Planning to build gaming computer

[Hauptmann1941]

Hey guys,

I have used this site many times and i have seen how knowledgeable this community is.

So hopefully you can help me out, i need some advice with my build. Now i am a complete noobie to computers so please, if this looks like crap please feel free too tell me (my friend will help build it for me). I had bought an overpriced power spec for gaming a few years ago and it looks like the graphics card is fried. I don't know if anything is worth reusing but it all seems pretty outdated.

Here is what i have so far:

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912
Hard Drive: Western Digital 750GB
Motherboard: ASRock 870
Graphics Card: HIS IceQ Radeon HD 6950 2GB
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB)
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955
CPU cooling?: Tuniq Tower 120 Universal CPU Cooler 120mm
Power Supply: ???

I dont want to spend over $1,000 but other than that i am pretty flexible. I would like to play Battlefield and Skyrim on high settings if thats even possible. I can overclock if its worth it. Any input appreciated!

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[genghiskron]

you can probably reuse the optical drive and case if you would like. for a system in this budget, i think you should go for an intel i5-2500k:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.693877
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130651
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102945

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

 

[Hauptmann1941]

Thanks for the fast reply

i really want to get a new case because the powerspec brand is oversized and clunky. And The optical drive i will reuse (for now)

This looks like a great build, a little more pricey but i want to get the best for my money.

Definitely going to change up my list now.

Thanks!

 

[Hauptmann1941]

I don't know if i should go for the 6950 for the evga super clocked. any suggestions?

 

[chessi]

I don't know if i should go for the 6950 for the evga super clocked. any suggestions?

Here's what I built:
CoolerMaster HAF 922
AMD Phenomll X4 955
Asus M4A88TD-V EVO/usb3
Mushkin 996981 Redline 2sticks @ 4gb each
Ubuntu 64 bit OS
WD 1002FAEX Caviar Black 1TB
WD 5002AALX Caviar Black 500Gb
Corsair HX850
I'm running 3 burners.
I'd say stay with the 955 CPU you have, salvage the optical drives. I bought my case off ebay for $81 incl. shipping... Great case!
MoBo off TigerDirect $109 after $20 rebate
The 2 HDD's from TG for $109 after another $20 rebate. (54.99 + 79.99)
I love the Asus board... really can't say enough good about it! Other choice maybe the Gigabyte 880GA - UD3H MoBo. Both are within a couple $$ of each other... More just personal preference.
I was initially running the Mushkin 996776 ram. It worked good but for O.C.ing you have to work with changing the clock multiplier and a little tweaking... with the 996981.. I slapped it in and it only read 1333... couple EASY clicks and it's 1600+ and totally stable... 955 is OC'd a mere 5%. Absolutely no heat issues using stock cpu cooler and MoBo fan control settings. Really it's a great set up. Hope this helps you.

 

[wintermint]

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912
Hard Drive: Western Digital 750GB
Motherboard: ASRock 870
Graphics Card: HIS IceQ Radeon HD 6950 2GB
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB)
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955
CPU cooling?: Tuniq Tower 120 Universal CPU Cooler 120mm
Power Supply: ???

I would not get the WD but a Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200RPM for $60 instead
I also wouldn't get the 955 unless you plan to upgrade to bulldozer which means you will have to find an AM3+ mobo. They range from $60-$130. Some OLDER generation probably had their bios flash to work with AM3+ but I would stick with the $100ish ones instead [preferably the 970] If you don't plan to overclock, stick with the stock heatsink otherwise people usually buy the Cooler Master Hyper 212+ for $30 only on newegg/amazon. As for your PSU I think 600W is enough to power the 6950. If you plan to crossfire I would go toward 800+W.

 

[Hauptmann1941]

Did some Research and made changes. i think im going to plan on overclocking in the near future. Thanks for the help and more critique is welcomed!

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200RPM
Motherboard: Asus M4A88TD-V EVO/usb3
Graphics Card: Radeon 6950
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB)
CPU: i5 2500k
CPU cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212
Power Supply: Corsair HX850

 

[chessi]

I would not get the WD but a Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200RPM for $60 instead
I also wouldn't get the 955 unless you plan to upgrade to bulldozer which means you will have to find an AM3+ mobo. They range from $60-$130. Some OLDER generation probably had their bios flash to work with AM3+ but I would stick with the $100ish ones instead [preferably the 970] If you don't plan to overclock, stick with the stock heatsink otherwise people usually buy the Cooler Master Hyper 212+ for $30 only on newegg/amazon. As for your PSU I think 600W is enough to power the 6950. If you plan to crossfire I would go toward 800+W.[/quotemsg]

Not sure I follow what you're saying here. The Sammy F3 is a good drive also, again personal preference. (Samsung HDD division is owned by Seagate anyways and I believe Hitachi is now owned by WD) Only other stand alone company is Hitachi.
If I understood Hauptmann's specs correctly he already has the Phenom ll 955 cpu.. I advised him to save $$$ and use it... it's a great, stable and easy to OC to 3.9GHz.
BOTH of the boards I spoke with him about are AM3. Yes the AM3+ boards will handle the newest "Bulldozer" but his quest is in conserving his $$ while having a great gaming computer. The Asus or Gigabyte boards are capable to handle up to the latest 6 core cpu's (up to the 1100T) with the exception being the new APU's (need F1 board for those).
Last point is in the PSU, with what we all want to do with our systems the days of 600 watt power supply is somewhat under-powering MOST gaming machines. Next to the MoBo I think PSU selection is the next most critical. A well respected PSU will run $135-$180. Depends on whether you can get a good sale or rebate. I would ALWAYS choose to buy a PSU with 200+ watts more than I currently need than to have to upgrade it in the future cause I was too cheap to lay down the extra $30-$40 bucks in the initial purchase. You know this scenario... A 955 today with onboard video... 4 mos. later and you're out picking up a great new video card...6 mos. later and now the eye starts seeing the 1100T cpu PLUS a matching video card for that crossfire you've been dreaming about... But you chinzed out getting that 600 watt PSU ($125 down the drain so you can now spend $150/160 on sale for ANOTHER PSU). So then you have a 600 watt PSU that is only about 20% into it's warranty and no need for it... Ebay, here I come to get my $75 bucks. ALWAYS better to NOT skimp on power supply, IMO. Hey they're just my opinions, what do I know other than maybe I've been down this road in a previous life.

 

[chessi]

Did some Research and made changes. i think im going to plan on overclocking in the near future. Thanks for the help and more critique is welcomed!

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200RPM
Motherboard: Asus M4A88TD-V EVO/usb3
Graphics Card: Radeon 6950
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB)
CPU: i5 2500k
CPU cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212
Power Supply: Corsair HX850

Hauptmann, Maybe I'm not following you. If you're planning on using a AM3 board you're NOT going to be using anything "iCore"... the board is for AMD processors. Now I'm gonna light a flame... Why in the world would you want to use a "i" anything if you want to build a serious gamer and OC machine? Not saying the 955 is THE best cpu but it is a great cpu and you already have one... USE it. My opinions on current AMDs are the 955, 970 and the 1100T as if I haven't spoke of them enough already.
Also, concerning your listing of the GSkills ram... Not knocking them, they're in a lot of machines... BUT try calling them for any support... I tried and after numerous issues even getting through to the right department there was HUGE language barriers to overcome to be able to understand. That said, 2 X 2 gb is under-powering... I strongly suggest 2 X 4Gb. Asus doesn't have any QVL 2 X 4gig listed. But I know for a fact that the ram I mentioned earlier is sweet and stable. Add to the fact that Mushkin is located in Colorado and to the best of my knowledge is American made. They answer their phones in timely fashion and their tech service is OUTSTANDING (personal thanks to Sean @ Mushkin). As far a quality goes I'm sure GSkills is good also but if you ever have an issue be prepared... Can't say I didn't warn you. Oh yeah, the only caveat to using more than 3 GB of ram in the boards I've mentioned to you is that for the full amount (anything over 3 Gb) to be recognized in your system you will HAVE to use a 64bit operating system. Both windows Vll and LINUX are available in 64bit.