You always remember you first time

[Lostguy]

Approximate Purchase Date: This Week

Budget Range: 1500 topps with buying an os I would like to be in the 1250-1400 range if possible.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, internet, cup holder (just kidding)

Parts Not Required: Mouse, Keyboard I will just go and buy them in store, as well as monitor unless there is a good deal online.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com and Tigerdirect.com

Country: Taylor Swift but US



Overclocking: Yes ( also is it fairly easy to overclock I have never done it)

SLI or Crossfire: Yes but in the future

Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Additional Comments: I have compiled a few different builds I like just need feedback on which is best. I am debating on graphics cards the most because I like the EVGA option of the 90 day step up program and with Kesslar coming Apr 12 I can upgrade to whatever is the best then for a better price. I am debating on the 560 ti, the 570, and 580. I would run two but only buying one now because I don't know what I wanna go with just yet. My main use for this computer will be Gaming. I will be playing Diablo 3, Guild Wars 2, Battlefield 3, and Wow, I would like to be able to run on Ultra on all settings and be able to keep 60+ Frame rates consistent. I know on BF 3 I may have to turn down AA and stuff to keep that but that would be fine with me.

Sorry in advance for having so much to look over.

CPU Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core $179.99
CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing $29.33
Motherboard ASRock P67 Extreme4 Gen3 ATX LGA1155 $158.49
Memory G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 $46.99
Hard Drive Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM $147.27
Video Card EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB $219.99
Case NZXT Phantom (White/Red) ATX Full Tower $123.53
Power Supply Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V $74.99
Optical Drive Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer $18.98
Monitor Asus VH232H 23.0" $153.98
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) $99.99
total is right around $1250
That one is with a 560 TI and using a ASrock mobo, not sure about this one at all. It includes the monitor and os though so not a bad price at all.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/5fll is the link to view all this on a spread sheet

Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core $179.99
CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ball Bearing $39.99
Motherboard Asus P8P67 PRO (REV 3.1) ATX LGA1155 $159.99
Memory G.Skill Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 $69.99
Hard Drive Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM $131.74
Video Card Gigabyte GeForce GTX 570 1.25GB $317.86
Case NZXT Phantom (Black) ATX Full Tower $109.99
Power Supply Corsair 850W ATX12V / EPS12V $124.89
Optical Drive Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer $18.98
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) $99.99

this is using a 570 pretty much just using the 100 from the monitor and putting it on the graphics card and upping the power supply.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/5hQH is the link to view that one.

CPU Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core $179.99
CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ball Bearing $39.99
Motherboard Asus P8P67 Deluxe (REV 3.0) ATX LGA1155 $209.99
Memory G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 $41.99
Hard Drive Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM $131.74
Video Card EVGA GeForce GTX 580 1.5GB $449.99
Case NZXT Phantom (Black) ATX Full Tower $109.99
Power Supply Corsair 850W ATX12V / EPS12V $149.99
Optical Drive Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer $18.98
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) $99.99
the cost on that one is 1432 no monitor but has OS the 580 graphics card and the 850 watt power supply.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/5myY is the link to view that one.

CPU Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core $179.99
CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ball Bearing $39.99
Motherboard Asus P8P67 PRO (REV 3.1) ATX LGA1155 $159.99
Memory G.Skill Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 $69.99
Hard Drive Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM $131.74
Video Card EVGA GeForce GTX 570 1.25GB $329.99
Case NZXT Phantom (Black) ATX Full Tower $109.99
Power Supply Corsair 850W ATX12V / EPS12V $124.89
Optical Drive Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer $18.98
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) $99.99

$1265.54i s the total for that one using a 570 card 850 power supply and OS and 12 gigabytes of memory not sure why i switched from 8 I see I did that on another as well hmmm not sure why.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/5mJV is the link for that

Few questions Is the Zalman 9500 at ball bearing good enough? I leaned more towards the ASUS mobs since the others have reviews on DOA and the warranty goes for another year. Is the ripjaws a good memory to use. I really like the look of the Phantom case reviews seem good as well. Is teh Caviar Black a godo hard drive or should I go spinpoint and pay the difference. Alright I will shut up and hit submit now sorry for the book of choices just want my first time to be a great time so excited to order this stuff. I welcome all criticism and feedback.

 

[tlmck]

Core i5-2500k
ASUS z68 w/dual x8 PCIe slots
8gb DDR3
GTX 570
850w Corsair

The rest is up to you.

 

[Lostguy]

Why that mobo?

 

[kelthic]

I have http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130595 EVGA superclocked GTX 570 in my rig and i'm very happy with it. The monitor listed in the first build of your post runs at 1080p and this card should have no problems running at ultra at 60fps on all modern games. A GTX 580 would be even better and probable have a little more wiggle room in the future as well.

As a reference, i am running skyrim on a 1080p 75hz monitor on ultra with all draw distances for grass, etc. maxed, with the High Resolution texture pack and modded weather effects, and driver-forced quality ambient occlussion, 16x Anistropic and 8x supersample transparency filters at 70+ fps with no dips below 55fps that i've seen. I don't have a sandy-bridge, though, and i do realize the example i gave is a title that is more CPU bound than GPU dependant. I'm more of an RPG player I guess, so i'd really have no idea how BF3 will run.

 

[Lostguy]

Well I just know BF3 is a good heavy benchmark or a stress test to see how other games would run that come out in the future but I really like that card you linked and I still have the 90 day step up program so say i wanted a 580 or better I could just pay the difference.

 

[catatafish]

To answer your question about the HDD, the Caviar Black has a 5 year warranty and that's why I chose it.

I think you can save some money on your PSU, 650 Corsair is plenty for a single card, overclocking, with a few HDDs, and 5 fans (I'm running it ).

I like the NZXT Phantom choice.

Can't go wrong with ASUS. I really like the mobo I'm using from them.

Also very happy with my 560Ti twin frozr. Runs very cool and I have it OCed to 950 and I've got SWTOR maxxed out, running the max fps on it, and the card doesn't even bat an eye. Fans have never gone over 54%. Temps 63C.

I'm also very happy with two sticks of Corsair Vengeance low profile memory (total 8GB). They clear the hyper 212 Evo nicely if I ever choose to use the 1st slot which sits under the 212 fins.

Honestly, you've picked a lot of nice components and I don't think you'll go wrong with any of them. And good luck with GW2 beta if you've signed up.....I'm check email every day for my invite!

 

[DelroyMonjo]

I like the Asus VH232H monitor but the refresh tate is limited to 60Hz @1920X1080.
The Corsaair PSU's are fine but step up and get the CORSAIR Professional Series HX650 (CMPSU-650HX) 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply. It has the 4X2-6 pin connectors. I think those others have 2X6+2 pin connectors.
A Maxed out 570 uses 278W, so your call on the PSU if you SLI in the future. http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=426&Itemid=72&limit=1&limitstart=16
I like the 570 GPU card. But as for the 90 day step-up from EVGA, I wouldn't bet the farm that they come out with the top end cards first. Maybe they will, AMD did.

 

[Lostguy]

I didnt sign up for beta I just got on the GW band wagon after all my friends got me hyped up for it lol.

Whats the difference in the pin connectors? Also According to that link I could easily get by with a 650 cooler or a 700 I just picked the 850 since its only like 10 more dollars. What kind of refresh rate do I need Monjo?And the release date is apr 12 for the cards an 90 days is a 3 month window so I should have plenty of time to either "save for better or just upgrade to new" but mainly the 90 days is like hey why dont u get a godo card and save for a rainy day lol

 

[DelroyMonjo]

Lostguy, you need 6 pin and/or 2X6pin connectors to power a modern video card. It usually takes 2 of the plugs for a modern video card. Ergo, 2 video cards require 4 connectors. a 6-2 pin is simply a 6 pin with a 2-pin pigtal to make it an 8 pin connector.
As for the PSU's. Sure, get the best bang for the buck with the 850W. I was just letting people know that look for the 12V video connectors to see if it has what you might need for SLI or X-fire. Some PSU's of the same Watt rating have only have 2 connectors. Fine if both cards only take 1 connector each. Another same Watt PSU will have 4 connectors. Go back and look at that 650 W corsair page at Newegg and you''ll see what I mean.

 

[Lostguy]

So the PSU i picked is wrong? And I dont plan on xfiring i dont think if I was going to I would just get 2 560 ti's today

 

[Lostguy]

Best answer selected by Lostguy.