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1K build -- Just need a check-in (thanks!)

D

dowroa

Junior Member
All Gurus:

I have tried to do all the homework I could before posting, but I would just like some assistance in assuring I haven't made any glaring mistakes:

Forum FYI said:
PLEASE when you POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.
Click to expand...

1. MMO/Steam Gaming. I would be defined as a "Gaming Dad" and "Steam Rating 10" gamer by the time I put in at night/after work is "done". I am not hardcore, as in competitive/hardware/rules lawyer gamer/elitestjerk, but I am going to be mostly gaming on this PC, and everything else on the laptops. I would like to have something that can run games now, SWoTR, Diablo 3, SCII:HoTS, Guild Wars 2, WoW, Rift... and do it at ultimate settings @ 1920x1080p on Window7 Ultimate 64. If possible, but I would like it to not be SUPER LOUD, but I would prefer the box to function first for what it is being purchased for -- to run games.

2. My budget is around 1K. There is already a post on this forum that is close to what I already configured and made changes based upon it being really similar to what I had already mocked-up: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2179946

Using that post, and the fact I have NOTHING that is relevant in this day and age (last computer I built was in 2001 with RDRAM and an i845 Intel Chipset), I will be starting from scratch.

3. East Coast, USA.

4. Preferences:
- Modular Power Supply (Cosair)
- Intel Chipsets (i5/Sandy Bridge is about all I need for now [no FPSes])
- Prefer nVidia

5. No other current parts, other than HDTV (1080p w/HDMI), wireless keyboard and mouse)

6. Yes, see #2.

7. No overclocking desired for on-board CPU. If the GPU comes from a 3rd party, EVGA, overclocked and has a warranty, I am fine with it. However, I don't see my playing with stuff like this. I can, I am smart enough, I just don't prefer to. I don't have time to tweak in my life at this point (2 daughters and work take a lot of my time).

8. 1920x1080, single "monitor".

9. Between now and September. If there are new hardwares/releases coming that I don't know about (this is where I really would like help), or times of year there are better sales, typically, this is where I could use some help.

10. I AutoX/race competitively and work with Computer/Software/Civil Engineers daily. I am used to critical comments 🙂 😉

Thanks for all input, and here is what I currently have configured:

Tower:COOLER MASTER RC-692-KKN2 CM690 II Advanced Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case = $89.99

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard = 128.99

Video Card: EVGA 01G-P3-1561-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support FPB Video = $234.99

Power Supply: CORSAIR Professional Series HX650 (CMPSU-650HX) 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular = $119.99

Processor:Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K = 219.00

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBXM = 79.99

HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" = 59.99

Total = 933.93

Notes:
- I am loading it with 8GB of RAM as I am running Windows 7 Premium 64, and I can address it.
- Chose a smaller/cheaper Mobo as I am not planning on running SLI
- Connecting directly to a HDTV 1080p and playing with wireless peripherals.


If there is anything I left out/made unclear, I am sure that those intelligent individuals will let me know.

Thank you for your help, and I appreciate it!

- brian
 
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RAM

Your GPU wont be getting you very high graphics, you will hit high and medium no problem but you wont be able to crank up the filtering or anything.

If you can stretch to 1,500 bucks then we would get you something that would blow games out of the water, currently you are sort of just in the mid-range gaming area.
 
I just built a new rig with that case and you'll absolutely love it, the i5-2500k is also a great choice. The 560 Ti is a great choice but at 1920 x 1080, you may run into certain limitations. I have a stock EVGA GTX 470, which performs a little less than the 560 ti, and on 1680x1050, I max Dirt 3, APB Reloaded, BFBC2, Shift 2 Unleashed. All pretty graphically heavy games and all run above 40+, and thats with DX11 enabled in everything. So I'm sure you'll enjoy the hell out of that build. For ram, if possible I'd spend the extra couple bucks and just grab a 2x4GB ddr3 ram set, mnewsham posted some ram but personally for some reason I like having ram that has heat spreaders, so I'd just look around and choose a set in the $80 range. Just make sure its 1.5V and not anymore, as far as I can tell, Sandy Bridge sometimes doesnt play nice with sets above 1.5V. Thats really all the advice I can give ya! I hope you enjoy your build!

Kukag
 
First, thank you, Slufa111. I have updated my build with that RAM. I just didn't think of going to 4GB DIMMs when I was changing up my build. Thanks for correcting that oversight.

Second, of course first post since 2008! 😉 I always register at forums and do a lot of research. I just don't necessarily post unless I have something relevant to state. I was building for SWoTR/D3/WoW then, but just decided that nothing was really out at the time, and I should just wait.

Third, thank you for the input about video cards. I have been trying to hit up Tom's Hardware and read a lot of about modern video cards to see what I really need to run a 1920x1080P setup well. I am stuck with an HD TV (or it would be convient) so I assumed that running @ 1920x1080p30Hz was what I needed to build for. What I think I might do is just go with the setup (with RAM changes made) and run with that for a while. Once I have enough to spring for a really nice video card, I will (upgrade this time, since I never did in 2001....)

For a video card, could anyone suggest an nVida card that would get me in the range of what I am looking for? Please note that I am playing everything on a tri-boot Macbook Pro (work/travel/linux/everything machine that's refurb) with integrated 512MB graphics. So, anything is better than the 17fps I am running at (if even that!). 🙂 Do I need to be looking at a 570 or greater? If it is just THAT expensive, I might figure out what resolutions the TV supports (Spectre 40"), and just drop the resolution, or move to a monitor (I would not prefer to do this, due to space constraints and setup in the "man room"), but I would like to work with what I have, to start.

Thank all! I really appreciate it!

- brian

Ps. Going to see what resolution this TV runs natively, as I might be making a bad assumption.
 
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TV Runs at: 1920x1080p @ 60Hz w/HDMI.

I will do some more research tonight to find a card that can push that. I don't mind spending more on the video card to support that. I would just like to get there.

I am assuming, depending on the nVidia card I find, I am going to need to bump the power supply up, as well.

Maybe an EVGA GTX 580 with my current Power Supply (which can do 600 W w/12V@22Amp).... or bigger?

Thank you, gentlemen (and ladies, if there are any). 🙂

- brian
 
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Just throwing this out there, Intels stock cooler runs the processors fairly warm...I suggest a decent / low-end aftermarket cooler.
 

Artic Cooling?

Or a Cool Master Hyper 212?

So, yea, I have thought about that. If you have a suggestion that fits into a case, I am all for it. I would appreciate it, and I think I will be ordering today to get the deal on the GTX 580.

Thanks, gentlemen!

- brian
 
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If someone doesn't mind -- is there any concern with running the 600W Cosair with the GTX 580, or should I bump up the power supply?

Thanks, and once I have some learned input on that, I will be ready to order.

Thank you, gentlemen!

- brian

Edit: Searching around for modular 750s to get some voltage overhead... if anyone has input on modular vs no, let me know. I am pretty sure I would prefer to go modular.
 
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Okay do NOT get the gtx 580, 450 bucks for 10% more performance then the gtx570 (280 bucks) almost a 50% price increase for 10% performance, you must be daft to suggest that and downright reckless with money to actually buy it.
 
mnewsham said:
Okay do NOT get the gtx 580, 450 bucks for 10% more performance then the gtx570 (280 bucks) almost a 50% price increase for 10% performance, you must be daft to suggest that and downright reckless with money to actually buy it.
Click to expand...

Check it out, he has a few options here.

He could do a few things...

Get a GTX 580 for 454 shipped via newegg.com

Get a GTX 570 for 320.99 shipped via newegg.com with $20 MIR = 299.99 AMIR

Get 2 x GTX 460 1GB for 319.99 shipped via newegg.com with 2 x $40 MIR = 239.98 AMIR

SLIed GTX 460 1GB owns the GTX 570 and even beats the GTX 580 at a FRACTION of the price. I would say GTX 460's are the best bang for the buck.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/306?vs=314

As far as the heatsink and powersupply, if your not overclocking the Hyper 212+ is great, you might even look at Xigmateck GAIA but they are at the same price point and the Hyper 212+ has better performance. The powersupply will be fine for SLIed GTX 460's or a single GTX 570. If your looking for a modular PSU, the XFX XXX Edition 650W is amazingly stable. The cables bend easily and are wrapped so there is no mess to deal with. My 2 cents!
 
Slufa111 said:
SLIed GTX 460 1GB owns the GTX 570 and even beats the GTX 580 at a FRACTION of the price. I would say GTX 460's are the best bang for the buck.
Click to expand...

Wow! I had no idea! (thinking of 6850CF... must RESIST!!! >.<) I knew it beat the 480 and the 570, but I thought the 580 was better! NICE!!!

Since this is the case, I would get 2 460s or one 570. The only real reason to get a 570 is better stability/ compatibility and 50W less power consumption.
 
At 1080p, a single GTX570 is more than enough for most games.

And for PSU... 600W is more than enough for any single GPU configuration.

Since you don't plan on overclocking the CPU, I would just use the stock cooler first. It doesn't matter if temperatures are a little "warm." There wouldn't be a point in including a stock cooler if it wasn't sufficient in keeping the stock cpu within a safe temperature range. You shouldn't have to buy a 3rd party cooler unless the stock cooler is too loud, or you plan on overclocking.
 
Davidh373 said:
Wow! I had no idea! (thinking of 6850CF... must RESIST!!! >.<) I knew it beat the 480 and the 570, but I thought the 580 was better! NICE!!!

Since this is the case, I would get 2 460s or one 570. The only real reason to get a 570 is better stability/ compatibility and 50W less power consumption.
Click to expand...

Well, lets be fair 🙂 in some apps and games the 580 beats the 2 460's but not in many. So is it worth the extra 250 bucks? I say no.
 
The only real reason to get a 570 is better stability/ compatibility and 50W less power consumption.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input, gentlemen. I appreciate you helping me get up to speed quicker.

I am assuming that getting this GTX 570 would be a good choice?

Offhand, I don't see a difference between the 570-KR and 570-AR. If someone has a preference, please let me know. Else, I am going to pick the KR.

For my build, I would prefer to go with just one video card, since i chose a motherboard that was smaller/more compact.

Thank you, gentlemen.

- brian

Edit: AR is lifetime warranty and KR is 10 year warranty.... doesn't matter. That is server iterations past Moore's Law.
http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?m=1092983&mpage=1&print=true
 
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dowroa said:
For my build, I would prefer to go with just one video card, since i chose a motherboard that was smaller/more compact.
Click to expand...

Your motherboard is smaller/more compact? Your ATX board is plenty big enough for SLI.

If your going with a single card, I would go with a 6950. Same performance, just less money.
 
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Sorry. Smaller than the original board that I didn't post in this thread (part of the 3 year research 😉 ).

If SLI 460s (which I have NO frickin' clue how to SLI, or how much of a PITA they are, which I have "heard" they are), then I would consider them. However, for what I am doing, it appears that the 570 would do what I want, and would be easier to install/setup.

I will take the advice of those much more experienced than I, in this instance. But, correct me if I am wrong -- if I am not satisfied, I could just Step up the 570 to a 580 (this logic should work for the 460s as well, of course).

Thanks again, and I am so close to hitting ship!! ;D You guys!! :shakes fist: 😉

- brian
 
Look at it this way. try to stay with me.

One 570 is 299.99 after rebate = Decent performance but not the best bang for the buck if your going single card only.

One 580 is 454.99 Shipped = Over priced for the performance you get.

Two 460 is 239.99 after rebate = Will get you better performance than all of the cards I listed, for a lower price. Best bang for the buck if you choose to go SLI. Your motherboard will come with a SLI Bridge. Connect the bridge b/t both cards, and connect power. Done

One 6950 2GB is 250 shipped = Best bang for the buck vs. performance at the level of single card

End of the day.... If you don't mind going SLI, get two GTX 460 1GB. If you want only one card, get a 6950 2GB.

Your choice. I am just here to help you make an intelligent one.
 
You forget to mention SLI profiles, each game needs its own SLI profile to work properly. And no it doesn't always work. In these games you would have one 460 instead of two, SLI or X-fire is more of a pain, single gpu is always preferable to 2.
 
Slufa111 said:
Two 460 is 239.99 after rebate = Will get you better performance than all of the cards I listed, for a lower price. Best bang for the buck if you choose to go SLI. Your motherboard will come with a SLI Bridge. Connect the bridge b/t both cards, and connect power. Done
Click to expand...

That's the easy part of SLI. Mnewsham posted the PITA part.

mnewsham said:
You forget to mention SLI profiles, each game needs its own SLI profile to work properly. And no it doesn't always work. In these games you would have one 460 instead of two, SLI or X-fire is more of a pain, single gpu is always preferable to 2.
Click to expand...
 
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