New build up to $2500 US

[StevePJ]

I need a little help with my build, I want to spend no more than 2500 on my total system including my Monitor. and i need to build this fast. Lap top died and i have no computer atm. would like it to be very fast and as smooth as i can get playing any game. I am a hard core Gamer, if that helps.

I am getting http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119213 for a case if you don't want to click on the link it is a HAF 932 full Tower

then XFX PSU 850w in case i want to do SLI in the future.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207017

then a Gigabyte 680 GTX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125422

ZALMAN CNPS9900ALED 120mm 2 Ball Low-noise Blue LED CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118046

I am up in the air for the Processor want it to be for hard core gaming.

no clue for the HDD or SSD want something to be fast and reliable. Wanted at least 2, one for things I want to operate quicker and one for storage. doesn't have to be that way if there is a better way.

Memory is not something i am very informed about.

DVD,blueray,burner ?

i have a mouse and keyboard is not anything I am confused about

need to get a good head set with mic, not skimping on those.

getting windows 8 pro for the OS unless some1 has a better Idea that i haven't though of.

as for a mobo, I have no clue. had some Ideas and builds but have scratched them and decided to come to the pros for advice. this is my 3rd build and i am just as clueless as the 2nd I am just a gamer not a tech guy. any and all help would be appreciated.

*Edit* Was thinking about ASUS VH236H 23-Inch Full-HD 2ms LCD Monitor, maybe something bigger would be nice though.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

 

[g-unit1111]

If you're going to be doing some serious gaming - the 680 is a good card, the 7970 GHz edition beats it in just about every test. Two of those in Crossfire will completely annihilate the competition. That fan is not really a good choice. Go with Noctua or even Cooler Master. For a CPU you want the i5-3570K no question about it. For motherboard you want a strong Z77 motherboard with Thunderbolt capability.

Try something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP5 TH ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($248.94 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($40.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F4 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card (CrossFire) ($449.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card (CrossFire) ($449.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Switch 810 (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($179.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk II 950W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2120.80
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

You can use the difference for a nice monitor and whatever peripherals you want.

 

[TheBigTroll]

id get this

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lJPh


-mushkin actually rates their chronos deluxe drive into spec. i got 559mb reads and 521mb writes in ATTO at a queue depth of 10
-buy mobo at newegg and get free ram
-i left out a 7970 so you can decide if your build warrants for another one
-chose a 120hz monitor for speed.
-i dont recommend windows 8 unless you have a touch screen. no gaming performance boost anyways
-chose the haf xm. newer case design=better

a good headset really depends on the person. some people may find one very comfortable and one might just completely hate it. i use earbuds lol

 

[StevePJ]

thx for the feed back, there are a lot of good ideas here I never thought of a 7970 always have been partial to Geforce. It really out performs the 680? I always heard people complaining about their cards in the past so i always stuck to GeForce.

 

[bigcyco1]

thx for the feed back, there are a lot of good ideas here I never thought of a 7970 always have been partial to Geforce. It really out performs the 680? I always heard people complaining about their cards in the past so i always stuck to GeForce.

It out preforms it for now but just wait it won't be that way for long :lol:

 

[CaptainTom]

thx for the feed back, there are a lot of good ideas here I never thought of a 7970 always have been partial to Geforce. It really out performs the 680? I always heard people complaining about their cards in the past so i always stuck to GeForce.

A 7970 GHZ easily beats a 680. The 680 is the most overpriced card I have ever seen TBH...

 

[CaptainTom]

It out preforms it for now but just wait it won't be that way for long :lol:

LOL it has ALWAYS outperformed it, but now it does by a decent amount. Don't keep waiting, it's gonna be a while...

 

[bigcyco1]

LOL it has ALWAYS outperformed it, but now it does by a decent amount. Don't keep waiting, it's gonna be a while...

Wrong they traded blows before this last driver update get your facts together

 

[redeemer]

id get this

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lJPh


-mushkin actually rates their chronos deluxe drive into spec. i got 559mb reads and 521mb writes in ATTO at a queue depth of 10
-buy mobo at newegg and get free ram
-i left out a 7970 so you can decide if your build warrants for another one
-chose a 120hz monitor for speed.
-i dont recommend windows 8 unless you have a touch screen. no gaming performance boost anyways
-chose the haf xm. newer case design=better

a good headset really depends on the person. some people may find one very comfortable and one might just completely hate it. i use earbuds lol

Since you already recommended a 120hz monitor then that warrants a second gpu!

 

[redeemer]

Wrong they traded blows before this last driver update get your facts together

You mean when the dust settled and it was realized that Nvidia's Autoboost was a factor? GCN has way more headroom that Kepler I am afraid! We know what happens when Tahiti is overclocked. Nvidia has to work on pricing asap!

 

[bigcyco1]

id get this

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lJPh


-mushkin actually rates their chronos deluxe drive into spec. i got 559mb reads and 521mb writes in ATTO at a queue depth of 10
-buy mobo at newegg and get free ram
-i left out a 7970 so you can decide if your build warrants for another one
-chose a 120hz monitor for speed.
-i dont recommend windows 8 unless you have a touch screen. no gaming performance boost anyways
-chose the haf xm. newer case design=better

a good headset really depends on the person. some people may find one very comfortable and one might just completely hate it. i use earbuds lol

I do like this build great choices decisions tisk...tisk.... what to do :lol:

 

[bigcyco1]

You mean when the dust settled and it was realized that Nvidia's Autoboost was a factor? GCN has way more headroom that Kepler I am afraid! We know what happens when Tahiti is overclocked. Nvidia has to work on pricing asap!

I think your thinking of locked voltage there are ways around that my friend

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[TheBigTroll]

thats a lot of volts.

the new driver from nvidia does give you up to 15% performance supposidely

 

[StevePJ]

id get this

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lJPh


-mushkin actually rates their chronos deluxe drive into spec. i got 559mb reads and 521mb writes in ATTO at a queue depth of 10
-buy mobo at newegg and get free ram
-i left out a 7970 so you can decide if your build warrants for another one
-chose a 120hz monitor for speed.
-i dont recommend windows 8 unless you have a touch screen. no gaming performance boost anyways
-chose the haf xm. newer case design=better

a good headset really depends on the person. some people may find one very comfortable and one might just completely hate it. i use earbuds lol

that free memory that comes with the mobo is good?

 

[CaptainTom]

Wrong they traded blows before this last driver update get your facts together

Great a card traded blows with an $80 cheaper card that has more overclocking potential. Great "Victory." Again the 680 was never stronger than the GHz.

 

[bigcyco1]

Great a card traded blows with an $80 cheaper card that has more overclocking potential. Great "Victory." Again the 680 was never stronger than the GHz.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us lol messing with you the point is there both great cards

 

[StevePJ]

the last time i built an i5 (3 years ago) people suggested that it didn't need any more than 4 gb of memory, what is the suggestion now?

I was thing 2x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231587 is it even compatible?

 

[bigcyco1]

the last time i built an i5 (3 years ago) people suggested that it didn't need any more than 4 gb of memory, what is the suggestion now?

8gb because it's so cheap

 

[mastrom101]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lKnD

Similar to most of the other build, just with a few minor revisions.

For the monitor, I would either suggest a 120Hz or a solid IPS monitor. The IPS will give you much better picture quality, while the 120HZ will look smoother.

Now for the headphones:
http://www.astrogaming.com/a50/a50-wireless-system
http://www.razerzone.com/store/razer-tiamat-71

 

[redeemer]

I think your thinking of locked voltage there are ways around that my friend [url]http://imageshack.us/a/img607/1316/0iy3o.jpg[/URL]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Sure locked voltages there are ways around it MSI will tell yeah! Now scaling tahiti OC Mhz vs Kepler OC Mhz?

 

[StevePJ]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lKnD

Similar to most of the other build, just with a few minor revisions.

For the monitor, I would either suggest a 120Hz or a solid IPS monitor. The IPS will give you much better picture quality, while the 120HZ will look smoother.

Now for the headphones:
http://www.astrogaming.com/a50/a50-wireless-system
http://www.razerzone.com/store/razer-tiamat-71

those razer headphones look nice. I have stayed away from the other razer headphones for some incompatible drivers but maybe it is time to give them another try.

 

[bigcyco1]

Sure locked voltages there are ways around it MSI will tell yeah! Now scaling tahiti OC Mhz vs Kepler OC Mhz?

:lol: Good point I guess it all comes down to which card you prefer as well i prefer 670 or 7950 because of price i wouldn't buy a 680 or 7970GHZ i game @ 1920 x 1200 a 680 and 7970GHZ is not needed

 

[CaptainTom]

:lol: Good point I guess it all comes down to which card you prefer as well i prefer 670 or 7950 because of price i wouldn't buy a 680 or 7970GHZ i game @ 1920 x 1200 a 680 and 7970GHZ is not needed

Best price / performance now are the sub $230 7870's. I did see one 670 that is $350 though...

 

[bigcyco1]

Best price / performance now are the sub $230 7870's. I did see one 670 that is $350 though...

Yeah but a 7870 won't max out all today's games a overclocked 7950 or 670 will @1920 x 1200

 

[bigcyco1]

actually i am a liar i remember one 670 didn't max metro i have not try with my sons 7950 but i doubt it will as well.