Gaming Rig, under 650 before rebates (updated)

[vulcanus]

Yeah, building an intel i5-2500k rig. Getting the processor from microcenter since its like 1 hour away from me by Public transport. Other than that help me lower the price of the remaining components. I want to keep the GTX 460 unless you can recommend something of similar quality with a lower price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039 Sony DVD (free shipping thats why i got this) 19.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153 Rosewill Challenger Gaming case 49.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130565 EVGA GTX 460 159.99 before MIR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171054 Coolermaster 700 W PSU 79.99 before MIR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311 G. Skill Ripjaws 2x4gigs 39.99 with 10$ discount

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130583 MSI mobo 129.99 before MIR

I plan to SLI/Crossfire (if you guys recommend Nvidia). I will overclock later just not yet. Looking for quiet as well. Doesn't have to be super quiet though. On scale of 10 being loudest, I can go with like 5-7. I have everything not listed here. Monitor, etc. resolution is 1920x1200. I need this to last until the end of college which is 4 years left.

Am I crazy or is it actually doable? LOL XD. Im in college and have limited funds for the year. I want this to be raw, but cheap.

Cheers
Updated*

 

[madchemist83]

I take it you don't need HDD??
Ur current comes to 675
future proof for 5 years ... not gonna happen
You can bring price down by getting HD6790 or even HD5770 (20-30 bucks)
cutting down to 4gb of RAM (20 bucks)
Getting cheaper mobo (15 bucks) and PSU (30 bucks)
So there u go u can save $95 and get it under 600 and probably be alright for another couple years

 

[vulcanus]

Hmm...I kind of need the ram for video editing and rendering 3D projects and Im sticking with the 6850 quality of GPU. I don't need an HD. Cheaper PSU but is it still around 700W and of good quality? Cuz like i said i plan to sli/xfire so you need juice for that. And mobo I can do but some cheaper boards dont support xfiring or sli. And by future proofing I didn't mean having to upgrade, I meant something decent where it would have enough power to run games in the future. I mean the 2500k is capable of going 4.0+ so I mean thatll have power. Just the gpu. In which case im Fine with upgrading later on.

 

[madchemist83]

yeah for video editing and 3d render 6850 is not gonna help u much/ U'll need GTX 470

Also get Z68 mobo as it supports quick sync ... and there are some PSUs for less dough .. around 700 also 650 will be plenty to cf 6850

 

[vulcanus]

Alright cool. Um, I've been thinking of just getting an AMD processor now just because they are much cheaper and thatll open up more room for a better graphics card but i think the top of the line amd is about the same as 2500k at microcenter so idk at this point. Recs toward processor company?

 

[michxymi]

A basic good quality case. You can save some dollars from here and spend them to more important parts.

Xigmatek ASGARD II B/O CPC-T45UE-U01 Black / Orange 0.8 mm SECC / Aluminum and Aluminum Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815006

Instead of future SLI or Crossfire, which is really no need with such powerful GPUs today, you can go with a single powerful GPU NOW! The next PSU is the best out there for it's price.

XFX Core Edition PRO550W (P1-550S-XXB9) 550W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013

For CPU, you can go with i5 2400. You lose the option of overclocking, but to be realistic this is a powerful CPU and you wouldn't need it anyway. And as long as you can have a good GPU along with a good CPU, there's no need to go AMD.

Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074

With a Z68 motherboard you don't have to pay a lot for a SSD thanks to Smart Response Technology, have Quick Sync helping with video editing plus with this model you'll have support for Ivy Bridge and PCI-E 3.0!

GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502

8GB of RAM is a must these days...

Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 996770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226095

And for graphics 6870 is the choice! AMD's GPUs are great at higher that 1920x1080 resolutions!

XFX HD-687A-ZNFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150506


SUM is 658$ without MIR. When you get the chance I would add

- A good cooler just for lower noise and temperature levels. Something like this

Scythe SCMG-3000 120mm Heat Pipe CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185168

-And a small SSD. Intel 320 Series 40GB is ideal!

Intel 320 Series SSDSA2CT040G310 2.5" 40GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167046

 

[madchemist83]

^ true true
but if u say go with single gpu now why picking board that has 2 pcix???
that case is janky btw. at least get NZXT gamma or HAF912
and get better GPU like 560Ti

 

[madchemist83]

and go ahead and get i-5 2500k at microcenter -it's a steal

 

[vulcanus]

I found some combos for a dvd drive and HD for 70$ Its a 1 TB seagate barracuda, 7200 rpm so thats a steal to me with the DVD. That mobo is kind of weird. From reviews seems to be smaller than some cases. Any other mobo's to recommend for around 120-130? And I'm looking for deals so I can get a better GPU.

 

[vulcanus]

Anyone on the updates?

 

[aznshinobi]

AMD 965 $115 after promo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
Asrock 970 Extreme4 $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157262&Tpk=Extreme4%20970
Antec HCG 750 $95 ($25 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049&Tpk=HCG750
Sapphire Dirt3 6950 2GB $265 ($20 MIR) + Free game
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102945
Wintec AmpX 4GB DDR3 1333 $26
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279
NZXT Beta $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146055
Lite-On DVD Burner $19
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
Total: $665 before rebates

Allows for future CF, Waayyyy better HD gaming performance, though you sacrifice the CPU. However, The 965 is still sufficient. I edit with Premiere Pro 5 on my OC'd 955 (3.6ghz) and it's fine. I do more PS5 work though and I can vouch the AMD chips can handle PS5 well.

 

[madchemist83]

i would not recommend wintec ram first of all
second HD6950 2gb version heats up alot so u'll have to get some serious cooling for that case and for your resolution HD6950 is overkill

 

[aznshinobi]

^ Wow mad you could not be more wrong.
I see solid reviews for the Wintec, it gets solid ratings and a few of us (a lot of us) at THG recommend it.

Also, serious heat? Do you even read reviews for the Sapphire Dirt3? It's cool and quiet. And for 1920x1200 hardly overkill. If anything, the 6870 is severely underkill. In any event, OP can add another 120mm in the rear to get some better airflow. Or go with the HAF 912.
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4155/sapphire_radeon_hd_6950_2gb_dirt_3_edition_video_card_review/index15.html

 

[madchemist83]

yo don't be a hater ...
im new here
I could be more wrong
What's so special about Wintec that makes it so good .. it's cheap ? ok I c ur point don't whanna pay for hyped uped brands like G.skill and corsair extra dough it's fine
any other ram is just fine
Ok for Sapphire card I guess i'm wrong just saw some posts of 6950 2gb getting hotter then 6950 1gb not any particular brand
what is underkill on 6870 it get's 5-6 fps less in games ??

 

[madchemist83]

also i went on tweaktown website just to check out other reviews and at some point the page started opening new tabs over and over again ... janky ass site with bunch of malware and there are bunch of Hd6950 2gb cards that pull 76-80

 

[aznshinobi]

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/1202/pg14/sapphire-radeon-hd-6950-2gb-dirt-3-edition-graphics-card-review-conclusion.html
http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/video-cards/11097-sapphire-hd6950-dirt3-video-card-review?start=18
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=sapphire_radeonhd_6950&num=6
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/sapphire_hd6950/17.htm
Do you know any reputable reviewers then? Tweaktown is one of the very best reviewers out there on the web. Amongst G3D, Overclockers, HardOCP, THG, etc.

This although may or may not be the AmpX I'm talking about, still Wintec.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr3-1333-speed-latency-shootout,1754-26.html
It states that it is pretty decent.

It's not doing that for me by the way. You downloading too much ****?

 

[aznshinobi]

Also, from this I'm seeing that the 6870 can't keep up at 1920x1200.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/03/15/msi_r6870_hawk_video_card_review/8
The stock 6870 Hawk (which is stock OC'd a tiny bit) performs (for the average) 10 FPS below the 560 Ti on 1920x1200. I think with that extra kick the 6950 2GB has for high resolutions, you'd be looking at at least a 15 FPS improvement in BC2.

 

[madchemist83]

thew dude can't fit 6950 2 gb in his budget get this before jumping to conclusions ..
and im not downloading anything .. that was from work 😉
i'll give u an extra kick

 

[aznshinobi]

I just fit it under his budget.
luls.

 

[madchemist83]

le me see. where ? that amd build ? I guess it's not bad