Building a gaming pc

[Madrad917]

I'm gonna be building a new computer, I'm just wondering how my build sounds and if there is anything i need to change. I'm also really new to building computers. Also I have a budget of $1,000.

ASRock P67 Pro3
Intel i5 2500k
EVGA 012-P3-1570-AR GeForce GTX 570, I plan to play at 1920x1080 and primarly SC2 and BF3. I'm not sure if I need a 580 or if a 570 will do.
2x 4Gb Ripjaws X DDR3 1600
Corsair 650TX V2 PSU
seagate 500gb 7200 rpm 6.0 gbs
Cool Master 212+ i don't plan to overclock so i don't know if i need this or not.
Windows 7 64bit

I'm not sure what kind of case to get I have heard EVGAs can be quite large so if any one knows a case that can fit one comfortably.
Thank you for any advice or suggestions.

 

[r0aringdrag0n]

1. Im guessing the CPU is the i5 2500k and not the 2000k...since i don't think they exist...
2. The 570 should do
3. If it is a 2500k and you don't play to overclock then go with the Intel Core i5 2400 instead, it's basically the same as the i5 2500k without the ability to OC, and it's cheaper
4. If you don't OC, you don't need an aftermarket heatsink and fan
5. For a case i would recommend the Cooler Master HAF 912 or the Antec 300. Your choice

 

[Illumina]

Try this build:

■ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
■Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
■EVGA 012-P3-1570-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
■Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-520 520W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
■G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL
■Kingston DataTraveler 101 Gen 2 4GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive (Cyan) Model DT101G2/4GBZ
■ASRock P67 PRO3 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
■Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52400
■COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel ...
■Intel 320 Series SSDSA2CW080G310 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - OEM
TOTAL: $1,094.43

I added an optical drive, changed to a higher quality, lower wattage PSU, added a SSD (which I highly recommend if you're spending this much money), and went with the i5 2400 as per r0aringdrag0n's recommendation. The SSD is $160, but I really recommend having one. If you want to save money, I'd consider going with the Evga GTX 460, a lesser card but definitely capable of playing SC2 on max settings (I do this with this card myself), and probably BF3 as well. Going with this card would save you ~$170, and you could upgrade to a better card later for less money as needed.

Note that the above does not include a case or a copy of Windows, which you'll want to add. Any ATX size case will be able to handle these cards, and probably Micro-ATX cases also.

So two questions: what qualities are you looking for in a case, and what's your budget?

 

[Madrad917]

Yeah I meant the 2500kand thank you for your suggestions

 

[Madrad917]

@illumina thanks for the list. My budget is around 1000 though that does include an OS. I don't really mind how a case looks, just something that has room and decent circulation. Also how important is an SSD and what makes it so much better than a regular hard drive.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the SSD is 4-10 times faster, so windows loads in 16 seconds from startup, for instance

 

[Illumina]

To make an analogy: hard drives are like minivans (plenty of space, budget-friendly, slow-ish), solid state drives are like drag racers (small, expensive and fast). Loading times are decreased hugely on everything installed onto a SSD, it isn't unheard of for Windows to boot to the desktop in 30 seconds or less. This article on Anandtech has a good explanation, especially the second page. Installing Windows on a SSD makes everything feel crisp and snappy, no lag or delay that you can get with a regular hard drive. This is because a standard hard drive has to physically spin to different sectors to locate your data, you hear this when something is loading. In short, hard drives are great for raw storage and value for money, SSDs are great for speed (they're also smaller, don't vibrate, cooler, and can withstand being dropped). Right now they're the best speed upgrade you can buy for your PC, and in my opinion any build over $650-700 should try to incorporate one.

Now that my sales pitch is done (😉), your choice of case will probably come down to aesthetic taste. My own build is in the white version of the Fractal Design Define R3, which I love. Some people prefer the less understated HAF series by Cooler Master . If you're going high end, there are some nice offerings by Corsair, but that's more likely to put you over budget. I've also heard good things about the NZXT Phantom (plenty of nice color choices, too).

 

[Madrad917]

@illumina thank you for the explanation and a question the psu you suggested is 520w but the card requirements says it needs 550w is that going to be a problem?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

not really.
What really matters is the amps:
the 570 requires "550-watt power supply with a minimum of 38 amps on the +12 volt rail"

the antec's specs are
+3.3V@24A, +5V@24A, +12V@40A, -12V@0.8A, +5VSB@2.5A

so you have 40 amps, and the system needs 38 for a 570. so it fits, if only just. it should be good for a year or two before the capacitor wear gets to it

If that 2 Volt cushion worries you, pay $1 more for the 620W model
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371048

Its specs are
+3.3V@24A, +5V@24A, +12V@48A, -12V@0.8A, +5VSB@2.5A

 

[Illumina]

I overlooked how much power that card draws... ScrewySqrl is right, get the 620W model.