First Build, need advice

[samtheman101]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first pc build and I have around a 1500 budget. I've been researching for about 2 months and I think I'm ready to buy, but I thought I'd throw the parts up and see what you thought. My goal is to easily run Skyrim on ultra settings. I have one 22' Asus monitor (1440 x 900) but I'd like to add another sometime in the near future, perhaps utilizing two graphics cards in SLI. I'd also like to OC the CPU. Here's what I have picked out:

CPU: i5-2500K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
GPU: Evga GeForce GTX 580 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130590
Mobo: Asus P8P67 Deluxe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131701
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
Case: Cooler Master HAF X 942 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225
PSU: Corsair AX750 750W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139016
SSD: Crucial M4 128GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

I have a 2TB hard drive already, but I'd like to install my OS and Skyrim on the SSD to speed up boot time and game performance. Any advice/criticism?

 

[amk-aka-Phantom]

There isn't really any point in a Deluxe board. The Pro one will do, unless you're looking for something special in Deluxe.

Take a look at the NZXT Phantom case, cheaper, looks better, awesome cooling.

If you will only keep one 580, 750W is fine; if you are planning SLI later, you need moar... something like 1000W or so.

Go for a Z68 board, too, why not?

Your goal of running Skyrim easily will be easily achieved; even a 560 Ti is enough for this

EDIT: Actually, a 580 is total overkill for your resolution. Gonna upgrade your screen any time soon?

 

[madchemist83]

Yeah imo I'd get better monitor with your budget. Also check out fractal design cases like arc midi and define r3. Agree on mobo. Also get cooler for ur cpu. And pc power and cooling 910w is as good and probably cheaper.

 

[samtheman101]

Yeah, I will definitely be upgrading my monitor soon. I realize this build would be a waste without a nice screen to watch it work! I haven't done the research yet but any monitor advice is also welcome.

 

[amk-aka-Phantom]

Yeah imo I'd get better monitor with your budget. Also check out fractal design cases like arc midi and define r3. Agree on mobo. Also get cooler for ur cpu. And pc power and cooling 910w is as good and probably cheaper.

How could I forget a cooler?! Of course, take a Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO...

This PSU looks nonsensical (lol) to me, what is this ridiculous small fan?! It will be rather loud or hot, I bet... never heard of this brand. Doesn't mean it's necessarily bad, but I don't trust no one but Corsair/Seasonic/Antec/XFX/NZXT

 

[aznshinobi]

I'd suggest dropping the Corsair AX750 mainly because they cost so much but PSUs that are $40 cheaper or similar around the price can do better.

For the motherboard, go cheaper but get similar performance.
Asrock Extreme4 Gen3 P67 $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265

For the GPU I suggest waiting, the 7970 is close to releasing in Jan 9, the performance is better than the 580 and of similar price.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7970-benchmark-tahiti-gcn,3104.html

 

[madchemist83]

Pc power and cooling is one of the best psu manufacturers out there.

 

[amk-aka-Phantom]

I'd suggest dropping the Corsair AX750 mainly because they cost so much but PSUs that are $40 cheaper or similar around the price can do better.

For the motherboard, go cheaper but get similar performance.
Asrock Extreme4 Gen3 P67 $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265

For the GPU I suggest waiting, the 7970 is close to releasing in Jan 9, the performance is better than the 580 and of similar price.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7970-benchmark-tahiti-gcn,3104.html

Jan 9?! Definitely worth the wait.

 

[amk-aka-Phantom]

Then ur fool. Pc power and cooling is one of the best psu manufacturers out there.

Easy there. Just pointing out that small fans usually are noisy and that nobody usually uses that brand. As I said:

Doesn't mean it's necessarily bad

 

[madchemist83]

Don't listen to asrock fanboys. Asus is way better. Don't underpay for mobo. Xfx core or black edition is also a good choice for psu.

 

[aznshinobi]

^ lol Chemist are you not an Asus fanboy then? Asrock gives good performance for the price. It's P67 but nonetheless a good board. The non-gen3 version pulled out lots of reviews that praised it, just stop hating.

Hard to get a good score by Bit-tech
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/motherboards/2011/05/05/asrock-p67-extreme-4-review/7

 

[madchemist83]

Sorry I thought it was z 68 . yeah p67 asrock is actually pretty decent. No not a fanboy ... Just go for the best. Not hating. Merry Christmas

 

[cbrunnem]

Sorry I thought it was z 68 . yeah p67 asrock is actually pretty decent. No not a fanboy ... Just go for the best. Not hating. Merry Christmas

troll

 

[madchemist83]

^ stfu

 

[madchemist83]

If you have something to say regarding op post please do. If you'd rather take an arrow to a knee please do it somewhere else. I'm sure out of 995 messages half of them where useless.
You asrock fanboys are everywhere. Just cause you can't afford decent mobo doesn't mean you should be parroting in the forum.

 

[amk-aka-Phantom]

If you have something to say regarding op post please do. If you'd rather take an arrow to a knee please do it somewhere else. I'm sure out of 995 messages half of them where useless.
You asrock fanboys are everywhere. Just cause you can't afford decent mobo doesn't mean you should be parroting in the forum.

Seriously, chill... I'm an Asus fanboy, myself, but Asrock mobos are just great for the price, and they were owned by Asus intil 2010. All the review sites recommend their mobos for this price range. What's not to like?

 

[madchemist83]

All the review sites? Like what. Check hardocp. Both asrocks get dumped there.
Bios is crappy, the fact that you have to restart ur pc everytime you have to change something there pisses me off. Pcb is thin and flimsy and 2 year warranty is just unacceptable. I understand that it's cheap but trust me cheap doesn't mean good. imo is one of the pc parts you don't wznt to cheap out on.

 

[aznshinobi]

Lol have you used Asrock?
Mad I understand you like Asus, but just because the UEFI is bad doesn't mean anything. Half the UEFI's out there respond like that. Both MSI and Asus have issues with the mouse clicking, many people report it.

Have you physically touched the Asrock ExtremeX Gen3 boards? I have and they're not that flimsy. 2 Year warranty isn't the greatest I'll admit, but by the time 2 years comes by, the problem would've already occured. Warranty may be short, but almost all companies have terrible customer support. Including Asus (One of the worst).

As for the restarting PC thing, don't you realize you have to do that for all boards, unless of course you use in-windows overclocking software IE AMD Overdrive.

 

[madchemist83]

Yes I have physically held it. Sorry but it seems thin too me. But honestly if you had a budget would you get asus p8z68v pro/gen 3 or asrock extreme 4 gen 3 ? I understand if you want to get that mobo when ur on a budget.

 

[jsc]

Play nice, children.

Or I am going to start editing and deleting posts on this thread.

In fact, never mind. Editing and deleting ...

 

[madchemist83]

Seriously it's Christmas

 

[cbrunnem]

Seriously it's Christmas

you are the problem lol

 

[aznshinobi]

Fine..... JSC I will stop.