New gaming rig

[paradox87]

My budget is $2200, the only thing components I'm not sure of at this point are the graphics cards, I'm wanting to run a dual GPU system, any advice on what would work great with my setup is greatly appreciated.

What I want so far is:

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225&cm_re=haf_x_case-_-11-119-225-_-Product ($199)
Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131667 ($299)
Power supply - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139014 ($299)
CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103894 ($185)
RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231309 ($189)
HDD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433 ($64)
DVD/CD Drives - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106276 ($18)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106347 ($24)
OS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758 ($140)
CPU Heatsink - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106150 ($58)

All of that adds up to around $1,457, leaves me right around $700 for two graphics cards.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Hastibe]

A few quick comments...

The motherboard will support DDR3 RAM at 1600 speeds (up to 2133 with overclocking), so I would recommend getting less, but faster RAM--don't bottleneck your system with slow RAM!

Also, for the amount you're spending, I'd get a SSD for booting off of and whatever else people use the super-fast SSDs for (choice games?).

A $300 dollar PSU seems a tad pricey to me (my gaming rig practically cost that much alone...), but depending on the two video cards, I suppose you may need 1200W? You might try using this PSU calculator to see if that much power is really necessary.

My two cents--I hope it's helpful!

 

[Hastibe]

P.S. Check out Amazon.com and SuperBiiz.com for RAM prices, in addition to Newegg.com!

 

[Why_Me]

2500k w/dual gtx 570's

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/287?vs=100

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sandy-bridge-core-i7-2600k-core-i5-2500k,2833.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225&cm_re=haf_x_case-_-11-119-225-_-Product $199.99 $20 off w/ promo code EMCKJJJ26, ends 1/17 FREE SHIPPING
COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.587645 Combo Discount: -$30.00 Combo Price: $364.98 $20.00 Mail-In Rebate Card Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $344.98
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-850HX 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.589706 Combo Discount: -$10.00 Combo Price: $499.98 $20.00 Mail-In Rebate Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $479.98
MSI P67A-GD53 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
MSI N570GTX-M2D12D5 GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127552 $359.99 $339.99 after mail-in rebate
MSI N570GTX-M2D12D5 GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231313 $54.99 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9S-4GBRL

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 $29.99
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154003 $6.99 FREE SHIPPING
Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185 $69.99 $15 off with promo code HARDOCP112C, ends 1/19 FREE SHIPPING
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=N82E16827106335 $21.99 FREE SHIPPING
LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Writer LightScribe Support

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754 $99.99 FREE SHIPPING
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

Total: $1,708.88 *not including rebates, promo codes, shipping, etc..

 

[paradox87]

Alright, I can say my mind is now changed about an AMD CPU. That said, take a look at the new wish list for the computer. Motherboard and CPU are changed. Also went with EVGA graphics just because of the lifetime warranty. There's also a price difference between the i5 2500k and the i7 2600k, any differences in performance between the two? If not I'll prob go with the i5.

Take a look at everything and give me your opinion on if everything I have selected will work well together. Also, is the ASUS Maximus IV Extreme worth getting? This is only my second build, so I'm still fairly new at this.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=19144967

 

[Why_Me]

Alright, I can say my mind is now changed about an AMD CPU. That said, take a look at the new wish list for the computer. Motherboard and CPU are changed. Also went with EVGA graphics just because of the lifetime warranty. There's also a price difference between the i5 2500k and the i7 2600k, any differences in performance between the two? If not I'll prob go with the i5.

Take a look at everything and give me your opinion on if everything I have selected will work well together. Also, is the ASUS Maximus IV Extreme worth getting? This is only my second build, so I'm still fairly new at this.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=19144967

OK...changes I would make. From what Iv'e seen, these new 1155's run cool...that and there is literally no skill needed in over clocking these cpu's. They have been getting o/c's of 4.4ghz on ghetto boards with these chips. So that board you have on your list is like way super over kill. Same with that psu on your list. Now for a gaming rig...the 2600k is a waste of money. Unless your running a lot of photo shop type proggy's there's no need for that cpu and the same with the 8 gigs of ram. But for the price of the ram you have on your list...it's a pretty good deal imo. Add a h/s and some thermal compound to your build, change out mobo's and your good to go. But you may want to seriously consider downsizing that psu to a 850w and combo it with the 2500k.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131682 $184.99 FREE SHIPPING
ASUS P8P67 PRO LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

or....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.575884 Combo Price: $389.98
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
ASUS P8P67 PRO LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

 

[paradox87]

OK...changes I would make. From what Iv'e seen, these new 1155's run cool...that and there is literally no skill needed in over clocking these cpu's. They have been getting o/c's of 4.4ghz on ghetto boards with these chips. So that board you have on your list is like way super over kill. Same with that psu on your list. Now for a gaming rig...the 2600k is a waste of money. Unless your running a lot of photo shop type proggy's there's no need for that cpu and the same with the 8 gigs of ram. But for the price of the ram you have on your list...it's a pretty good deal imo. Add a h/s and some thermal compound to your build, change out mobo's and your good to go. But you may want to seriously consider downsizing that psu to a 850w and combo it with the 2500k.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131682 $184.99 FREE SHIPPING
ASUS P8P67 PRO LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

or....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.575884 Combo Price: $389.98
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
ASUS P8P67 PRO LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Alright man, appreciate the input. I went to an Corsair 850w power supply, but I'm still gonna go with the i7 2600k, because I do have an Hauppauge HD PVR, and I do edit alot of videos using Sony Vegas. Other than that you saved me alot of money, enough so that I can now get a new keyboard and mouse. Thanks.

 

[briovaz]

how about a 2gb HD 5870??

 

[paradox87]

Best answer selected by paradox87.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

1. Yes look for the Asus MoBo / CPU compos to save a cupla bucks

Save $60 with Asus P8P67 Pro (Topped THG's SB MoBo ZRoundup) and i2600k and get free game
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.575880

Save $50 with Asus P8P67 and i2500k and get free game
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.575884

2. The XFX Black Edition 850 saves $40 over the HX850 and is every bit it's equal. Jonnyguru gives the black a 10.0 performance rating.

3. Consider the Antec DF-85 / CP-850 combo in lie of the HAF / XFX combo .... will save ya more money and, having built w/ both, my experience was better and I am more satisfied w/ the Antec combo....it also adds air filters, fan speed control, hot sawp 2.5" bay and more "ruggedability". 1200 watts way oversized for twin 570's

4. A $2k box shouldn't have a "bargain" cooler. Neither cooler in the thread is in the current "Top 20". Suggest ya grab one of the top 3 .... the Mugen 2 cooler in the list is < $40

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=447&Itemid=62

Top Performers

* Prolimatech Megahalems
* Thermalright Venomous-X RT
* Scythe Mugen 2 SCMG-2100
* ProlimaTech Super Mega
* Cogage Arrow
* ProlimaTech Armageddon
* Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme
* Cogage TRUE Spirit
* Xigmatek Balder SD1283
* SilenX Effizio EFZ-120HA4
* Titan FENRIR TTC-NK85TZ

Highly Recommended

* Noctua NH-D14
* Zalman CNPS10X-Performa
* Coolink Corator-DS Heatsink
* CoolAge CA-X120TF Wind Tunnel
* Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme
* Thermolab BARAM
* Xigmatek Thor's Hammer S126384
* Scythe Yasya SCYS-1000 Cooler
* Noctua NH-U12P
* Cooler Master V6 GT Heatsink
* Thermaltake Contac-29 CLP0568
* Zalman CNPS10X-Quiet

In the 80 way TIM test, Shin Etsu fiished 1st. Be aware of the 2nd place finisher's 200 hour cure time.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=13

5. If compatibility with older games / programs is a concern, and budget allows, suggest Win 7 Pro 64 bit which gives ya "XP mode" among the bennies for the extra $40

6. See 16 GB and 4 GB as RAM choices.....suggest 8 GB in either a 4 x 2 or 2 x 4 set.

Two sets of Corsair CAS 9 (2 x 2 GB) will cost ya $40 ecah or $80 total
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260

Two sets of Mushkin CAS 7 (2 x 2 GB) will cost ya $70 each or $140 total
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226103

One set of Mushkin CAS 9 (2 x 4 GB) will cost ya $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226099

CAS 7 should give ya a 2-3% speed increase in gaming at about a 2% increase in system cost ($2k assumed)