$1500-$2000 Gaming Build

[schw76]

Approximate Purchase Date: Very soon. Already ordered some components.

Budget Range: $1500-$2000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming etc.

Parts Not Required: Monitor/Keyboard/mouse.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg or Amazon (Also have a Microcenter close enough to make a trip)

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Intel/Nvidia

Overclocking: Maybe down the road.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe down the road.

Monitor Resolution: 1440x900 May go to triple monitor in the future.

Additional Comments:

Parts I have already ordered:

Rosewill THOR V2 Gaming ATX Full Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147053&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231486&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-

SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256B/WW 2.5" 256GB (paid $300 on newegg sale!)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147164&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-

This is going to be my first build so any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Also planning on getting a GTX680 if they are available tomorrow if not go for one of the great deals on a 580. I was thinking of buying a 2500K may move up to a 2600K. I tend to like to multitask while gaming so maybe hyperthreading would be useful? I was not planning on getting a HDD until the prices come back down later this year or next year and will try to get by with the SSD for now. My main concerns on the remaining components are:

Motherboard: looking for quality, reliability, SLI and modern features without breaking the bank.

Power Supply: Need enough for future potential SLI. Quality.

Cooling: I am concerned that a big air cooler would interfere with the RAM that I already bought. I was thinking of going with a water cooler like the CORSAIR H100 or H80 just to be on the safe side. After reading some feedback on newegg however I am concerned that the water pumps may not have the best reliability. And I have read that you need to worry about cooling the MoBo/RAM when you don't have CPU air cooling.

EDIT
Now on order:

EVGA 02G-P4-2680-KR GeForce GTX 680 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130768

 

[angaddev]

Do you have $1500 left? Or is it $1500 - parts already bought?

If it is $1500 left go for something like this

ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 ~$200

I5-2500K ~$220

Western Digital Caviar Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive ~$220

7950 (From Sapphire, they make the coolest cards, in terms of temp.) ~$450-475

 

[angaddev]

And for the PSU try the Corsair HX850 or TX850, whichever fits your budget better, both over 8.5 on jonnyguru

 

[phenom90]

now there you go...

cpu: http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354589
Core i5 2500K - $180

mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265
ASRock P67 EXTREME4 GEN3 - $150

hsf: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181011
CORSAIR CAFA70 - $25 after rebate

psu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703028
PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II 950W - $130 after rebate

 

[schw76]

Do you have $1500 left? Or is it $1500 - parts already bought?

If it is $1500 left go for something like this

ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 ~$200

I5-2500K ~$220

Western Digital Caviar Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive ~$220

7950 (From Sapphire, they make the coolest cards, in terms of temp.) ~$450-475

I would like to keep the build around $1800 total including what I already bought. Less is better but I would spend more if it was worth it.

You would buy a 7950 for $450 rather than a 580 for $390?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162073

I thought their performance was about the same.

Also P67 vs Z68 what is the difference?

I will probably go with a Corsair TX 850 power supply.

 

[g-unit1111]

Here's what I would recommend:

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703028 - PC Power & Cooling Silencer MKII 950W - $149.99 ($20.00 MIR)
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128506 - Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3P - $189.99
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 - Intel Core i5-2500K - $219.99
Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099 - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $34.99
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226095 - Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB 1333 MHz - $42.99
HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148681 - Seagate Barracuda Green 2TB - $119.99
Optical: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106374 - Lite On BD-R Burner - $59.99
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131467 - Power Color Radeon HD 7870 - $359.99

Total: $1,177.92

 

[azeem40]

For CF 7870, 950W is overkill. Guru3D recommends a quality 750W PSU.

 

[g-unit1111]

For CF 7870, 950W is overkill. Guru3D recommends a quality 750W PSU.

Yeah you could probably drop that to the Corsair TX 750, but the $149 for a 950 80+ Silver rated with a $20 MIR, the Silencer is one of the best bargains out there right now.

 

[hotthree]

7870...He could run a 500watt if he wanted..but overclocking would be a problem.

If you go sli get at least a 750watt psu or 800-850watt being on the safe side.

If you don't want to go with sli a 650 will give you plenty of headroom for overclocking. Stay with corsair/antec/xfx/seasonic psu's

By cpu / mobo from Microcenter which will give you the best deal.

 

[angaddev]

I would like to keep the build around $1800 total including what I already bought. Less is better but I would spend more if it was worth it.

You would buy a 7950 for $450 rather than a 580 for $390?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162073

I thought their performance was about the same.

Also P67 vs Z68 what is the difference?

I will probably go with a Corsair TX 850 power supply.

TX850 is ok if you plan to Cfx int he future.

Also 7950 performs up to 10%better that the 580, It also consumes WAY less power, is WAY cooler (temp) and is WAY quieter.

Also P67 doesn't allow for use of quick sync, SRT etc.

For any build over $800 go with Z68

 

[schw76]

Great responses I really appreciate it! Last question that isn't resolved is on the CPU cooler. Should I be concerned that a cooler like Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo would not fit with it?

 

[g-unit1111]

Great responses I really appreciate it! Last question that isn't resolved is on the CPU cooler. Should I be concerned that a cooler like Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo would not fit with it?

With the Thor you could fit a D14 and still have plenty of room left over. It should have plenty of clearance for the Evo.

 

[schw76]

Sorry I wasn't clear, I was more concerned about clearance above the RAM. I have heard that with RAM like I have bought the height can be a concern.

 

[angaddev]

I have an Evo, The ram clearance is decent but try and get RAM without poofy heatsinks like Corsair Vengeance

 

[angaddev]

Also consider getting a 1080p monitor

 

[schw76]

I have already purchased the RAM. I would really rather not return it. Now I am just trying to find a heat sink that will work with it.

 

[g-unit1111]

I have an Evo, The ram clearance is decent but try and get RAM without poofy heatsinks like Corsair Vengeance

Oh I didn't catch that - that's where it could get tricky. I generally hate the Vengeance RAM for that reason. I like the Crucial Ballistix or Mushkin Silverline the best -
- Silverline: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226095
- Ballistix: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544

 

[schw76]

So is my best bet to go with a small water cooler? I really don't want to return the RAM.

 

[g-unit1111]

So is my best bet to go with a small water cooler? I really don't want to return the RAM.

Yeah you could do with a Corsair H60 or H80 - avoid the Antec Kuhler: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/h2o-h80-h100-benchmark-overclocking,3084.html

A closed block like an H80 is *slightly* safer than a full custom loop but air is always the safest.

 

[schw76]

Looking on Newegg this morning I found these

ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX-B 135mm Long life bearing CPU Cooler Blue LED
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118074

They seem to be well reviewed and the shape looks like it would be less likely to interfere with tall RAM. Does anyone have experience with these?

 

[g-unit1111]

Looking on Newegg this morning I found these

ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX-B 135mm Long life bearing CPU Cooler Blue LED
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118074

They seem to be well reviewed and the shape looks like it would be less likely to interfere with tall RAM. Does anyone have experience with these?

Zalman does not make the best fans - in my experience they're pretty difficult to install and don't perform as well as say - a Hyper 212 does.

 

[angaddev]

Zalman coolers look cool, but they perform pretty badly. Your best bet is something like an h80, and h60/h70 is still plenty tho.

 

[schw76]

Hmm I would hate to have a cheap water cooler leak on a $500 graphics card. But now that seems like my best bet.

 

[g-unit1111]

Hmm I would hate to have a cheap water cooler leak on a $500 graphics card. But now that seems like my best bet.

A closed block is slightly safer than a custom loop, but I definitely agree about Zalman coolers - I used one and didn't get the temps I was promised. If you can return your RAM and get low profile I'd highly recommend doing so.

 

[schw76]

After some digging at old SBM articles it looks like it should work with some big air coolers.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/system-builder-gaming-pc,2961-7.html

Looks like the same form factor memory and they used a Xigmatek Gaia SD1283. Assuming that is still available I may go with that.