Limited Constraints $1000+ Build (Idea Included)

[Falciron]

Approximate Purchase Date: On or Before 3/30

Budget Range: $1000-2000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Compiling, Streaming Content

Parts Not Required: Mouse (G500) and OS (MSDN)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: No preferences.

Country: United States

Parts Preferences: Intel i7-2700K Processor and 520 Series 180 GB SSD (Bundled), Asus VH238H Monitor

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: My aim is to make this fairly portable (for the sake of transportation to LAN events), quiet, and power-efficient, but I can drop any of those constraints if they cause too much of a problem.

I came up with the following list on PCPartPicker - does anyone see any issue with the components listed? Some items were chosen for their appearance, going for a black/blue/orange set, but again, that constraint is easily dropped.

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-2700K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($329.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.33 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($137.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Green 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($124.99 @ NCIX US)
Hard Drive: Intel 520 Series Cherryville 180GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($281.99 @ Mac Mall)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($369.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Phantom (Black/Orange) ATX Full Tower Case ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus VH238H 23.0" Monitor ($159.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Logitech 920-000914 Wired Slim Keyboard ($65.09 @ Amazon)
Total: $1782.19
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-03-21 17:32 EDT-0400)

 

[sosofm]

All is good and compatible.
Change the RAM with low profile Corsair not to interfer with your CPU cooler http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cml8gx3m2a1600c9

 

[hellfire24]

great choice but-
drop down to 2500k if you are not using multi threaded apps.for gaming,2500k>2600k(100mhz isn't worth extra bucks ).
stock cooler is enough if you are not going to oc.
get PRO3/GEN3,it's OC,pci e 3 capable but not SLi,that's what you need.
as sosofm said,get low profile ram.
5400rpm is dirt slow!get sammy f4 2tb,it's way better!
you don't need 620w,xfx pro 550w is more than enough for single card.
if you have some more money than go with 7950,it's a great value card IMO.

 

[adgjlsfhk]

I would cut back to the I5-2500 or if you feel you need ht get the I7-2600. Either of these will perform exactly the same for gaming and will be much cheaper. Also use the stock cooler. Also get 7200 rpm hard drive. "Low power" hard drives actually use more power because they have to work 30-40% longer per task. This will save you about $120 without any decline in performance.

 

[Falciron]

I've adjusted per all of your recommendations - I ordered the RAM and DVD drive in the build listed below yesterday, since they were at discounted prices and was saved from my previous hard drive pick by a Paypal verification failure. The RAM was on sale on Newegg yesterday for <$100 for all four sticks, so this build is cheaper than the previous one. Thanks for the advice!

Is there anything that I could improve further or does this look sufficient? Samsung unfortunately doesn't make a 2TB F3, so the hard drive's still 5400 RPM, but the seek time is exactly the same between series (8.9ms) with the latency being the sole difference.

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($208.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z68 PRO3 GEN3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($71.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($71.98 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F4 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($157.27 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Intel 520 Series Cherryville 180GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($281.99 @ B&H)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($469.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom (Black/Orange) ATX Full Tower Case ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 550W ATX12V Power Supply ($55.24 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus VH238H 23.0" Monitor ($159.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Logitech 920-000914 Wired Slim Keyboard ($65.09 @ Amazon)
Total: $1795.49
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-03-22 13:12 EDT-0400)

 

[mojorisin23]

you have memory on there twice. i hope that was by accident. no need for 16gb of ram at this point.

definately need a better HD. at least 7200rpm. i prefer seagate. nice middle of the road brand. never had a problem.

if you want it portable, why get a full size case? i needed a case less than 24" for clearance in the space it was going to sit. i got a Corsair Carbide 400R. great case and has a handle on top to carry it with one hand.

lastly, i have the ASRock Exterem4 mobo. its great. i'm not sure of its price, but if its not much more, i would highly recommend!

 

[hellfire24]

2133 mhz ram is useless!stick with 1600mhz.other things are great!

 

[Falciron]

The 2133 MHz ram was only $9 more than the cheapest 1600MHz that I could find and orange, so I thought it would be an okay cosmetic touch. I'm going to check the performance difference and may lend the extra sticks out to a friend, since I built his computer with only 4 Gigs.

I believe the graphics card is just over a foot in length. I saw some nice small form factor cases that were Micro-ATX, but have there been any mobo / case combinations in that category that could accommodate a PCI board with that dimension? That Corsair Carbide does look really nice, by the way. Good choice.

The Seagate Barracuda seems to fit your suggestion and my size preference - is the XT worth the extra $80 over the regular edition?

 

[hellfire24]

2133mhz voids warranty of your cpu.
yeah 400r is a good case.
XT isn't worth extra $80.for speed,you have a SSD :lol:

 

[Falciron]

2133mhz voids warranty of your cpu.
yeah 400r is a good case.
XT isn't worth extra $80.for speed,you have a SSD :lol:

Technically only 1066 and 1333 are supported for 2500, 2600, 2700 and their k modifiers according to their specification pages, though the Z68 board should allow for the 2133 speed - would the warranty then be voided by 1600MHz as well? I'm not too concerned, but I am curious, since 1600 is so frequently recommended.

 

[hellfire24]

good point but after ding some research,you will find that 1600mhz is the best spot.1066 is too slow,1333 is average,1600mhz is great,1866mhz is braggin rights and any thing above is a wastage!

 

[Falciron]

Good information, thanks!

 

[hellfire24]

welcome!