New $1500 Gaming System

[MacBane]

Hi guys,

The last system I built was a few years ago, so I'm pretty out of date. I've done my reading but if you check this build out for me it would be really appreciated.

Heres the parts:

CPU: Intel i5 2500
CPU Cooler needed ?
Graphics Card: Sapphire 2GB HD6950
Motherboard: Asus P8P667-pro
Memory: Gskill 8GB(4GX2)1600C9 Ripjaws
Harddrive: OCZ 2.5" 120g Vertex 2 E
Power Supply ?
case ?

I also have a few of questions.

Is it worth waiting for the new AMD Fusion CPU's?
What wattage of power supply would I need for this system?
Should I stick with the stock cooler on the CPU?

Thanks

Approximate Purchase Date: the next couple of weeks

Budget Range: around 1500, happy to spend a bit more for much better options

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (Portal 2, Starcraft 2 and WoW at the moment) some photo editing

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I'm in Australia, but Im happy to hunt around to find the hardware you recommend

Country of Origin: Australia

Parts Preferences: none

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I would like a quiet, small PC

 

[mdd1963]

I would opt for an 800-850 watt PSU, simply so that Crossfire (adding a 2nd 6950) is an option in the future if you so wish....

I'd be very surprised if AMD's offerings next quarter come close to matching even the older i5/i7 cpus, much less the newest 2500k/2600k offerings.

(I would buy a bigger cpu heat sink/heat pipe, opting for the 2500k if possible. Stock is fine if you are sure you won't be delving into overclocking.

 

[MacBane]

Thanks,

Newby question:

With all the other parts identical, does an 800W power supply use more power than say a 600W power supply? Or is the rating the limit of what a power supply can provide?

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.shopbot.com.au <----- I used that site for this build

This build includes dual factory over clocked gtx 560's in SLI, after market cpu h/s (thermal paste included), etc...

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=25_31&products_id=11207 $115.00
CoolerMaster CM Storm Scout

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_226&products_id=11005 $145.00
Antec TruePower TP-750 750W

http://www.theofficeshop.com.au/store.php?specs=33513&shopref=2 $198.08 inc gst
B3 ASRock P67 EXTREME4, LGA 1155, Intel P67, DDR3 2133 (OC),PCIE, SATAIII, 7.1 Ch, Gb LAN, USB3.0, ATX

http://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/39853-bx80623i52500k $239.00
Intel Core i5 2500K (3.30Ghz / 6MB / LGA1155 / Quad Core, Overclocking Enabled)

http://www.megabuy.com.au/coolermaster-cooler-master-hyper-212-universal-p186066.html $32.97 Inc. GST
CoolerMaster Hyper 212+ CPU Cooler

http://www.itdevice.com.au/live/product_info.php?products_id=2928 $54.16
G.Skill F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL DDR3 4GB DDR3-1600 4GB (2x2GB)

http://www.shoppingsquare.com.au/p_3527_Samsung_1TB_Hard_Drive_35 $60.50 GST Inc.
Samsung 1TB Hard Drive 'HD103SJ" HDD, 32MB Cache, 3.5" 1000GB SATA II 7200rpm, Spinpoint F3, HD103UJ

http://www.i-store.com.au/product/?productid=14803 $45
ASUS DRW-24B3LT SATA DVD+/-/RAM DUAL LAYER (RETAIL, 24x) BLACK

http://www.mwave.com.au/sku-42050905-Gigabyte_GeForce_GTX_560_Ti_Video_Card_DDR5_1GB_256_Bit_VRAM_Core_Clock_900_Mhz_ $269.00 inc. GST
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 560 Ti Overclocked 1GB

http://www.mwave.com.au/sku-42050905-Gigabyte_GeForce_GTX_560_Ti_Video_Card_DDR5_1GB_256_Bit_VRAM_Core_Clock_900_Mhz_ $269.00 inc. GST
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 560 Ti Overclocked 1GB

Total: $1,427.71 AUD

http://www.madshrimps.be/articles/article/1000116#axzz1EqpvWFEN <---Review on that Asrock motherboard after the latest bios update

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/1098/pg2/asrock-extreme4-p67-and-fatal1ty-professional-p67-vs-x58-with-core-i7-950-review-asrock-p67-extreme4.html <---Review on that Asrock motherboard after the latest bios update

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4080/welcome-to-sandy-bridge-with-the-asrock-p67-extreme4 <--- Review before the latest bios...and it still smoked the Asus and Gigabyte boards

http://www.asrock.com/news/events/201102ex/warranty.html <---- Asrock two year warranty

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=P67%20Extreme4 <----- ASRock P67 Extreme4 Motherboard

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Total $1456 using US web sites....had planned on looking up aussie sites but just got called out to do "Daddy Taxi" .... son needs ride home . Expect you'll pay a bit more down under.

Case - $155 - Antec DF-85 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129087
PSU - $110 - Antec CP-850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024
MoBo - $395 - ASUS P8P67 Pro http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.622007
CPU - incl above - Intel Core i5-2500K
Cooler - $40 - Scythe Mugen 2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142
TIM - $5 Shin Etsu 751 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150080
RAM - $84 - (2 x 4GB) Corsair CAS 9 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145324
GFX - $240 - Gigabte GTX 560 Ti 900 Mhz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125363
GFX - $240 - Gigabte GTX 560 Ti 900 Mhz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125363
HD - $65 - Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200 rpm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
DVD Writer - $22 - Asus 24X DRW-24B3L w/ LS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135221
OS - $100 - Win 7-64 Home Pre http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Case / PSU - Huge roomy case w/ high airflow, great cable management, inlet air filters and ability to take CPX form factor PSU's. Why is CPX a good thing ?

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=142

[The CP-850] is completely unmatched by any ATX unit on the market I can think of. You'd have to spend twice as much as this thing costs to find the next best thing, performance wise. .... 10.0 performance rating

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article971-page7.html

Next best alternate is the HAF-X w/ XFX Black Edition or to save some cash Antec 902 V3 w/ XFX Black 750 (twin 560 Ti's). The Black Edition also gets a 10.0 rating on jonnyguru.

MoBo / CPU - Solid componentry results in full 3 year warranty. If ya not getting a 3 year warranty gotta ask why ????

Cooler / TIM - Beats Hyper 212 by 7C + ...... Megahalems tops 212 by 7.2 C here:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=292&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=13

Mugen 2 tops Mega here:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=447&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=12

Shin Etsu matches AS5 thermal properties but no curing issues that AS5 has (see bottom of page)

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=5

 

[MacBane]

Best answer selected by MacBane.