1000-2000$ Gaming PC

[timmay4798]

Approximate Purchase Date: End of April

Budget Range: 1000-2000$

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Streaming

Parts Not Required: peripherals, hard drive, RAM

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg/amazon

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: NA

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080



Hello everyone I am pretty new to this site but I've found the articles and such extremely informative on my endeavor of my 1st time build. I already have all the peripherals I need and I have purchased 2 parts already:

16gb Corsair Vengeance:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233143

240 GB Mushkin Chronos Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226226

I am currently trying to decide whether or not to go all out and get an i7 3930k and GTX 680 or if I should just go with the i5 3570k or i7 3770k and Radeon 7870 when Ivy bridge releases. Currently, I am only going to be playing games at 1920x1080 so I am sure the general consensus is that 3930k and gtx 680 is complete overkill and that I probably don't even need a 7870. However I am going to be streaming my games as well and I know that is extremely CPU dependent so I was hoping you guys could shed some light on whether or not I need to make the step up from the i5 to the i7.

Here's the builds I am considering in addition to what I already have:

COOLER MASTER HAF 912 59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

i5 3570k OR i7 3770k ~220/330

DVD Drive 19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

ASRock Z77 Pro4 119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157296

SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W 89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095

Radeon 7870 359.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102983

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

~$969.94/$1069.94

or

COOLER MASTER HAF 912 59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

i7 3930k 599.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116492

DVD Drive 19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

ASRock X79 Extreme4 214.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157282

SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W 89.99 (Or would I need a bigger power supply?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095

GTX 680 499.99

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

~1584.93


Like I said I've never built a computer before so this stuff is all new to me. I don't know anything about overclocking but I am more than open to the idea. I've had problems with cooling before so I want to make sure everything is properly cooled (mainly my GFX card). Let me know what you guys think! Thanks

 

[azeem40]

You won't need the 3770k for streaming - the i5-3570k will be just fine. Also, get the Z77 Extreme4 Gen3 over the Pro4.

 

[Why_Me]

Whoever says a single 680 at your resolution is over kill obviously doesn't game. Also no need for the hyper threading, and 16GB of RAM for gaming and vid streaming? And never get 4x4GB of RAM if you really want 16GB, always 2x8GB so you don't have four sticks of RAM side by side creating heat...also it leaves you room for expansion.

 

[timmay4798]

I've just read that the 7870 is more than capable of maxing all current games at 1920x1080 so I figured the gtx 680 was overkill. Unfortunately I got the RAM before I did much research (I got it for Christmas)

 

[stickg1]

I mean both of those machines would be more than enough for your purposes. Get the first one, maybe a better motherboard and if you want to overclock you should invest in an aftermarket heatsink fan for your CPU. The Z77 just came out, I wouldn't get one until the first or second revision. That's just me personally though. With your budget I would be sure to spend a good amount on a PSU because that is the most important part of your PC imo. This would be a great option:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

Or if you prefer Seasonic:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088

This Seasonic has a gold rating over bronze. It has a much tighter voltage regulation and is more consistent. Plus it is fully modular which makes for really neat and tidy cable management.

An intel guy can probably tell you more about motherboards.

For CPU cooling this is more than sufficient:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

But if you want to go high dollar and slightly better performance there are much more expensive ones out there.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Well one of your two purchases was a good one..... I'd return the RAM for a set w/o the tall, toothy heat sinks.

The only cooling effect of these big coolers is that they "look cool". While they served a purpose (when they were effective) w/ DDR2, they are absolutely useless on DDR3.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=67&limit=1&limitstart=1

At more than 2" tall in certain areas the Corsair Vengeance could pose a problem for users like me who use large coolers such as the Scythe Mugen 2. I was able to use the Corsair Vengeance only after I mounted the fan on my cooler on the backside. Size is definitely a concern with heat spreaders of this size and therefore I encourage users to check that they will have enough space under their heatsinks before purchasing the Corsair Vengeance kit.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=67&limit=1&limitstart=6

The problem I have with the Corsair Vengeance is the same I have with many kits of RAM on the market. Companies insist on putting large coolers on their RAM and it limits the choice in CPU heatsinks that can be used within users system. DDR3 does not require these elaborate coolers with its lower voltages which translate to lower temperatures then RAM saw during the DDR, and DDR2 era. Corsair is correcting this with low profile versions of its Vengeance line but ultimately I would like to see the average size of coolers drop instead of having to look for specific low profile versions of a memory line.

Case - Outdated and undersized .... no front USB 3 ports

MoBo - I'd never buy an non SLI / CF capable board as it provides the best boost to longevity via a easy and inexpensive upgrade. Two 900 Mhz 560 Ti's for $410 still toast that $500 680 at a far lower cost per frame. One 680 gives you an excellent upgrade path 18 - 24 months down the line..... with your current built, it's new PC time.

Parts Missing:

Optical drive.....not listed as something you have .... how ya gonna install windows ?

Cooler .... "Maybe" OC on Intel stock cooler ?

 

[timmay4798]

Edited original post with optical drive. I said I didn't know anything about overclocking so I don't know anything about CPU coolers. This is all great information, thanks.

 

[Why_Me]

Edited original post with optical drive. I said I didn't know anything about overclocking so I don't know anything about CPU coolers. This is all great information, thanks.

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-RR-212E-20PK-R2/dp/B005O65JXI/ref=pd_cp_e_0 $34.64 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R2)

 

[timmay4798]

I don't think I can return my RAM :/ Will it definitely be a problem?

 

[stickg1]

If it was a 4 stick kit it should be fine. If it causes problems just use two stick. 8gb of RAM is more than enough for your needs.