New Gaming System for ~1500...

[scjohnson243]

Good evening Guys - I'm looking to build a gaming PC for around 1500 to play the next generation of games thats out and coming out - I'm a computer guy but a programmer, and not a hardware guy at all (My wife is into hardware more than I am, /shrug)

I put this together on newegg - Does anyone see anything that I could replace/do to improve? (Forgive the newbness)




HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.D HDS721010DLE630 (0F13180) 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822145533
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$149.99

EVGA 015-P3-1580-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Item #: N82E16814130587
Return Policy: VGA Replacement Only Return Policy


$499.99

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Channels PCI Express x1 Interface Sound Card

$43.99

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX850 V2 850W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power ...
Item #: N82E16817139022
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$134.99

CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9
$109.99
$94.99

ASUS P8Z68-V PRO LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
Item #: N82E16813131730
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

$209.99

Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 ...
Item #: N82E16819115070
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy

$319.99

Subtotal: $1,453.93

THere is no monitors / case / keyboard/mouse etc included, I have that already (and plan on reusing my old case) for what its worth.

 

[bavman]

I'd just completely skip the sound card unless you have a high end sound system. Mobo build it sound is usually good enough for 99% of people.

Also if gaming is the most intensive thing you do, you can downgrade to an i5-2500k which will give you the same performance in games as the i7.

Also with the memory, i dont know how intensive your programming is, but for gaming 8gb of ram is plenty, theres no need for 16gb.

With all your saved money you can buy something nice for your wife so she doesnt get mad at you for spending so much on a desktop ...or for yourself if she doesnt care...like an SSD!!!: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226236

 

[roblaw42]

Agree with all above savings. With extra money you could get a nicer case than the one you have, a cpu cooler like the Hyper 212+/EVO, or an SSD. You can get a 64gb SSD or higher and run the OS off that for very fast speeds. If you get a slightly bigger one, you could safely run a few games for super loading speeds. The HDD would then serve solely as a data drive.

8 gb RAM os fine. I would recommend G.SKILL

Sound cards are only for audiophiles but its inexpensive so do what you want.

You would only get the i7 if you were using several programs that utilize hyperthreading. At the moment, that is restricted to CAD and some photo and video editing software.

 

[scjohnson243]

Thanks all! I'm glad to see I was not so far off, and think the information on the i7/i5 is GREAT! I think I'll downgrade the chip and see about getting a SSD (Which I had no idea what they were until I read this - is there a notable difference?) I'll probably just order 8 gigs of memory initially, I can always get 2 more sticks and throw in there at a later date....

Thank you all again....

 

[patapat]

Save money by getting 8gb or by getting this shellshocker deal!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233203

 

[gmcizzle]

An 850w is overkill for a single 580, but not enough (comfortably) for 2x 580 in SLI. I recommend either getting a 750w if you don't plan on SLIing in the future, or get a 950w+ PSU.

EDIT:

750w: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

950w: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703028

 

[Eddie C]

I wouldn't consider buying a HDD at this moment in time because the prices have doubled due to the floods in Thailand. You should just use the old HDD in your current desktop for now, or if you don't want to do that, go out and buy a SSD for main use until prices are down.

Other than that, go out and buy your own CPU cooler, because the ones supplied with the processor are never of great build - I would recommend the Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus, because it can easily let you overclock without issues and at a cheap price as well Anyway, enjoy.

 

[EmoPopsicle]

Don't you want an updated version of your motherboard (gen3)?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790

It has PCI Express 3.0 slots. 😀

 

[scjohnson243]

Best answer selected by scjohnson243.