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$1000 MAX - Gaming Rig

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Mark617

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2004
Location
CA, USA
So, it has been a while since I posted here but this website helped me build a top of the line rig back in the day. Here we go again.

I mainly MMO. WoW or EQ2. WoW isnt an issue, I could play that on a 486 (hence its appeal) but EQ2 for an old game is stressing my system now with the new expansion. Regardless though, it is time to upgrade. I would like to spend NO MORE than $1000 but I also refuse to skimp. My current system has lasted for a long time (in CPU years).

I will be staying with water cooling but I am sure I will need new mounts for the GPU / CPU. Also, I won't be upgrading my 22 inch Samsung LCD. I like it and it still works fine. That means I will be playing in 1680x1050 60hz. I have a CM stacker case which also should be fine.

From the other posts I have read it seems I should use the following CPU if I plan to only game + OC.

Intel 2500k - $225

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...15072&cm_re=intel_2500-_-19-115-072-_-Product


M/B. Recommended by multiple users here. $190

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m1132X509988Xe38932dadbb114a8dd7a9f489accf912


I have had good luck with G Skill and since the sandy cpu doesnt improve as much as intels of the past with top end RAM i was going with the following. $90

*BUT is 8 gigs needed for what I am doing, if not the second option is for 4 gigs at $55. Bit better timings too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231278


SSD vertex 2. $110

* I currently run R0 2x raptor 10k 150 gb. I am assuming the move to SSD is a huge upgrade. I could run two of these for the R0 but I am not sure it is in the budget / going to be that huge for the games I play. I don't keep much on this computer, it is only for gaming. So I figure an nlite install of my OS should leave me plenty of room.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0227550&cm_re=vertex_2-_-20-227-550-_-Product


GPU. Either one. Difference of $40 for double the memory. Not sure if its worth a 20% cost upgrade for the games I play; the cheaper one should be enough once OC'd. Opinions of course are very welcome here as this is the one part I am not sure of. $150-$190

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130596

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130611


CPU - ~$225
M/B - ~$190
RAM - ~$55 to $90 (same as below - needs)
HD - ~$220 (possibly $110 if you guys feel raid is not that big a deal for my needs)
GPU - ~$150 to $190 (same as above - needs)

About $900 with tax. Anything I could cut? I still have to get the WC blocks so figure another $100-$150. That being said, should I just leave the gpu as is and only WC the CPU?

EDIT #1 OPERATING SYSTEM - System will be on vista 64. How important is an OS upgrade to win 7 64 bit? Not needed for gaming?

EDIT #2 POWER SUPPLY - This is my current PS below ->

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009

Is that good enough for the new system if I plan to OC / proper # of connectors etc?

As always thanks for the input guys :)
 
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The Motherboard and CPU are good choices so leave it like that.

I recommend getting 8 gigs of RAM because it will leave you more future proof and let you upgrade to 16gb down the road later on. It won't really give you more frames but it will help in heavy RAM apps like Photoshop and Sony Vegas.

As for using Windows Vista, I would not recommend that because Windows 7 is leaps and bounds ahead. It's just much less of a headache to deal with so I'd suggest buying an OEM copy of Windows 7 Home Premium.

About spending $110 on the SSD, I'd rather spend the extra $110 on a better graphics card then have some faster load times. GTX 460 isn't that powerful and the GPU is basically where all your 3D performance comes from. Get a GTX 560 Ti or better yet, a 6950 and unlock it to a 6970. Water cooling the graphics isn't worth it, just get one that comes with a good air cooler.

PSU should be fine just make sure it comes with the necessary PCIe connectors and 8 pin CPU connector which most PSU's come with.

Hope the build goes well.
 
Swap the Vertex 2 for an Agility or Solid 3. There's a shell shocker today for 8GB DDR3-1600 for something like $70, I'd jump on that.

My understanding is that currently available 6950s will not unlock shaders, only the first run did that.
 
Personally I'd get a cheaper motherboard, something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128476&Tpk=p67a-ud3 would shave a good $50 off your costs and work just as well for you.

You're not likely to need >4gb, though if you can get it for cheap (like ratbuddy mentions) you might as well.

Don't need more than 1gb of video ram. In the 200ish range the GTX560 beats a 460, decently higher stock clocks and higher OCing, too.

Your current PSU should be fine.

I would buy a single SSD and plow the rest of the money into a better GPU.

If you want to OC the CPU, don't forget a cpu cooler.
 
Awesome, thanks for the ideas. The PSU I have has the required connections so I will stick with it.


CPU - Check ($225)


M/B (based on advice $130) -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128476&Tpk=p67a-ud3


PSU - Check (zero)


RAM (buying today when shell shocker starts $70) -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428


HD (based on advice $120) -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227542


OS Win 7 64 bit OEM Home Premium $100 -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ome_premium_oem_64-bit-_-32-116-986-_-Product


GPU - NEED HELP HERE. I dont care nvidia or ati by the way.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127562&cm_re=6950-_-14-127-562-_-Product

* Assuming it can be flashed to a 6970*

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...34&cm_re=nvidia_560_ti-_-14-130-634-_-Product


Look good now?

EDIT #1 - I will leave the GPU on air cooling. The stock fan / cooler with those GPUs okay?

Furthermore, any advice on a good water cooling block for the CPU? No point investing in a CPU fan over using my existing water cooling since I already have a fantastic custom made water cooling system and would just need the block (right?).

THANKS !
 
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No man.. Agility or Solid 3, not Vertex or Agility 2 :)

The motherboard, well, it seems a little sketchy, and only has 2 SATA 3 ports.
 
Thanks Ratbuddy.

It is done except for the GPU. I think I am going with the 560ti linked since there seems to be some question about whether or not I can unlock the shaders on that 6950 (to the 6970).

Will leave the GPU on the stock cooling I guess. Hopefully it works out with the OC.

Picking up this block for the CPU. It says it fits 1156 and the above MB is 1155 but I will confirm it fits before purchase.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9...ket_LGA_1156_1366_i3_i5_i7.html?tl=g30c85s139

Thanks :santa2:
 
Personally, I'd suggest grabbing a mechanical drive as well as the SSD and using Z68's caching scheme to accelerate it with the SSD. Installing the whole OS to SSD is a waste since many of the OS files are never (or very seldomly) used, and SSD space is rather expensive.
 
Awesome - so it seems everything is set. Ill go with that 6950 GPU you linked. The default shroud for air coolinhg is okay for the flash to 6970 then OC, yes?

Also, Ratbuddy. SO I should just keep one of my Raptor drives and install everything there excluding the games / files I need accessed quickly?

Thanks ~
 
Awesome - so it seems everything is set. Ill go with that 6950 GPU you linked. The default shroud for air coolinhg is okay for the flash to 6970 then OC, yes?

Also, Ratbuddy. SO I should just keep one of my Raptor drives and install everything there excluding the games / files I need accessed quickly?

Thanks ~

Which Raptors do you have?
 
Z68's caching scheme is not worth it unless you do the same things over and over again because it only caching data of the mechanical HDD and does not help much.:escape::popcorn:
 
Z68's caching scheme is not worth it unless you do the same things over and over again because it only caching data of the mechanical HDD and does not help much.:escape::popcorn:

Yeah, well, stuff like booting and running programs.. How often do any of us do that stuff?


Those are pretty slow compared to modern drives. I'd just grab a good 1-2TB drive and be done with it.
 
Might I suggest a hitach 5k3000 2tb? They are basically the same price for more storage. You have a ssd so it should be fine.
 
Might I suggest a hitach 5k3000 2tb? They are basically the same price for more storage. You have a ssd so it should be fine.

Only drawback is much lower 4k random performance. Like half that of the F3. Might be a better choice if you need that much space, though.
 
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