Creating a gaming system for around 2,500$

[mkoller2804]

Hey, I have an old Toshiba laptop, and I just started playing swtor but am having horrible fps issues. I've had the laptop for several years now and I'm looking to switch to a desktop.

Here are the parts I was planning on getting...

Computer Case: APEVIA X-DREAMER3-BK ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K

Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V LE LGA 1155 Intel Z68

Hard Drive: Western Digital VelociRaptor WD6000HLHX 600GB 10000 RPM

GPU: EVGA SuperClocked 012-P3-1573-AR GeForce GTX 570

Sound: Creative 70SB0880 7.1 Channels 24-bit PCI Express 1x Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

Power Supply: Cool Power Gamer CP-G1080 1080W 20+4-pin Blue LED Fan ATX Power Supply

CPU Fan: COOLER MASTER V6 GT RR-V6GT-22PK-R1 120mm DynaLoop CPU Cooler

Optical Drive: ASUS 24X DVD Burner

Floppy Drive: SYBA SY-CRD50034 All-in-one USB 2.0 / Floppy 3.5" Multifunction Floppy Disk

USB Port: SYBA USB 3.0 SuperSpeed 2-port PCI-Express Controller Card

Network Card: Intel PWLA8391GT Desktop Adapter PRO/1000 GT 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI

Monitor: ASUS VE276Q Black 27" 1920X1080

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate

I’ve never built a computer before so I’m getting a knowledgeable friend to help me, but I wanted to see if there were any compatibility issues, missing hardware, or suggestions beforehand. I wasn’t sure if the single cpu fan and 3 case fans would be enough to cool it.

I was also wondering what a good anti-virus software was for windows 7. I was planning on getting Kaspersky.

 

[azeem40]

The MOBO already has great onboard sound. A sound card is not needed.

Save yourself $100 and get the i5-2500k. You will see no benefit with the i5-2500k for gaming.

You will never need 16 GB of RAM for gaming. Drop it down to 8 GB.

Win Ultimate isn't needed either. Get the OEM Windows 7 Home Premium for $100.

Unless you plan on tri-fire or tri-sli, you will not need 1080W of Power. Get an 850W PSU that is 80+ Bronze Certified. Good PSU manufacturers are Corsair, Antec, and PC Power and Cooling.

You won't need a network card either. The MOBO comes with 10/100/1000 Built-In LAN already.

Just get a case with 2 USB 3.0 Ports instead of buying a port for it.

If you can, wait for the 7000 series of AMD GPUs. The 7970 should be the same price as the 580. Speaking of 580, get the 580 (Fermi) by EVGA, which is $500.

This will save you a lot of $ that you can use for a gaming keyboard, mouse, and headset.

 

[g-unit1111]

The MOBO already has great onboard sound. A sound card is not needed.

I agree - sound cards are incredibly worthless anymore - you're just throwing money away.

Floppy Drive: SYBA SY-CRD50034 All-in-one USB 2.0 / Floppy 3.5" Multifunction Floppy Disk

These are worthless too - if you're going to get a card reader you don't need the floppy functions - you can't buy floppies anymore much less find functionality for them.

This will save you a lot of $ that you can use for a gaming keyboard, mouse, and headset.

IMO - you only need the headset if you're doing MMOs or playing games like COD, but don't include the accessories in the cost of the build - get those later. And don't spend hundreds of dollars on peripherals when you can get a $50 keyboard and mouse and get the same functionality - spend that on the hardware.

Computer Case: APEVIA X-DREAMER3-BK ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Blech. Apevia cases are absolutely terrible - I had one - shattered the front USB ports and the lights on the door kept falling off. Go with a better case for your build - the Corsair Carbide would be a much better fit.

Power Supply: Cool Power Gamer CP-G1080 1080W 20+4-pin Blue LED Fan ATX Power Supply ]

Definitely not. You don't need a 1K+ PSU (unless you're running some seriously power hungry GPUs) and you certainly don't want to get one that isn't UL certified and rated 80+ bronze or better. No name PSUs are definitely a no no.


Try this build - if you're going to be spending $2500 on a PC you certainly don't want to trust it to that PSU or case. Try this:

Case: Corsair Carbide 500R - $139.99
PSU: Seasonic X850 Gold - $210.99 - or Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 1000W - $219.99
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD4 - $194.99
CPU: 3.30 GHz Intel Core i5-2500K - $219.99
Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B - $59.99
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) - $43.99
SSD: 128GB Crucial M4 - $199.99
HD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB - $149.99
Optical: Lite On 24X DVD Burner - $19.99
Video Card: EVGA Geforce GTX 580 - $499.99
Keyboard / Mouse: Logitech MK550 - $55.99
Monitor: ASUS VH236H Black 23" Full HD - $179.99
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium - $99.99

Total: $2,084.82