VERY Novice (1st Time Builder) Please help! - i5 Gaming Build

[Dardore]

I had a Dell 7100 XPS ordered... but they tried to delay it over a month. I cancelled, and I am going to attempt to build my first new PC. Please help! I am afraid I am going to screw something up though, so I depend on you guys I'd REALLY like to get the cost down more if I could under $800 or so if it were possible. Did I miss anything?

Approximate Purchase Date: Immediately

Budget Range: $1000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Web Browsing, Watching Movies

Parts Not Required: Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com & Amazon.com

Country of Origin: United States of America

Parts Preferences: I'd like a pretty powerful gaming computer that will hold me through the next few years

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Yes

1
Antec Three Hundred Black Computer Case
Item #:N82E16811129042
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$69.95
$59.95

1
Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
Item #:N82E16819115072
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
$224.99

1
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
Item #:N82E16820231311
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$84.99

1
MSI P67A-GD65 (B3) ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813130574
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$179.99

2
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 5770 100283-3L Video Card
Item #:N82E16814102873
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy
-$5.00 Instant
$239.98
$229.98

1
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" SATA 6.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #:N82E16822136533
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$89.99

1
LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer Black SATA Model iHAS424-98 LightScribe Support
Item #:N82E16827106335
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$24.99

1
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817341022
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 32-bit 1-Pack
Item #: N82E16832116989
Return Policy: Software Standard Return Policy
-$15.00 Instant
-$13.00 Combo
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$224.98
$196.98




Grand Total: $1,091.86





Thanks in advance.

 

[Dardore]

Did you replace the 120mm with 200mm case fans also?

 

[nd_hunter]

Yes, a red LED Megaflow, one for the top as exhaust too. I do have to say, the red looks good while not being annoying. It glows more than it shines, if that makes sense.

EDIT: I did not replace the 120mm rear exhaust fan.

 

[mattyboyywonder]

Why has no one brought up the z68 board? Launching next week is the brand new z68 chipset which basically puts the h67 and p67 to shame by offering the best of both worlds. Thats what i am waiting for.

 

[TopGun]

There have been a few reviews saying that you are going to want 8GB of RAM for a 64 bit system (I believe 1 here on Tom's if somebody has a handy link to it). I'd advise that.

If you had more time to put the build together, you can save quite a bit of $$$ by waiting for the wanted (or similar) parts to have promos or mail-in-rebates. You can check how low a price has been on Newegg at camelegg.com. For instance, the Spinpoint goes on sale fairly often for $54.99 seen here on camelegg saving you $15. Memory often has 15%-25% off on email specials from Newegg.

I understand if you want to get it all now though (my 1st build was very exciting too). I agree with a lot of the parts recommended. I'm just saying...if you had the time, you could probably get the cost down a lot closer to your $800 goal. No matter what though...you will get a lot more PC for a lot less price by building it yourself.

Good luck to you!

 

[nd_hunter]

Why has no one brought up the z68 board? Launching next week is the brand new z68 chipset which basically puts the h67 and p67 to shame by offering the best of both worlds. Thats what i am waiting for.

Because he didn't say he needed a rig for gaming and video editing/encoding. He wants to game and OC and Crossfire 2 GPUs. P67 does this, and it does it well. Why pay a premium for features he won't use? I'm excited for Z68 and quick sync too.

 

[mattyboyywonder]

I understand if you want to get it all now though (my 1st build was very exciting too). I agree with a lot of the parts recommended. I'm just saying...if you had the time, you could probably get the cost down a lot closer to your $800 goal. No matter what though...you will get a lot more PC for a lot less price by building it yourself.

I like the idea but what about warranties if you wait too long and a part doesnt work your stuck

 

[mattyboyywonder]

Because he didn't say he needed a rig for gaming and video editing/encoding. He wants to game and OC and Crossfire 2 GPUs. P67 does this, and it does it well. Why pay a premium for features he won't use? I'm excited for Z68 and quick sync too.

To my knowledge the z68 is going to be veryyy moderatly priced

 

[Deadstick50]

One word of caution i want to toss into this whole case fans debate here......
make sure you are pulling more CFMs out the back of the case than what you are pulling in the front, if you get turbulence in the case especially around the cpu your temps will hit the roof!! (this is a voice of experience)

 

[nd_hunter]

To my knowledge the z68 is going to be veryyy moderatly priced

Yes, but still more than its P67 or H67 counterpart. All I'm saying is even $20 more is still $20 down the drain in this case...

 

[nd_hunter]

One word of caution i want to toss into this whole case fans debate here......
make sure you are pulling more CFMs out the back of the case than what you are pulling in the front, if you get turbulence in the case especially around the cpu your temps will hit the roof!! (this is a voice of experience)

I understand what you're saying, but I'm running positive pressure and I have good temps...

 

[cmadrid]

One word of caution i want to toss into this whole case fans debate here......
make sure you are pulling more CFMs out the back of the case than what you are pulling in the front, if you get turbulence in the case especially around the cpu your temps will hit the roof!! (this is a voice of experience)

Do exhaust fans at the top help prevent this as well?

 

[TopGun]

I like the idea but what about warranties if you wait too long and a part doesnt work your stuck

This is true. Some parts you would be able to test in a different system just to see if they work...otherwise, it is somewhat of a risk. Personally, for me...I'm gambling that the risk (defective part + expired warranty) is worth the reward (saving potentially hundreds of dollars). Hopefully most of the more expensive parts have longer than a year (my personal goal is to acquire all the parts within the year) time-frame anyway.

 

[Deadstick50]

Do exhaust fans at the top help prevent this as well?

As far as I konw...yes, top fans above the CPU will stop turbulence from happening