I'm looking to build a gaming computer with a somewhat elastic ~$1,200 budget. Basically, I was going to build the most recent $1,000 computer from the front page (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-radeon-hd-7970-core-i5,3210.html), except with the i2500 unlocked version of the processor. Then, after reading about how much more cost-effective the 670 is than the 7970, I figured I should get that instead, although I might have to get another motherboard incase I ever use SLI/Crossfire (I haven't built a computer in about 8 years; I'm assuming they still don't work on the same motherboard)
My questions are pretty much:
1.) What motherboard should I get that would do everything the Gigabyte GA-P67X-UD3-B3 does, but from a SLI perspective and in a similar price range? (Note that I'm not trying to use two GPU's now, but I'd like to have that option in the future)
2. What cooling fan should I get to go with the i2500, seeing as I plan to overclock it? Similarly, do I need to use a different kind of paste than what it comes with it?
3.) Is the 670 really that much better than the 7970?
4.) I saw this case from an earlier build they used, and because I'm a little bit of a dope, I want to buy it just because it looks so pretty.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=BAC-TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16811129179&IsFeedbackTab=True&nm_mc=ExtBanner
I know the i2500 runs hot; will I need cooling fans? How many? Any specific fan/fans I should buy?
5.) I imagine I'd need a bigger power supply than what's listed (Corsair CX600 V2 600 W). What should I get instead?
5.) Besides the stuff I just mentioned, is there anything glaringly wrong with the parts in the $1,000 computer (Link again: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-radeon-hd-7970-core-i5,3210.html)? The only essential parts I haven't touched on are the memory (AMD Performance Edition 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) DDR3-1600) and the hard drive (Seagate Barracuda 750 GB). I noticed that hard drive has a lot of bad reviews; should I switch it out? What would I get instead?
6.) Is this a really bad monitor? It just seems too good for the price:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=735812&RSort=7&csid=ITD&body=REVIEWS#CustomerReviewsBlock
I'd appreciate it if I could get some opinions/advice on this; it's going to be my first and last big purchase for a long time. I'm sorry I went light on the links; I'm on a very, very bad computer and it would easily take another thirty minutes to properly link every item and format it. Sorry about that again; I know it makes things harder.
My questions are pretty much:
1.) What motherboard should I get that would do everything the Gigabyte GA-P67X-UD3-B3 does, but from a SLI perspective and in a similar price range? (Note that I'm not trying to use two GPU's now, but I'd like to have that option in the future)
2. What cooling fan should I get to go with the i2500, seeing as I plan to overclock it? Similarly, do I need to use a different kind of paste than what it comes with it?
3.) Is the 670 really that much better than the 7970?
4.) I saw this case from an earlier build they used, and because I'm a little bit of a dope, I want to buy it just because it looks so pretty.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=BAC-TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16811129179&IsFeedbackTab=True&nm_mc=ExtBanner
I know the i2500 runs hot; will I need cooling fans? How many? Any specific fan/fans I should buy?
5.) I imagine I'd need a bigger power supply than what's listed (Corsair CX600 V2 600 W). What should I get instead?
5.) Besides the stuff I just mentioned, is there anything glaringly wrong with the parts in the $1,000 computer (Link again: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-radeon-hd-7970-core-i5,3210.html)? The only essential parts I haven't touched on are the memory (AMD Performance Edition 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) DDR3-1600) and the hard drive (Seagate Barracuda 750 GB). I noticed that hard drive has a lot of bad reviews; should I switch it out? What would I get instead?
6.) Is this a really bad monitor? It just seems too good for the price:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=735812&RSort=7&csid=ITD&body=REVIEWS#CustomerReviewsBlock
I'd appreciate it if I could get some opinions/advice on this; it's going to be my first and last big purchase for a long time. I'm sorry I went light on the links; I'm on a very, very bad computer and it would easily take another thirty minutes to properly link every item and format it. Sorry about that again; I know it makes things harder.