$1500 Gaming PC - First Build

[gonff73]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 1-2 weeks

BUDGET RANGE: $1300-1600 After Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (mostly MMOs but some RTS and FPS), Internet, Movies

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Have good history with Newegg but not bound to it

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: None

OVERCLOCKING: Probably yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Eventually

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920 x 1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Just looking to build a solid gaming rig that will last me for several years and allow for future upgrades (i.e. crossfire/sli, etc). This will be my first build so please any suggestions for bettering this build will be much appreciated. The parts I've picked here are on the cheaper end of my budget so feel free to offer upgrades that will fit in my overall budget.


Case: Antec Nine Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $109.95 after rebate

Motherboard: MSI P55-GD65 LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - 149.99 after rebate

CPU: Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - $194.99

HSF: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler -$26.99 after rebate

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - $109.99

GPU: ASUS EAH4870/2DI/1GD5 Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - $159.99 (Upgrade to better GPU?)

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - $109.99 after rebate

HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $89.99

Optical: Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM - $26.99

Monitor: ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 (1000:1) Built-in Speakers - $229.99 after rebate

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM - $99.99

Total: $1,308.85


Thanks for your time!

 

[n1ck3rs0n]

You may be interested in something similar to what I'm doing.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/286349-31-gaming-radeon-5770

Intel i7-930, 6b ddr3 triple channel memory, 1tb samsung 7200rpm hard drive, Radeon 5770, etc.

$970.00 without monitor and OS.

 

[cmcghee358]

I'd also suggest an Intel X25-V or a Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB as an OS drive (114.00 vs 55.00)

Having everything on 1 TB will eventually be problematic the older the system gets.

 

[cmcghee358]

Oh and since you have room in your budget, look to get a 5850, or at LEAST a 5770. The 5770 performs on par with the 4870, is the same price, and supports DX11 as well as Eyefinity.

The 5850 will provide a longer time the computer will be playable in it's maiden configuration.

 

[MAZWANTGUN]

Everything looks good, but go for a HD5770. The 4780 is kinda old now and won't last you very long. Most new games will be on DX11, and the 5770 supports DX11. They cost about the same.

 

[pertonas]

take 5770 better than 4870. or consider take 5850

 

[evongugg]

How about this motherboard with SATA III and USB 3.0?

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128412

 

[gonff73]

Okay so looks like I'm switching to the SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
and
SAPPHIRE TOXIC 100282TXSR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card Toxic edition

Those choices look okay?

As for the suggested Gigabyte motherboard, how valuable would it be to switch to the mobo eith SATA III and USB 3.0? Also if I switched would I be needing to change my choice of RAM as the Gigabyte board doesn't have 1600 listed as a standard?

Thanks again for the suggestions so far!

 

[cmcghee358]

It's definately a good idea to get a USB 3.0/SATA III board. Although the standards arent used currently, they will in the future.

Good choice on the HDD and the Gfx card btw. You'll love em

 

[brennon7]

Here is an alternative suggestion:

50 inch 1080p plasma. $1000

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Panasonic+-+VIERA+/+50%22+Class+/+1080p+/+600Hz+/+Plasma+HDTV/9887422.p?id=1218189764175&skuId=9887422&st=50%20plasma&cp=1&lp=7

PS3 $300
http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-3-120-GB/dp/B002I0J4VQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1274155252&sr=8-1

 

[gonff73]

From what I'm reading it sounds like some of the current USB 3.0/SATA III Intel boards may have issues hurting the performance of your graphics card especially when using crossfire/sli (source: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/usb-3.0-sata-6gb,2583.html). This is concerning as I intend to crossfire at some point in the future. One of the boards suggested in that article for minimizing that problem was the MSI P55-GD85 LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard. Would this board be overkill for my build and/or am I misunderstanding the severity of the issue? Would the board suggested earlier in the thread by evongugg be a better option?

 

[FALC0N]

I see this a lot from people. "Its my first build and I am going to spend $1500 or $2000 on it". Its not terribly hard, but you can make mistakes that can take all that hardware out if your not carefull.

Instead, why don't you take some spare parts lying around, buy a few cheapies to fill in the gaps, and build a $150 computer first? You will get a first look at all the potential problems you will face on the full scale build. And you will be amazed how much your skill will grow in that short time.

 

[asteldian]

Oddly you will find a surprising number of boards not listing 1600 RAM. I cannot remember if the board you are talking about is the very same one, but I had actually gone to Gigabytes site and asked whether a board that did not mention 1600 was compatible with it and they told me yes. I know others have noticed boards not mentioning it in the brief description but on the full compatibility table usually at the home website tells you the full list