$1500 Build - Gaming and Home Desktop - Need Advice

[Kilgore Trout]

Hello -

Putting together a new system and hoping someone can look over the specs. Built my first rig four years ago from some frankensteined parts - this will be my first build from the ground up (used old case and old hard drives for last build).

Here goes:

CPU - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost)

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

MOTHERBOARD - ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790

GPU - EVGA 012-P3-2068-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti Classified Edition Video Card - 1280MB, GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0 (x16), 2x Dual-Link DVI, 1x Mini-HDMI, DirectX 11, Dual-Slot, SLI Ready, Overclocked

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1613275&SRCCODE=WEBGOOPA&cm_mmc_o=mH4CjC7BBTkwCjCV1-CjCE&gclid=CIP9-saWvK0CFaQbQgoddxiKCA

MEMORY - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186

HD 1 - Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe MKNSSDCR120GB-DX 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226225

HD 2 - Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136514

PS - Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W Continuous Power ATX12V

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031&Tpk=Antec%20NEO%20ECO%20620C%20620W%20Continuous%20Power%20ATX12V%20v2

CPU COOLER - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=u3777mwwft51

OPTICAL DRIVE - LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer 24X

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106334&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4169931&SID=17ifblpqjlyc2

CASE - LIAN LI PC-9F Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112304&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4169931&SID=156g912bt1tel

This comes in right under $1500 before taxes and s&h.

I'll use Windows 64 Bit Pro (already have a copy), and purchase or use existing parts for the rest of the PC (monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse).

I've read positive reviews on the Mushkin drive for speed but it seems others suggest Intel for reliability - could use some input there.

SO many cases to choose from - I like the Lian Li because of it's minimalist practical design, but am open to other suggetions.

Not sure if HD 2 is the right move or not - have heard the WD Greens are less reliable than the WD Blacks.

Also, what about fans? Is what this case provides enough or do I need to purchase additional or new fans?

Open to any other suggestions - I'll use the PC primarily for gaming and home desktop use, and want a system that will perform nicely for a couple of years, with option to upgrade.

Thank you for the help!

R

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I had high hopes for the GTX 560 Ti-448 pre-release ..... but at $300 and because it's a short lived limited release product, doubling them up at some time in the future for a cheap and easy upgrade seems extremely unlikely. For those reasons I just can't get behind this card.....I'd grab two at $250 or less, but at $300 I just don't see it.

I'd stick with a factory OC'd 560 Ti w/ 7 phase VRM and go the 1000+ Mhz OC route....only $215 - $230 and two gove ya $40% more fps than a 580 while being cheaper.

Green is HD parlance for slow ....

$210 for the 2TB champ ..... $30 off w/ promo code EMCNJND28, ends 1/8

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148506

I put the 212's in $1000- $1200 builds but at your budget, I'd want something better......Scythe Mugen 3 or Hyper 612 PWM are both $50 and will give ya an extra 5-7C of cooling.

I have 3 Neo's in my junk drawer if ya need spare parts ....it's another way of saying I'd get something else..... to allow for future SLI, I'd get an HX850 or XFX Core edition 850

Another option is ya switch cases is the CP-850 but it only fits in certain Antec cases ....extraordinary cool running and quiet combination and 10.0 jommyguru performance rating

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article971-page7.html

Case - $ 120 - Antec DF-85 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129087
PSU - $ 115 - Antec CP-850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024

these also fit the CP series PSU's, the later reminds me of the Lian Li

$135 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129100
$140 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129174

If ya wanna watch movies, consider a Blue Ray Player

DVD Writer - $ 59 - Asus 24X DRW-24B3L w/ LS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247

The Mushkin rocks....uses the fancy premium 3Xnm Toshiba Toggle Mode Flash memory
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4328/mushkin_chronos_deluxe_120gb_solid_state_drive_review/index.html

 

[nick3232]

don't buy 2tb hdd's in the time of thailand flood wait for them to settle down also if you think a stronger hdd is gonna max your preformance its not going to do that

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Wow - thank you for the detailed reply, JackNaylor!

A few updates and further questiosn:

Lucked out and found the processor and motherboard for $366.30 at the local MicroCenter here - saved me $64 - maybe even more once you figure in shipping.

Plan on ordering the rest of the parts this weekend and building next weekend.

Thanks for the note on the graphics card - not sure if I want to run two cards, have never tried it, maybe at some point in the future but for this build sticking with one - how about this card:

EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1563-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - $229.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130610

Or this ASUS which has similar specs - heard they make good graphics cards:

ASUS ENGTX560 TI DCII TOP/2DI/1GD5 GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - $229.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121425

Or was looking at this GTX 570, with free shipping:

EVGA SuperClocked 012-P3-1572-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - $349.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130595

Just wondering if the extra 15% - 20% in performance is worth the $120??? I'm willing to pay the extra $120 (actually budgeted $2K for this build), but if the performance difference is negligible (don't play a lot of FPS but maybe in the future...Witcher 2, SWTOR, ME3 are the games I want to play with no trouble) then I'll just go with the 560ti and upgrade later.

Thoughts?

---

Thanks for the input on the HDD - think I might go with this and wait for prices to go down before adding another TB:

Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=22-148-840&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2

Don't understand why there is a $100 price difference between this drive and the WD Caviar Black? I'm willing to pay the extra $100, but don't see the reason why....

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

---

I like the Scythe Mugen 3 CPU Cooler - thank you!

--

I'm not sure if I'll ever watch movies, but for the price, kinda cool to a BD Player - why not?!

---

Not a fan of the Lian Li case? Or do you think the PSU you suggested would go better in the Antec case - I watched some youtube videos of the Antec case - seems pretty slick. Lian Li seemed good, too - there was what seemed to be a good deal on a PSU at Micro Center - Cooler Master GX750 Bronze for $69.99, about $50 less than Egghead:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171053

Thoughts?

---

Well, here's the new build based on the suggestions:

CPU - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) - PURCHASED - $193.97

MOTHERBOARD - ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 - PURCHASED - $172.33

GPU - EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1563-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - $229.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130610

OR

EVGA SuperClocked 012-P3-1572-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - $349.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130595

MEMORY - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9 - $49.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186

HD 1 - Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe MKNSSDCR120GB-DX 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - $214.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226225

HD 2 - Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $129.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=22-148-840&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2

PS - Antec CP-850 850W - $114.00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024

CPU COOLER - Scythe SCMG-3000 120mm Heat Pipe CPU Cooler - $49.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185168&Tpk=Scythe%20Mugen%203

OPTICAL DRIVE - ASUS Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive Model BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM - $55.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247

CASE - Antec Performance One Series P183 V3 Black Aluminum / Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $139.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129174


Comes in at just under $1400 - seems to be a solid system, with room to expland into SLI or next series of graphics cards, as well as Ivy Bridge if I'm so inclined at a really killer price imo.

A couple of other questions - saw a suggestion to replace the fans in the Antec case with Noctua NF-P12 fans - what do you think?

Also any suggestions on Thermal Compound? Have seen a lot of different suggestions - don't mind splurging for the best.

Thanks again!

R

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Best answer selected by Kilgore Trout.