First Gaming Build Crysis 3 ready? $1100

[ZachWenzel]

Approximate Purchase Date: Late August

Budget Range: $1000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, web browsing, professional editing
Are you buying a monitor: Yes



Parts to Upgrade: All

CPU:Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

Motherboard:ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293 *ALREADY PURCHASED*

GPU: EVGA SuperClocked 02G-P4-3662-KR GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130810

PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018 *ALREADY PURCHASED*

RAM:G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

SSD: OCZ Vertex 4 VTX4-25SAT3-128G 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227791

CASE: COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN3-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 and Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

Monitor: Acer G235HAbd 23'' WideScreen LCD monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009266

Optical Drive:ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Do you need to buy OS: Yes
Please note that if you're using an OEM license of Windows, you will need a new one when buying a new motherboard.

TOTAL: $1170 with Windows 7 Premium student discount price of $64.99
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Location: Appleton, Wisconsin
Parts Preferences: None
Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: MAy SLI two GTX 660 Ti's in the future??

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I wish I could drop the price closer to $1000. I really want an SSD for OS and favorite games, for example SC2 & BF3. Looking for best bang for the buck type stuff. This is as cheap as I could find. Will it all work. Is this a good price for a gaming computer?

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Need a gaming PC, stepping away from console now that I am older.

 

[iinlane]

Your build looks decent, except I could not find any reviews for your monitor. My personal experience is that I got much bigger leap in picture quality by upgrading my cheap monitor to an IPS one than from upgrading a single GTX285 to GTX570 SLI. The wide viewing angles and good adjustability are great, but the colors are breathtaking. I'm using dell U2311HM, but it's not the only option available.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[ZachWenzel]

Your build looks decent, except I could not find any reviews for your monitor. My personal experience is that I got much bigger leap in picture quality by upgrading my cheap monitor to an IPS one than from upgrading a single GTX285 to GTX570 SLI. The wide viewing angles and good adjustability are great, but the colors are breathtaking. I'm using dell U2311HM, but it's not the only option available.

Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for your time. I will take a look at that dell monitor. Is there really that much of a difference between monitors? Colors look richer, ect?

 

[ZachWenzel]

I plan on overclock the Intel i5. Does my CPU selection come with a heat sink? Should I buy a better heatsink?

 

[ZachWenzel]

Found out that it DOES come with a heatsink. But will it keep it cool when overclocked? What is this thermal oil that I need?

 

[Rise and Shine]

That build isn't balanced at all. You don't need W7 Ultimate for gaming, get Home Premium. Get an Ivy Bridge CPU, the i5 3570k. Get a 670, it'll be better for Crysis 3. The heatsink that comes with the CPU is complete garbage, get an aftermarket cooler like the Cooler Master 212 EVO.

 

[bigcyco1]

Case - COOLER MASTER HAF 922
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
Mobo - ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293
Storage - SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147163
Storage - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
CPU - Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
Fan - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
GPU -MSI N660 Ti PE 2GD5/OC GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Free Borderlands2 coupon w/ purchase, limited offer
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127696#top

PSU- You mentioned you bought it already
Memory - G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416#top

CD - Sony Optiarc 24X DVD Burner, Bulk Package Black SATA Model AD-7280S-0B - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118067


Total is 1077.91 + 115 tax / shipping.

 

[ZachWenzel]

That build isn't balanced at all. You don't need W7 Ultimate for gaming, get Home Premium. Get an Ivy Bridge CPU, the i5 3570k. Get a 670, it'll be better for Crysis 3. The heatsink that comes with the CPU is complete garbage, get an aftermarket cooler like the Cooler Master 212 EVO.

Yea I am going with Home Premium, the ivy bridge is only $10 more than the sandy bridge. So i'll switch to that if theres a big difference.

As for the GPU I am already over my budget with the $300 graphics card. Wont the 660ti be just fine? I can always use SLI in the future. Anything else that is not balanced?

 

[ZachWenzel]

Case - COOLER MASTER HAF 922
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
Mobo - ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293
Storage - SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147163
Storage - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
CPU - Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
Fan - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
GPU -MSI N660 Ti PE 2GD5/OC GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Free Borderlands2 coupon w/ purchase, limited offer
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127696#top

PSU- You mentioned you bought it already
Memory - G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416#top

CD - Sony Optiarc 24X DVD Burner, Bulk Package Black SATA Model AD-7280S-0B - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118067


Total is 1077.91 + 115 tax / shipping.

Why MSI over EVGA 660 Ti?

 

[bigcyco1]

Why MSI over EVGA 660 Ti?

Runs cooler and that's about the only reason

 

[ZachWenzel]

Best answer selected by ZachWenzel.