1st Timers New Build - $1200 i7 System

[Tom1]

Hello,

I've always wanted to build my own rig, and I'm finally in a position to do it.

Approximate Purchase Date: 3 weeks

Budget Range: $1200ish

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Virtualized desktops, number crunching, playing older video games (EG: team fortress 2), personal pride.

Parts Not Required: Speakers, Logitech G5 mouse

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Microcenter, newegg, amazon... However, I'm open to suggestions.

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: N/A

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Likely in the future

Monitor Resolution: Will be buying 3 new monitors, unsure of specs.

Additional Comments: I would like a quiet PC.


Onto the hardware....

CPU: Intel i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz

Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366

Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 --- 3 monitors hooked up.

Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600


Power Supply and case I'm not sure of. I'm thinking...

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.2

Case1: Antec Sonata III
or
Case2: COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1


Additional: 4 hard drives in a RAID configuration.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Cryosis00]

The CPU and Mobo are not compatible. You need to find a LGA1155 mobo to support your choice of CPU.

 

[Silvune]

You need to find a LGA1155 mobo to support your choice of CPU.

I would suggest the...
Asus P8Z68-V/GEN3 $185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131792

You will also have to change to dual channel memory as the Sandy Bridge memory controller only supports single and dual channel, not triple. Which means going up to 16GB.
Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz CAS9 1.5V CML16GX3M4A1600C9 $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233197

You do not need a 750W PSU for a build with two 6850s. Even a 550W unit is plenty.
Rosewill Capstone 650W 80Plus Gold $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182071

BTW, you should not be buying the older/original TX series as it has been replaced by a newer better version, which is also cheaper.

The Fractal Design R3 is known for being a good quiet case.

For a large, quiet case I would go for the Antec P280 before the CM HAF X.

 

[g-unit1111]

BTW, you should not be buying the older/original TX series as it has been replaced by a newer better version, which is also cheaper.

I'm using the older TX750 in my Z68 build and it works perfectly fine for what I need it to do.

You do not need a 750W PSU for a build with two 6850s. Even a 550W unit is plenty.
Rosewill Capstone 650W 80Plus Gold $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817182071

I'm not the biggest fan of Rosewill PSUs - maybe go with the Antec Earthwatts as they're manufactured by Seasonic.

The Fractal Design R3 is known for being a good quiet case.

Yes - Fractal Design makes some awesome cases. I really like the Arc MIDI and I'm thinking of buying one but the last thing I need is more cases collecting dust. :lol:

Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366

Even though X58 is pretty obsolete and 1366 CPUs aren't being made anymore, I actually like the design of this Sabertooth better than the P67 one. :lol:

Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 --- 3 monitors hooked up.

If you're going with a multiple monitor setup, Eyefinity is definitely the way to go.

 

[Silvune]

I'm using the older TX750 in my Z68 build and it works perfectly fine for what I need it to do.

I'm not the biggest fan of Rosewill PSUs - maybe go with the Antec Earthwatts as they're manufactured by Seasonic.

Yes but you probably bought it when the TXV2 series wasn't available. There is no reason to pay more for the older TX series, not only compared to the TXV2 series, but also compared to other units from other brands/manufacturers.

The Rosewill Capstone series uses a very high quality Super Flower Golden Green design. It has been used in many high quality units.
The only one I can recall which was disappointing is the Kingwin Lazer Gold 1000W and that is because it used some CapXon caps. The caps in all other Golden Greens that I've seen/can remember have been Nippon Chemi-cons, including the Capstone 750W. So build quality is amongst the best you can get below ~$100/150. Performance wise Golden Green based units, according to JG, have an average of just over 1% voltage regulation. Ripple and noise suppression is usually very well controlled; less than half the spec on full load. The Capstone 750W was an exception because it was only half the spec on full load. So again it is at least matching the competition below ~$100/150. Efficiency is also very good, I think against units +/- $5 either side you're only going to have one or two other units which are Gold rated. And not all of those units are going to match the Capstones in other aspects of performance.

Maybe you have read the recent reviews on the Kingwin Lazer Platinum 1000W? If you have then you should probably know that it is a rebadged Super Flower Golden King 1000W, which isn't too radical of a redesign over the Golden Green platform.

There is no reason that I'm aware of not to be a fan of the Capstones; the only reason to choose another unit is needing or wanting a modular unit.

BTW, the Antec Earthwatts Green units which I assume you are refering to are manufactured by Delta Electronics.

 

[Tom1]

Best answer selected by Tom1.