Help With Building Gaming PC

[Albkido]

Approximate Purchase Date: In two weeks or so from now.

Budget Range: 2000-2400

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Multitasking(surf the net, watch youtube, netflix, listen to music, fraps, ect...)

Are you buying a monitor: No, maybe later will buy a 2nd monitor for dual monitor setting.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes, also would like Windows 7 Ultimate Edition.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: First timer here so I have no clue my last gaming rig which I still use is an Alienware.

Location: Philadelphia, PA USA.

Parts Preferences: Intel.

Overclocking: Not sure if it's needed or not it sounds risky and if parts are pretty good do you really need it?

SLI or Crossfire: Not sure either do I need 2 GPU if I buy a pretty good one? I had GTX 295 3 years ago and it is a dual GPU card but found out my main game FFXIV was using only 1 GPU and I had all kind of issues.

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920 X 1080 but might buy 2nd monitor.

Additional Comments: Main reason I want this PC is gaming but I also don't want to see slowdowns or errors.

Currently I have an Alienware Aurora 3 years old and specs are:
CPU i7 920 @ 2.67Ghz Oced by Alienware @3.2Ghz ( last few days I had many issues with Guild Wars 2 lag and installed CPU-Z and I see the frenquency move up and down from 1.6Ghz-3.2Ghz)
GPU had GTX295 and had many issues with it will never consider a dual GPU card now have 6950 and has been much better then GTX295 but still few times got some minor display errors.
Ram 9gig
windows 7 home premium.

 

[g-unit1111]

Do you need to buy OS: Yes, also would like Windows 7 Ultimate Edition.

You don't need Windows 7 Ultimate.

Home Premium = 16GB RAM or less
Pro = <=16GB of RAM, extra NIC functionality, XP emulation mode
Ultimate = <= 16GB of RAM, full Windows XP emulation, universal language packs, extra security functionality

SLI or Crossfire: Not sure either do I need 2 GPU if I buy a pretty good one? I had GTX 295 3 years ago and it is a dual GPU card but found out my main game FFXIV was using only 1 GPU and I had all kind of issues.

The GTX 295 was great in its' day but whether or not you buy a second GPU depends on monitor resolution and a bunch of other factors.

Here's what I would suggest:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($80.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP4 TH ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($192.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vector Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($359.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($359.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Titanium Grey) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($85.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1805.73
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-15 21:43 EST-0500)

Then with the difference that will more than allow you to get a nice monitor and anything else you need.

 

[boulbox]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: NZXT HAVIK 140 90.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($61.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($180.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($369.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Titanium Grey) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 850W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($122.75 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($20.58 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1527.24
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-15 21:47 EST-0500)

this is seriously all you need even for dual monitor gaming

Win7 ulti is not needed unless it has an app that you really need(pretty sure you don't even need it since pro will have all the stuff that is needed) Also got pro for you incase you want to add more ram inside in the future.(you need pro to read more than 16GB of ram, might be wrong on the number but around there)

If anything, i would add inside a high res monitor like 2560x1440. dual screen is cool but i prefer 1 high res monitor

 

[Albkido]

Thank you for the suggestion G-Unit
I have few questions about that build: Will it run any game out there at highest setting? The game I play mostly Final Fantasy 14 Online is very very picky at the hardware, for example my alienware would run it at mid setting without AA or other eye candy setting.
Also would a GTX 680 4gig be better then 2 x GTX 670?
And my current CPU is i7 main reason I'm about to build a new gaming rig is to have something better then my current, so my question is will i5 be better then i7?
edit: I'm new at this will be my very first build so if I sound like a noob is cause I'm a noob.

 

[boulbox]

A geforce 470 can run ff14 online pretty easy, there isnt even a need to get a second 670. also, no need to get the 680, it is priced $100 more for minimal performance increase

 

[Albkido]

Boulbox will that build run high end graphics games/mmorpg games in high setting?

 

[strife_ff7]

Here you go

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($80.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V PRO ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($199.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Crucial M4 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($192.00 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 670 4GB Video Card ($426.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Titanium Grey) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 850W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($20.58 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1540.46
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-15 22:15 EST-0500)

When you get the second monitor add another gtx 670 4gb.

 

[boulbox]

My build will easily handle all of your needs.

has a top of the line GPU with a non reference fan cooler for better cooling
has a 256GB SSD so you can go ahead and cram quite a bit of games inside
1.5TB HDD for backup and storing your other needs

Case - a great case of course you can choose a case that you like if wanting to
16GB of ram, most you will ever need is 8GB of ram, but i put inside 16GB to hopefully last longer

Motherboard- One of my favorite motherboards, i have it myself and been pleased with it. It is newb friendly so if you mess something up, will you have a second bios to boot back up to. Another choices to save money is ASrock extreme6 which is another great motherboard and would usually get.

PSU 850W semi modular, lets you have quite some room to overclock with and add a second GPU if needed.

CPU cooler - Havik 140 is a pretty decent choice, it rooms smooth and quiet and not too far behind in temps vsing Noctua D14

CPU - i5 is seriously all you will need for gaming, simple as that, don't need an i7

 

[Albkido]

Thanks everyone I got the answers I wanted really appreciated
My next move is order and see how to put them together wish me good luck.

 

[g-unit1111]

Thank you for the suggestion G-Unit
I have few questions about that build: Will it run any game out there at highest setting? The game I play mostly Final Fantasy 14 Online is very very picky at the hardware, for example my alienware would run it at mid setting without AA or other eye candy setting.
Also would a GTX 680 4gig be better then 2 x GTX 670?
And my current CPU is i7 main reason I'm about to build a new gaming rig is to have something better then my current, so my question is will i5 be better then i7?
edit: I'm new at this will be my very first build so if I sound like a noob is cause I'm a noob.

1. Absolutely without question.

2. No - dual 670 performs about the same as a single GTX 690 (+- 2 FPS) will for $200 less.

3. I upgraded from an i7-920 to an i5-3570K and the difference is night and day. The current i7-3770K is a good CPU as well but it has technology called "hyper threading" which can actually slow down game performance. It's better to stick with the i5.

 

[Albkido]

Best answer selected by albkido.