A future build

[general_tell]

Approximate Purchase Date: TBD ( I am actually not sure if I should build it now, or wait a bit since the new CPUs are suppose to be ready in 2-3 months. That should bring a general price drop ? Is it worth the wait ? )

Budget Range: 800-1k After Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, matlab+matematica (cpu + ram demanding), surfing

Parts Not Required: power supply (I have a corsair 700W), case, storage drive, mouse, keyboard and monitors

Preferred Website(s) for Parts : newegg.com, ncix.com, and others in canada

Country: Canada

Parts Preferences:

1- CPU : I was thinking of i5-2500K. After reading a lot about it, it seemed the best price/quality.
2- MOBO : I was thinking a good mobo with chipset Z68, e.g. MSI's Z68A-GD80. I would like a good reliable mobo with the following :
- PCIe gen 3 (!)
- SLI/CROSSFIRE capable (see later on)
- OC capable
Please feel free to suggest other models. I don't know MSI that much; I had before some mobo of gigabytes and asus.
3- RAM : I still cannot be sure what's best. I usually try to get good ram. I am not used to DDR3 and everything. I would like some help there.
4- GC : I was still hesitating between
Option A: HD 6870 - around 170CAN$
Option B: HD 6950 - around 235CAN$ (with 1gb; I read that the 2gb model is not worth it)
Option C: GTX560ti
Option D: 2x somecard (depending on how much the rest is)
Is option D really worth it.
N.B.: I usually connect 2 monitors to my computer for work purposes.
5- SDD: probably some SDD with around 200gb for bootdrive and main games. Is that too much ? How should I use my SDD to truly get the best out of it ? Intels SDD are to be avoided ? Anything else I need to know ?
6- Bluray combo drive, nothing too fancy.

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (see point 4 above)

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 (x2)

Closing comments :

I currently use a computer that is working, but a bit unreliable. I can wait for a few months, but not that much. Considering that new CPUs (Ivy bridge ?) are getting on the market soon, should I wait for a pricedrop within the new few months ? If so, what should I expect ?

Thank you for your comments.

G

 

[inerax]

ill throw my $0.02 for the 6950. I would try and find a 6950 with 2gb and the bios switch. I currently have 2 of them in crossfire and it is insane.

Also, now or latter down the line, you can flash them to a 6970 and get more bang for your buck.

2gb is 100% worth it if you are going to play some high res games and really push the card(s).

You could get 1 card now and then add a 2nd latter if needed.

 

[g-unit1111]

4- GC : I was still hesitating between
Option A: HD 6870 - around 170CAN$
Option B: HD 6950 - around 235CAN$ (with 1gb; I read that the 2gb model is not worth it)
Option C: GTX560ti

You can't go wrong with any of them.

Option D: 2x somecard (depending on how much the rest is)

It'd be better to get a single, solid card than 2 x SLI. Whatever your difference you have left after selecting all the other components you need, put that into getting the best single GPU solution you can afford.

2- MOBO : I was thinking a good mobo with chipset Z68, e.g. MSI's Z68A-GD80. I would like a good reliable mobo with the following :
- PCIe gen 3 (!)
- SLI/CROSSFIRE capable (see later on)
- OC capable

I'm not the biggest fan of MSI - it seems people either love them or hate them. I had a 870-G45 and it died on me after 3 days of owning it. This is the board I use and it's worked unbelievably well since I got it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128506

5- SDD: probably some SDD with around 200gb for bootdrive and main games. Is that too much ? How should I use my SDD to truly get the best out of it ? Intels SDD are to be avoided ? Anything else I need to know ?

Yes - on a $1K budget you're looking at a $300 - $400 drive, and that's almost half just spent on the storage. I'd say the drive is one of the least important parts of the build as you can always add drives later on - most cases make it really easy to do so.

Intel SSDs are great actually now that the firmware has been cleaned up on them. A lot of the issues they were having were due to Sandforce 1.0 drivers and now that the 2.0 drivers have been released a lot of problems some of the buggier drives were having have been cleaned up.

 

[general_tell]

Does that last board support PCIe gen 3.0 ?

 

[g-unit1111]

Does that last board support PCIe gen 3.0 ?

Yes - most Z68 boards will support PCI 3.0.

 

[Why_Me]

Approximate Purchase Date: TBD ( I am actually not sure if I should build it now, or wait a bit since the new CPUs are suppose to be ready in 2-3 months. That should bring a general price drop ? Is it worth the wait ? )

Budget Range: 800-1k After Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, matlab+matematica (cpu + ram demanding), surfing

Parts Not Required: power supply (I have a corsair 700W), case, storage drive, mouse, keyboard and monitors

Preferred Website(s) for Parts : newegg.com, ncix.com, and others in canada

Country: Canada

Parts Preferences:

1- CPU : I was thinking of i5-2500K. After reading a lot about it, it seemed the best price/quality.
2- MOBO : I was thinking a good mobo with chipset Z68, e.g. MSI's Z68A-GD80. I would like a good reliable mobo with the following :
- PCIe gen 3 (!)
- SLI/CROSSFIRE capable (see later on)
- OC capable
Please feel free to suggest other models. I don't know MSI that much; I had before some mobo of gigabytes and asus.
3- RAM : I still cannot be sure what's best. I usually try to get good ram. I am not used to DDR3 and everything. I would like some help there.
4- GC : I was still hesitating between
Option A: HD 6870 - around 170CAN$
Option B: HD 6950 - around 235CAN$ (with 1gb; I read that the 2gb model is not worth it)
Option C: GTX560ti
Option D: 2x somecard (depending on how much the rest is)
Is option D really worth it.
N.B.: I usually connect 2 monitors to my computer for work purposes.
5- SDD: probably some SDD with around 200gb for bootdrive and main games. Is that too much ? How should I use my SDD to truly get the best out of it ? Intels SDD are to be avoided ? Anything else I need to know ?
6- Bluray combo drive, nothing too fancy.

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (see point 4 above)

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 (x2)

Closing comments :

I currently use a computer that is working, but a bit unreliable. I can wait for a few months, but not that much. Considering that new CPUs (Ivy bridge ?) are getting on the market soon, should I wait for a pricedrop within the new few months ? If so, what should I expect ?

Thank you for your comments.

G

For your resolution and the fact you use two monitors it's the 6950 2GB for you hands down.

FREE SHIPPING! These two retailers (Direct Canada & Best Direct Canada) are affiliated and both ship out of the same warehouse in Richmond, BC.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=13220AC2351&vpn=OCZ-ZS750W&manufacture=OCZ <----- PSU to push two of those cards

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950BD2247&vpn=Z68%20Extreme3%20Gen3&manufacture=Others $145.80
ASRock Z68 EXTREME3 GEN3 ATX LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E SATA3 USB3.0 SLI CrossFireX Motherboard

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z68%20Extreme3%20Gen3 <----- a better look at that board

http://www.asrock.com/microsite/PCIe3/ <----- That board is a Gen 3 board and ready for Ivy Bridge and PCI-E 3.0

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12980BD0745&vpn=R6950%20Twin%20Frozr%20II%20OC&manufacture=MSI <---- 6950 2GB, but check Direct Canada and Best Direct.ca for better deals.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12200BD1527&vpn=BX80623I52500K&manufacture=INTEL $209.69
Intel Core I5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11130AC0554&vpn=RR-212E-20PK-R1&manufacture=COOLERMASTER $27.58
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo Direct Touch 4 Heatpipe Heatsink AM2 AM3 LGA1366 LGA1155 LGA1156 120MM

http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/232563/F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL/G.SKILL/ $45.79
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10530DR5213&vpn=DRW-24B1ST%20Bulk&manufacture=ASUS $19.24
ASUS DRW-24B1ST 24X SATA DVD Writer OEM Black