New build ~$1000

[madchemist83]

Approximate Purchase Date: 1-2 weeks

Budget Range: ~$1000 ($1100 max) with s&h and taxes

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, light photoshop and CAD

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, DVD drive

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: amazon, microcenter, best buy(I have gift card), newegg.

Country: USA, CA

Parts Preferences: none

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: quiet PC for living room

here is what I got

fractal design arc midi
2500k + mobo combo in december from microcenter if there is a deal
I have old HDD but plan on getting new one. No SSD - too unreliable
can't decide on GPU - 560Ti, 560Ti 448 or HD 6950
can't decide on cpu cooler
and PSu .. if I need to sli/cf or not

 

[azeem40]

i5-2500k Processor is $179.99 in Microcenter.
Get an EVGA Radeon 6870 1 GB GDDR5 Graphics card.
For SSD, try: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227725
For HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767. Upgrade to 1 TB if you need it.

For Case, I really like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020
RAM: Ripjaw series: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

EDIT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099: For aftermarket cooler if you OC.

 

[madchemist83]

anyone else ?

 

[madchemist83]

I think I'll go with GTX 560 Ti .. seems like a best deal for me

 

[mjmjpfaff]

how much money is on that gift card if you don't mind me asking?

i5 2500k- http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354589 194$ inc. tax i live in CA also

Corsair Vengeance LP 8gb 1600- http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Profile-PC3-12800-CML8GX3M2A1600C9/dp/B00569K7LM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1325215023&sr=8-3 46$ 8gb 1600mhz cl9 ram is the standard today

Hyper 212 plus- http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-Sleeve-RR-B10-212P-G1/dp/B002G1YPH0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1325215343&sr=1-1 21$ unless you are doing some extreme overclocking this should be fine

Silverstone Raven RV03- http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Extended-90-Degree-Motherboard-Mounting/dp/B005JW6VUW/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1325215432&sr=1-2 144$ this is a very quiet case. I dont know if the looks will suit your living room though

Intel 320 120gb- http://www.amazon.com/Intel-SATA-2-5-Inch-Solid-State-Drive/dp/rebates/B004U8ZHY2/ref=rebate_olp_2?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1325215671&sr=1-2 170$ this is one of the most if not the most reliable ssd's on the market. this isnt a new ssd so it isnt the fastest but they have worked out all of the kinks. hard drive prices are ridiculous right now and ssd's are MUCH faster

Asus P8Z68-V- http://www.amazon.com/Intel-6Gbps-Supported-Motherboard-P8Z68-V/dp/B0050HZ7AQ/ref=sr_1_32?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1325216046&sr=1-32 170$ 16 phase motherboard. very good overclocker.

EVGA GTX 560 ti- http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Superclocked-Mini-HDMI-Graphics-01G-P3-1567-KR/dp/B004XUCCRM/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1325216735&sr=1-2 240$

Corsair tx 750w- http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Enthusiast-Certified-Compatible-platforms/dp/B004MYFODI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1325217172&sr=1-1 105$ nothing wrong with a quality corsair unit. you can sli that 560 ti later with this psu

Total=1090$ tax/ship included

 

[madchemist83]

There is around $140 on that gift card .. from choices I have I think i'll pick up PSu from Best Buy .. something like tx 850 v2 ( want to keep enough room for possible sli and oc)
on 2500k + mobo I'll have to wait to see if microcenter offers deal in January

I'm set on Fractal design but thanks for input ( also I don't want windowed case)
Not sure if I can fit SSD as I'll need OS too.
you think hyper 212+ will be enough or should I go with 612 pwm?

 

[madchemist83]

Also I just read that 2500k with 560ti sli system oced can run on good 650W PSU
The problem is that they usually only have 2 pci-e connectors

 

[mjmjpfaff]

750w will give enough headroom and it will keep the loads relatively low so the psu should be cool and quiet.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

how high do you think you will overclock the i5 2500k?

 

[madchemist83]

probably not higher then 4.5 but would like to try 4.7 .. the problem is that I don't think there is a lot of fps or productivity gain from going from 4.5 to 4.7
so probably 4.5 in reality

 

[madchemist83]

So far I got in my head
GPU - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=458652&sku=M452-0568 $245 ($20 mir)
case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352007 $ 118
OS - Win 7 64 bit - $100
Ram - http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Technology-1600MHz-KHX1600C9D3X2K2-8GX/dp/B004JO3L40/ref=sr_1_10?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1325222129&sr=1-10 $45
PSU - http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Enthusiast-Certified-Compatible-platforms/dp/B004MYFODI/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1325223758&sr=1-2 $105($ 10mir)
That comes to $613 ($30 mir)
That leaves me with $487 max for 2500k+mobo and cooler
I've decided to put HDD or SSD on best buy gift card

 

[madchemist83]

now question is ..if I can get cpu-mobo combo for $320 should I drop 560ti for Hd 6970?
I can wait for rebates and then add cooler .. does 2500k comes with stock cooler?

 

[mjmjpfaff]

now question is ..if I can get cpu-mobo combo for $320 should I drop 560ti for Hd 6970?
I can wait for rebates and then add cooler .. does 2500k comes with stock cooler?

yes it does come with a cooler. what games will you be playing right away?

 

[mjmjpfaff]

the hyper 212 plus can easily handle 4.5ghz.

also the modular version of that psu is hardly modular at all- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139030&Tpk=tx750m look at the overview at the bottom and where it says "Cable Ready" there is a small picture showing only 4 modular outputs . definitely not worth any extra money.

 

[madchemist83]

I think I'll stay with 560ti less power draw
I'd like to play on high settings - Battlefield 3, Metro 2033, Starcraft II, Crysis and other fps like Stalker, Fallout etc
later on Diablo III

 

[madchemist83]

hm ok so I'll get non-modular then ..

 

[madchemist83]

is this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Corsair+-+Force+Series+3+120GB+Internal+Serial+ATA+III+Solid+State+Drive/2824573.p?id=1218354837252&skuId=2824573
a good SSD ?

 

[mjmjpfaff]

ya i have no problems with bf3 on high. on ultra i get the artifacts because i have the stock cooler on my 560 ti. the main problem i am having right now is a lot of driver failures. maybe you should look into a 6950 2gb. I know the 6950 beats the 560 ti on metro. bf3 is pretty even. crysis leans toward the 6950. the 6950's power draw is similar to the 560 ti so a 750w psu is still fine.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

is this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Corsair+-+Force+Series+3+120GB+Internal+Serial+ATA+III+Solid+State+Drive/2824573.p?id=1218354837252&skuId=2824573
a good SSD ?

ya they worked out most of the kinks with those first sandforce 2200 ssd's. its a very good buy too.

 

[madchemist83]

But I've heard they heat up much more .. plus 560ti can oc like crazy .. and that twin frozr is the beast in cooling

 

[mjmjpfaff]

i guess. I dont know it is really a coin flip

 

[madchemist83]

will this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Patriot+Memory+-+Pyro+120GB+Internal+Serial+ATA+III+Solid+State+Drive/3603312.p?id=1218419330293&skuId=3603312
be a better choice or it's the same controller ?

 

[madchemist83]

Based on this http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4155/sapphire_radeon_hd_6950_2gb_dirt_3_edition_video_card_review/index1.html
Hd 6950 wins by a little
also it comes at $20 higher price point

 

[mjmjpfaff]

same controller.

the 6950 uses less power- http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-gtx-560-ti-gf114,2845.html
im pretty sure they used the stock cooler on the 6950 that would account for the higher amount of noise. amd cards come with worse cooler than nvidia i.m.o.

its your choice in the end though. you cant go wrong with either one

 

[mjmjpfaff]

Based on this http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4155/sapphire_radeon_hd_6950_2gb_dirt_3_edition_video_card_review/index1.html
Hd 6950 wins by a little
also it comes at $20 higher price point

ya in the end it wins by a bit. just overclock the 560 ti to 950mhz and it should probably be good.