New Gaming Rig 1,000-1,200 (tough decisions!)

[600rr]

This will be my first build that i have done where i am considering overclocking. I will be using this build for mostly gaming and photo editing and maybe a slight bit of video work. I would like this case obviously to run pretty cool, and also be pretty quiet. I already have a 1tb and a 350gb 7,500 RPM Sata drives.


Approximate Purchase Date: This Month
Budget Range: $1,000 - 1,200
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, movies, possibly video/photo editing
Parts Not Required: OS, KB/Mouse, and Monitor
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, microcenter.com
Country: USA
Parts Preferences: Intel CPU...
Overclocking: Likely not 100% sure if ill need to
SLI or Crossfire: not likely
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200


Case : Antec P-280
Very up in the air about the case, i don't really want anything flashy just something solid that isn't very noisy, but will keep my stuff cooled.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129179&Tpk=antec%20p280
$ 140

PSU: CORSAIR Professional Series HX750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129179&Tpk=antec%20p280
$ 150

RAM: Patriot G2 Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220629
$ 95

MOBO: ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68
Dont know that i NEED the Pro?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790
$ 205

CPU; Sandy Bridge I5 2500k
CPU: ivy bridge I5 3570k
Was thinking about waiting for the new chipset... recommendations?

$ 179.99 at microcenter for the 2500k

CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
Dont need anything fancy,and i dont want to have to case mod just to make it fit...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
26.99

GPU: EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1567-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
Price just dropped to from 250 until the 12th

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130651
$ 220

CD/DVD: LG 22X Super-Multi DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136240
$ 20

SSD: Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441
$ 105

Audio Card: Asus Xonar
Eventually i think i will be getting the logitech px5's for a gaming headset, i think with those i will need a audio card to run the 7.1 correct?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132013
$40.99


Thoughts?

 

[aRodr1guez]

RAM: Patriot G2 Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220629
$ 95

I doubt you need all that RAM save yourself some money and go with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226191

MOBO: ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68
Dont know that i NEED the Pro?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790
$ 205

Only you know what you need from the Mobo honestly but you can go with the not pro version:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131792

CPU; Sandy Bridge I5 2500k
CPU: ivy bridge I5 3570k
Was thinking about waiting for the new chipset... recommendations?

$ 179.99 at microcenter for the 2500k

Ivy Bridge ain't being released till sometime in June from what I heard. Depends if you want to wait. That's an awesome price for the i5 2500k.

 

[phamhlam]

Instead of your Antec P-280, you should give Fractal Design R3 a look.

You can get the crucial m4 cheaper on amazon

 

[600rr]

I doubt you need all that RAM save yourself some money and go with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226191

Only reason i was looking at getting that much was due to the fact it has been so dang cheap lately and a buddy was saying i should try using it for a "RAM Disk" or drive... any word on if that is worth messing with ?

 

[aRodr1guez]

I do know that RAM Disk allows you to temporarily store data on the RAM for faster access. (RAM is faster than physical hard disk)

Even though some people can barely use up 4GB of RAM so I still think 8GB would be enough. You can put the extra cash towards a better GPU.

 

[dlchris1]

Microcenter is offering an additional $50.00 off the motherboard with the purchase of the I5-2500k. The Asus P8Z58-V Pro / Gen3 would only be $149.99 with the purchase of the I5-2500K.

 

[600rr]

Thanks DL Chris! just bought the Mobo, PC, and PC case!

 

[aRodr1guez]

Thanks DL Chris! just bought the Mobo, PC, and PC case!

That's a really great deal but I don't know if you noticed the i5 2500K is in store pickup only. I hope you live close by.

 

[azeem40]

And the mobo deal has expired.

 

[600rr]

Yup I got that deal, 179 for the i5 and 150 for the mono. There is a microceneter right down the road from me.

 

[600rr]

Right now i think the hardest time i am having is the video card. $220 for a superclocked 560ti is hard to beat...

So this is what is left to buy...


PSU: CORSAIR Professional Series HX750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] tec%20p280
$ 150


RAM: Mushking Blackline

So i havent heard of them and will have to do some research, i assume they are lifetime like the other big names?


CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
Dont need anything fancy,and i dont want to have to case mod just to make it fit...


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103065
26.99


GPU: EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1567-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
Price just dropped to from 250 until the 12th


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130651
$ 220


CD/DVD: LG 22X Super-Multi DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136240
$ 20


SSD: Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820148441
$ 105


Audio Card: Asus Xonar
Eventually i think i will be getting the logitech px5's for a gaming headset, i think with those i will need a audio card to run the 7.1 correct?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829132013
$40.99

 

[nebelwerfer41]

You may want to get a bigger SSD if you want to put anything on it other than Windows and some small programs. I got a 120 GB and it is almost full with Windows, WoT, SW:TOR and iTunes (other programs are on my main drive).

The cooler is good, I have the same one and rarely see temps over 110 F. When installing in my case, I was a little worried that I was tightening it too much (and possibly crushing the CPU) until I found that the screws will stop at the same point. You may want to pick up an extra fan (it only comes with one, you can fit two on it), I will be doing so before summer gets going (which makes the temp in my office raise about 10 degrees).

I wouldn't worry about the audio card unless you are a true audiophile with high-end equipment. The onboard audio for most modern boards is much better than I remember several years ago when I was first building. Almost all boards can handle 5.1 or 7.1 at a minimum.

Don't sweat the RAM too much, just make sure it is compatible with your MOBO and select the cheapest brand. Mushkin, GSkill and Corsair are pretty reliable, just make sure it is "low profile" to fit under your CPU cooler.

 

[phenom90]

i would seriously consider getting this case....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139012
Corsair Obsidian Series 550D

though it still very new.... but you can watch the video about that case here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8eA7RR5q30

since you're very unlikely going for multi-gpu configuration... even a 650w psu is plenty....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341051
OCZ ZT Series 650W Fully-Modular

for just a few more dollars you can get this one...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181011
CORSAIR CAFA70

come on... an 8gb ram is good enough....

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0382101
Crucial 8GB DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800) CL9 U-DIMM

leave out purchase for your gpu as nvidia is set to release its next series of cards between this month and the next... which may impact current market prices... wait till then to make your decisions on that....

get a larger ssd.... a 64gb won't have much space left after os install....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820249014
Plextor M3 Series PX-128M3 2.5" 128GB

i suggest you hold your purchase on sound cards... as current onboard sound is pretty decent... try out 1st.... if still not satisfied... go for dedicated sound card...

 

[600rr]

Thanks Nebel and phenom for all the suggestions. I bought the Antec case already so not much i can do about that. It is a bit bigger then i expected but it will work.

yea the 750 i was thinking as a precaution in case i change my mind a year down the road and decide to get a second video card. But a $50 price reduction is pretty attractive.

Yea i agree with the sound card i am gonna hold of on that for a bit, wait till i get the headphones and see if i really need it.

Windows 7 takes up about 15gb right? That leaves like 45-50 Gb's of space... seems like plenty to me, maybe 1-2 games and a few other software programs. Am i missing something that takes up a lot more space?

 

[phamhlam]

Your porn collection. hahaha Got to have those quickly load on your SSD.

MS Office takes up quite a bit of space and so does games like BF3.

 

[santaman217]

I dont know about you but i got:

CPU : Intel i5 quad core 3570k

GPU : Gigabyte 7950 GDDR5 3GB

RAM : Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) 1600 MHz

Motherboard : Asus P8Z77-V

Case : CiT Vantage Gaming Case Type-R

PSU : Corsair CX750M

HDD : Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM 64MB Cache 3.5'' 6GB/S

DVD Drive : LiteOn iHas 124-04

There's a rough idea of a good build for you.