~$1000 Gaming Rig

[chasing sirens]

Hey! New to the forum and relatively new to home-built PC. This is what I've put together for gaming.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lnTu

My choice in motherboard and GPU is where I'm most uncertain. I plan to order the parts on Black Friday. I would appreciate any feedback you guys my have. I'd like to keep it around $1000 plus or minus $200. Thank you in advance.

 

[samuelspark]

I would get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188097 . The P67 board requires a BIOS update so I would not get it unless you have a spare SB chip on hand.

 

[chasing sirens]

Thanks for the help guys!

I would get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188097 . The P67 board requires a BIOS update so I would not get it unless you have a spare SB chip on hand.

Is there a specific reason for why you chose the 2500K? Is the 3570K not worth the price/performance yet?

 

[chasing sirens]

decent start, i saved you some cash, fixed a few things and made a few small improvements

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lnWX
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lnWX/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lnWX/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($349.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1034.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

I would look into getting a 7950/7970 as they both offer superior bang for your buck. Also if you like to overclock at all feel free to spend more on a cooler, like the coolermaster v8 or tpc 812 or the noctua d14 or even an h80/h100

Thanks!

How did you go about choosing the right Mobo and RAM?

I haven't done any overclocking before but will try to with this machine. AMD has always grabbed my attention because they tend to have nice efficient products (cooler, cheaper, good price/performance) but lately I've lost my confidence in them due to recent news or rather LACK of recent news. Even though I have seen the benchmarks and comparisons made by tomshardware I'm still hesistant to pick up a Radeon 7950/7970 (was originally actually to grab the 7950). Are these concerns warranted or just me being overly cautious?

BTW I just found out about pcpartpicker.com this morning. WOW! What a wonderful website!

 

[samuelspark]

Thanks for the help guys!



Is there a specific reason for why you chose the 2500K? Is the 3570K not worth the price/performance yet?

Sandy bridge is better for overclocking as it produces a lot less heat compared to Ivy Bridge. With a H61/H67/P67/Z68 chipset, they require a Sandy Bridge CPU to update the BIOS for it to be compatible with Ivy Bridge.

 

[mrdowntownkiller]

Case : COOLER MASTER Storm Scout Black Steel Mid Tower Case. ($69.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196&name=Computer-Cases

Motherboard : GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H LGA 1155. ($149.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128544&name=Intel-Motherboards

CPU : Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo). ($229.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504&name=Processors-Desktops

GPU : GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 ($359.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125423

RAM : CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 . ($41.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144

PSU : CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 650 Watt 80 PLUS BRONZE. ($64.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

HDD: Western Digital RE3 WD7502ABYS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache. ($59.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236257&name=Internal-Hard-Drives

SSD : Kingston SSDNow 120GB SATA III. ($84.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820239374&name=Internal-SSD

CPU COOLER : COOLER MASTER V6 GT DynaLoop CPU Cooler Universal bracket & Dual Fan. ($49.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103089&name=CPU-Fans-Heatsinks

Optical : SAMSUNG DVD Burner 24X DVD+R ($17.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151256

TOTAL = $1130

 

[g-unit1111]

I would get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188097 . The P67 board requires a BIOS update so I would not get it unless you have a spare SB chip on hand.

Absolutely not. EVGA makes a lot of good products - motherboards aren't one of 'em.

SSD : Kingston SSDNow 120GB SATA III. ($84.99)
♦ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ternal-SSD

I wouldn't get an SSD on a sub-$1K build and I certainly wouldn't get Sandforce crap. You can always add one in later.

For a $1K build here's what I would suggest:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($142.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($269.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($83.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1017.74
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[samuelspark]

http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/motherboards/12738-evga-z68-sli-motherboard-review
EVGA seems to make pretty nice motherboards. 5GHz isn't done on a cheap motherboard.

 

[chasing sirens]

1. I do this alot so my knowledge level is relatively high. Ram you want 1.5v 8gb (2x4 to avoid issues) of low Cas latency stuff from a good company that is also cheap. For the Mobo you want something that is sli/crossfire capable and wont bottleneck, has nice solid caps, is from a good company, is z77, and is at a solid price.

2. AMD graphics beasts all over nvidia ATM, not to say Nvidia makes bad cards they are just way overpriced especially considering 12.11 which is just sick. And combined with a generally larger headroom for overclocking it just gets silly.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Catalyst_12.11_Performance/23.html

3. Pcpartpicker is pretty sweet.

4. Dont listen to this fool blather on about Sandy Bridge for overclocking. Ivy Bridge beasts all over SB and if you have to choose between the two its no contest. IB wins 10 of 10 times hands down. The difference in temperatures doesnt come close to matching the difference in efficiency due to architecture improvements, especially with a nice cooler on board. So while you might clock in a few mhz below that of a SB chip, your overall performance will still be much greater.

I really appreciate your input!

Thanks for the responses guys!

 

[g-unit1111]

http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/motherboards/12738-evga-z68-sli-motherboard-review
EVGA seems to make pretty nice motherboards. 5GHz isn't done on a cheap motherboard.

While I normally like EVGA their motherboards have like no support. Their BIOS remains exactly the same as on the P55 models and they very rarely update software for them.

 

[samuelspark]

1. I do this alot so my knowledge level is relatively high. Ram you want 1.5v 8gb (2x4 to avoid issues) of low Cas latency stuff from a good company that is also cheap. For the Mobo you want something that is sli/crossfire capable and wont bottleneck, has nice solid caps, is from a good company, is z77, and is at a solid price.

2. AMD graphics beasts all over nvidia ATM, not to say Nvidia makes bad cards they are just way overpriced especially considering 12.11 which is just sick. And combined with a generally larger headroom for overclocking it just gets silly.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Catalyst_12.11_Performance/23.html

3. Pcpartpicker is pretty sweet.

4. Dont listen to this fool blather on about Sandy Bridge for overclocking. Ivy Bridge beasts all over SB and if you have to choose between the two its no contest. IB wins 10 of 10 times hands down. The difference in temperatures doesnt come close to matching the difference in efficiency due to architecture improvements, especially with a nice cooler on board. So while you might clock in a few mhz below that of a SB chip, your overall performance will still be much greater.

Lol? Call me a fool?

My friend and I tested IBT temps, same clock, same voltage. He got over 100C while I stayed under 80. He has an Antec 620 with 2 fans and I have a Hyper 212+. His ambient temperature was also lower by 3-4 degrees F. Btw, saving a few watts doesn't really matter in a desktop. And Sandy Bridge does overclock higher due to the fact that Ivy Bridge throttles very easily due to high temps.

 

[samuelspark]

While I normally like EVGA their motherboards have like no support. Their BIOS remains exactly the same as on the P55 models and they very rarely update software for them.

They said they are working on an update to Ivy Bridge CPU's. It is quite late. The motherboard itself seems to have no problems. I mean EVGA probably has some of the best customer service up there with Logitech, Corsair, etc.

 

[chasing sirens]

Best answer selected by chasing sirens.