Mid-High End Gaming Computer. ~$1000-$1500. Advice.

[bdreason]

Mobo - ASRock P67 EXTREME4 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard ($150)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157229

CPU - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W ($220)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

GPU - EVGA 012-P3-1577-KR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) HD DoubleShot 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card ($335)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130684

RAM - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory ($60)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1r1j3q3y5yynv

PSU - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750M 750W ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular High Performance Power Supply ($130)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139030&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=5ebfxjrw1ku6

HD - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($60)
http://204.14.213.185/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

CD/DVD drive - ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM ($20)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

OS - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM ($100)
http://204.14.213.185/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Case - COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($90)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

CPU Cooler - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler ($30)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065



TOTAL w/ Tax and Shipping = $1,301.84

 

[werbo]

This hard drive instead: http://204.14.213.185/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
Crucial m4 ssd is the recommended ssd : http://204.14.213.185/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148448
This is the case I have and I love it 😛 : http://204.14.213.185/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=haf%20912

Your 570 won't max bf3, but it will be able to play at reasonably high settings

don't forget os: http://204.14.213.185/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

aftermarket cooler for ocing your cpu: http://204.14.213.185/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

sorry for the weird ip thing, but that's how newegg is showing up in my browser right now for some reason 😵

Also get 1600 ram instead of 1333 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

 

[9_breaker]

you should get a diffrent psu if youre going to use sli in future such as this
and for the case ive storys about plastic cases breaking on delivery so i recommend this . if i were you i wouldnt get a ssd because you could use the money to get a better gpu all it does is load windows about 10seconds faster and load your programs storedon it a little faster but thats just my opinion.

 

[Formata]

+1 to werbo links.

This is a newer model for that RAM... but it's basically the same and same $ so what eva
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

+1 to 9_Breaker comments

On a build of this budget I agree with maximising your GPU setup and adding an SSD down the track.

Cases I like that are suitable for a build of this budget:

HAF 922
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

CM690 II Advanced
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216

Storm Enforcer
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119240

Antec 300 Illusion
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

 

[bdreason]

Thanks for the responses so far.


So, I've upgraded the PSU to the 750W. I upgraded the RAM to the newer version. I added a Coolmaster case, and decided to remove the SSD and upgrade that later. oh and I added a DVD/CD drive.


Some question I still have:

Is the aftermarket CPU cooler or OCing really needed? I watched a demo on installation, and it looked like a pain in the butt.

You guys said I should improve my GPU, but what card would you recommend? Maybe something I can crossfire or SLI later? Or should I just focus on one GPU, because honestly, I'm not sure I'll ever take this system to that level. I just want it to be fast and reliable... it doesn't have to break records.


Thanks again for your time.

 

[bdreason]

After looking more at PSU's, I think I've decided to spend a little extra for a Modular PSU.

Any suggestions on Modular PSU's?


I'm also considering upgrading to the GeForce 580GTX... is it worth it with this build?

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Here is another Corsair power supply that is mudular http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139030 that should work well you.

While the Intel® Core™ i5-2500K does come with a HSF (heatsink/fan) that will work fine at stock speeds; you are going to want to add a good 3rd party HSF before you start to overclock the processor.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[bdreason]

Update:

Added a Modular 750W PSU.

Upgraded the GPU to the ASUS 580GTX.

Switched to the Samsung 1TB HD.

Added an aftermarket CPU cooler.




TOTAL with Tax and Shipping = $1,502.24

 

[Formata]

That's a serious looking build Keep in mind for the same $ 2 x gtx 560 Ti in SLI will beat a single gtx 580

ASUS ENGTX560 TI DCII/2DI/1GD5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121424

But if you're looking at a single GPU setup the gtx580 won't disappoint (just not exactly best bang for buck.)

"Is the aftermarket CPU cooler or OCing really needed? I watched a demo on installation, and it looked like a pain in the butt."

TBH I find it easier to put on a Hyper 212+ than the stock intel cooler It might take a little more time, but I hate those plastic push pins... keeping it all levelled and bringing it down evenly to ensure a good mount seems easier when you're screwing into the base plate one opposing corner at a time, rather than trying to keep the intel cooler steady while you're trying to evenly push through those spring loaded pins. Guess it depends how fussy you are with it too.

 

[bdreason]

So I've decided to start ordering the parts. I'm going to stick with the GeForce 570 for now, with the option to SLI later.


I also found a friend of a friend who works in computers to assemble it for me for $50. I know it's kind of a bail out on my part, but it's so worth it for my peace of mind.




Thanks for all the advice. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[bdreason]

Best answer selected by bdreason.