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-h...
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=N82E168...
For gamers, I'd upgrade the KB /. Mouse a teeny bit
Keyboard - $ 90 - Logitech G510
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Mouse - $ 58 - Logitech G500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
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=N82E168...
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_conten...
Quote:
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_conten...
Quote:
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