New Gaming Build

[barnett114]

Did I spend too much?

NZXT Source 210
Intel BOXDH67BLB3 LGA 1155 Intel H67 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i5-2500
Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory
Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6870 1GB GDDR5 Video Card
Antec BP550 Plus 550W

Total: $707.98

 

[barnett114]

Bump

 

[kajabla]

No bumping here. It doesn't do anything, and it's against the rules.

You definitely wasted some cash by getting the 2500 and an H67 instead of a 2500K and a mobo that'll let it overclock, but otherwise, overclocking aside, this looks quite balanced.

 

[doctoralchemy]

Spend the extra $20 and get a full size mobo with an upgrade path.. you'll be glad you did:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

People are going to tell you to spend the extra money and get the i5 2500k which isn't a bad idea, however I would first upgrade your mobo as the i5 2500 + HD 6870 is more than enough to play any game on ultra settings probably for the next 2 years.

 

[kajabla]

^Ultra settings and 20fps, maybe, at least on 1680x1050 or higher. Not sure what you mean by that. I believe the OP's already bought the parts (?).

 

[doctoralchemy]

I have an i5 2400 + HD 6850 and every game I play is above 30fps on ultra including BF3. The 2500k is way too overhyped imo.

 

[PCgamer81]

...i5 2400 + HD 6870 is more than enough to play any game on ultra settings probably for the next 2 years.

Are you joking?

I have the 2500k clocked at 4.20GHz with two 6970s crossfired, and I just now had trouble running Crysis Warhead (last level) with all the Aliens and action everywhere. I was getting sub 50 drops. Of course, I have some texture mods, but still...

And that is just one game. There are a lot of demanding games out, with more on the way. There is no way that a single 6870 is going to handle every game on Ultra for the next two years. It may very well handle every game, and maybe some (or most, even) at high graphical settings with a reasonable resolution. But it will in no way max every game, or even close to every game, for the next two years. At least not at playable frame rates.

 

[kajabla]

Alchemy, what resolution do you play on?
I consider "maxing" 60fps.

 

[barnett114]

No bumping here. It doesn't do anything, and it's against the rules.

You definitely wasted some cash by getting the 2500 and an H67 instead of a 2500K and a mobo that'll let it overclock, but otherwise, overclocking aside, this looks quite balanced.

I haven't bought it yet. But I'll switch out the motherboard.

 

[kajabla]

Oh, you haven't! Excellent. Yeah, Z68 and a 2500K would definitely be better for future upgrading. How much are you willing to spend overall?

 

[barnett114]

Oh, you haven't! Excellent. Yeah, Z68 and a 2500K would definitely be better for future upgrading. How much are you willing to spend overall?

Trying to keep it under $900.

 

[kajabla]

$10 for the 2500K and $30 to bump to a Gigabyte Z68A-D3H-B3 for future Xfire leave you at $750. After that, I'd like to see a nicer graphics card and maybe a slightly more powerful PSU (for Xfire/SLI), but it's up to you how much you want to spend.

 

[PCgamer81]

Alchemy, what resolution do you play on?
I consider "maxing" 60fps.

Thank you so very much.

You're the very first person I've heard say that, but it is something that I've thought for a long time.

Most PCs can max most games, but what's the use if you are getting 5 frames per second? Is it really maxing?

When someone says, "I can max _____", I would assume they mean max settings and 60fps.

Considering that I get sub 60 drops in certain levels in Crysis, I will not say that my rig can max Crysis, at least not in 1080p or higher.

 

[barnett114]

I went with a

NZXT Source 210
ASUS P8Z68-V LX
Intel Core i5-2500K
Corsair Vengeance Blu 8 GB 1600mHz DDR3 240-Pin SDRAM Dual Channel Memory
Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB
Asus 24xDVD±RW Drive DRW-24B1ST
SAPPHIRE AMD Radeon HD 6870
OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular Power Supply

 

[PCgamer81]

I went with a

NZXT Source 210
ASUS P8Z68-V LX
Intel Core i5-2500K
Corsair Vengeance Blu 8 GB 1600mHz DDR3 240-Pin SDRAM Dual Channel Memory
Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB
Asus 24xDVD±RW Drive DRW-24B1ST
SAPPHIRE AMD Radeon HD 6870
OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular Power Supply

Better.

 

[barnett114]

Best answer selected by barnett114.