Purchase Date: Next week or so
Budget: 400-500 more ( I have already gotten the i5-2500k from microcenter for $179) So it's $700ish total
System usage: Gaming, gaming, and more gaming. Being able to run BF3 and WoW on high/ultra. I'm mainly a WoW player but i do like FPS and will be getting BF3. I do understand my budget may not allow me to run BF3 on the highest settings but my main focus is WoW on ultra, which i know even the gtx 550 ti will do easily.
Parts not required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, and possibly cd drive, HDD, case (I have an older HP that i can pull stuff from and possibly use the case but i may just need to get newer things, advice on that would be great)
Website for parts: Newegg.com, Microcenter.com ( I do have a microcenter 2 hours away and can make a trip there if needed)
Country: USA
Parts Prefence : None really, except for the gpu most likely being gtx 550-ti or 560 due to the games i play being better on them but i'm open to suggestions. I'm going with Intel because of the way better performance and i've already gotten the processor because it was such a great deal
Overclocking : Probably, have never done it before and i'm not sure how much trouble one could have with it. How much risk you take damaging something by doing it. How much of an advantage it actually is for gaming. But i do plan on overclocking my processor and gpu if its even just a slight OC. Unless there isn't a real huge benefit for gaming as it relates to the risk/reward.
SLI : Possibly in the future, but its not very important, If my budget restricts me to an H61 or H67 board then i will just use a single card until i build a new system or upgrade to a Z68 board. Unless there is a decent priced Z68 somewhere.
Monitor resolution: Right now my LCD monitor runs at 1440 X 900 but I don't want the build to be limited to that resolution because a monitor change (or to a TV) will be coming very soon. So for future proofing purposes we will just say 1080p.
Additional comments: Ive done a lot of reading, possibly too much, which is the source of my problems on making up my mind and what made me break down and just post to ask for specific advice. I have poured over the forums, trying to find an already answered post that would suit me most and just copy that build but it really is just on an individual basis. The title of the thread relates to the madness i am going through on deciding on a board. I think i have one picked and then i read the reviews on newegg and they are horrible. I do understand that those reviews are out of hundreds of thousands of boards sold and only a few post but this is my first full build and its a lot to take in.
two boards i am looking at would be this for a Z68
Asrock at $111
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157279
or MSI for the H61 chipset at $84
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-130-569
As i said before, i'm not sure IF i'll even ever do an SLI or not. But pretty sure i will overclock even if it is just slightly.
Power Supply i'm thinking about Corsair 500w for $59
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
Memory : I want 8 gb and thinking about this for $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
As for the GPU, my budget may limit me on this but the main thing is getting the computer built and ready. The gpu can always wait another week or 2 since the H61 and Z68's support onboard graphics of the i5-2500k. So i would like to grab a 560 (reg) over the 550 ti since i've seen so much about how much better it performs. The 560ti would be ideal but is a little out of my budget i think. Going with the 550 ti, i just dont think that i will be happy with my build, since from everything i've seen, it won't run games on their highest settings at a comfortable frame rate. The gtx 460 would be an option but i'm not sure, you tell me. The $40 difference for the 560 over the 550 Ti doesn't seem like its too big of a price to pay for the extra performance and being able to play most games on max settings.
EVGA 550 Ti for $149 from microcenter ($129 after rebate)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0360190
Gigabyte 560 for $189 from microcenter ($169 but i don't trust rebates)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0369114
Zotac 560 Ti from microcenter $229 ($199 after rebate)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0356003
The 560 ti's run about $30 more in most cases. So if its better to wait a week or 2 and save up for one instead of just go with the 560 Ti i'm open to suggestions.
Those are the main parts that i need, Even if i don't use the older computer and use parts from it. It wont be much to find a cheap HDD and cd drive. I don't download music or anything so all i need on my HD are the games themselves. As you can tell, i've done quite a bit of research myself but i just cant decide on a route to go. Having the budget i do and then seeing something that is a little better for $15-$20 more is frustrating. The budget isn't concrete, as i can wait on the gpu if i really really need to. If i could plllllllease please get some help to make me make up my mind. Also maybe some advice on if i should just not worry about SLI for now and go with the H61 or H67 mobo and just upgrade my card and mobo when that time comes or my gpu to a better single card. Sorry this is quite long but i have gotten TOO much information while trying to make up my mind and its just hard to decide on which way to go.
Budget: 400-500 more ( I have already gotten the i5-2500k from microcenter for $179) So it's $700ish total
System usage: Gaming, gaming, and more gaming. Being able to run BF3 and WoW on high/ultra. I'm mainly a WoW player but i do like FPS and will be getting BF3. I do understand my budget may not allow me to run BF3 on the highest settings but my main focus is WoW on ultra, which i know even the gtx 550 ti will do easily.
Parts not required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, and possibly cd drive, HDD, case (I have an older HP that i can pull stuff from and possibly use the case but i may just need to get newer things, advice on that would be great)
Website for parts: Newegg.com, Microcenter.com ( I do have a microcenter 2 hours away and can make a trip there if needed)
Country: USA
Parts Prefence : None really, except for the gpu most likely being gtx 550-ti or 560 due to the games i play being better on them but i'm open to suggestions. I'm going with Intel because of the way better performance and i've already gotten the processor because it was such a great deal
Overclocking : Probably, have never done it before and i'm not sure how much trouble one could have with it. How much risk you take damaging something by doing it. How much of an advantage it actually is for gaming. But i do plan on overclocking my processor and gpu if its even just a slight OC. Unless there isn't a real huge benefit for gaming as it relates to the risk/reward.
SLI : Possibly in the future, but its not very important, If my budget restricts me to an H61 or H67 board then i will just use a single card until i build a new system or upgrade to a Z68 board. Unless there is a decent priced Z68 somewhere.
Monitor resolution: Right now my LCD monitor runs at 1440 X 900 but I don't want the build to be limited to that resolution because a monitor change (or to a TV) will be coming very soon. So for future proofing purposes we will just say 1080p.
Additional comments: Ive done a lot of reading, possibly too much, which is the source of my problems on making up my mind and what made me break down and just post to ask for specific advice. I have poured over the forums, trying to find an already answered post that would suit me most and just copy that build but it really is just on an individual basis. The title of the thread relates to the madness i am going through on deciding on a board. I think i have one picked and then i read the reviews on newegg and they are horrible. I do understand that those reviews are out of hundreds of thousands of boards sold and only a few post but this is my first full build and its a lot to take in.
two boards i am looking at would be this for a Z68
Asrock at $111
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157279
or MSI for the H61 chipset at $84
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-130-569
As i said before, i'm not sure IF i'll even ever do an SLI or not. But pretty sure i will overclock even if it is just slightly.
Power Supply i'm thinking about Corsair 500w for $59
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
Memory : I want 8 gb and thinking about this for $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
As for the GPU, my budget may limit me on this but the main thing is getting the computer built and ready. The gpu can always wait another week or 2 since the H61 and Z68's support onboard graphics of the i5-2500k. So i would like to grab a 560 (reg) over the 550 ti since i've seen so much about how much better it performs. The 560ti would be ideal but is a little out of my budget i think. Going with the 550 ti, i just dont think that i will be happy with my build, since from everything i've seen, it won't run games on their highest settings at a comfortable frame rate. The gtx 460 would be an option but i'm not sure, you tell me. The $40 difference for the 560 over the 550 Ti doesn't seem like its too big of a price to pay for the extra performance and being able to play most games on max settings.
EVGA 550 Ti for $149 from microcenter ($129 after rebate)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0360190
Gigabyte 560 for $189 from microcenter ($169 but i don't trust rebates)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0369114
Zotac 560 Ti from microcenter $229 ($199 after rebate)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0356003
The 560 ti's run about $30 more in most cases. So if its better to wait a week or 2 and save up for one instead of just go with the 560 Ti i'm open to suggestions.
Those are the main parts that i need, Even if i don't use the older computer and use parts from it. It wont be much to find a cheap HDD and cd drive. I don't download music or anything so all i need on my HD are the games themselves. As you can tell, i've done quite a bit of research myself but i just cant decide on a route to go. Having the budget i do and then seeing something that is a little better for $15-$20 more is frustrating. The budget isn't concrete, as i can wait on the gpu if i really really need to. If i could plllllllease please get some help to make me make up my mind. Also maybe some advice on if i should just not worry about SLI for now and go with the H61 or H67 mobo and just upgrade my card and mobo when that time comes or my gpu to a better single card. Sorry this is quite long but i have gotten TOO much information while trying to make up my mind and its just hard to decide on which way to go.