[New Build] $2000 Gaming Rig; Critique needed please

[ahbrown4057]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within 3 weeks

Budget Range: $2000 Before rebates
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Heavy Gaming/Multitasking/Movie Viewing

Parts Not Required: Buying all new items
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country: U.S.

Parts Preferences: No Preference

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: See monitor below

Additional Comments: My first build; would like some input

-----------------------------------------------

(cpu)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

(mb)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665

(gpu)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125385

(psu)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

(case)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

(sound card)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019

(monitor)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

(keyboard)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126043

(mouse)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104261

(cooler)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

(HDD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284 *currently overpriced*

(os)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

(RAM)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145321

 

[sosofm]

1366 is a dead socket. Buy socket 1155 compatible parts.
I used for mutitasking i7 2600k i think is better than 2500k , for havy gaming a better video card 6970 , 8GB ram an the rest of the parts is what you choosed and i think you like them.
MOBO : ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
CPU : I7 2600K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070
GPU : SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102957
RAM : CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
HDD : Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284
PSU : CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750M 750W 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular High Performance
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139030
CPU COOLER : COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
AUDIO CARD : Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019
CASE : Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
MONITOR : ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052
DVD-RW : ASUS 24X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
KEYBOARD : Logitech Black 106 Normal Keys USB Wired Ultra-thin Illuminated Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126043
MOUSE : Logitech G9x Black Two modes scroll USB Wired Laser Gaming Mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104261
OS : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
TOTAL : $1,839.86 without rebates.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I'd upgrade to the 902 V3 w/ front USB 3 ports and an XFX Core Edition 850 PSU. Better yet, the Antec 1200 V3 or DF-85 w/ CP-850

MoBo / CPU - I'd oipt for the 2500k for gaming, 2600k if you use multithreaded apps w/ a P67 (Asus P8P67 Pro) or Z68 MoBo Asus (P8Z68 Pro)

Use this to decide
http://www.ukgamingcomputers.co.uk/difference-between-h67-p67-z68-and-h61-chipsets-a-22.html

The factory OC'd models in this range are the much better buy because of the OC potential offered by their more robust VRM's and oversized coolers. The 900MHz 560 Ti has the edge here over the 6950

Guru3D uses the following games in their test suite, COD-MW, Bad Company 2, Dirt 2, Far Cry 2, Metro 2033, Dawn of Discovery, Crysis Warhead. Total fps (summing fps in each game @ 1920 x 1200) for the various options in parenthesis (single card / SL or CF) are tabulated below along with their cost in dollars per frame single card - CF or SLI:

$ 240.00 6950 Frozr OC (484/759) $ 0.50 - $ 0.63
$ 215.00 560 Ti - 900 Mhz (495/862) $ 0.43 - $ 0.50

Onboard sound on the above MoBo's is just fine

In a $2k build, I'd want a 120 MHz monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236104

For gamers, I'd upgrade the KB /. Mouse a teeny bit

Keyboard - $ 90 - Logitech G510 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126100
Mouse - $ 58 - Logitech G500 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104318

Yes, the Hyper 212 is a great cooler ..... for $25. But a $2k build deserves something better. AT least spring for an extra $20 and get it's bug brother the Hyper 612 PWM or the Scythe Mugen 3

HD comes w/ free DVD Burner for $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

Lose the tall toothy heat sinks and the fan thing on the RAM

1. The teeth will hit the CPU cooler preventing the cooler's installation and you'll never get the fan thing on.
2. DDR3 doesn't need tall heat sinks or fans to cool it.

The only cooling effect of these big coolers is that they "look cool". While they served a purpose (when they were effective) w/ DDR2, they are absolutely useless on DDR3.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=67&limit=1&limitstart=1

At more than 2" tall in certain areas the Corsair Vengeance could pose a problem for users like me who use large coolers such as the Scythe Mugen 2. I was able to use the Corsair Vengeance only after I mounted the fan on my cooler on the backside. Size is definitely a concern with heat spreaders of this size and therefore I encourage users to check that they will have enough space under their heatsinks before purchasing the Corsair Vengeance kit.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=67&limit=1&limitstart=6

The problem I have with the Corsair Vengeance is the same I have with many kits of RAM on the market. Companies insist on putting large coolers on their RAM and it limits the choice in CPU heatsinks that can be used within users system. DDR3 does not require these elaborate coolers with its lower voltages which translate to lower temperatures then RAM saw during the DDR, and DDR2 era. Corsair is correcting this with low profile versions of its Vengeance line but ultimately I would like to see the average size of coolers drop instead of having to look for specific low profile versions of a memory line.

Get the low profile Vengeance models

 

[ahbrown4057]

Some great builds out here guys! Really, thanks alot of helping me get a general feel. I'll combine the best of the 3 builds recommended and see what final consensus I can come up with.

 

[ahbrown4057]

Best answer selected by ahbrown4057.

 

[ahbrown4057]

I'd upgrade to the 902 V3 w/ front USB 3 ports and an XFX Core Edition 850 PSU. Better yet, the Antec 1200 V3 or DF-85 w/ CP-850

MoBo / CPU - I'd oipt for the 2500k for gaming, 2600k if you use multithreaded apps w/ a P67 (Asus P8P67 Pro) or Z68 MoBo Asus (P8Z68 Pro)

Use this to decide
http://www.ukgamingcomputers.co.uk/difference-between-h67-p67-z68-and-h61-chipsets-a-22.html

The factory OC'd models in this range are the much better buy because of the OC potential offered by their more robust VRM's and oversized coolers. The 900MHz 560 Ti has the edge here over the 6950

Guru3D uses the following games in their test suite, COD-MW, Bad Company 2, Dirt 2, Far Cry 2, Metro 2033, Dawn of Discovery, Crysis Warhead. Total fps (summing fps in each game @ 1920 x 1200) for the various options in parenthesis (single card / SL or CF) are tabulated below along with their cost in dollars per frame single card - CF or SLI:

$ 240.00 6950 Frozr OC (484/759) $ 0.50 - $ 0.63
$ 215.00 560 Ti - 900 Mhz (495/862) $ 0.43 - $ 0.50

Onboard sound on the above MoBo's is just fine

In a $2k build, I'd want a 120 MHz monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236104

For gamers, I'd upgrade the KB /. Mouse a teeny bit

Keyboard - $ 90 - Logitech G510 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126100
Mouse - $ 58 - Logitech G500 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104318

Yes, the Hyper 212 is a great cooler ..... for $25. But a $2k build deserves something better. AT least spring for an extra $20 and get it's bug brother the Hyper 612 PWM or the Scythe Mugen 3

HD comes w/ free DVD Burner for $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

Lose the tall toothy heat sinks and the fan thing on the RAM

1. The teeth will hit the CPU cooler preventing the cooler's installation and you'll never get the fan thing on.
2. DDR3 doesn't need tall heat sinks or fans to cool it.

The only cooling effect of these big coolers is that they "look cool". While they served a purpose (when they were effective) w/ DDR2, they are absolutely useless on DDR3.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=67&limit=1&limitstart=1

At more than 2" tall in certain areas the Corsair Vengeance could pose a problem for users like me who use large coolers such as the Scythe Mugen 2. I was able to use the Corsair Vengeance only after I mounted the fan on my cooler on the backside. Size is definitely a concern with heat spreaders of this size and therefore I encourage users to check that they will have enough space under their heatsinks before purchasing the Corsair Vengeance kit.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=67&limit=1&limitstart=6

The problem I have with the Corsair Vengeance is the same I have with many kits of RAM on the market. Companies insist on putting large coolers on their RAM and it limits the choice in CPU heatsinks that can be used within users system. DDR3 does not require these elaborate coolers with its lower voltages which translate to lower temperatures then RAM saw during the DDR, and DDR2 era. Corsair is correcting this with low profile versions of its Vengeance line but ultimately I would like to see the average size of coolers drop instead of having to look for specific low profile versions of a memory line.

Get the low profile Vengeance models

Selected as best answer because of the phenomenal advice given within JackNaylor's reply. Thank you Jack, and to everyone else who offered advice here. Also thank you Tom's Hardware, for yet again another [Solved] Thread.

 

[ahbrown4057]

I'm sorry malmental, but I have no idea what relevance that comment has to a solved thread.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey