Rate my $1000 Gaming Rig(Starcraft 2) Please?

[Heinstar]

I'm currently building a dedicated Gaming Rig optimized for Starcraft 2 and my budget is around $1000. I prefer to keep it under $1000 but it can go up to maximum of $1500 and doesn't matter how long my Gaming PC lasts if it's worth the money in the long run.

I'm going to use a single monitor in 1920x1080 resolution. And I'm going to play Sc2, DotA 2 and HoN majority of the time. I will also try out other games like LoL, Skyrim, Dragon Age II, GW 2, Tera, WoW and Diablo III.

I'm planning to buy these components:

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K $229
Mobo: Asrock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 $145
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3(1600?) $65
HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HD103SJ $59
GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II OC 1GB $249
Case: Cooler master 690 II advanced $114
PSU: Antec Neo Eco 520W $69

Total: $914+ $84 shipping = $994

I'm trying to buy everything from this site: www.pccasegear.com because they are the cheapest online store in Australia.

So few questions:

1. Do you agree with this setup been cost effective? Or do you have suggestions for better components?
2. Should I go with 560Ti or HD 6950? I know 560Ti will work better on Blizzard games but I don't think I'll get bottleneck anyway so if HD 6950 is better overall I probably should go for that.
3. If I should go with 560Ti can you choose the best value one from here? http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=193_1193
4. If I should go with HD 6950 can you choose the best value one from here? http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=193_1179
5. I'm still unsure about the RAM. I listed the RAM is the best one with price-to-value raio from PCCG below, which RAM should I go with that gives the most performance and is worth the money?
1.) G.Skill Ripjaws X F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM (2x4GB) DDR3 (1600MHz 8-8-8-24 1.5v) $79
2.) G.Skill Ripjaws X F3-10666CL7D-8GBXH (2x4GB) DDR3 (1333MHz 7-7-7-21 1.5v) $72
3.) G.Skill Ripjaws F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 (1600MHz 9-9-9-24-2N 1.5v) $65
4.) G.Skill F3-10600CL9D-8GBNT (2x4GB) DDR3 (1333MHz 9-9-9-24 1.5v) $55
5.) G.Skill Ripjaws X F3-10666CL9D-8GBXL (2x4GB) DDR3 (1333MHz 9-9-9-24N 1.5v) $59

what does 2N mean? Do they perform better? You can see more RAM from PCCG here: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=186_912

Any help is appreciated, cheers.

Note:
- I'm getting 2500K instead of 2400 because Starcraft 2 is a very CPU intensive game and I want to have 60FPS minimum all the time.
- I'm thinking of getting 560Ti instead of HD6950 since I heard that Blizzard games performs much better on NVIDIA Graphics card.
- I'm getting 8GB RAM since 4GB isn't much cheaper.
- this Gaming Rig will only be used for gaming.
- I'm trying to get the most FPS in Starcraft 2 since it's a very CPU intensive game and I don't want to go below 60FPS.

 

[Nim Chimpsky]

I'd get this card. You might also consider an aftermarket CPU cooler like the Cooler Master Hyper 212: it'll help you get the most out of the 2500K.

 

[Zero_]

Another moba guy. Cool.

 

[amirp]

I agree with Nim Chimpsky, also since it's only $14 more for the ram you posted as number 1.) G.Skill Ripjaws X F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM (2x4GB) DDR3 (1600MHz 8-8-8-24 1.5v) $79
I would buy that one, but overall it's only a small difference. What's different between this and the one you selected is that it's Cas8 versus Cas9 on the other one.

Also get a cpu cooler, because you will want to overclock the 2500k since it's so easy...

best cooler for the price: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=207_23_845&products_id=12544

 

[aznshinobi]

i5 2500K + MSI 560 Ti TFII OC $449 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.717978
Corsair 8GB DDR3 1600 $48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233180
OCZ ZS 750w $90 ($25 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341049&Tpk=OCZ%20ZS750
Asrock Extreme3 Gen3 Z68 $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
Seagate 1TB + Lite-On DVD drive $68
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.696131
HAF 922 $90
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Tower-RC-922M-KKN1-GP-Black/dp/B0026FCI2U%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquid1240995-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0026FCI2U
Hyper 212 Evo $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099&Tpk=hyper%20212%20evo
Crucial M4 64gb $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148447
Total: $1000 before rebates

MSI 560 Ti TFII OC (Equals 570) review:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/27/msi-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-review/6
OC it a little more to 900mhz and it'll surpass the 570.

 

[amirp]

but he lives in Australia, gotta use his website for parts, no?

 

[aznshinobi]

Ahh just noticed that nvm then. AUS prices are more expensive so your build looks fine.

 

[Heinstar]

Okay thanks. Yeah I'm planning to buy everything from www.pccasegear.com


I decided to buy the option #4 RAM since:
1.) I'm never intending to buy windowed Case(no point buying pretty RAM if I'm not going to look at it).
2.) It will be easier to find matching RAM that's without heat spreader than with heat spreader in the future.
3.) It won't block large heatsinks.

I also changed to Antec 300 since:
1.) My setup doesn't need good air-cooling.
2.) Exterior looks better than CM 690 II adv.
3.) It's cheaper.
4.) I'm not going to SLI in the future.

Also, since I won't be bottlenecked by Starcraft 2 because it's not a GPU intensive game, which GPU is better value overall for the type of games I'm going to play? HD 6950 or 560Ti?

I'm going to use a single monitor in 1920x1080 resolution. It's going to be used for playing Sc2, DotA 2 and HoN majority of the time. I will also try out other games like LoL, Skyrim, Dragon Age II, GW 2, Tera, WoW and Diablo III.

So should I get a HD 6950 or 560Ti?

If it's 560Ti, could someone suggest me the best value 560Ti from here?
If it's HD 6950, could someone suggest me the best value HD 6950 from here?

 

[amirp]

No don't buy the number 4 ram is it's the slowest out of the ones you have listed.

Pick the number 1 ram preferably since it is 1600mhz and cas8, or pick the number 3 ram to save $14 and only a small performance hit as it's 1600 and cas9 latency.

Number 4 is 1333 cas 9 so it's the slowest one.

This is the video card I would chose:
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_1179&products_id=18197

And definitely get the Cooler Master hyper 212 plus I linked you earlier.

 

[siege_templar]

if u gonna play wow get an ssd it helps it heaps. i live in aus to and i know a guy that did it, he could stand in a hp zone and load heaps fast, his pc was old as well lol

 

[Heinstar]

Best answer selected by Heinstar.