Evaluate Gaming PC before I purchase

[herika]

Approximate Purchase Date: 1-2 Weeks

Budget Range: $1500)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, power supply)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: (Amazon, Newegg)

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: by brand or type Full tower case, AMD gpu

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments:

Hey guys,

I'm getting ready to build a new gaming rig and would like some assistance. I currently have an operating system (Windows 7), a power supply and a monitor I would like to use. The rest are some parts I put together. I would like to order mostly from amazon as I have over $600 in gift cards. My budget can go up to $1500 not including the parts I currently have. I have included links to the parts I currently have.

HP 2310m 23" Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003I84KH0/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details

Windows 7 Professional http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DHLVII/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details

XFX Black Edition XPS-850W-BES 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207001

I am not planning on using dual monitors for the time being, is the 7950 overkill? Any recommended changes I should make? Thanks ahead of a time.

 

[tlmck]

The 7950 is overkill if you happen to play some older DX9 games. It actually has trouble playing those, but that may be fixed by future drivers. In general, no graphics card is overkill, but it really does not shine until there are games out that can take advantage. BTW, Sapphire is usually the best choice for AMD cards as they are sort of buddy buddy with AMD and do most of the testing of new designs for them. And here is a recent review of the new AMD cards vs. some older cards from one trusted source. http://www.anandtech.com/show/5476/amd-radeon-7950-review/8

Tom's has a good review as well. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7950-overclock-crossfire-benchmark,3123.html

Anyway, to take advantage of the new PCIe 3.0 card, you will need a good motherboard for that. I suggest this one. http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-LGA-1155-Motherboards-P8Z68-V/dp/B005UDITPK/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1328516319&sr=1-2

Gskill 8gb memory - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445

here are some various popular full tower cases - http://www.amazon.com/NZXT-Crafted-Tower-Steel-Chassis/dp/B003WE9WQO/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1328516493&sr=1-1 , http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Chaser-MK-1-Tower-VN300M1W2N/dp/B0051U1XMI/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1328516493&sr=1-3 , http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Advanced-SuperSpeed-RC-932-KKN5-GP/dp/B001EPUQAE/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1328516493&sr=1-5 , http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Gaming-Twelve-Hundred-V3/dp/B004INH0FS/ref=sr_1_21?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1328516493&sr=1-21 , http://www.amazon.com/ZERO-Crafted-Steel-Tower-Chassis/dp/B001SN76SW/ref=sr_1_22?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1328516493&sr=1-22

Here is a decent deal on a hard drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136767

And a DVD/RW drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151244

 

[herika]

Would the GPU not work to its full potential without a PCIe 3.0 mobo?

 

[ACRabbit]

heres a cheaper PCIE 3.0 motherboard

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005UDITT6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

[ACRabbit]

Would the GPU not work to its full potential without a PCIe 3.0 mobo?

yes it wouldnt

 

[tlmck]

Would the GPU not work to its full potential without a PCIe 3.0 mobo?

It would be slightly throttled buy the slower 2.0 bus speed.