Approximate Purchase Date: Within the first 2 weeks of 2012.
Budget Range: $2500 - $3000.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, productivity, watching Blu-Ray movies.
Parts Not Required: Peripherals not needed (displays, keyboard, mouse, etc)… looking to build tower only.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.
Country: US.
Parts Preferences: I would like to stick with Intel & nVidia for CPU & graphics. Most of my homework’s already been done in this arena.
Overclocking: Yes. This will be my 3rd build, but my first overclock, so I kept compatibility, erroring on the safe side (even if more expensive), and general ease of overclockability in mind when choosing parts.
SLI or Crossfire: Yes (SLI).
Monitor Resolution: I have 3x 24” 1080p displays I will be using. I’m planning on gaming with nVidia 2D surround (or at least crossing my fingers and hoping it’s not as buggy as some of the stories I’ve been reading). Gaming resolution will be 5760 x 1080.
CPU: $300
Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I72600K
Motherboard: $170
MSI Z68A-GD55 (G3) LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
I’m currently planning on keeping the motherboard & memory combinations the same as in THG’s recent System Builder Marathon. I’ve had issues before with CPU/memory combinations during previous builds (which has scared me away from OC’ing before). I’m going this route since it seems to be a combo that works. Also, I like the appeal of actually seeing what kind of settings they’re pumping through the BIOS). Other failsafe suggestions are welcome, though. Hah.
Memory: $84
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C8R
Again, I was planning on playing it safe and going with the recommendation paired with the motherboard in the recent SBM. Early on I was toying with the idea of doing 16GB, but I’m not 100% sure it’s needed. Sticking with the memory in the SBM guide pushed me back over the fence onto the 8GB side.
Video: $1240 (YOWZA) ($620 x 2)
2x EVGA 03G-P3-1595-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) Classified ULTRA 3072MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card (2 in SLI)
From what I’ve been reading, the 3GB GDDR5 versions are the way to go if you’re doing nVidia surround, especially if you’re expecting to play the newer titles (BF3, MW3, etc) on high (or close to high settings). Some other research showed tri SLI/Crossfire was ideal for nVidia Surround / Eyefinity, but I’d rather not tinker with tri SLI out of the gate. Dumping more dough into these factory OC’d cards seems less scary in my book. I’d also rather not tango with OC’ing video myself this time around and stick purely with CPU. Baby steps…
Case: $160
Antec Twelve Hundred V3 Black Steel ATX Full Tower Gaming Case
I usually go back and forth between sleek but plain looking cases, and flashier cases. I think I’m officially in a flashier mood for this build. Concerns here were finding something I think looks alright matched with good airflow. Getting a little noisy is OK with me if it brings good performance (as long as I don’t feel like I’m on the tarmac at Logan).
PSU: $250
COOLER MASTER Silent Pro Gold Series RSC00-80GAD3-US 1200W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Again, probably going overkill, but wanting to play it safe. eVGA claims that each of these video cards needs 600 watts. I know that manufacturers usually overshoot this number, but I also know that EACH of these cards requires 1x 6pin & 2x 8pin pci-express connectors, which is a lot more potential juice than the other 1.5GB, non-OC’d video cards out there. I was reading a lot of reviews of people running OC’d GTX 580’s in SLI with supposedly-good 1000 watt power supplies and running into power issues. I usually play it safe in the PSU department and sacrifice cost to do so.
Aftermarket cooling: $48
ZALMAN CNPS9500A-LED 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
I was originally looking at the Cooler Master Hyper 212, but I was reading mixed reviews regarding performance when OC’ing. Also, I think I will run into problems with the 212’s size in combination with the height of the sinks on the Vengeance memory. In the interest of creating less problems when OC’ing, I opted to find a different HSF. I’ve used this one before and haven’t had issues (although I wasn’t really overclocking). This one also won’t have a problem fighting the memory for space. From what I’ve read this HSF seems on par with the performance of the Hyper 212, although other suggestions are welcome. (PS: I’m picking up some Arctic Silver 5 as well for thermal grease).
SSD: $200
Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
…going with the SBM recommendation for SSD. Plus, the Newegg reviews seem pretty solid, and they’re never wrong, right?
HDD: $250
Western Digital Caviar Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
I know I’m kind of eating it here because of the flooding, but I want a 2 TB drive, and WD’s my preferred brand, so I’m just sucking it up and going for it.
Bluray drive: $100
LITE-ON 12X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 12X DVD-RAM 8X BD-ROM 8MB Cache SATA Blu-ray Burner with 3D Playback iHBS212-08 LightScribe Support
I Picked this out quickly via Newegg reviews. Optical drives for me always seems to be a crapshoot no matter how much I research. I’m open to alternative suggestions here if anybody has them, though.
Total cost = $2802
What do you folks think? Thanks in advance!
Budget Range: $2500 - $3000.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, productivity, watching Blu-Ray movies.
Parts Not Required: Peripherals not needed (displays, keyboard, mouse, etc)… looking to build tower only.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.
Country: US.
Parts Preferences: I would like to stick with Intel & nVidia for CPU & graphics. Most of my homework’s already been done in this arena.
Overclocking: Yes. This will be my 3rd build, but my first overclock, so I kept compatibility, erroring on the safe side (even if more expensive), and general ease of overclockability in mind when choosing parts.
SLI or Crossfire: Yes (SLI).
Monitor Resolution: I have 3x 24” 1080p displays I will be using. I’m planning on gaming with nVidia 2D surround (or at least crossing my fingers and hoping it’s not as buggy as some of the stories I’ve been reading). Gaming resolution will be 5760 x 1080.
CPU: $300
Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I72600K
Motherboard: $170
MSI Z68A-GD55 (G3) LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
I’m currently planning on keeping the motherboard & memory combinations the same as in THG’s recent System Builder Marathon. I’ve had issues before with CPU/memory combinations during previous builds (which has scared me away from OC’ing before). I’m going this route since it seems to be a combo that works. Also, I like the appeal of actually seeing what kind of settings they’re pumping through the BIOS). Other failsafe suggestions are welcome, though. Hah.
Memory: $84
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C8R
Again, I was planning on playing it safe and going with the recommendation paired with the motherboard in the recent SBM. Early on I was toying with the idea of doing 16GB, but I’m not 100% sure it’s needed. Sticking with the memory in the SBM guide pushed me back over the fence onto the 8GB side.
Video: $1240 (YOWZA) ($620 x 2)
2x EVGA 03G-P3-1595-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) Classified ULTRA 3072MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card (2 in SLI)
From what I’ve been reading, the 3GB GDDR5 versions are the way to go if you’re doing nVidia surround, especially if you’re expecting to play the newer titles (BF3, MW3, etc) on high (or close to high settings). Some other research showed tri SLI/Crossfire was ideal for nVidia Surround / Eyefinity, but I’d rather not tinker with tri SLI out of the gate. Dumping more dough into these factory OC’d cards seems less scary in my book. I’d also rather not tango with OC’ing video myself this time around and stick purely with CPU. Baby steps…
Case: $160
Antec Twelve Hundred V3 Black Steel ATX Full Tower Gaming Case
I usually go back and forth between sleek but plain looking cases, and flashier cases. I think I’m officially in a flashier mood for this build. Concerns here were finding something I think looks alright matched with good airflow. Getting a little noisy is OK with me if it brings good performance (as long as I don’t feel like I’m on the tarmac at Logan).
PSU: $250
COOLER MASTER Silent Pro Gold Series RSC00-80GAD3-US 1200W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Again, probably going overkill, but wanting to play it safe. eVGA claims that each of these video cards needs 600 watts. I know that manufacturers usually overshoot this number, but I also know that EACH of these cards requires 1x 6pin & 2x 8pin pci-express connectors, which is a lot more potential juice than the other 1.5GB, non-OC’d video cards out there. I was reading a lot of reviews of people running OC’d GTX 580’s in SLI with supposedly-good 1000 watt power supplies and running into power issues. I usually play it safe in the PSU department and sacrifice cost to do so.
Aftermarket cooling: $48
ZALMAN CNPS9500A-LED 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
I was originally looking at the Cooler Master Hyper 212, but I was reading mixed reviews regarding performance when OC’ing. Also, I think I will run into problems with the 212’s size in combination with the height of the sinks on the Vengeance memory. In the interest of creating less problems when OC’ing, I opted to find a different HSF. I’ve used this one before and haven’t had issues (although I wasn’t really overclocking). This one also won’t have a problem fighting the memory for space. From what I’ve read this HSF seems on par with the performance of the Hyper 212, although other suggestions are welcome. (PS: I’m picking up some Arctic Silver 5 as well for thermal grease).
SSD: $200
Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
…going with the SBM recommendation for SSD. Plus, the Newegg reviews seem pretty solid, and they’re never wrong, right?
HDD: $250
Western Digital Caviar Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
I know I’m kind of eating it here because of the flooding, but I want a 2 TB drive, and WD’s my preferred brand, so I’m just sucking it up and going for it.
Bluray drive: $100
LITE-ON 12X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 12X DVD-RAM 8X BD-ROM 8MB Cache SATA Blu-ray Burner with 3D Playback iHBS212-08 LightScribe Support
I Picked this out quickly via Newegg reviews. Optical drives for me always seems to be a crapshoot no matter how much I research. I’m open to alternative suggestions here if anybody has them, though.
Total cost = $2802
What do you folks think? Thanks in advance!