Build a new Gaming Computer ($1500-ish)

[pinnacle2009]

Approximate Purchase Date: ASAP!


Budget Range: $1500


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming


Parts Not Required: Monitor, keyboard, mouse


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, Nvidia GPU


Overclocking: Yes


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments: No monitor, keyboard, or mouse needed.



With that said.. I need a new build. I have a few parts in mind, but I'd still like to go through Newegg's Combo Deals and see whats in there. I will be using Windows 7 Profession (maybe with some Linux distro partition at a later date). My first build used ATI GPU and AMD CPU. This time around, I want to give Intel and Nvidia a shot (I loved my friends i5).

I would LIKE to be able for this system to run atleast 2x 23"-27" monitors. I would be purchasing these monitors later next year (I have a monitor right now, and would like to save on parts I already own and will use).

I really can't decide if an i7 would really be worth the extra money. After viewing some charts and a bit of reading, I am pretty sure an i5-2500 is what I need (or really, more than I need). Nvidia GPU's... I know nothing of how their numbers compare to similar performance ATI cards. So I really need some help on this side.

As far as what I will be using this for.. I mostly just play Eve Online. I will also do all of my class work on it (the main reason for multiple monitors! Eve + class = WIN?).

I would like parts that will not be obsolete in a few months.

 

[jmsellars1]

CPU - The i5-2500k is the obvious choice of CPU, theres not really any debate there.

RAM - Definitely get 8GB of 1600Mhz and 1.5v, brand is up to you but most go Corsair XMS3/Vengeance LP or G.Skill Ripjaws or Ripjaws X.

MOBO - Depends whether you plan to SLI, if so then the ASUS Z68 PRO or ASRock Z68 Extreme4 are great boards.

GPU - You could probably afford a GTX 580 at this budget but the GTX 570 is probably better value. The GTX 570 is about the same as a HD 6970 as far as i know.

PSU - For GTX 570 SLI and overclocking, 850W is plenty. Most people usually go with Corsair, Seasonic, XFX or Antec. Modular PSU's are nice too.

CASE - Pretty much personal preference but some good suggestions are the HAF series or a Fractal Design Define. The Antec 300 illusion is a good budget one too.

HDD - The Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB is probably the most popular drive around because it is cheap and fast. 2 in RAID 0 is nice if you need 2TB.

SSD - OCZ Vertex 3 is one of the fastest but i hear the Crucial M4 is more reliable.

 

[AdrianPerry]

The GTX 570 is about the same as a HD 6970 as far as i know..

It is about the same You can pretty well choose either, just see which has the best deals at the time of purchase.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

i5 2500k & Scythe Mugen 3- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.710631 257$

Asrock z68 extreme3 gen3- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271 138$ shipped

Corsair Carbide 500r- http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Carbide-Tower-Gaming-CC-9011012-WW/dp/B005E983JW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314481825&sr=8-1 126$ not out yet but they are coming very soon

Corsair HX850 & Corsair Vengeance 8gb 1600mhz- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.703196 208$ use the 2 and 4 spots for the ram so it doesnt hit the cpu cooler

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

Corsair Force GT- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233191&Tpk=force%20gt%20120gb 215$

Asus dvd burner- http://www.amazon.com/Asus-DVD%C2%B1RW-DVD-RAM-Internal-DRW-24B1ST/dp/B0033Z2BAQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1314482678&sr=8-5 21$

EVGA GTX 570- http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Double-Graphics-012-P3-1577-KR/dp/B0057608W2/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1314482705&sr=1-9 335$

 

[pinnacle2009]

I would rather not go SLI or anything. Just a single card would be preferred I think.

 

[jmsellars1]

550W is plenty then.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

550W is plenty then.

ya- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371048 70$
ram- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186 58$

 

[pinnacle2009]

Alright, how's this look:

DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129100

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130684

*PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311

*Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

*SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233191

CPU/Heatsink: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.710631

OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986


The PSU, I need to get a lower wattage one. The mobo, well, I won't be using SLI so since that was the one recommended if I were SLI, I need to look for a different one. SSD, I don't need one that big do it? Just need one for the OS as far as I know. And OS, I will be upgrading to Professional through Microsoft's student discounts. So, the * marked items, I would like to, possibly, find cheaper ones. This being, I have not quite looked at different fans' airflow, but I will possibly be adding in new fans also.

 

[AdrianPerry]

SSD - 40GB is plenty for the OS (OS takes up to about 20GB), 40-60GB SSD is recommended for a Boot Drive + a few programs such as Internet Browser or other applications used on a regular basis.

PSU - 650w is good, if you really wanted less i wouldnt recommend looking below 550w for use with a GTX 570.

Here is Guru3D's power supply recommendation:
GeForce GTX 570
On your average system the card requires you to have a 600 Watt power supply unit.
GeForce GTX 570 in SLI
A second card requires you to add another 225 Watts. You need a 850+ Watt power supply unit if you use it in a high-end system (1 KiloWatt recommended if you plan on any overclocking).

 

[mjmjpfaff]

Alright, how's this look:

DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129100

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130684

*PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311

*Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

*SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233191

CPU/Heatsink: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.710631

OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986


The PSU, I need to get a lower wattage one. The mobo, well, I won't be using SLI so since that was the one recommended if I were SLI, I need to look for a different one. SSD, I don't need one that big do it? Just need one for the OS as far as I know. And OS, I will be upgrading to Professional through Microsoft's student discounts. So, the * marked items, I would like to, possibly, find cheaper ones. This being, I have not quite looked at different fans' airflow, but I will possibly be adding in new fans also.

DVD Burner- http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SATA-Internal-Drive-AD-7260S-0B/dp/B003MRHOQG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314544108&sr=8-2 19$ free shipping

Case- i think antec cases are really cheap http://www.amazon.com/SILVERSTONE-RV02B-W-Steel-Tower-Computer/dp/B002M78KZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314544516&sr=8-1 160$
or http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Extended-90-Degree-Motherboard-RV03B-W/dp/B004X19B02/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1314544563&sr=1-1 140$ note the RV03 is newer

PSU- antec makes great psu's though http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371048 70$

gpu- http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Double-Graphics-012-P3-1577-KR/dp/B0057608W2/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1314544705&sr=1-8 335$ same card free shipping

ram- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186 58$
everything else looks good

 

[pinnacle2009]

DVD Burner- http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SATA-Internal-Drive-AD-7260S-0B/dp/B003MRHOQG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314544108&sr=8-2 19$ free shipping

Case- i think antec cases are really cheap http://www.amazon.com/SILVERSTONE-RV02B-W-Steel-Tower-Computer/dp/B002M78KZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314544516&sr=8-1 160$
or http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Extended-90-Degree-Motherboard-RV03B-W/dp/B004X19B02/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1314544563&sr=1-1 140$ note the RV03 is newer

PSU- antec makes great psu's though http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371048 70$

gpu- http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Double-Graphics-012-P3-1577-KR/dp/B0057608W2/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1314544705&sr=1-8 335$ same card free shipping

ram- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186 58$
everything else looks good

Thanks! I do like that case.

Whats the difference between all the 80 Plus Bronze, Gold, Silver, Platinum, etc? What makes a good PSU "good"? Sorry, I'm better at building them than knowing all the technical details. lol

 

[AdrianPerry]

"Good" PSU's are generally considered to be PSUs that deliver as close to their stated wattage as possible.

80PLUS is the % of the total power the PSU can deliver.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_PLUS

 

[jmsellars1]

"Good" PSU's are generally considered to be PSUs that deliver as close to their stated wattage as possible.

80PLUS is the % of the total power the PSU can deliver.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_PLUS

Isn't 80 PLUS the efficiency? Not the total power. So if you have a 500W PSU and your PC is pulling 400W from it, an 80% efficient PSU would draw 480W from the wall. So if you have a 90% efficient one it would only pull 440W. The extra energy would then presumably be expelled as heat, so anything less than 80 PLUS is not going to be recommended. I suppose it stands to reason that more efficient ones should be quieter too if they create less heat.

A good PSU is reliable, efficient and consistent. To get reliability, it is advised to go with a known quality brand. (Seasonic, Corsair, XFX and Antec spring to mind.) For efficiency you look at the 80 plus rating, bronze is fine but silver, gold and platinum are better. In that order obviously. Anything that doesn't have 80 plus is not recommended. Consistency is kind of the same as reliability, just get a good brand. Lastly you want to look at the amperage too, multi rail PSU's tend to deliver less A so people tend to go for good quality single rail PSU's to make sure you have enough current for some of the more hungry GPU's etc.