New build [Around 1200-1500$] Completly new to building systems

[realtalk11]

Hey, I plan on building a new system. I've always bought pre-built systems in the past such as gateway or hp and I got raped obv.

I'm new so should I just buy the parts suggested in the buying guide for my price range and follow the guide to assemble it ?

Heres what I would need.

Approximate Purchase Date: (e.g.: this week (the closer the better))

ASAP

Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) Before / After Rebates

1200-1500

System Usage from Most to Least Important: (e.g.: Folding@Home, gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies)

Playing poker, gaming, watching movies, internet

Parts Not Required: (e.g.: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS) **Include Power Supply Make & Model If Re-using**

Monitor,keyboard,mouse,speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: (e.g.: newegg.com, ncix.com -- to show us selection & pricing)

Any that ships to canada with good pricing and shipping rates

Country: (e.g.: India) we need to know where these parts are being assembled

Canada

Parts Preferences: by brand or type (e.g.: I would like to use an AMD CPU & Biostar mobo with a 24" LCD and full tower case)

Intel cpu

Overclocking: Yes / No / Maybe

I'm new to this but i could try

SLI or Crossfire: Yes / No / Maybe

I dont care

Monitor Resolution: (e.g.: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200)

1920x1080

Additional Comments: (e.g.: Need to have a window and lots of bling, I would like a quiet PC)


I need a SSD, I also need a video card that support dual monitors. quiet pc would be nice . Need to buy windows.

 

[g-unit1111]

Based off your requirements I'd recommend a build similar to what I use for my workstation. If internet is your main priority you don't really need to OC or purchase an unlocked CPU.

Try this:

Case: Fractal Design Arc MIDI - $99.99
PSU: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX650 - $89.99
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3H - $159.99
CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 - $189.99
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $34.99
RAM: PNY XLR8 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - $44.99
SSD: Samsung 830 64GB - $119.99
HD: 500GB Western Digital Caviar Blue - $84.99
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 - $259.99
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium - $99.99

Total: $1,214.99

 

[realtalk11]

My main priority would be running 24 pokerstars table with hold'em manager 2.

Then gaming.

Then internet

 

[realtalk11]

What do you guys think about this build :

Core i5 2500k @ $220 (pricematch with http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/232639/Intel/BX80623I52500K/ )
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=57962

HIS Radeon HD6870 @ $160 ($150 after mail in rebate)
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=66643&promoid=1141

Mushkin 2x4GB 1333MHz @ $40 ($35 after mail in rebate) (pricematch with http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950BD3503 )
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=55544

XFX Core Edition 550 @ $62 ($47 after mail in rebate) (pricematch with http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15180AC2961 )
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=59615

ASUS P8Z68-M Pro @ $122 (pricematch with http://www.hookbag.ca/product/H3C06MO4O/ )
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=64104

Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo @ $28 (pricematch with http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11130AC0554 )
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=64385

Bitfenix Shinobi @ $60
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=62891&promoid=1130

Western Digital Caviar Green 1.5TB @ $90
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=48813&promoid=1141

Crucial M4 128gb @ $185
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=60445&promoid=1130

DVD Burner @ $18
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=65984&promoid=1141

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 @ $98 (pricematch with http://www.hltechnology.com/one_prod.php?pid=209982 )
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=45271

Any feedbacks appreciated. thanks

 

[g-unit1111]

Pretty good selection for the most part. Case is OK not great, and the motherboard you've selected is a mATX board - I would really recommend paying a bit more and getting a full size board, something like this: http://ncix.com/products/?sku=61002&vpn=GA%2DZ68X%2DUD3H%2DB3&manufacture=Gigabyte

 

[hellfire24]

@realtalk,
good selection.i would suggest these changes-
don't get the 'k' version if you don't want to overclock.i5 2400 is hardly 10~12% slower than 2500.save your bucks and go with 2400.it's a very good cpu.
that motherboard is not great.M-ATX mobos suck IMO.go with asrock extrme3/gen3.it''s cheap and good performer.
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=63945&vpn=Z68%20Extreme3%20Gen3&manufacture=ASRock
it has pci-e 3,usb 3 and all other 'required' things.
get this PSU-
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=59616&vpn=P1650SNLB9&manufacture=XFX
it has more power and it also receives high ratings on johnyguru.
hyper 212 EVO is a great cooler but only if you want to go 4Ghz or more.you are new to overclocking.your best bet is to get a silent and cheap cooler.here's one-
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=67721&vpn=CNPS%205X%20Performa&manufacture=ZALMAN%20TECH
HDD prices are high ATM.better you go with a green 500GB drive.
i own that SSD and it's great.but i would suggest going with mushkin cronos cause read/write speeds are better and mushkin is a reputed brand.get 120GB drive.8GB is not worth more bucks.here you go-
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=62873&vpn=MKNSSDCR120GB&manufacture=Mushkin%20Enhanced
your case is good IMO.this one is better-
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=55583&vpn=RC-912-KKN1&manufacture=COOLERMASTER
try to use the saved money to get a better gpu.a 6950 or 560ti will do fine.

 

[g-unit1111]

@realtalk,
good selection.i would suggest these changes-
don't get the 'k' version if you don't want to overclock.i5 2400 is hardly 10~12% slower than 2500.save your bucks and go with 2400.it's a very good cpu.
that motherboard is not great.M-ATX mobos suck IMO.go with asrock extrme3/gen3.it''s cheap and good performer.
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=63945&vpn=Z68%20Extreme3%20Gen3&manufacture=ASRock
it has pci-e 3,usb 3 and all other 'required' things.
get this PSU-
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=59616&vpn=P1650SNLB9&manufacture=XFX
it has more power and it also receives high ratings on johnyguru.
hyper 212 EVO is a great cooler but only if you want to go 4Ghz or more.you are new to overclocking.your best bet is to get a silent and cheap cooler.here's one-
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=67721&vpn=CNPS%205X%20Performa&manufacture=ZALMAN%20TECH
HDD prices are high ATM.better you go with a green 500GB drive.
i own that SSD and it's great.but i would suggest going with mushkin cronos cause read/write speeds are better and mushkin is a reputed brand.get 120GB drive.8GB is not worth more bucks.here you go-
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=62873&vpn=MKNSSDCR120GB&manufacture=Mushkin%20Enhanced
your case is good IMO.this one is better-
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=55583&vpn=RC-912-KKN1&manufacture=COOLERMASTER
try to use the saved money to get a better gpu.a 6950 or 560ti will do fine.

I'll definitely second the case and PSU choices here but I'd still stick with the Evo. IMO Zalman is kind of overrated for the fans they produce. You can't attach a second fan and the heat sinks tend to collect a lot of dust after long periods of time.

 

[ebola28]

I need a SSD, I also need a video card that support dual monitors. quiet pc would be nice . Need to buy windows.

for a nice quiet case:

http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=63334&vpn=FD-CA-DEF-R3-USB3-BL&manufacture=Fractal%20Design

fractal design R3

 

[hellfire24]

hey g-unit,may be you are right.how about hyper tx3?

 

[g-unit1111]

hey g-unit,may be you are right.how about hyper tx3?

Not a bad choice but I personally find fans that use rubber connectors and cheap metal clips instead of the plastic rails to be the biggest pain to install, mounting fans on the Hyper 212 is one of the easiest I've ever worked with. I'm not gonna say I'm a total CM fanboy but this is one of the best coolers I've ever used and I've used everything from single one-fan solutions like the Zalman 9500 to huge multi-heat sinks like the Thermalright Silver Arrow. I haven't tried a closed block like the H100 yet but I'm certainly open to it.

I have my Hyper 212 with two fans running and my CPU idles at 21'C and doesn't get above 30'C on full use.

 

[realtalk11]

Final build thoughts ? I'm ordering the parts as soon as i get good reviews. Thx a lot guys.

ASRock Z68 EXTREME3 GEN3 ATX LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E SATA3 USB3.0 SLI CrossFireX Motherboard

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=63945

Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=57962&promoid=1141

Mushkin Enhanced Silverline Stiletto 8GB 2X4GB PC3-10666 DDR3-1333 9-9-9-24 Dual Channel Memory Kit

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=55544&promoid=1141

Samsung SH-222BB 22X DVD Writer SATA Black OEM

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=65984&promoid=1141

Mushkin Chronos 120GB 2.5IN SATA3 Sandforce SF-2281 SSD Solid State Disk Flash Drive

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=62873&promoid=1141

XFX Radeon HD 6970 2GB GDDR5 PCI-E 2XDVI HDMI 2x Mini DisplayPort Video Card

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=57629&promoid=1141

Coolermaster Haf 912 Black Mid Tower ATX Case 4X5.25 1X3.5 6X3.5INT No PS Front USB Sound

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=55583&promoid=1130

Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo Direct Touch 4 Heatpipe Heatsink AM2 AM3 LGA1366 LGA1155 LGA1156 120MM

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=64385&promoid=1130

Western Digital WD Caviar Green 500GB SATA3 7200RPM Intellipower 32MB 3.5IN Internal Hard Drive

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=67463&promoid=1130

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64BIT SP1 DVD OEM

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=45271&promoid=1130

I took a more powerful powersupply cause i upgraded the gpu..

Any thoughts.

Really appreciated guys

 

[realtalk11]

Just read about the 6970 card and reviews say its not rly great value ?

Any ideas ?

 

[hellfire24]

yeah that's right IMO.6950 and 560ti are great value.if you can wait 7950(most probably under 400 and maybe less )it will give gtx 580 class performance and definitely better than 6970 or 570.

 

[realtalk11]

Other than tat build looks fine ? What about 2x 6950 in crossfire or 2x 6870 in crossfire ?

 

[hellfire24]

2x6870 wil show amazing performance but i would go with 2x6950 cause 2GB VRAM will do fine with AA/MSAA and would be more future proof.did i mention fast as a bugatti?