Rate my budget gaming build

[ashram333]

I think I finally have the build I want, just wanted additional input for my needs.

Approximate Purchase Date: within the next couple weeks.

Budget Range: $550 to $650 after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: swtor, tera, skyrim, internet surfing

Parts Not Required: monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, os, dvd-r drive

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg, amazon, tiger direct

Country: United States

Parts Preferences: Reliable brands

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1440x900

Additional Comments: My main concern is if this will be sufficient enough to run swtor at max setting. Here's what I have so far.

COOLER MASTER Elite 430 RC-430-KWN1 Black Steel / Plastic Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227

Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 996770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226095

ASUS P8Z68-M Pro LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131786

Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I52400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074

 

[sosofm]

Your build looks good.

 

[ukee1593]

Very nice GPU, Mobo, CPU etc ...

The PSUs made by Seasonic OEM are usually a bit better than the Corsair CX series. (Seasonic is how Corsair got their good name in PSUs. They make the HX, TX and AX series for corsair) You can still get one of these in your budget with the Antec Neo Eco: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031

 

[lakshitharxx]

You have to buy a i5-2500k if you are going to overclock.. you can't oc that 2400..

 

[DelroyMonjo]

Overclocking normally means the CPU. You will need a 2500K to do that. Newegg lowered it'd price to $224.99 today. I don't know how long it will stay that way but it's $10 cheaper than 2 days ago. Still $35 more than a 2400.

 

[need4speeds]

For $179 dropping to the 2400 is worth it.

You dont need a z68 board since the 2400 is multiplier locked anyway.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128539
$59.99 Free Shipping GIGABYTE GA-H61MA-D3V LGA 1155 Intel H61 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

$125 - $60 = $65..

$239.99 - ($169.99(6870)+$65 savings) =$5

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150523
$239.99 XFX HD-695X-ZNFC Radeon HD 6950 1GB 256-bit GDDR5

 

[serialkiller]

hey op
nice built
if u are overclocking then u will need a processor with unlocked multiplier or has a k written after it .their are only 3 processor of 1155 socket which are i5 2500k,i7 2600k and i7 2700k.
I7 is an overkill and not in ur budget.get an i5 2500k if u are going to overclock. And buy the mobo the one u suggested.
Note ***for overclocking an aftermarket cooler is absolutely necessary***

if mild to medium overclock then coolers like cm hyper 212+ or evo
and for heavy oc noctua dh14 and cm v10 or corsair h100

If u are not overclocking then i5 2500k is waste money buy i5 2400 and u are not going to need z68 mobo buy this mobo
newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131711

and if u can buy cm haf 912.

Get ur build going and enjoy ur day XD

 

[need4speeds]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128538
$98.99 GIGABYTE GA-Z68AP-D3(R2.0) LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Its kinda worth the extra $40, its a better board and has crossfire.

The antec neo mentioned above has a extra 8 amps. I know 8 amps is not much, but the corsair at 40 amps vs. the antec 48 amps means crossfire hd-6950's should work in the future if you buy a 2nd one used for cheap later on.

I would also look for used video cards.

A pair of hd-4870's gives you 1600 shaders for cheap.
A pair of 5770's would be ok.
I mean something like $100 to $120 for the pair if you spot some for sale.

A pair of hd-5830's, 5850's, 5870's would be ok too. 4890's..

 

[need4speeds]

The 2400 does overclock on some boards, so its still worth a try.

On some boards you can increase the multi to the max multi for turbo core. It ends up at 3.8ghz. google this and you will see.
I think it said the max multi was 38x.

Basically it runs all 4 cores in turbo core mode all the time.

I am not sure if this gigabyte board is one of the "lucky" boards that lets you do this or not with the 2400.

 

[billybobser]

if you're going i5, find the pennies to get a K version.

Even if you're not gonna overclock, the resale value of a K version will be much higher when you come to upgrade.

 

[ashram333]

Thanks for all the input guys. I ended changing the motherboard to the Gigabit GA-Z68AP-D3(R2.0) LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard and the psu to the Antec Neo Eco. My other question would be, what would be better between choosing the go with the i5-2500k with an amd 6870 or the i5-2400 with an amd 6950. I can't afford to get the best of both worlds, so what would be the better bang for buck?

 

[azeem40]

Skyrim and SWTOR, being RPGs are more CPU-intensive, so I'd go with the i5-2500k and the 6870.

 

[need4speeds]

Certain cards are known to suffer more from microstuddering troubles than other cards.

The ones with more disabled shaders tend to have this trouble more than cards with most or all of the gpu's shaders working because each gpu will have different parts disabled so they end up being missmatched in crossfire.

The 6950 has most of its shaders working, so a pair of them is pretty close, they are known to crossfire well.

The 6790, 6850, and 6870 are known to crossfire poorly so this kills your upgrade path.

A 2400 with a 6950 would be faster than a 2500k with a 6870.

The 2500k also needs a aftermarket cooler where the 2400 is ok with the stock cooler.

 

[ashram333]

Best answer selected by ashram333.