First Build

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
G

grumbo

Distinguished
Dec 22, 2011
7
0
18,510
So I'm building my first PC after much reading and this is what I ended up with. My only real use for this machine is gaming.

1
Rosewill ARMOR Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ,Full mesh design front bezel, comes with Six Fans
$79.99
1
ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.1) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$169.99
1
EVGA 01G-P3-1561-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support FPB
$249.99
1
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power
$104.99
1
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 ...
$219.99
1
G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9Q-16GBZL
$79.99
1
Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$84.99
1
LITE-ON Black 12X Blu-ray Burner with Blu Ray 3D Feature SATA IHBS112-04 - OEM
$69.99

Any pointers for me when assembling, or anyone familiar with any issues I may face when working with these parts. Think the 750w PS will get the job done? Thanks!
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
a4mula

a4mula

Distinguished
Feb 3, 2009
973
0
19,160
I'm not familiar with the case, usually it's the one part that's going to make the build either simple or a nightmare.

For another 10 bucks you could do the CM 690 Advanced II. It's entirely tool-less so it makes for pretty easy assembly.

With that being said, if you like the case you've picked out, stick with it. Building is a one time thing and once it's done you still have to live with the case you've selected.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
G

grumbo

Distinguished
Dec 22, 2011
7
0
18,510
I have been reading the z68 really doesnt offer much more over the p67 for a gaming PC. I plan to use SLI at some point down the road and the ram was an extra $40 so why not have it. Now that being said can i find a good z68 for under $200. thanks for the info!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
G

grumbo

Distinguished
Dec 22, 2011
7
0
18,510
SOme boards to consider now...

ASUS P8Z68-V/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

ASUS P8Z68-V LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

Yeah I have had my mind set on Asus MOBO...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
a4mula

a4mula

Distinguished
Feb 3, 2009
973
0
19,160


LGA1155 is pretty motherboard indifferent when it comes to overclocking. Make sure if you want future SLI support that it's an x8/x8 SLI (I'm pretty sure nVidia requires it to be certified) board and make sure it supports enough SATA 6Gb/s ports for your needs. Other than that there is little difference between the boards.

You can ignore all PCI-e 3.0 marketing. Every current PCI-e 2.0/2.1 slots are potential PCI-e 3.0 slots. There is absolutely no physical difference between the two. As long as the cpu (IB) supports PCI-e 3.0, your slots will too.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
gooseta

gooseta

Distinguished
Dec 22, 2011
200
0
18,710
Are you planning to overclock? If you aren't, save yourself 15 bucks by getting the i5-2500 that has a locked multipler. Also, you should downgrade your RAM to 8GB. 16GB is so much there is no difference.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
madchemist83

madchemist83

Distinguished
Jul 21, 2011
3,041
33
21,190


How is it a better option ?
If his only goal is gaming Z68 does not offer any advantage.
Extra features that it does offer may not be needed.

@ OP

I would go for Asus P8z68-v pro/gen 3 - solid mobo you can check review at HardOCP
and you can also check review on Asrock Extreme 4 Gen 3 - with fail at the end
That goes for all those Asrock fanboys out there :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
G

grumbo

Distinguished
Dec 22, 2011
7
0
18,510
@madchemist thanks for that, from all my research i did everything pointed me to the p67 as well since my goal was strictly gaming. Now on that note the difference between what I already purchased and the pro/gen3. The price diff is about $50
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
G

grumbo

Distinguished
Dec 22, 2011
7
0
18,510
Suggestions on cooler? the current case has an all mesh body (80% is) and Cooling System

80mm Fans
1 x 80mm Fan on motherboard tray

120mm Fans
1 x Front 120mm Red LED Fan
1 x Rear 120mm Red LED Fan
2 x Top 120mm Red LED Fan

200mm Fans
1 x Side 200mm Red LED Fan

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
O

Outlander_04

Titan
BANNED
Nov 18, 2008
20,308
4
74,960


Z68 offers SSD caching [ smart response]. You could add a small cheap SSD at any stage and have nearly the full benefit of using an SSD boot drive .

Its a very good idea to use Z68 rather than P67
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
JackNaylorPE

JackNaylorPE

Titan
BANNED
Oct 30, 2004
32,255
14
99,960
GFX - The one ya picked is factory OC'd to 850 Mhz .... I'd go for a 900Mhz model which is $20 cheaper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121425

The Asus seems to OC better and I can tell ya from experience (20 months and 5 RMA's) getting EVGA support to act on a factory OC'd card that runs but won't do the factory OC is unbearable. The Asus model is an overclocking beast reaching as much as 30% over reference.

http://www.pureoverclock.com/review.php?id=1201&page=17

Blue Ray - Of for no other reason then when ya call TS, they can't blame the other guy, take a look at the Asus Blue Ray ... same price after MIR but also includes 5-pak of media ....worth about $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135252

RAM - No real gain for 16GB in gaming ...save the dough
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186

HD - Barracuda XT is an excellent drive,m Barracuda (no XT) not so much. Spinpoint F3 was $40 cheaper yesterday
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145533
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Though since ya not getting an SSD, if there's any way ya can swing it, I'd recommend the Seagate Moments hybrid SSD/ HD. Doesn't impress so much on synthetic benchies bit in 'real world" benches it kicks some serious tail.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148837
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=806&Itemid=60&limit=1&limitstart=9

yes, I'd rather see ya in a 120 GB SSD and a Seagate Barracuda XT but budget considerations appear to be a limiting factor and this is the next best thing.

PSU - The XFX Core Edition PSU's get the same 9.5 jinnyguru erformance rating (9.5) as the Corsair TX V2 series....the XFX ones tho will save ya a nice bit of money. Then 750 and 850 same price so gran the 850 for SLI, 650 for singe card

$90 850 watts http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011
$60 650 watts http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207014

Ok last but not least, we have the MoBo issue...... here's basically what it means for Z68 vs P67

http://www.ukgamingcomputers.co.uk/difference-between-h67-p67-z68-and-h61-chipsets-a-22.html

Z68
Launched 5 months after the P67 and H67 chipset the Z68 chipset combines the advantages of the H67 and P67 Chipset so that overclocking, dual dedicated graphics cards and use of the integrated CPU graphics is available. Whilst on the surface it would seem that this would be the chipset to go for, how many users that have 2 dedicated graphics cards will actually want to use the onboard graphics when they already have 2 more powerful graphics cards in their system anyway?

The only real advantage is for users that wish to access the HD graphics features such as quick sync, but considering it’s only supported by very few transcoding programs and there are not many people out there that need or will want to transcode, it makes it almost pointless to choose Z68 over a P67 chipset.

Same applies to users that want to overclock the CPU but use the onboard graphics card; it’s a very limited market.

Finally, another feature of a Z68 chipset is known as SSD caching which is where it allows the use of a small (say 10 or 20 GB) Solid state hard drive to act as a cache for a larger ‘traditional’ hard disk. If you are already planning the use of a Solid State drive this feature is redundant.

If you can’t afford a decent size SSD (40GB+) then there are more cost effective ways around using a small SSD and SSD cashing like spending less on a motherboard, (H67 chipset or even a P67 chipset) and putting the saved money into a decent size SSD.
Click to expand...


Again, nothing wrong with getting the latest and greatest unless it takes money which could be better spent elsewhere.....

Asus P8P67 Pro - $150 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131771
Asus P8Z68-V Pro/GEN3 - $215 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
gooseta

gooseta

Distinguished
Dec 22, 2011
200
0
18,710


Noctua NH-D14 blows the Thermalright right out of the water.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
a4mula

a4mula

Distinguished
Feb 3, 2009
973
0
19,160


I hate to disagree, as I often recommend the NH-D14 and it still has benefits like its ability to cool while using low cfm fans thus being one of the more quiet big air coolers. That being said there are plenty of reviews out there that show the Silver Arrow as being the top air cooler not only in performance, but at lower decibels to boot.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
G

grumbo

Distinguished
Dec 22, 2011
7
0
18,510
I went with the 612 its installed all fired up and working great. Nothing changed on the set up besides the GPU, went with the ASUS and added a 120g SSD.. pt windows on the SSD and wow does it load fast!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
a4mula

a4mula

Distinguished
Feb 3, 2009
973
0
19,160


Not according to the only benchmark I could find on it:

http://www.rwlabs.com/article.php?cat=&id=539&pagenumber=5

and here's the Phanteks getting destroyed by both the NH-D14 and the Silver Arrow:

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cases_cooling/phanteks_ph-tc14pe_review/1

I'd be more than happy to review any benchmarks that show otherwise though.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom