Soldier needs some advice...

[huntrik]

Hey guys,

I'm currently in Afghanistan and have very limited computer access here. I have been trying to piece together the best gaming system I can for about $3000. Without the time to keep comparing everything I thought I'd ask the forum for some help. Last bad ass machine I build was in 09' and I gave that to my son to play SWTOR. So I will be starting fresh. Like I said, the budget is about $3k, want to stay Intel based and Nvidia GPU. I will also by ordering everything from Newegg.

Basically Im asking if you had $3000 what would be the dream rig? Price isnt everything, if that was the case I'd just go to Newegg and sort by highest price and add to cart. I know there is a $1000 intel processor, but Id just assume get the 2500 due to the cost to benefit ratio.

Thanks in advance!

Huntrik
"Airborne"
82nd Airborne Div, FOB Warrior, AFG

 

[Nw333]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/buiU <- What do you think of that?
I put in a 700W PSU for OCing room and Xfire.
That 7970 will do great and wont consume much power AND you can put two of them in.

 

[huntrik]

I was looking at COOLER MASTER Silent Pro Gold Series RSC00-80GAD3-US 1200W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS ...


Also, Im a little behind the curve on SSD vs Platter. My last build had dual 10k RPM Raptors 250G, I bought them the day they were release and loved them. Now I see they have 1TB WD Raptors. Is SSD the way to good or should I stick with the Raptor drives?

Hunt

 

[Nw333]

Ok, first of all, CoolerMaster isnt well known for their PSUs. They make great cases although. Next, the SSD IS MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCH more faster. It makes boot times ridiculously FAST. A combination of SSD/HDD is the way to go these days.
Have the SSD contain the OS, some important programs and you can even squeeze some games in there.

 

[huntrik]

Im trying to remember the way I had my old system set up. I think it was 2x 250G Raptor with a stripe and just OS info on it and then a WD 640G for storage and I was pretty fast.

So what size SSD would I want to go with if I'm just putting core / OS files on it? and how about for storage? does speed there matter like 5400 vs 7200 vs 10,000?

 

[huntrik]

PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171055

Video - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125422

SSD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147135

CPU cooler - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118074

MOBO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131760

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225

RAM x2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460

CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115095


Here is what I put together real quick, tear it apart and let me know what you'd do differently...THANKS!!

Hunt

 

[Nw333]

I really wouldnt go with that PSU, as its from CM, who arent known for great PSUs. Id go with seasonic, corsair, xfx and the like. Your spending alot on that mobo, just get a cheaper one, although it has awesome features, you can get for less. If you are gonna OC, then get the cooler, an awesome cooler for a bit cheaper is the CM Hyper 212 Plus. If you really want 16GBs of RAM, then go for dual channel 2x8GB since it would provide more room for upgrades in the future.

 

[game junky]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/buiU <- What do you think of that?
I put in a 700W PSU for OCing room and Xfire.
That 7970 will do great and wont consume much power AND you can put two of them in.

Decent rig - swap the proc and motherboard to Ivybridge

CPU:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501

Mobo:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131821

SSD: great pick - the Samsung 830 series and the Intel 520 series are the premium fast and reliable drives at the moment. I have used both and have had no compatibility issues, but I would lean toward Intel though they are mildly more expensive. In the end, it would come down to which was the better bargain when you pull the trigger. The Intel 520 180 GB or 240GB would probably be more than sufficient for your system files and game files, use a large platter drive as a slave for all your media.

Video: Since you have a great project budget and you have the wiggle room, I would go all in with a 680. I personally love ASUS - quality builds and lots of fans to minimize wear. Unfortunately, they don't have a 4 GB version of the 680 but in all sincerity I don't think there is a need for that much VRAM unless you're running a lot of mods in Skyrim. Here's what I would get - run one individual card now and SLI down the road if you feel you are lacking performance on a next-gen game (SPOILER ALERT - it's frickin HUGE):http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121634
If you really want the additional video memory, here's EVGA's best option: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130794

 

[game junky]

Also, thank you for your service - you guys don't get enough praise for the work you do. From the bottom of my heart, thanks

 

[geofelt]

PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171055

Video - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125422

SSD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147135

CPU cooler - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118074

MOBO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131760

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225

RAM x2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460

CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115095


Here is what I put together real quick, tear it apart and let me know what you'd do differently...THANKS!!

Hunt

It would be helpful to include a text description with your links. Some of us are lazy.

Here are my thoughts on your parts:

1) Yes, the graphics card is the real engine of gaming, and I like the GTX680. Is it worth the $100 price premium over a GTX670, perhaps not, but with your budget, go ahead. It is as good as it gets using a single monitor.
I would look at this EVGA superclocked GTX680. It is a bit faster than the gigabyte unit, and no more expensive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130797
If you really want to spend that $3000 budget, treat yourself to a GTX690.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130781

2) Games rarely use more than two or three cores, so the extra hyperthreads of the 2700K are largely not worth the extra $100 over a 3570K. The 3570K is as good as it gets for gaming.

3) The Samsung 830 SSD is as good as it gets. 50x a raptor in random i/o and 3x faster in sequential. 256gb is plenty for the os and quite a number of games.
If you ever need to store large files, like video's, then add a hard drive for storage.

4) Newer 28nm based cards use much less power. The GTX680 needs only a 550w psu. Even the dual gpu ($1000) version needs only a 650w psu. You will never recover the price premium of a gold rated psu in electricity costs. Still, the efficiency will result in lower psu fan noise. Something like this would be fine: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131837

5) The Zalman cooler is pretty, but I don't like the proprietary fan. If you want the best air cooler, look at the noctua NH-D14.
Actually, a simple cooler like the $30 cm hyper212 will do almost as well.

6) The asus motherboard is nice, but not necessary. The z68 chipset is older, and not quite as good. Almost any Z77 based motherboard will do the job for half the price. The enthusiast class motherboards are intended for overclockers, seeking record level overclocks and for quad sli gaming setups.

7) There is little value in ram speeds >1600. Read this: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/sandy-bridge-memory-scaling-choosing-the-best-ddr3
A 8gb kit of ddr3(2 x 4gb) 1600 ram is fine. Buy low profile ram so as not to interfere with any cpu coolers.
Something like this would be good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

8) The case is fine. Buy it if you love it. I see it as ordinary. See if there is a case you really lust after. bust your budget to get it.

9) For your budget, consider buying a 30" 2560 x 1600 monitor. It will cost $1000. It is one of the few future proof purchases you can make today. A 27" 2560 x 1440 monitor will be more like $800.

---------good luck-------------

 

[huntrik]

Super clocked 2g EVGA http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130771

or

4G http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130794

 

[huntrik]

Also, thank you for your service - you guys don't get enough praise for the work you do. From the bottom of my heart, thanks

Thanks, from all the guys here!!

 

[azeem40]

The resolution you're gaming at will impact if the budget is overkill or just right.

 

[geofelt]

Super clocked 2g EVGA http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130771

or

4G http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130794

I do not see much advantage in 4gb of vram. I suspect a bit of marketing. I would go with the superclocked version.

From a performance point of view, they will be exactly the same, or nearly so.

At $629, you are getting closer to justifying the $1000 GTX690.

 

[huntrik]

Couple last questions...

Why go with the 3750K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504 suggested earlier and not the 3770K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501

Also having trouble finding the best mobo and PSU for this set up.

Will be pulling the trigger in about 3 weeks when I hit the states.


Thanks again guys!!

Hunt

 

[geofelt]

Couple last questions...

Why go with the 3750K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504 suggested earlier and not the 3770K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501

Also having trouble finding the best mobo and PSU for this set up.

Will be pulling the trigger in about 3 weeks when I hit the states.


Thanks again guys!!

Hunt

Very few games can use more than 2 or 3 cores. That makes the hyperthreads of the 3770K of not much use.
As far as an Overclock is concerned, each can reach about the same upper limit. So the extra $100 saved will be more useful spent elsewhere.

Just about any Z77 motherboard will do. Pick your favorite brand. There is no real need to spend a lot on enthusiast class motherboards which have some better voltage regulation to enable record seeking overclocks.

As to the psu, buy a quality brand. My short list would include Seasonic, Corsair, Antec, PC P&C, and XFX.
For a single GTX680, 650w is good. If you buy a GTX690, then 750w is right.
If you are preparing for sli GTX680, then 850w + would be right.
Modular, or gold/silver rating is a plus, but not necessary. I would not spend extra there.
This seasonic 620w unit would be good for a single GTX680:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095