2000$ gaming system. Still undecided on CPU cooler, OS and HDD.

[LonelyMan]

Approximate Purchase Date: this week

Budget Range: around 2000$ without taxes (14.5% here in quebec), so max 2300 with taxes.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, movies, net

Are you buying a monitor: Yes, but at next paycheck.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: canadacomputers.com

Location: Laval, Quebec, Canada

Parts Preferences: Intel, Nvidia, Asus, Plextor, Seasonic

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: no

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Quiet PC; Want to play any game maxed at 60fps minimum at my resolution for next 3 years before I upgrade my GPU only (rest of system needs to last me 5-6 years). All items are colored matched except the CPU cooler bc I do not know if the one I'm suggesting is compatible with ram and gpu. I will be installing OS and programs(Antivirus, office, etc) on SSD and then the rest (movies, STEAM is very important to me I want my games to load fast and run with no problems, music). The only components that I may be persuaded to switch are the PSU and maybe DVD-drive but I think they are good. Will overclock the CPU as much as I can before shitty HIS starts warming up (like 80-90 degrees C), also the GPU until I find noise/performance acceptable levels.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: My laptop can barely run Supreme Commander and Starcraft 2 on low at 1366 by 768, tried Battlefield 3 and, well, go figure .


Cooler Master CM Storm Trooper Full Tower Gaming Case
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=6_111&item_id=042885

ASUS DRW-24B1ST Black SATA 24X DVD-Writer 24xDVD+R/-R 24xDVD+/-R DL 8xDVD+RW/6xDVD-RW 48xCD-R OEM
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=3_61&item_id=029356

Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Socket LGA1155, 3.4Ghz, 6MB L3 Cache, 22nm (Retail Boxed) Gen3
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=4_65&item_id=045425

Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK 140mm UFB (Updraft Floating Balance) CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709011

Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz CL9 DIMM
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_311_312_612&item_id=044295

Western Digital Caviar Black (WD1001FALS) 1000GB (1TB) SATAII 7200RPM 32MB Cache (OEM)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=15_1086_210_212&item_id=018887

or

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Asus VG236HE, 23" 3D 120Hz LCD Monitor, 1920x1080, 2ms, 100000:1(DCR), Dual DVI-D, HDMI (this is the monitor I will get in 2 weeks. Only other 120hz monitors that I can afford are Samsung S23A700D and BENQ xl2420t, but I prefer the asus since its way cheaper.)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_699_292&item_id=034810

Asus Maximus V Formula Socket 1155 Intel Z77 Chipset Dual channel 4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3DDR3 2800(O.C.)/2666(O.C.)/2600(O.C.)/2400(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1600/1333/1066 MHz 3x PCI-Express 3.0 x16 GLAN SupremeFX IV built-in 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio 2x SATA 3.0Gb/s 6x SATA 6.0Gb/s 1x eSATA 3Gb/s 1 x mini-SATA 3Gb/s 6x USB 3.0 8x USB 2.0 Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth V4.0/Bluetooth V3.0+HS DisplayPort/HDMI Extended ATX
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_722&item_id=050225

Seasonic X-660 Fully Modular 80PLUS Gold 660W PSU
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=33_443&item_id=039392

Plextor M3 Series 128GB 2.5" SATA3 6GB/s Solid State Drive (SSD), Read: 510MB/s, Write: 210MB/s (PX-128M3S)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=179_1088&item_id=046100

Asus GTX680-DC2T-2GD5 DDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 Chipset (1201Mhz) 2GB (6008MHz) GDDR5 Dual DVI/DisplayPort/HDMI PCI-Express 3.0 Graphics Card
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=048689

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium with Service Pack 1 64-Bit - 1 PC License and Media - OEM English
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=530&item_id=037803


I will be back to respond to posts after I take a nice hot shower after a hard day's work. Thank you, as usually, for the help.

PS: Will I be able to reinstall OS on this machine as many times as I want, in case of problems, like viruses?

 

[zander1983]

System looks good except the SSD, get an Intel 520 or Corsair Force GT. Might be more expensive but they are MUCH better and faster.

One thing to remember regarding silent cases, the more fans you see the louder the case will be. Look at something like the Antec P280 for a silent case.

And look at NCIX.com to compare prices.

 

[TheBigTroll]

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/cv1e

you better dig around ncix.com as they have a sale right now and they are selling corsair carbide 500Rs for 109.99 dollars. you can add a noctua nh-d14 cooler for only 39.99 (less than half price damit!!)

yeah i know about quebec's taxes. more than ontario

if you need silence the fractal define r3 is the way to go.

 

[g-unit1111]

System looks good except the SSD, get an Intel 520 or Corsair Force GT. Might be more expensive but they are MUCH better and faster.

One thing to remember regarding silent cases, the more fans you see the louder the case will be. Look at something like the Antec P280 for a silent case.

And look at NCIX.com to compare prices.

Intel SSDs are horrendous and that's mainly due to the Sandforce controller that's being used. Go with a Marvell based drive - the Plextor PX-M3 and Crucial M4 are far safer bets.

 

[LonelyMan]

System looks good except the SSD, get an Intel 520 or Corsair Force GT. Might be more expensive but they are MUCH better and faster.

One thing to remember regarding silent cases, the more fans you see the louder the case will be. Look at something like the Antec P280 for a silent case.

And look at NCIX.com to compare prices.

I'll stay away from SandForce. Its either Marvell or Indilinx and since the latter has not been out long enough to establish it's reliability, it's a choice between Plextor m3 128gb, crucial m4 128gb or corsair performance pro 128gb. I chose the Plextor bc of toggle nand.

 

[LonelyMan]

So, I've looked at Phanteks site and they have not even updated their mobo compatibility charts and they do not have one for the ram. Do you guys think if I install my 680 in the first pci 3.0 slot of the maximus V formula for x16 that it will touch the cooler?Also, do you think the blackline ram will fit under that 140mm fan from the cooler?

 

[g-unit1111]

I'll stay away from SandForce. Its either Marvell or Indilinx and since the latter has not been out long enough to establish it's reliability, it's a choice between Plextor m3 128gb, crucial m4 128gb or corsair performance pro 128gb. I chose the Plextor bc of toggle nand.

Yeah I'm kind of indifferent on Indilinx. I was for it at first but seeing how many firmware and driver updates that it's been through - and it still can't get a somewhat decent read / write time, I think I'll pass until another manufacturer uses it. The Plextor PX-M3 is an excellent choice, I think that's what I'm gonna get once I get the chance.

So, I've looked at Phanteks site and they have not even updated their mobo compatibility charts and they do not have one for the ram. Do you guys think if I install my 680 in the first pci 3.0 slot of the maximus V formula for x16 that it will touch the cooler?Also, do you think the blackline ram will fit under that 140mm fan from the cooler?

That seems kind of sketchy that they haven't updated their website for compatibility. The Blackline RAM should fit under the fan just fine. If not go for something like the Crucial Ballistix or G.Skill Ares. The Maximus V is a huge motherboard - I can't imagine it would have that problem.

 

[LonelyMan]

Best answer selected by LonelyMan.

 

[LonelyMan]

Thank you everyone. Ordering the parts tomorrow. Then I'll be able to actually play all the games I have on steam. Just bought company of heroes complete pack for just 14 dollars. Steam sales=win .

 

[TheBigTroll]

i dont see the problem with sandforce. im pretty happy with my SSD. marvel is always good and indilinx has recently been great on the vertex 4. check out the deal at ncix.com