New Desktop Build ~$2000 - What do you think?

[promano11]

Approximate Purchase Date: In the next week or so

Budget Range: $1800-2000 after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, digital photography, powerpoint, word processing, email, internet

Parts Not Required: I already have Windows 7 Premium

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Intel, mid-tower

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments:

I am building a new Desktop PC. In the past I have built my own PCs, but a few years ago I got a MacPro, which I never really liked. I now want to go back to building my own windows-based PC again. After reading the posts and suggestions here, I came up with the following parts list:

CASE: Corsair Carbide Series 500R $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009

MOBO: ASUS P8Z68-V LGA 1155 $133
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131773

CPU : i7-2600 3.4GHz $300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115071

Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608016

Video: ASUS GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) $350
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139015

PSU: Corsair AX850 $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139015

RAM: Corsair Dominator 8GB $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145313

HDD: WD Caviar 1.5TB $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136793

SSD: Crucial M4 128GB SATA III $197
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

Monitor: ASUS VE258Q 25" $260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236123

KB: Logitech G110 $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126087

OPT: HP 24X 1260i $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827140042

TOTAL: $2000



What do you think?

Thanks in advance,
Paul

 

[g-unit1111]

That's a pretty solid build actually, the only thing I'd recommend is this for the video card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130593

And maybe consider this for your PSU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703028

Maybe spend a bit more on the motherboard - try this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128506

But otherwise it looks good, I'd say go for it.

 

[sadams04]

To add to what g-unit1111 said...

MEM - The Corsair Vengeance are 1.65v modules. They are also overpriced for being typical DDR3-1600 CL9 (IMHO). Swap them out for 1.5v modules without tall heat spreaders (potential clearance issues with the CPU cooler).
GSKILL Sniper 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600 CL9 ($43) => http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

CPU Cooler - Not really needed if not overclocking, but if you just want better cooling over stock, the Hyper 212 EVO fits the bill for half the cost of the Noctua.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

 

[g-unit1111]

MEM - The Corsair Vengeance are 1.65v modules. They are also overpriced for being typical DDR3-1600 CL9 (IMHO). Swap them out for 1.5v modules without tall heat spreaders (potential clearance issues with the CPU cooler).
GSKILL Sniper 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600 CL9 ($43) => http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231416

Ah, I didn't catch that. You can probably get away with using 1.65V on a Z68 motherboard though - the modules I'm using are 4 x 4GB Corsair XMS3 1.6V RAM (picked up at a Newegg shocker deal for $40 each). Just check with the manufacturer to be on the safe side.

CPU Cooler - Not really needed if not overclocking, but if you just want better cooling over stock, the Hyper 212 EVO fits the bill for half the cost of the Noctua.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103099

The Evo is an excellent choice for sure - there's a lot of good coolers that can be had from the $30 - $50 range though.

The EVGA Supercooler might be a good choice though since it's pretty comparable to the single fan closed-block loops as it only uses 1 x 120mm PWM fan and it's only like $45.

 

[sadams04]

You can probably get away with using 1.65V on a Z68 motherboard though..

Yep... Lots of people have success with higher voltage modules, but I don't like "taking the chance" when the tried-and-true GSKILL memory is half the cost for the same speed and latency. Minimal risk, but still a risk.. Whatever the OP goes with should be "low profile".

That build is on track to be a pretty nice rig!

 

[g-unit1111]

Yep... Lots of people have success with higher voltage modules, but I don't like "taking the chance" when the tried-and-true GSKILL memory is half the cost for the same speed and latency. Minimal risk, but still a risk.. Whatever the OP goes with should be "low profile".

That build is on track to be a pretty nice rig!

I don't either - I don't have the money to blow on new hardware when something goes wrong so I generally like to play it safe in my builds (I don't OC, try to keep my fans and everything routed correctly, don't use parts that won't work with my motherboard, etc).

And yeah that should be a pretty sweet rig once its' completed.

 

[promano11]

Hi, everyone and thanks for the great and helpful replies!! I made some changes as suggested. Here is the new list:



CASE: Corsair Carbide Series 500R $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811139009

MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3P LGA 1155 $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128506

CPU : i7-2600 3.4GHz $300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115071

Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

Video: EVGA 012-P3-1570-AR GTX 570 (Fermi) $340
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130593

PSU: Corsair AX850 $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139015

RAM: G.SKILL Sniper (2x4GB) $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

HDD: WD Caviar 1.5TB $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136793

SSD: Crucial M4 128GB SATA III $197
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820148442

Monitor: ASUS VE258Q 25" $260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236123

KB: Logitech G110 $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823126087

OPT: HP 24X 1260i $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827140042

TOTAL: $1970


I spent more for the new MOBO and VIDEO, but saved on the COOLER and RAM! The only suggested change I did not include is the PSU. I have never heard of that company, while CORSAIR is mentioned all over the place. But I assume it's reputable and if it's worthwhile, I will also include the PSU in the new list.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!!

Paul

 

[sadams04]

Looks good!

PSU - If you aren't married to the 80+ GOLD power supply (which is very nice), the XFX PRO850W is on sale for $90.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011

 

[g-unit1111]

That will be one sweet system when you get everything up and running.