$1500 system its been 3 years time for a new one.

[SilvyrDreams]

Before I ask you Guru's about a new pc build I'll post what I'm using currently.

OS: Win Vista Home
Case: Cool master centurion case
CPU: intel core 2 duo 3.0ghz
MOBO: ASUS P5K/EPU S/775
RAM: Kingston pc6400 i think 4gb
DVD drive: samsung dvdx22 generic cheap crap
HD: WD 1TB 5400rpm
GPU: Sappire ati hd4850
PSU: Nspire 750W
Mouse Razer death adder
Keyboard logitech g110

Yeah I built this towards the end of 2008 at the end of NOV then i was shortly laid off from HP assembly gotta love Christmas bonus times for the big wigs eh. yada yada unemployed for 2 years then i sold my soul to walmart... again... been there about 9 months things aint changing so i might as well get a good pc to play some up coming games. >_> so much for college eh lol.


What I want to do is have a nice quad core pc, Unfortunately I don't know enough about pc's to know what parts are the best for what job. So i'm just guesstimating a build and yall can pick it apart.

I want this pc to be able to play neat games like Witcher 2, Starcraft 2, (TERA, Guild Wars 2, FIREFALLYeah i know theyre not out yet but i wanna be ready for them when they do come out cause the graphics looking damn sick), dragon age 2, Mass Effect 2, and what ever new games.

Here's a PCPartPicker link i played around with http://pcpartpicker.com/p/17AH

Part list permalink: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/17AH
Part price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/17AH/by_merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus P8P67 PRO ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Hard Drive: Kingston SSDNow V100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 1GB Video Card ($224.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT H2 Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 850W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($164.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHOS104-06 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Drive ($58.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (64-bit) ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1368.90
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2011-09-08 17:52 EDT-0400)

First off I live in texas so I've got access to pretty much any site to buy parts from. This pc will be gaming, surfing internet, music, videos, yeah thats pretty much it.
I don't plan to build it till about december cause im still scraping together money to build it.
Case I don't really care but i'd like it big enough to say crossfire or sli depending on what GPU yall suggest not right away but a 2nd card in the future.

I've liked intel products so i'd like to stick with that for CPU, I like asus boards cause me and my father have used them before with no problems but if you suggest a better board im open to listen.. I've used radeon products cause my Nvidia gpu seemed to run really hot but I'm not current as to whats better or cheaper etc. Like say radeon 6950 vs gtx 560 or 580 i really don't know about that kinda stuff. As far as ram goes i'll shove as much of it as i can in there lol. I'd like to throw an SSD in there cause I've heard it helps with load times when you have graphic intensive games. K thats all i can think of I know I'm probably forgetting something but yall can yell at me later I'm too hungry to think i need food TY FORUM tech gods.

 

[pabzOr]

Hey dude,

I'm far from an expert, just a n00b. I'm in the same boat as you building a new PC(for the same purposes even a lot of the same games lol) cuz mine is a few years old. Looks like you have a pretty solid build going on. I originally looked into the P8P67 line but decided otherwise because of a lot of mixed reviews on newegg. I'm going to be going with the ASRock P67 EXTREME4 GEN3 . It has pretty good reviews and has a fairly good rep around here. This AsRock board also offers a lil extra future proofing with the 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots as well as compatibility with future coming intel's next gen ivy bridge line of processers.

From what I have been reading 16gb ram is a lil overkill but I like the decision you made because it further future proofs.

Also if you aren't sure on your video card there are TONS of articles on this site for the best valued card(price to performace) for any given time. You can even type in the search on this site jsut like you said "6950 vs gtx 560 vs gtx 560ti" or whatever.

Could I perhaps suggest one of the corsair cases? Some of them are very fairly priced like the 400r, 500r and the graphite series considering they are all black on the inside, use black wires and offer excellent cable management space and hiding if you are a neatfreak like me.

*EDIT*

I forgot to add. I would highly suggest tucking all your computer money savings away and purchase all the parts in the week prior to building it. Some of your parts may be a bit cheaper in Dec then they are now.

 

[aznshinobi]

Check out my $850 build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore
Still providing similar performance but saves you a lot more.

Also can you please state your resolution? Also fill this out.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

 

[mjmjpfaff]

Before I ask you Guru's about a new pc build I'll post what I'm using currently.

OS: Win Vista Home
Case: Cool master centurion case
CPU: intel core 2 duo 3.0ghz
MOBO: ASUS P5K/EPU S/775
RAM: Kingston pc6400 i think 4gb
DVD drive: samsung dvdx22 generic cheap crap
HD: WD 1TB 5400rpm
GPU: Sappire ati hd4850
PSU: Nspire 750W
Mouse Razer death adder
Keyboard logitech g110

Yeah I built this towards the end of 2008 at the end of NOV then i was shortly laid off from HP assembly gotta love Christmas bonus times for the big wigs eh. yada yada unemployed for 2 years then i sold my soul to walmart... again... been there about 9 months things aint changing so i might as well get a good pc to play some up coming games. >_> so much for college eh lol.


What I want to do is have a nice quad core pc, Unfortunately I don't know enough about pc's to know what parts are the best for what job. So i'm just guesstimating a build and yall can pick it apart.

I want this pc to be able to play neat games like Witcher 2, Starcraft 2, (TERA, Guild Wars 2, FIREFALLYeah i know theyre not out yet but i wanna be ready for them when they do come out cause the graphics looking damn sick), dragon age 2, Mass Effect 2, and what ever new games.

Here's a PCPartPicker link i played around with http://pcpartpicker.com/p/17AH

Part list permalink: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/17AH
Part price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/17AH/by_merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus P8P67 PRO ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Hard Drive: Kingston SSDNow V100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 1GB Video Card ($224.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT H2 Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 850W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($164.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHOS104-06 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Drive ($58.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (64-bit) ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1368.90
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2011-09-08 17:52 EDT-0400)

First off I live in texas so I've got access to pretty much any site to buy parts from. This pc will be gaming, surfing internet, music, videos, yeah thats pretty much it.
I don't plan to build it till about december cause im still scraping together money to build it.
Case I don't really care but i'd like it big enough to say crossfire or sli depending on what GPU yall suggest not right away but a 2nd card in the future.

I've liked intel products so i'd like to stick with that for CPU, I like asus boards cause me and my father have used them before with no problems but if you suggest a better board im open to listen.. I've used radeon products cause my Nvidia gpu seemed to run really hot but I'm not current as to whats better or cheaper etc. Like say radeon 6950 vs gtx 560 or 580 i really don't know about that kinda stuff. As far as ram goes i'll shove as much of it as i can in there lol. I'd like to throw an SSD in there cause I've heard it helps with load times when you have graphic intensive games. K thats all i can think of I know I'm probably forgetting something but yall can yell at me later I'm too hungry to think i need food TY FORUM tech gods.

i5 2500k- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 220$ superbiiz does charge shipping

GSKILL Ripjaws 8gb 1600mhz- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428 45$ 8gb's is future proof for any game

Samsung F3 1tb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=f3%201tb 60$ this is a faster drive

Crucail M4 128gb- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442 193$ much faster

Windows 7 home premium- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986 100$ name one thing that professional has and home premium does not that you will actually use

Lepa 850w psu- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194093 120$ this will easily run 2 570's

Blu-ray drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247 69$ one you listed only 4x that is slow

Gigabyte GTX 570- http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GeForce-PCI-Express-GV-N570OC-13I-REV2-0/dp/rebates/B0056GJLA8/ref=rebate_olp_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1315524152&sr=8-3 354$

 

[tomskent]

build looks good, but if you dont want to spend a whole bunch of money, just buy the cpu,mobo,and ram (8gb is fine)
then just use everything else from your old system...case, video card, hard drive, dvd-RW, OS...etc

 

[SilvyrDreams]

Well I have bad luck with pc's after about 3 years they all decide to blow up or the motherboard give out, so I like to start from scratch. Also I like to have a computer to use while I'm putting together the new one. ALSO one more thing I usually give my old pc's to my father or sister who well have slower older pc's lol.

 

[aznshinobi]

i5 2500K + MSI 560 Ti TFII OC $449 (Avail. Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.717978
Asrock Extreme3 Gen3 Z68 $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
G.Skill 8GB DDR3 1600 $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
LEPA 850w $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194093&Tpk=Lepa%20850
Seagate Barracuda ST 1TB SATA3 $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697
OCZ Vertex 3 120GB $200 (MIR Avail)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227706
SAMSUNG Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-/+R 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Combo Model SH-B123L/RSBP LightScribe Support $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151232
NZXT H2 $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146072
Total: $1149 before rebates.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

the only thing i would change is the psu hdd and ssd. for the psu 850w is overkill and jonnyguru reviewed it and it did not hold to its bronze efficiency rating. here is a silver rated 750w psu for 99$ after promo code- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703027 . the hdd i would change to the samsung f3 1tb for its extra speed at the same price. and the ssd even though it is fast the crucial m4 128gb is much more reliable and will cause you to pull less hair out of your head.

 

[SilvyrDreams]

hmm well can anyone tell me what the real difference between the z68 and the p68. As far as I can remember p68 is for like graphic intense stuff like games, and h68 was like onboard crap for just media home theatre type stuff. So what is the z68 for?

 

[madchemist83]

it's p67
z68 it's p67 and h67 combined

 

[madchemist83]

it has SSD caching which u will probably never use

 

[aznshinobi]

As said, Z68 is basically H67+P67 with a little extra. Z68 has the ability to switch from dedicated and integrated graphics. It also can overclock, which H67 couldn't. Also Z68 has the ability to utilize Quick-Sync and SSD Cache which isn't really that useful.

mjmjpfaff do you realize you just contradicted yourself? You just recommended the Lepa now you cast it down? Can you please show me the review you saw that said it didn't reach the 80+ Bronze standard? From what I just googled and researched Jonnyguru didn't even review it yet.

 

[SilvyrDreams]

Is there really any advantage over nvidia cards vs radeon? From the reviews I've read gtx 560's and radeon 6950 have been on par with each other pretty much at 1gb. And the difference between 1gb and 2gb has been nil so its not even worth getting, but would sli'ing 2 1gbs be better then a 2gb card?

So pretty much is there any reason I should choose nvidia over Radeon Price/noise/heat/fps or is it pretty much personal preference. Or have yall had personal experience as to which card worked better in the long run?

Thanx for the advice ~ Silvyr

 

[aznshinobi]

Just get the 560 Ti OC I suggested in my build. The build I suggested would be perfectly fine.