Seeking Advice for Gaming Rig!! (First Build) $1500 - $2000 .

[NewbieLemonz]

Hello. This is my first build based on a a guide I found but I'm slightly uncertain as to whether changes should be made or not (especially the GPU). I'm also seeking a somewhat portable size for this desktop thus the smaller case.

Budget Range: $1500 - $2000
Usage: Gaming, MMO, Multi-tasking, etc.
Preferred Sites: Newegg, Amazon, FrozenCPU.
Country: USA

I'm currently looking at the below:

Case: INWIN Dragon Slayer
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108236

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070

Mobo: Asus Maximus IV gene-z/gen3 (micro atx) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131806

RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16gb (4x4) 1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233180

GPU: (THE MOST OF MY CONCERN) I'm uncertain and looking at a potential SLI or CrossFire in the future. And as far as Brand names go, I would LOVE suggestions.
x2 Radeon 6950 2gb
or x2 GTX560 Ti
or GTX570

PSU: Corsair Professional Series Gold 850W (Should I switch to Silver series or Enthusiast Bronze Series??)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003PJ6QW4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

HDD: Western Digital VelociRaptor 600gb 10000rpm
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047QR8WQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=A3LJ5WMKNRFKQS

SSD: Intel 311 20GB SATA II SLC (for Cache)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167062

DVD DRIVE: LITE-ON Internal 24x DVD-Write BlACK SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106378

CPU Cooler: Scythe Big Shuriken
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14634/cpu-scy-37/Scythe_BIG_SHURIKEN_2_5-Heatpipe_Universal_Low_Porfile_CPU_Cooler_SCBSK-2000.html

Thanks, I'm looking forward to the posts and build suggestions!!

 

[redeemer]

First of all drop that crappy case and get a real case like the Silverstone Raven 3 $147.99

Drop that PSU in favor of OCZ ZT Series 750W Fully-Modular $109.99

Next you do not need 16GB Ram. Just get some cheap G.Skill Sniper Ram @ 1.5v 8GB two stick of 4GB. $48.49

Drop the Scythe Big Shuriken get the COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO! $36.99

As for you storage please drop that crappy SSD and get a Crucial M4 64GB, and for your storage get the Samsung spinpoint F3 1 TB.

Go with the ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 its on sale $121.99

I saved you a little money now use it to aquire a 7950 , I believe its 459.99!

 

[Delirious788]

Lets try to be a lot friendlier on toms hardware please.

For gaming I would go with a 2500K but if you can afford it in you budget then maybe just maybe stick with the 2600K.
Your case is fine. Ignore him.
If your budget allows it, stick with the 16GB RAM, if not do go with 8GB, 8 is really all you need.
Definitely, get a Crucial m4 128GB and then a 500GB wd or seagate or something. I wouldnt really suggest caching, especially since you can get what I just said for what you listed. A 128Gb ssd should hold everything worth loading quickly, OS, games, big programs.
Spend the rest on HD 7950, it is roughly a GTX 580 updated and ~>$50 less.
I think you should look into other coolers. Its hard to know though what will fit in your case. Just also make sure your ram is low profile.
Depending on what gpu you get you may only need like a 750 or 650w

 

[Guest]

First of all drop that crappy case and get a real case like the Silverstone Raven 3 $147.99

Drop that PSU in favor of OCZ ZT Series 750W Fully-Modular $109.99

Next you do not need 16GB Ram. Just get some cheap G.Skill Sniper Ram @ 1.5v 8GB two stick of 4GB. $48.49

Drop the Scythe Big Shuriken get the COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO! $36.99

As for you storage please drop that crappy SSD and get a Crucial M4 64GB, and for your storage get the Samsung spinpoint F3 1 TB.

Go with the ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 its on sale $121.99

I saved you a little money now use it to aquire a 7950 , I believe its 459.99!

What's the difference between CM 212+ and 212+ EVO? What does the extra 5 bucks give?

 

[Delirious788]

The EVO is new design and suppose to be a little better.

 

[NewbieLemonz]

Lets try to be a lot friendlier on toms hardware please.

For gaming I would go with a 2500K but if you can afford it in you budget then maybe just maybe stick with the 2600K.
Your case is fine. Ignore him.
If your budget allows it, stick with the 16GB RAM, if not do go with 8GB, 8 is really all you need.
Definitely, get a Crucial m4 128GB and then a 500GB wd or seagate or something. I wouldnt really suggest caching, especially since you can get what I just said for what you listed. A 128Gb ssd should hold everything worth loading quickly, OS, games, big programs.
Spend the rest on HD 7950, it is roughly a GTX 580 updated and ~>$50 less.
I think you should look into other coolers. Its hard to know though what will fit in your case. Just also make sure your ram is low profile.
Depending on what gpu you get you may only need like a 750 or 650w

Great Thx for the advice. However I do still have a few questions, since I'm completely new to this whole field.. Still learning in progress.

Just wondering but is Caching an insubstantial method?
And if the 128gb Crucial SSD is anough for the main files, I suppose I would just be using to additional 500gb for future storage such as docs, music etc?
As for the cooler, the one suggested above seems a bit big? I only have about 4inches of space between the mobo and the case side. I was wondering what you might suggest?
Would you suggest I switch from the Corsair Vengeance series to Ripjaw X Series instead?
Lastly, just wondering but under what conditions would require me to use a 850w psu?

Your help is really appreciated~

 

[NewbieLemonz]

Also wondering about the GPU.

Getting wouldn't getting x2 6950s amount to greater performance than a single HD 7950?

And in the case of buying a HD 7950, what brand should I go for? Should I go for one with pipe heatsinks? or something like Sapphire?

 

[Guest]

The EVO is new design and suppose to be a little better.

Right. Right. Common sense.

 

[Xero1234]

Also wondering about the GPU.

Getting wouldn't getting x2 6950s amount to greater performance than a single HD 7950?

I was faced with the same thing. being that a 6950 is about 250 a peice, they are roughly the same investment. What finally made me decide the way I did (1 7950) is that in the future I can add another 7950 to increase performance to match newer boards. it came down to what did I think the price of the 7950 do in a few months?

I'm going with "less" performance now, for a significantly increased performance in the future, be it one, two, three, or even six months in the future when the prices drop on 7950's. now, keep in mind that "less" performance is reletive. From what I understand, the gain of two 6950's vs 1 7950 is not a hugely significant difference.


Basically, the only way I would choose cf'd 6950's as opposed to a new 7950, is if you already had a 6950. THen it would make more sense to increase what you already have.

But if you are already going to spend the money? I chose the 7950: getting less now for a bigger gain in the future.