Hey experts, it has been awhile since I have OC'd a computer.
I want to build a gaming system with a budget of about $1000-1200. My monitor is a Samsung SyncMaster 941bw. If I need to, I would go out of budget to replace it with a better. Not sure if that matters or not. Which is why I'm asking all these questions. Feel free to replace my options with better or, if they're that bad, tell me to buck off and let another cowboy ride the pony.
Processor: i5 2500k - $225
-looked at others and not willing to wait for ivy; as far as I can tell, this one looks rock solid for OC
Mobo: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $122
-I've seriously read for hours and my eyes are bleeding, but I came up with this pick. If you can show me better, please do. I don't care about onboard video. Z68 is nice, but not necessary. All I want is to run my video card and OC my proc as cheaply as possible. SATA 6gb and USB3.0 are important to me too.
Memory: Crucial has never done me wrong and I'll pick up 8GB DDR3 from them for my mobo at what they charge. Let me know if I should look for a certain something.
Video: Again, my eyes bled and I tossed and turned at night deciding whether to get two cards in crossfire or just getting a good single now with the option to add another in a couple of years to stay current. I settled on spending more now(if I have to) on a good card instead of crossfire. I like AMD 7950 for about $500. Seriously, this is the first time that I have choosen a non-nVidia card. Did I read wrong or is crossfire really better than SLI? If they promise me bang, they got my buck.
HD: I can't take reading anymore. I'll cheap out and not get SSD yet. I'm looking in 500Gb to 1T fast rpm range. Someone just link me a good one please. I might get two for 0+1 speed and redundancy. Boot/load times are no big deal to me, fps means more.
Anywho, let me know if I'm swimming away from the boat on any of those.
Appreciate it!
I want to build a gaming system with a budget of about $1000-1200. My monitor is a Samsung SyncMaster 941bw. If I need to, I would go out of budget to replace it with a better. Not sure if that matters or not. Which is why I'm asking all these questions. Feel free to replace my options with better or, if they're that bad, tell me to buck off and let another cowboy ride the pony.
Processor: i5 2500k - $225
-looked at others and not willing to wait for ivy; as far as I can tell, this one looks rock solid for OC
Mobo: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $122
-I've seriously read for hours and my eyes are bleeding, but I came up with this pick. If you can show me better, please do. I don't care about onboard video. Z68 is nice, but not necessary. All I want is to run my video card and OC my proc as cheaply as possible. SATA 6gb and USB3.0 are important to me too.
Memory: Crucial has never done me wrong and I'll pick up 8GB DDR3 from them for my mobo at what they charge. Let me know if I should look for a certain something.
Video: Again, my eyes bled and I tossed and turned at night deciding whether to get two cards in crossfire or just getting a good single now with the option to add another in a couple of years to stay current. I settled on spending more now(if I have to) on a good card instead of crossfire. I like AMD 7950 for about $500. Seriously, this is the first time that I have choosen a non-nVidia card. Did I read wrong or is crossfire really better than SLI? If they promise me bang, they got my buck.
HD: I can't take reading anymore. I'll cheap out and not get SSD yet. I'm looking in 500Gb to 1T fast rpm range. Someone just link me a good one please. I might get two for 0+1 speed and redundancy. Boot/load times are no big deal to me, fps means more.
Anywho, let me know if I'm swimming away from the boat on any of those.
Appreciate it!