New build - Gamer

[Eshamx]

Approximate Purchase Date: With the right build I could walk in tomorrow unless someone says to wait for a particular component in pricing/availability.

Budget Range: Aiming to keep under 1200

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, websurfing, not much more than that

Parts Not Required: Keyboard and mouse are covered, have a Gateway FHX2152L (1920 x 1080)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Microcenter would be preferred.

Country: United States. Minnesota to be more exact.

Parts Preferences: Shooting for an Intel processor. I have been a big fan of EVGA in the past but I am open to other brands.

Overclocking: I would like to try my hand at it once in my life.

SLI or Crossfire: No. One video card should be good UNLESS someone can come up with a SLI/Crossfire combo that would be good in this price range.

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 but if there is enough wiggle room in this build I would not be against a new monitor.

Additional Comments: I already have a SSD M4 Crucial. Also 2 platter drives (older but only for storage at SATA 2). I would prefer a nice tall case. Volume is not an issue. Current build sounds like a jet and I kinda like that (I ride a semi loud Harley so yea.....). Current machine is Intel Core i5 750, Antec 900 case, 4 2 gig sticks Corsair XMS3 1.65v 9-9-9-24 1600. I have a 212 Evo on there right now but would like something that looks just nasty for a CPU cooler, like a Cooler Master V8. I have usually gone with Nvidia cards for gfx but I am open to other options.

I plan on selling my current tower to a buddy so only the drives are not needing replacing.

Thanks for your time guys. I was pondering going Ivy but the girlfriend said now or never so........Also if it would be cheaper on Newegg I am open to that. I just like Microcenter being close in case of a bad component.

 

[azeem40]

What do you mean by now or never? Is it you or her who is buying the computer?

 

[Eshamx]

I am buying it but she said if I want a toy I have to get it or she is going to buy something. She has known I want a new machine for a while but have been holding off. We have combined funds so we have to agree on purchases. THAT is why I have the now or never

 

[azeem40]

So you're unable to wait a few days for IVB benchmarks to surface?

 

[Eshamx]

I can hold her off for a few days. Maybe a week if needed. From what I was reading in most places folks were saying Ivy Bridge was rolling hot and not much of an upgrade for a gamer. I am known to be wrong though. What have you heard so far?

 

[azeem40]

I know that those are just early benchmarks as the chip is not released until tomorrow. Usually a few days after the release, the official benchmarks surface.

 

[Eshamx]

Thanks for the information. She said I can have another week.

 

[Why_Me]

For a potential dual card set up then look at this board down below.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0387554 $139.99
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z77%20Extreme4 <------ a better look at that board

For a single card set up (no future second card), then look at either one of these boards.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0387555 $124.99
ASRock Z77 Pro4 LGA 1155 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z77%20Pro4 <----- a better look at that board

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0387627 $109.99
ASRock Z77 Pro3 1155 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z77%20Pro3 <----- a better look at that board

That old school 1.64v RAM you have isn't going to work with these 1155 boards. You want 1.5v RAM.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006050%20600006069%20600006127%20600006157%20600000261&IsNodeId=1&name=1.5V <----- Look for RAM with low profile heat spreaders like the G.Skill Ares, Crucial, Patriot, Mushkin, or the Corsair low profile RAM.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0382101 $39.99
Crucial Ballistix Sport Series 8GB DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800) CL9 U-DIMM Desktop Memory Kit (Two 4GB Memory Modules)

As far as a cpu h/s goes...keep that CM EVO. The CM V6 is an over priced paper weight.

750w psu will easily push two of these cards, 500w for a single card.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0387394 $369.99
Gigabyte GV-R787OC-2GD AMD Radeon HD 7870 2048MB GDDR5 PCIe 3.0 x16 Video Card

http://www.guru3d.com/article/gigabyte-radeon-hd-7870-oc-review/ <----- Review w/benchmarks of that Gigabyte 7870 O/C

http://www.guru3d.com/news/intel-ivy-bridge-gets-prelaunch-price-cut/ $212 (cheaper @ microcenter)
Intel Ivy Bridge i5 3570K 3.4Ghz

 

[Eshamx]

Thanks for the breakdown! I have taken a little time to look at the reviews of the Ivy Bridge over the night and folks are liking it. I will not be OC'ing to the wall so the heat some folks are running into should be a non issue.

 

[Eshamx]

If you were to pick a specific power supply with a 2 card setup, what brand would you shoot for? I have 3 drives rolling (1 SSD, 2 platter) so I want to make sure I do not overtax and burn it out.

 

[Why_Me]

If you were to pick a specific power supply with a 2 card setup, what brand would you shoot for? I have 3 drives rolling (1 SSD, 2 platter) so I want to make sure I do not overtax and burn it out.

That depends on your vid card, but this 950w for $130 is a steal and would cover any dual card set up.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0337657 $129.99
PC Power & Cooling 950 Watt Silencer MK II ATX Power Supply

or even this...

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0367316 $92.99
OCZ Technology ZS Series 750 Watt ATX Power Supply

 

[Eshamx]

Best answer selected by Eshamx.

 

[Eshamx]

Today is the day we are running into Microcenter to grab and go. The reviews on the Ivy look solid. Damned thing is they are sold out of 2/3 of the boards you were suggesting. Any other thoughts on boards? Possible substitutes are....

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0386887

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0387556

 

[Why_Me]

Today is the day we are running into Microcenter to grab and go. The reviews on the Ivy look solid. Damned thing is they are sold out of 2/3 of the boards you were suggesting. Any other thoughts on boards? Possible substitutes are....

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0386887

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0387556

You can't go wrong with either of those boards imo. That gigabyte board is a steal at that price.