1000$ Online Poker PC

[chvr001]

Approximate Purchase Date: 1 week

Budget Range: 1000$ after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Poker (with multiple programs running at the same time), Database maintenance and analysis (PostgresQL), Tracking software using a lot of RAM..................... Watching movies.

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts:

Country: Canada

Parts Preferences: Need a 240GB+ SSD and the ability to use 2 24" monitors

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: PC can be noisy, don't really care. I'll deal with a PostgresQL database of over 50GB daily and I need to be able to access it and do maintenance on it as fast as possible. Won't be gaming at all on this PC so if possible, no graphic card.

Here's what I got so far, feel free to disagree and help me get the best build possible. Thanks!

Intel Core i5-2500K BX80623I52500 Unlocked Processor - Quad Core, 6MB L3 Cache, 1MB L2 Cache, 3.30 GHz (3.70 GHz Max Turbo), Socket H2 (LGA1155), 95W, Fan, Retail

Corsair CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9B Vengeance Desktop Memory Kit - 16GB (4x 4GB), PC3-12800, DDR3-1600MHz, 9-9-9-24 CAS Latency, Intel XMP Ready, Unbuffered

Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe MKNSSDCL240GB-DX 2.5" 240GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

 

[87ninefiveone]

Good choices so far.

Motherboard - Asus P8Z68M - Micro ATX board - $125 USD

Micro ATX to save a bit of dough, but still has the full suite of Asus tweeks for OC in BIOS, plus onboard video if desired.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=-1&isNodeId=1&Description=z68+asus+micro+atx&x=0&y=0

Power Supply: Corsair CX430 - $45, $35 USD after rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

GPU: EVGA Geforce 520 w/ 1GB and 2 DVI out plus one HDMI out - $70 USD

Will provide good quick performance on two monitors without annoying window freezes compared to on die video.

Case: Budget around $150 for a nice looking full featured case. I won't make a recomendation here as I don't know what your're looking for other than it can be noisy. If you give some more guidance we can make suggestions though.

 

[chvr001]

Thanks for the advices. Is it worth it to wait for the Ivy Bridge CPU or there won't be a big difference between it and the 2500K at $220?

For the case, I don't need anything fancy (and don't really want a fancy-looking one) as I'll only have 1 DVD burner in front and only need maybe 2 USB ports. So it's all about having a case that is not TOO big while providing a good airflow because I'll be overclocking. If I could spend $125 or less on it that would be great.

Please recommend also a CPU fan/cooler not too expensive that will do the job for overclocking. Maybe something like that http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6101294&Sku=C13-2572 ? Is it all gonna be fine with a 430W PSU?

 

[87ninefiveone]

That Corsair cooler would work good, but for servious overclocking you would want another 120mm fan to mount on the opposite side. I believe Corsair sells a kit for this for around $10-12.

Sandy Bridge vs. Ivy Bridge is a toss up. If you don't mind waiting supposedly we'll see a 10-15% increase in overall performance at around the same SB price points. This is of course all speculation at this point as the chips haven't been widely benchmarked and they aren't for sale yet. Plus who knows what initial availability will look like since this is the new shrunken process. The 2500K is world class, especially at it's pricepoint. The only change I would consider is moving to the 2600K if you do a lot of heavily theaded work since it has Hyper Threading enabled. Otherwise I'd say go 2500K.

If this is going to be an always on workstation my choice for you would be a quiet case. With no GPU to pump heat into the guts, overall case airflow being superb won't matter that much even with overclocking.

This Corsair 400R would fit your needs nicely. Great internal cable management, painted interior, good airflow, Corsair quality and customer service (awesome) and it comes bundled with the PSU I recomended for $125. Which is a steal since the case is usually $100 by itself.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1602042&CatId=1842

 

[chvr001]

Here's the final list. I think this is pretty much it, let me know what you think.

Intel 2700K (about the same price as the 2600K with a 15$ gift certificate) 340$
Asus P8Z68M - Micro ATX board 133$
Mushkin Chronos 120 GB SATA 3 SSD 120$
Corsair 16GB RAM 110$
Corsair 400R /w 430W PSU 124$
EVGA GT Force GT520 1GB 50$
Win7 100$
Corsair CAFA50 A50 CPU cooler (won't overclock with just this, will buy another like you proposed) 28$

Thanks!

 

[87ninefiveone]

The last thing I would change is the memory. You can get the exact same Corsair memory in a low profile version that still has heat spreaders, but they don't stick up off the RAM the same way which alleviates a lot of issues with larger CPU coolers not fitting right (especially if there are two fans on it). Newegg.ca actually has the Low Profile kits in 4x4GB for $95 so it would be less than your current pick anyways.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233198

EDIT: Also, the two fan version of your cooler is called the A70 and can be found here...

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6101295

OR cheaper here...

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181011&Tpk=a70