12/11 Gaming PC Build - $1000+

[jasonz50]

Hi, folks.

After over 5 years of my 4200+, it's time to enter the new decade and build a new PC.

My budget is set at $1000 US, but I'm willing to extend that perhaps up to 25% if it would be worthwhile.

Uses:

1) Gaming - I'd like to see 60fps relatively consistently with as many of the settings cranked as possible.
2) Blu-Ray viewing
3) General Internet use

I want:

Moderate over clocking ability; nothing that would require any crazy PS, cooling, or effort to achieve.

120GB SSD
1TB storage
Strong single video card - I am NOT looking to SLI/Crossfire. I am willing to extend my budget here if needed.
Good sound card to be paired with Klipsch Promedia 5.1 speakers

General info:

Native resolution will be 1920x1080.

OS will be Win 7 64 bit.

I don't need KB/mouse/monitor/speakers or software.

I generally prefer nVidia cards, but if an ATI makes the most sense within my budget, so be it.

I plan to go 2500k for the CPU, but am open to other options.

I do not need anything special case-wise. Something plain and ugly of reasonable build-quality with good cooling is fine.

Please let me know if you need any other information.

Thanks!

 

[Ken g6]

Start by looking [thread=2192841]here[/thread].

Looks like you also want a blu-ray drive and sound card. These will extend your already over-extended budget.

 

[jasonz50]

Here is what I have so far:

i5 2500K: $225
ASRock Z68 PRO3: $100
Corsair Vengeance 8 GB ( 2 x 4 GB ) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) 240-Pin: $35
Cooler Master Hyper 212: $25.54
XFX Core Edition PRO650W: $90 (-$30 MIR)
Cooler Master HAF 912: $60
Crucial 128 GB m4 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive: $210
Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 2 GB DDR5 DL-DVI-I/SL-DVI-D/HDMI/DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 100312-3L: $265 (-$20 MIR)
SAMSUNG Black 12X BD-ROM: $54

I'll use the storage drive from current PC until HDD prices get back to normal.
I'll also salvage my X-Fi from the current PC as I assume it's better than the onboard sound.

Subtotal: $974 ($924 after MIR)

How'd I do?

Should I consider changing any components?

Could this build OC the 2500k to 4.5Ghz stable?

Thanks.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

How'd I do? Pretty good

Should I consider changing any components? Try looking for bundles

Could this build OC the 2500k to 4.5Ghz stable? I have no experience overclocking so I dont know

Thanks.

 

[jasonz50]

The biggest item I'm questioning is the GPU. It's clearly a good card for the money, but for longevity's sake, should I consider a different card? I'm willing to stretch somewhat here. Since I won't be using multiple cards at any point, I want to make sure that I have a decently strong performer.

I'm more than willing to keep it there if it's truly the best option for me.

Thank you.

 

[fastamdman]

ALL 2500k's can do 4.5

Edit: As far as gpu, I would spend a bit more and get a used gtx 580. You can pick them up for 350-400

Edit2: Just me, I would swap the psu to a corsair tx650v2 or tx750. That is just me though

 

[mfenn]

The biggest item I'm questioning is the GPU. It's clearly a good card for the money, but for longevity's sake, should I consider a different card? I'm willing to stretch somewhat here. Since I won't be using multiple cards at any point, I want to make sure that I have a decently strong performer.

I'm more than willing to keep it there if it's truly the best option for me.

Thank you.

The 6950 2GB is pretty much the best bang for the buck. The Sapphire you picked out can also potentially unlock to a 6970, which makes it an even better deal. Could you spend a bunch of money on a GTX 580? Sure, but that is way off the bad end of the price/performance curve.

ALL 2500k's can do 4.5

No, they can't. About 75% will do it on reasonable voltage.

Edit: As far as gpu, I would spend a bit more and get a used gtx 580. You can pick them up for 350-400

IF the OP is interested in used parts, this still isn't worth the money for the performance and heat increase.

Edit2: Just me, I would swap the psu to a corsair tx650v2 or tx750. That is just me though

Why? They are both Seasonics.

 

[jasonz50]

Everything's been bought and/or ordered.

I ended up with:

i5 2500K: $170 (Microcenter bundle)
Asus P8Z68-V: $120 (Microcenter bundle)
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800): $45
Crucial 128 GB m4 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive SATA 6Gb/s: $210
XFX Core Edition PRO650W: $83 (-$30 MIR)
Cooler Master HAF 912: $60 (-$10 MIR)
Cooler Master Hyper 212: $26
Cooler Master 120mm Silent Case Fan 4-in-1 Value Pack: $13
Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 2 GB DDR5 DL-DVI-I/SL-DVI-D/HDMI/DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 100312-3L: $265 (-$20 MIR)
Samsung 12x BD-ROM/16x DVD Writer Drive - Retail SH-B123L/RSBP (Black): $54

Storage HDD from current PC
X-Fi from current PC

Subtotal: $1046
Subtotal after MIR: $986

Look good? I figured with with the Microcenter deal I could spring for a better board and be able to tack on a second 6950 when they are cheaper in the future if I feel like it.

Thanks again.

 

[mfenn]

Very nice rig! Be sure to post here if you need any help getting it up and running.

 

[jasonz50]

So I slapped everything together, and at first it wouldn't post. The fans spun weakly, but that's it. I unplugged power from the 6950 and it seemed to post fine and the fans spun at a normal speed.

I plugged one of the two power connectors back into the card and again, no problems. With the second connector plugged back in, the system was struggling again. The two connectors on the 6950 seem to both be required from what I've seen, but I'm not 100% sure. I've not had any time to troubleshoot further. Is there a BIOS setting somewhere that needs attending to? Do I have a bum PSU? Something else?

Thanks.

 

[jasonz50]

/bump

 

[mfenn]

Yes, both PSU connectors are required for the 6950 to work properly. The fact that your fans spin more slowly with the second PCIe power connector plugged in makes me think that the voltage on the 12V rail is dropping too low for the system to run properly.

A working XFX 650W would have no trouble running that system, so it sounds like you got a lemon unfortunately. It's RMA time. Either do the exchange at Newegg or return it to Newegg for a refund, and order another from NCIX for $45 AR.

 

[jasonz50]

Dumb problem: I had the monitor cable plugged into the wrong DVI port on the video card. The fans spinning way down threw me off, so I figured that there was another problem.

The fans are still much quieter with the 6950 plugged in, which is odd, but it seems to not be a problem.

The 2500k is humming along at 4.5Ghz, and at full load under Prime95 it stays under 70C. It idles in the high 20s C. Voltage maxes at around 1.35v without any manual adjustments.

The GPU was super easy to unlock and overclock to 6970 specs.

The only issue has been the soundcard. My old X-Fi simply doesn't like Windows 7. I've exhausted all means to get it working, so I've ordered a newer Titanium in the hopes that it gets along better with the OS.

 

[mfenn]

Glad you got it working! You shoulda got a Xonar instead of another Creative card though.

 

[jasonz50]

I looked at them, but they came with as many mixed reviews as the Creative stuff, so I flipped a coin and ended up back with an X-Fi.

Anyway, the Titanium is in and it installed and is working flawlessly.

It's time to have the real fun now.

 

[mfenn]

But did it cost $15?

 

[jasonz50]

The ~$60 Xonar DX seemed much more comparable to the X-Fi.

I've been using Klipsch 5.1 Promedias for years. I wouldn't expect a $15 soundcard to drive them nearly as well as either of those.

If it means anything, the onboard Realtek audio was immediately and completely unacceptable to me, even though it's clearly a large improvement over prior iterations.

 

[mfenn]

I've been using Klipsch 5.1 Promedias for years. I wouldn't expect a $15 soundcard to drive them nearly as well as either of those.

You would expect wrong. The DX and DG chips are pretty much the same, and you would need far better speakers than Promedias to tell the difference between the opamps.