MATX Build for LAN/Tournaments

[nsiders09]

Approximate Purchase Date: Christmas
Budget Range: $1500 (Before Shipping/Rebates)
System Usage: Gaming/Internet/Movies
Are you buying a monitor: No
Parts to Upgrade: Everything except mouse/keyboard/headset
Do you need to buy OS: Yes
Location: Garland, TX, United States
Parts Preferences: None
Overclocking: Yes
SLI or Crossfire: No
Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Additional Comments: I would like a gaming computer that I can use for LAN Parties/Tournaments that can play any games on max setting with zero lag.
Why Are You Upgrading: Because I am currently using a computer that I have been using since January 30, 2000!

 

[ittimjones]

Hmmmm, $1000 is a little tight for it to be able to "play any games on max setting with zero lag."

I'm sure someone can make something close, but you probably won't be able to play Crysis 3 at max settings.

 

[alvine]

$20 ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

$70 NZXT Crafted Series Vulcan Black Steel / Plastic Gaming mATX Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146065

$70 Western Digital WD Black WD5003AZEX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236345

$300 HIS IceQ H795Q3G2M Radeon HD 7950 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161407

$90 SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095

$40 Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226099

$220 Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

$100 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

$90 ASRock Z77M LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157325

Subtotal: $999.91 + shipping

You can get Win 8 or Win 7, I prefer 7
For $100 more you can get a h100 water cooler with a double radiator that could mount on the top of the case, the processor is K series so you can overclock it in future

 

[nsiders09]

Hmmmm, $1000 is a little tight for it to be able to "play any games on max setting with zero lag."

I'm sure someone can make something close, but you probably won't be able to play Crysis 3 at max settings.

kk changing the budget to $1,500 that's the most I can put towards a new computer.

 

[nsiders09]

How do you think the GIGABYTE G1.Sniper M3 is? I really like it because of the Creative CA0132 chip and Intel GbE LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbps).

 

[geofelt]

A good list from alvine.
I like the NZXT case for lan party.

If you live near a microcenter, you can pick up a 2500K for $160, or a 3570K for $170.

Since you already presumably have a previous OS, buy a Windows 8 pro upgrade kit for $70.
I am not a fan of 8 though.

A 7950 needs only a quality 500w psu.
The Corsair builder cx 600w is $50 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

Spend $30 or so for a cm hyper212 cooler.

Consider buying a SSD instead of a hard drive.
120gb will hold the os and a handful of games. You can add a hard drive later if need be.
If you can manage 180gb or 240gb, you may never need a hard drive at all.
Samsung 830 or Intel 330 would be my pick for reliability.
Expect to pay <$1 per gb. Look for sales.

 

[alvine]

geofelt you joined in 1970's? seems legit xD

 

[geofelt]

geofelt you joined in 1970's? seems legit xD

Not hardly.

 

[geofelt]

With a revised budget, let me suggest a ITX based option.

Look at the lian li PC-TU200B ITX case. It is clearly designed for Lan party transportation.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112348
It is a bit pricey @$170, but there is the same case, the PC=Q08 sans the carrying handle for $ 110.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112265
The cases are small, and, because they are aluminum, they do not weigh as much.

I have one in red which is a stunning color. No longer produced, but might be available on e-bay.
There is limited height for a cpu cooler. About 110mm, so a low profile cooler is in order.
The 140mm intake fan provides plenty of cool air for the cpu and gpu.
You will need a downdraft type oem cooler like the Noctua NH-L12, but the stock intel cooler will do the job sufficiently well.
It will get noisy though. Some have installed all-in one liquid coolers with the radiators occupyint the top 120mm exit spot.
This might be reasonable, but I would try the stock cooler first.

For good cooling graphics cards in any case, I like the direct exhaust type coolers better.
The HIS linked looks good, and EVGA makes a nice GTX670 FTW.

Look at the ASRock Z77E-ITX motherboard for $150.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157312

 

[bigcyco1]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/olgM You'll need to add two 120mm fans

 

[geofelt]

@bigcyco1:
Nice.. A picture is worth a thousand words.
I like the ability to use a full sized cpu cooler.
That comes at the price of a slightly larger box than the Lian li Q08.

I think I would use a 180mm fan like the silverstone air penetrator for the front.
In my Silverstone TJ-08E, it provides all the cooling needed, even undervolted.

 

[bigcyco1]

@bigcyco1:
Nice.. A picture is worth a thousand words.
I like the ability to use a full sized cpu cooler.
That comes at the price of a slightly larger box than the Lian li Q08.

I think I would use a 180mm fan like the silverstone air penetrator for the front.
In my Silverstone TJ-08E, it provides all the cooling needed, even undervolted.

Good idea thanks

 

[nsiders09]

This is what I plan on building let me know what you guys think! Btw I already have a Optical Drive and a Graphics Card.

CPU: i5-3570K $170 @Micro Center
MOBO: ASUS Maximus V Gene $200 @Newegg
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X 8GB 1600Mhz $40 @Newegg
CASE: SilverStone TJ08B-E $100 @Newegg
HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB $85 @Newegg
SSD: SAMSUNG 830 128GB $110 @Newegg
PSU: Rosewill CAPSTONE 550M $80 @Newegg
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit $100 @Newegg
Total: $885

 

[bigcyco1]

Looks good to me you just need a aftermarket cpu cooler

 

[nsiders09]

Looks good to me you just need a aftermarket cpu cooler

Really like the Prodigy so im going with this instead I have a EVGA GTX670 FTW as my gfx card!

CPU: i5-3570K $170 @Micro Center
MOBO: ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe $185 @Newegg
HSF: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo $30
RAM: G.SKILL Ares 8GB 1600Mhz $38 @Newegg
CASE: BitFenix Prodigy $90 @Newegg
SSD: SAMSUNG 830 256GB $200 @Newegg
PSU: Rosewill CAPSTONE 550M $80 @Newegg
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit $100 @Newegg
Total: $803

 

[geofelt]

Very good.

 

[bigcyco1]

Looks great remember like i mentioned you're going to want to buy some good case fans the ones it comes with are decent.It gets toasty trust me lol.I add a 200mm to the front and 140mm to the rear then i took the two stock 120 mm case comes with and added them to the top of case.