the performance at 2/3 the price from an i5-2500k.
3) 750w is overkill from your power supply. even if you do add a midrange graphics card (which i think you absolutely should if you want to play TF2, Portal 2, etc.), you won't need more than 600w max.

I definitely agree here, go with the i5-2500K and drop the PSU to 600W, maybe go with the Corsair CX series. Invest the difference in a good $120 - $140 1080p monitor.

 

[blazure]

Alright, I changed my PSU down to a decent 650W model (550-650 were around the same price w/ rebate, off-brand, or not as highly rated).
I also changed my monitor. I kindof wanted to keep the aspect ratio 16x9, but decided 16x10 wouldn't be too wide for me. No displayports, but I've got analog inputs. Considering price matching from local Fry's just to see it in person and in case I have problems with pixels.

 

[blazure]

Any more final suggestions?

 

[g-unit1111]

Any more final suggestions?

Go with the EVGA 560 or Sapphire 6950 but otherwise it looks good as is.

I also changed my monitor. I kindof wanted to keep the aspect ratio 16x9, but decided 16x10 wouldn't be too wide for me. No displayports, but I've got analog inputs. Considering price matching from local Fry's just to see it in person and in case I have problems with pixels.

A couple of things you need to know about ordering from Frys - one is that they resell a lot of broken and returned merchandise - it is take your chances when you buy from them and you need to be really cautious when you do. And unlike Newegg they have a really stingy return department if something goes wrong - they're very reluctant to take something back - and I know from experience.

 

[blazure]

Best answer selected by BLaZuRE.