New Gaming Rig, $1700 Budget

jcyj12 · Oct 6, 2011

Alright guys, I've heard great things about this forum and I'm making the jump to PC gaming so I thought, why not get some solid advice. Here we go:

Approximate Purchase Date: I will order the parts by Monday October 10, 2011 at the latest

Budget Range: $1700 preferably but I can go up to $1800

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (I want to play all my games on max settings, full HD including BF3, Rage, Metro 2033, Crysis, etc). Photoshop, lite amateur video editing

Parts Not Required: I do not need the OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, amazon, any other reliable site you can recommend.

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: Please, Nvidia and Intel only. I don't hate on AMD, but I just prefer the other two.

Overclocking: Not in the foreseeable future.

SLI or Crossfire: We'll see what you guys think.

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I need a full HD monitor, nothing too expensive, whatever nice affordable keyboard you can get, but definitely a great mouse.

So that's pretty much what I would like and hopefully with $1700-$1800 I can get it. Do you guys think that's a good budget? Alright, so I don't want to seem to seem like a lazy bum which is why I'm gonna go research and then give you guys a rough list of what I'd like, but in the mean time if any of you could offer some potential builds, I'd appreciate it. I'd love to see what you guys would build with 1800 bucks. Please and thank you very much for you're time.

morgoth780 · Oct 6, 2011

Ok, since you said you would order on oct. 10 at the latest, I would highly recommend waiting until then. AMD is *supposed* to release bulldozer then, and yes, I understand you don't like them, but if it is released, you can see if it's performance is good to be worth purchasing. However, there is also a fair chance that it would be delayed again, in which case you could just order whatever build you decide on.
On to the build.

Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115073

ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157269

MSI N580GTX Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127567

PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II 950W High Performance 80PLUS Silver SLI CrossFire ready Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703028

G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Antec DF-85 Black ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129087&cm_sp=Cat_Computer_Cases-_-Spotlight-_-11-129-087

ASUS VE258Q Black 25" 2ms HDMI LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor w/Display Port & Speakers 250 cd/m2 50,000,000:1 ASCR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236123

Logitech G500 10 Buttons Dual-mode Scroll Wheel USB Wired Laser 5700 dpi Gaming Mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104318

Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109191

Total: $1,790.90 (no shipping or rebates)

Yes, I know there should probably be an ssd, but I just don't consider them worth the money. So your computer boots 5 seconds faster. Hooray. It doesn't affect frame rate or anything in games, so I just don't consider them useful in a gaming rig. Though you could change to a gtx 570 and 850 watt power supply if you wanted to put in an ssd

jcyj12 · Oct 6, 2011

Hmm, you think a single 580 is good enough to run games like Rage and Metro? Also, I agree with you, I don't need the SSD.

morgoth780 · Oct 6, 2011

yep.
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/nvidia_gtx580/5.htm
and since it isn't amd, you won't get the weird graphics glitches in rage.

JackNaylorPE · Oct 6, 2011

While the NF200 doesn’t completely solve the dearth of PCIe lanes available on LGA 1155 platforms, its ability to send identical data to multiple cards makes it perfect for SLI and CrossFire. That benefit, when combined with the Sandy Bridge processor’s superior performance and overclocking capabilities, slams the lid on the coffin for X58 gaming. Anyone who needs the added flexibility of X58 to host other devices, such as high-end drive controllers or six-core processors in a workstation environment, must bow to the gaming superiority of NF200-equiped Sandy Bridge motherboards like Asus' P8P67 WS Revolution.

Check out the performance comparisons here:

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3795/asus_p8p67_ws_revolution_intel_p67_express_motherboard/index.html

When ya eventually get around to OC'ing ...... notice I said when not if

...... Set up two BIOS profiles:

Gaming profile - 4.8Ghz usually easily doable with HT turned off
Video Editing profile - 4.6 Ghz easily doable

3. GFX - Twin 560's give ya 40% more fps than single 580....that model easily OC's to 1000MHz

4. Gave ya cooler cause a) it's actually a crime in geek city not to OC ya SB processor and its extremely simple and b) it's a helluva lot easier to install coolers at initial build.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/asus-sabertooth-p67-tuf-review/10
http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/overclocking/39184-p67-sandy-bridge-overclocking-guide-beginners.html#post110904
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1578110
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=264847

5. RAM might wanna double up on the RAM or upgrade to CAS 7, especially if doing lotta video photo stuff....adds $37
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226201

grandpamasaki · Oct 6, 2011

I'm currently putting a build together myself, but I'm not too sure about this list.

While I know his budget is $1800, I feel that the OP could save a few dollars by getting some cheaper parts. But maybe there is something I'm missing?

ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 (1000:1) W/Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

ASRock P67 EXTREME4 GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265

Dropping down on those two alone would save you almost $200 (I think?), and I'm not convinced there will be any noticeable difference in performance.

I'd also suggest springing for a modular PSU to avoid cable clutter. I'm looking at this one myself.

COOLER MASTER Silent Pro RSA00-AMBAJ3-US 1000W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171049

You could even take some money and buy an SSD for your OS. Remember, you should also get a DVD drive, and are you planning on installing Windows 7 or some other OS? That'll cost you too.

My current build is just over the OP's budget ($1900 not counting rebates) but I'm also springing for an SSD, a logitech G9 and a steelseries mousepad (only $10 but every dollar counts). Also, check Amazon! Their prices are usually the same as Newegg's, if not cheaper, and no tax for California!

EDIT: Sorry, should have read your post clearer, you don't need an OS and you're already looking at Amazon, my bad!

morgoth780 · Oct 6, 2011

grandpamasaki :

never, ever buy a cooler master power supply if you can afford it. p67 motherboards are starting to be slightly outdated (not terribly, but z68 has a lot more features)

edit:both the OP and me don't really see the point of an ssd from a gaming perspective. Yes, they're nice to have, but are they really worth sacrificing performance for?

also, 2 gtx 560 ti's have more performance than a single gtx 580...but let's think about it. at 1920x1080, you don't need more than 1gb of vram. Gtx 580 will still max almost everything at that resolution, so there isn't really a reason to go for 2 gtx 560ti's just for the more performance. Also, if you sli gtx 560ti, you're stuck. No gpu upgrade without buying completely new gpu's. with gtx 580, you can step up to 2way or even 3way sli. though if you never plan to upgrade the computer until you build a new one, 2 gtx560ti's would be the way to go. but having the option to upgrade is always good

grandpamasaki · Oct 6, 2011

morgoth780 :

I agree about the GTX580. If you're putting a new build together, I would never suggest going for a multip-GPU solution, single card is always best. I've heard that BF3 won't be able to max out with a single GTX580, but it'll get pretty damn close. And if you really are unhappy with the performance, wait until Q1 2012 and you can throw in an extra GTX580.

Also, I agree about the SSD, I was just giving an example of where some of that extra money could go. I understand that the p67 boards are older tech, but I'm just not convinced those extra features are worth an extra $100.

grandpamasaki · Oct 6, 2011

Sorry, forgot to ask, what's wrong with coolermaster PSUs? Are they really that bad?

To the OP, the only reason I suggest a 1000w PSU is so that, combined with a GTX580, you leave yourself some room to upgrade to SLI without having to buy another PSU down the road.

morgoth780 · Oct 6, 2011

grandpamasaki :

950w is enough to sli gtx 580, but 1000w would be fine too. Yes, cooler master power supplies are that terrible. They have nice cases and fans, but you never buy a power supply from them unless there is no better alternative for your budget or better brands are unavailable in your region. Plus, the power supply is one of the most important, if not most important parts, in your computer. Bad power supply = fried computer parts. Well, not necessarily, but there is that risk.

morgoth780 · Oct 6, 2011

also, there are cheaper z68 boards, just the one I chose is more expensive because it has pci express 3.0, for future upgradeability.

jcyj12 · Oct 6, 2011

I do indeed plan on getting another 580 down the road, probably mid next year when they're a lot cheaper .

So I'm glad the 950W PSU you linked will be good enough for sli, right?

morgoth780 · Oct 6, 2011

jcyj12 :

it will but as an alternative you could go for this:
Antec CP-1000 1000W Continuous ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply Exclusively for - Twelve Hundred(1200)/P183/P193/DF-85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371036

however, you would have to use this case:
Antec Twelve Hundred V3 Black Steel ATX Full Tower Unbeatable Gaming Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129100

but it's a good case, with good reviews. and it gets you an extra 50w, without lesser quality

jcyj12 · Oct 6, 2011

morgoth780 :

Another question about the monitor, you suggested this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236123

while another user listed:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

The price difference is $80, so my question is, other than the slight size advantage, is there any other advantage the 25" has over the other one? Also, in the picture, the monitors looks like they're tilted up, can you change it and make it less tilted or is that permanent?

morgoth780 · Oct 6, 2011

jcyj12 :

yes, you can change the angle. If you don't know, just go into the details tab on newegg and it will tell you.
anyway, the 25" does have a higher response (2ms vs. 5ms). I honestly don't know how much of a difference it makes, but it really just kinda depends on your personal preference.

Ok, the 25" has LED backlight. If you don't know the difference, they're thinner, brighter, and less power-consuming.

grandpamasaki · Oct 6, 2011

jcyj12 :

Both monitors can tilt, though I'm not sure about swivel. As for the 25", it is LED backlit, which, from what I understand, results in a more bright and correct image (in terms of color representation.) Also, the 25" has a better response time at only 2ms, but I'm not convinced that anyone can really perceive the difference between 2ms and 5ms. I think it's just a marketing ploy.

I don't think the LED backlight is worth the extra money considering this is a gaming rig. I'm not an expert or anything, but I think a traditional LCD monitor will do just fine for gaming. From what I gather LED backlight screens are preferred by photographers, artists, etc, because of the more accurate color representation.

morgoth780 · Oct 6, 2011

grandpamasaki :

true, but also led backlight uses less power. and while yes, that may not necessarily end up saving the OP enough money to equal the money spent on the monitor, keep in mind it is larger.

jcyj12 · Oct 6, 2011

So I think I'll go with the cheaper monitor, as I really don't think 3ms is even detectable.

Also, do I really need that motherboard? I mean, I'm not trying to cheap out here, but I've seen some other solid motherboards for around 200 bucks. I'm not the most tech savvy guy so all I don't really get what all the features of that gen3 board work. I mean, I'll go for it, but if I can shave a few more bucks off of the total, that would be good. Also, I'm going with a standard, $20 keyboard as the only thing I'm worried about is a good mouse.

morgoth780 · Oct 6, 2011

jcyj12 :

who's build are you going off of? the logitech one I originally recommended is pretty good. also, the gen3 has support for sli/cfx, which you almost always want. also, we're approaching the point that graphics cards are going to use pci-e 3.0, which this one does have. However, if you're not worried about that, here's a few alternatives.

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
^realized this board has pci-e 3.0 as well, but a lot cheaper. still sli/cfx supported^

ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131759

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

I'd recommend the z68 extreme 3, as it is a lot cheaper with a lot of the same features

jcyj12 · Oct 6, 2011

morgoth780 :

who's build are you going off of? the logitech one I originally recommended is pretty good. also, the gen3 has support for sli/cfx, which you almost always want. also, we're approaching the point that graphics cards are going to use pci-e 3.0, which this one does have. However, if you're not worried about that, here's a few alternatives.

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
^realized this board has pci-e 3.0 as well, but a lot cheaper. still sli/cfx supported^

ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131759

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

I'd recommend the z68 extreme 3, as it is a lot cheaper with a lot of the same features

Okay, so I'm reading the specs but can't seem to find the major difference between the more expensive gen3 board and the $124 one. Why is there such a huge price gap?

morgoth780 · Oct 6, 2011

I honestly don't know, but you should probably go with $124 one.

jcyj12 · Oct 6, 2011

Alright, so here's what I have so far:

CPU: Intel i5 2500k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

Mobo: ASRock z68 EXTREME 4 GEN3 ($199)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157264

GPU: GTX 570 (decided to go with this instead of 580)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130593

PSU: PC Power and Cooling Silencer MKII 950W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703028

RAM: G.Skill Sniper 8GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1.5 TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136793

Case: HAF X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225

Bluray Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136226

ACCESSORIES:

Monitor: Asus 23.5"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

Mouse: Logitech G700
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104377

Keyboard: Logitech G110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126087

The total cost is around $1700, right on budget.

So here are my concerns, is everything compatible with each other? Does the RAM fit in the mobo, etc.

Is the power supply good and reliable? I haven't heard much about PC Power and Cooling.

Other than that, what do you guys think? Is this a good build? Is it a go or a no go cause I'll be ordering the parts sometime tomorrow. Thanks for all you're help guys.

jcyj12 · Oct 7, 2011

The HDD I chose is now out of stock so if its not back in tomorrow, I'll have to go with another one. But what do you guys think about this build?

morgoth780 · Oct 7, 2011

well, for gtx 570 you don't need 950 watts. drop to a 850. Pc power and cooling make good psus, although like any company, they will have bad ones, though fewer than others. maybe a samsung spinpoint f3? yeah, they get recommended all the time, but they're a great deal

jcyj12 · Oct 7, 2011

morgoth780 :

Alright man, so other than those two points, is everything else ready to go? I mainly went off of your build (thank you) and just added and changed a few things.

New Gaming Rig, $1700 Budget

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Share this page