First Build | $1000 Budget

[m82a1fx]

Hello! New member to Tom's hardware, although i use the site a lot for reviews and help. I am currently looking to build my own pc for the first time. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.


Approximate Purchase Date: 1-3 weeks

Budget Range: 1000$ before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming , Video Editing

Parts Not Required: Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Country: Canada

Parts Preferences: Intel processor, nVidia graphics card.

Overclocking: Maybe. (Really have no idea how to overclock, but if i could fit it in and give it a run, that would be cool. If not, no big deal)

SLI or Crossfire: Yes

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: With this pc, i was hoping to keep it open to future add ons, such as 3 monitors (if possible within 1000$ price range) and another graphics card down the line.

Thanks

 

[jmsellars1]

I would only bother with SLI/Crossfire if you definitely plan to add those other monitors, it's not really worth it otherwise. It can be good value but that value is soon lost when/if you run into compatibility and heat issues, not to mention the fact that you need a more expensive PSU, motherboard and possibly case to start with.

Firstly, the i5-2500k and 8GB RAM are pretty much no brainers here. The i5 is the best gaming processor around and will still be great for video editing and RAM is so cheap that most people get 8GB despite not even needing it for gaming. With the video editing though, you may utilise it.

 

[termhn]

Overclocking: This is where you up the core clock speed of the CPU or GPU, effectively making it faster. It is a process that some love, and some don't. I'd advise some more research into it. It will affect your decision of a CPU. As far as graphics, I know you said nVidia, but they will be coming out with the 600 series soon, so the 500 series will be obsolete, so I recommend AMD. I put both choices down there Also, one more thing. You can either go with the i7 and a HDD or an i5, an SSD for the OS, and an HDD.

CPU: Overclocking: Intel Core i7 2600K: $330 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070
Intel i5 2500K: $230 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
No-overclock: Intel Core i7 2600: $300 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115071

Graphics: AMD: GIGABYTE HD 6950: $250 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125385
nVidia: GIGABYTE 560 ti (fermi): $200 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125401

MOBO: ASRock Z6: $85 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157270

PSU: OCZ ZT 750W: $90 - $15 w/ promo ends 2/16 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341052&cm_sp=Cat_Power_Supplies-_-Spotlight-_-17-341-052

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws 8GB (2x4GB): $47 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER: $56 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

DVD Burner: LITE-ON DVD Burner: $18 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Hard Drive: (GRAB BEFORE IT'S OVER!): $80 WD Caviar Green 750GB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236118

SSD (maybe): OCZ Agility 30GB SSD: $50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227460

Total: ~$875 - $975 depending on choices.

 

[somekidxd]

Overclocking: This is where you up the core clock speed of the CPU or GPU, effectively making it faster. It is a process that some love, and some don't. I'd advise some more research into it. It will affect your decision of a CPU. As far as graphics, I know you said nVidia, but they will be coming out with the 600 series soon, so the 500 series will be obsolete, so I recommend AMD. I put both choices down there

CPU: Overclocking: Intel Core i7 2600K: $330 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070
No-overclock: Intel Core i7 2600: $300 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115071

Graphics: AMD: GIGABYTE HD 6950: $250 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125385
nVidia: EVGA 560 ti (fermi): $180 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130660

MOBO: ASUS P55: $80 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131604

PSU: OCZ ZT 750W: $90 - $15 w/ promo ends 2/16 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341052&cm_sp=Cat_Power_Supplies-_-Spotlight-_-17-341-052

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws 8GB (2x4GB): $47 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER: $56 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

Total: ~$775 to $850 depending on choices.

You posted a GTX 560, not the Ti version. Big difference. Rosewill Challenger is a cheap case, i think Toms hardware did a review on it in the past. You picked a motherboard with LGA 1156, with the I7 2600k with LGA 1155, it wont fit. The P-series are not as good as the Z68 series nowadays. For around $80, he can consider the Asrock Z68/USB3 instead.

 

[somekidxd]

i5 2500k $230
Asrock Extreme3 Gen3 $150
COOLER MASTER HAF 912 $65
Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 $45
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE $115
Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM $93
GIGABYTE GV-N560OC-1GI GeForce GTX 560 Ti $230

Total: $928

The mb is equipped with a 3.0x16 slot and some 2.0x16 slots so you can CF/SLI. Also can go Ivy bridge in the future. PSU is big enough for CF/SLI, so you won't have problems with that. Case has good cooling and cable management. Oh remember to pick a DVD drive

 

[jmsellars1]

Something like this should be good:

i5-2500k
8GB Mushkin Silverline
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3
MSI Twin Frozr II GTX 560Ti 2GB
500GB Seagate Barracuda
Antec HCG-750
Coolermaster HAF 922
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo
Samsung DVD Burner

Total is just under $1000 and would be great for your usage.

(Prices from Newegg)

That setup could easily handle a second card in SLI and the 2GB memory is good for higher resolutions.

 

[termhn]

Sorry, fail mistakes ;/ edited

 

[samuelspark]

Try out the one in my signature. I think it's a lot more powerful graphics wise.

 

[m82a1fx]

Best answer selected by M82A1FX.