My Gaming Build (need advice)

Ok, I plan on building a new gaming rig within the next 2 weeks.
Budget:$1500-$2000 USD ($1800 would be ideal) Yay tax return!

Basically just looking to find the best bang for my buck as well as room for upgrades. I don't plan on building an entire new system for at least 3 years.

This site seems to have plenty of people who would know best.

Here is what I've come up with so far:

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD7-B3 $319
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128480

There are cheaper MOBO's but this one has 4 PCI Express 2.0 x16 at x16/x16/0/0 or x8/x8/x8/x8

SLI x16/x16 ftw?

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K - $224
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115072

GPU: EVGA 012-P3-1570-AR GeForce GTX 570 $350
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130593

I could probably do 2 GTX 560's, but I think a GTX570 will do fine for now, I'll slap another 570 on a few months later when the price drops some more. *shrugs*

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) $100-$150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231431

I believe 8gb's is more then enough at the moment? CAS 7, 7-8-7-24 1600.... looks good to me.

HDD: This is where I'm having a hard time choosing...... I do not need a lot of space. 200-300gb is more then enough. Speed vs $$$ is the issue.

SSD's are fast as hell and I would love one. Vertex 3 120GB would be ideal, BUT they are $300 and NEVER in stock. If I'm going to spend that kind of money on an SSD I don't want to buy the downgrade of the Vertex 3.

So, I figured I might as well wait for the SSD until the Vertex 3 becomes available and hopefully cheaper in the next few months.

In the meantime: 2x "Western Digital RE4 WD2503ABYX 250GB" $69 2x=$138
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136797

2 of these in raid0 should hold me off for awhile? Maybe? lol

PSU: ? $80-$150

I'm sure I can't go wrong with one of the 750-850w ones I can get in a combo deal. As long as they can run SLI

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119160

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835608018

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116754

$1598 approx so far for all that at newegg.com with combos.

$1900+ with a Vertex 3 if i could ever find one.

I probably should get a better monitor as well, its just a simple 20" 1680x1050. I could always wait a little while for that unless these new GPU's make getting a new monitor worth it.

If you have any suggestions let me know! I'm chasing that perfect system! lol

Seems fine to me. . .

Personally you need to choose a good PSU, I swear by this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139014

You don't want to skimp on your PSU because the cheap ones will give you dirty power or droop. The PSU I linked is a fav among a lot of members here and it will handle just about anything you can toss at it.

Only thing you have to concern about is with the Noctua clearing your case / mobo. I know it will fit just fine in a COOLER MASTER HAF 932 however with the GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD7-B3 I don't know if it clears the heatsinks or not. . . anyone else more fimiliar with that board?

Bijiont said:

Seems fine to me. . .

Personally you need to choose a good PSU, I swear by this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139014

You don't want to skimp on your PSU because the cheap ones will give you dirty power or droop. The PSU I linked is a fav among a lot of members here and it will handle just about anything you can toss at it.

Only thing you have to concern about is with the Noctua clearing your case / mobo. I know it will fit just fine in a COOLER MASTER HAF 932 however with the GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD7-B3 I don't know if it clears the heatsinks or not. . . anyone else more fimiliar with that board?

Click to expand...

I may actually downgrade that MOBO to a UD4. I'm not exactly sure if x16/x16 in Sandy Bridge actually out performs the x8/x8

honestly? I would skip sandy biatch

its better than anything to date sure...

its also quirky as hell or has socket burn issues or just sucks depnding on which mobo you get.

in 6 months.. yes sandyB will rock..just like p55. course Ivy bridge will be out then.

EDIT: Actually it wont .. my bad, forgot intel just moved ivy to '12

Neuromancer said:

honestly? I would skip sandy biatch

its better than anything to date sure...

its also quirky as hell or has socket burn issues or just sucks depnding on which mobo you get.

in 6 months.. yes sandyB will rock..just like p55. course Ivy bridge will be out then.

EDIT: Actually it wont .. my bad, forgot intel just moved ivy to '12

Click to expand...

Ok...... well I'm running a PC that was sweet in 2007. I love my socket 775.... but it's time to part ways. I usually make a new system every 3-4 years, and update in between.

Sure I could wait 6 months or more for Ivy....... but I'd hate to guess how much $$$ they going to be for the 1st 6 months. I've found over the years that building a system 6 months or so after a new generation chipset is public is probably the best way to get "bang for your buck".

A solid SB system at this point seems to be a good choice for a gaming PC for 3 years at least. With upgrades from time to time.

Corsair AX850 should suit you fine for your PSU. I'm pretty sure you could SLI GTX 570's with that. Though don't quote me on it .

Otherwise everything looks good! =D. ROCK IT! lol.

Neuromancer said:

honestly? I would skip sandy biatch

its better than anything to date sure...

its also quirky as hell or has socket burn issues or just sucks depnding on which mobo you get.

in 6 months.. yes sandyB will rock..just like p55. course Ivy bridge will be out then.

EDIT: Actually it wont .. my bad, forgot intel just moved ivy to '12

Click to expand...

If people keep having that attitude then they will never upgrade. It's easy to say "I'll wait for the next chipset to come out", but the thing with computers is that you can wank on to all your mates about how you have the latest hardware, then 6 months or a year later something better will come out.

SMOKEU said:

If people keep having that attitude then they will never upgrade. It's easy to say "I'll wait for the next chipset to come out", but the thing with computers is that you can wank on to all your mates about how you have the latest hardware, then 6 months or a year later something better will come out.

Click to expand...

I agree with that too.

And sandy bridge is a nice setup too. Just was having issues with it last night again LOL

If he has a need to upgrade, p67 is a great way to go, if he can wait though. patsburg is due out soon. Bulldozer on AMD is due out even sooner.

Ok, I think I have a SOLID build now.


Motherboard: ASRock P67 EXTREME4 (B3) $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157229


CPU/Cooler: i5-2500k/CM Hyper 212+ $252
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.625350


GPU: MSI N560GTX-Ti Hawk GeForce GTX 560 Ti $265
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127578


RAM/PSU: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB/CORSAIR Professional Series AX750 $250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.628248


SSD: OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-240G $549
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227707


Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 922 $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119197


OS Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116754


Total before rebates/tax/shipping: $1676


2nd gtx560 as well as monitor will have to wait a few months. I think this build may be a winner.


I may take out that SSD and get a 2nd gtx560, and get the 120gb Vertex 3 if I can ever find it. I don't have an HD monitor though, so I'll probably just wait for 2nd 560/monitor.

P.S. I have several HDD's I can use as storage.

I would say go with 2x samsung spinpoint f3 in raid0, get a good monitor now and wait for the 120GB vertex 3 to become more readily available as well as a second 560. Since you're using newegg, you can always select auto-notify and get it as soon as it is. IMHO having all this great stuff esp the sli 560's will do little good without something to give it the proper presentation. To me it would be like paying for HD channels and super high connection speeds then using them for netflix on an old 60" CRT TV versus paying for a 46" LED and running a bluray on it. Maybe its smaller and takes longer to have to stop at a redbox on the way home, but the quality is far better upfront. And then you can save a little more money and upgrade your cable or satellite package.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...52185&cm_re=samsung_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product

pbcranium202 said:

I would say go with 2x samsung spinpoint f3 in raid0, get a good monitor now and wait for the 120GB vertex 3 to become more readily available as well as a second 560. Since you're using newegg, you can always select auto-notify and get it as soon as it is. IMHO having all this great stuff esp the sli 560's will do little good without something to give it the proper presentation. To me it would be like paying for HD channels and super high connection speeds then using them for netflix on an old 60" CRT TV versus paying for a 46" LED and running a bluray on it. Maybe its smaller and takes longer to have to stop at a redbox on the way home, but the quality is far better upfront. And then you can save a little more money and upgrade your cable or satellite package.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...52185&cm_re=samsung_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product

Click to expand...

That is pretty much exactly what my original plan was. I got distracted by the bling of SSD's.

2 months from now I'm sure the prices will drop a little on SSD's and 560's.

Everything is becoming clear now......

Now I need to find a sweet monitor!

How about this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...005195&cm_sp=DailyDeal-_-24-005-195-_-Product its a daily deal $30 off

hmmm

1920 x 1200 or 1920 x 1080?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176141

OR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049

SSDs are awesome. But its more of a convenience related performance. I love mine and am updating to a 120gb vertex 2 bc I want to run more than just my OS and will be dual booting with it. But if ot were between the ssd or a part that has visible increase I'd live with the extra load times. How much os 30 sec going to hurt me?

I love my Asus monitor. Its the same one without speakers and one inch smaller. unless you really need the speakers i'd get it aithout. They prob wont be very good wuality and give you one more thing to worry about failing or having to go doa. If you want to go a little higher end (figure this would be one of the last components you'd upgrade so a little more upfront saves in years of usability) Ben-Q or Hanns-G are great buys.

Regardless which monitor you decide to go with make sure its 16:9 ratio screen which means 1920x1080p res, because this screen ratio is way more common than 16:10 which is 1920x1200, its been my experience that its best to go with most common resolution out there.