A long lasting PC gaming rig

[dlf]

The below is parts I've picked from the various half (to about a) dozen threads I've started.
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Part list permalink: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/5VMt
Part price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker....VMt/by_merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($279.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master RR-V6GT-22PK-R1 93.7 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg) --- Most likely will get 16 GB.
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($137.09 @ CompUSA)
Hard Drive: OCZ Petrol 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($125.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($139.98 @ Newegg)
Graphics: Radeon 7850 (price not included below)
Power Supply: Antec 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($98.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($56.23 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Full (32/64-bit) ($224.49 @ Adorama)
Keyboard: Gigabyte GK-K8100-YEL Wired Gaming Keyboard ($68.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1376.69
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-03-21 20:06 EDT-0400)
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Current specs:
CPU: AMD Athlon 3800+ (dual core) @ 2 GHZ
RAM: DDR2 - 3 GB
HD 250 GB connected by ATA
Motherboard: Asus A8N-BR (Pyrite)
GPU: Nvidia gForce 6150 LE (I think)
Misc: This computer is a HP slimline (s7700n)
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What you all wanted to know (pinned thread):

- Purchase date: by end of summer, probably fall
- Budget Range - Within ~$1500 American dollars
- System usage (in no order): Gaming, Folding@home, internet, movies (blu-ray & downloaded/netflix)
- Parts not required: Mouse, monitor (@ this time), speakers, OS
- Preffered Websites: Newegg, american sites or sites that ship to America
- Country: USA (state Texas)
- Parts Preference: I don't care
- Overclocking: NO - not unless I can get far far far better cooling (preferbly air instead of liquid)
- Monitor Resolution: @ this time 1680x1050. I woul EVENTUALLY like a HD monitor and a dual monitor setup
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And what I wanted in a new system:

Hardware

- USB 2.0 speeds that are minimum of 30 MB a second
- USB 3.0 speeds that are at lest 300+ MB/s [I will get / use an SSD]
- Firewire (and or eSata port) --- because I have a external hardrive that has both along with USB
- At lest a solid terabyte (1.5 TB)
- Has either a VGA or DVI port (current monitor I have has both)
- Also has support for HDMI (for the future monitor)
- Multicard reader (although I mainly need SD and Memory Pro Stick Duo)
- Able to use a PS3 controller AND A XBOX 360 controller
- I would like a quad core, would hex make much difference in real performance?
- Multiple internal DVD drives (mostly to spend less time swapping discs when installing games).

Software

- Windows 7 Ultimate (64 bit) (Main OS) -- Mostly for languages
- Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit (if needed)
- Windows XP (if 64 bit won't run some of the games I have) (if needed)
- Folding@home (although I use my PS3 for that when I'm not using it)
- Able to run most games from DOS era on, probably high settings

Gaming Software:

- Will use steam:
-- Elder Scrolls
-- Portal 1 & 2
-- Batman Arkham (Asylum/City)
-- Sonic Generations
-- Quake
-- Wolfenstein (3D)
-- Commander keen
-- Bioshock (1/2)
- L.A. Noire
- King's quest collection
- Space quest collection
and others

- Will also use CD/DVD's of the games I have:
-- Warcraft 2 - Tides of Darkness & Beyond the Dark Portal
-- Warcraft 3 - Reign of Chaos & Frozen Throne
-- Diablo 1 - 3 (when it comes out)
-- The Sims 1 - And all expansions
-- The Sims 2 (probably)
-- Simcity 4000 & Rushhour
- May use emulation (to run up to the PS2/Wii)

Other Thoughts

- Eventually a dual monitor setup.
- Budget - Within about $1200 - $1400 dollars
- I will wait for some parts (hard drives and others) to drop in price.
- I don't need the absolute latest but this system should still be update-able in years to come.
- It will be used for other things besides gaming: Browsing the net, downloading, etc.


Thank you, merci, gracius, graze (sp?), danke . . . . . . . .

 

[g-unit1111]

Well for starters - Windows 7 Ultimate is useless unless you're using the language packs. Drop that to a 7 Home Premium OEM license and drop the 2600K to a 2500K and then upgrade your graphics card to a Radeon 7950 or a GTX 680 when available.

OCZ and Patriot are not the greatest manfuacturers - these would be better substitutes:

- RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544 - Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
- SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148448 - Crucial M4
- CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 - Core i5-2500K

Where you will notice the biggest difference in any build is the GPU - not the CPU - you're spending about $250 needlessly which you could use to upgrade to the best GPUs on the market:

- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102963 - Sapphire Radeon HD 7950
- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130768 - EVGA Geforce GTX 680

And then for the cooler I'd highly recommend checking this article for suggestions: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/LGA-2011-i7-3960X-Air-Overclocking,3130.html

 

[geekapproved]

OCZ and Patriot are not the best manufacturers? LOL

Both are EXCELLENT manufacturers.

I bought four sticks of Crucial Ballistix and had to RMA 3 of them twice and the 4th one once, ended up sending all 4 back for some cheap non-heatsink crucial crap cause I refused to use them anymore.

I agree, drop the 2600K to 2500K if your main use is gaming. And if your not going to overclock, you don't need a K processor at all.

 

[g-unit1111]

OCZ and Patriot are not the best manufacturers? LOL


Both are EXCELLENT manufacturers.

I had to RMA a RAM module to OCZ and they were incredibly rude to me on the phone about it and I haven't been back since. I don't patronize companies with rude or non-existent technical support. Crucial, G.Skill, and Corsair - I've never had a problem with. I bought a Patriot Flash drive and the thing was such a piece of crap that I tried it in 3 different systems and couldn't get any of them to read it.

 

[angaddev]

Patriot make the fastest SSDs by far so get a Wildfire. Btw guys OCZ + Patriot are amazing manufacturers, I have bought all of my RAM and SSDs from OCZ and never RMAd.

Also get the 2500k instead. Try the Hyper 212 Evo for the cooler and try and get a Sapphire 7870 or 7950. No 680 bs here.

 

[g-unit1111]

Patriot make the fastest SSDs by far so get a Wildfire. Btw guys OCZ + Patriot are amazing manufacturers, I have bought all of my RAM and SSDs from OCZ and never RMAd.

Also get the 2500k instead. Try the Hyper 212 Evo for the cooler and try and get a Sapphire 7870 or 7950. No 680 bs here.

When I was doing my research on OCZ everything I read about their SSDs put them in the negative category. I went with the Crucial and it's been problem free.

Even though Keppler is out I'm still going with a 7870 - the 680 is a little too rich for my blood.

 

[azeem40]

I am now deciding between the 80 and the 7950, but I am not sure. If I go with NVIDIA, I get a lesser multi monitor setup but a more powerful card; if I go with AMD, I get a great eyefinity option, but less power, however more power savings and cooler video card temps.