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$2000 Build for BF3.....Please help review my selections

Baconator Model T101

Baconator Model T101

Junior Member
Just ordered from Amazon from the following list (10/04/11)
Thanks again for all the suggestions everyone. 🙂


ATX Case -----------------------Corsair 650D.......................................................http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Obsidi.../dp/B004UE1W9K

CPU ----------------------------Intel Core i5-2500K Processor.................................http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-2500K...2251599&sr=1-1

CPU Cooler----------------------Thermalright Silver-Arrow..........................................http://www.amazon.com/THERMALRIGHT-S...7675314&sr=1-1

SSD for OS and BF3-------------Crucial 128 GB m4...................................................http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-2-5-In.../ref=de_a_smtd

HHD for most games-------------Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB.....................................http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpo...ata/B002MQC0P8

Motherboard--------------------ASUS P8P67 (PRO)...................................................http://www.amazon.com/P8P67-Motherbo.../dp/B004ZJ14NE

Memory-------------------------Corsair 8 GB Vengeance Blu Low Profile 1600mhz......................http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengea.../dp/B0058J1Q7O

PSU----------------------------- [ Reused Corsair HX620 ]

Monitor-------------------------- [ Reused Acer AL2216W ]

Mouse--------------------------- [ Reused Microsoft Optical Mouse ]

Video Cards----------------------eVGA GTX 570 SC..................................................http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Superclocked-Graphics-012-P3-1573-KR/dp/B004O6MOC8

Optical Drive---------------------Lite-On(LightScribe).........................................http://www.amazon.com/Lite--LightScr...7362158&sr=1-1

Joystick(BF3)--------------------Logiteck Extreme 3D Pro..........................................http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Extre...&s=electronics





GAMES LIST-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Battlefield 3
Metro 2033
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. CoP
Just Cause 2
Crysis 1 and 2
Deus Ex
Elder Scrolls V
Fallout: New Vegas
Mirrors Edge
Portal 1 and 2
Euclideon pre-alpha/motionBRDell.ISO
Sniper: Ghost Warrior
Command and Conquer: Generals
World in Conflict
GTA IV
Supreme Commander 1
Dead Island (after patches)
Half-Life 2

Edited Notes:

Will fill the SSD to about 50% with other games as well
Going to stay with the ASUS. I'm a bit leary about going to a Manufacturer I'm not familiar with ( yea I know I'm a chicken)
No one noticed my "Easter egg" ? 😛
 
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General Hardware guys, does crossfire take advantage or hyperthreading?

IMO, input devices really make the expensive hardware shine. e.g. mouse (polling rate of 1000Hz) , keyboard (mechanical keyboard - use black cherry mx switches), pc monitor (120Hz)
 
Looks good. More than just the OS and BF3 will fit on the SSD.

Your motherboard is the weakest link I suppose. It's still a good motherboard but You might want to consider the Asus P8Z68 Pro.

I personally wouldn't waste my money on 2x hd 6950 2gb. One is good enough and once it's outdated you can get a better card a year later that will out do the two 6950's combined for the cost you will spend now on the extra 6950. Also if you went with one 6950 you could go with a smaller PSU.

What case is this all going into?
 
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Thanks for replies.

I'm using a MERC Stealth keyboard currently mostly because I love the arrangement of the WSAD keys. I'm also using a plain Microsoft optical mouse but it's about 5 years old.

I was thinking 6950s in CF after looking at the alpha and beta scores and not wanting my MINIMUM fps to drop below 60 if possible. Based on that I would think a GTX580 would be the lowest choice. I'd rather go overboard on the GPU than too little.

I want to load up the SSD to no more than 50%. I think I remember some benchmarks that showed once beyond that it degrades the life/performance of the drive but not sure.
 
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That is good thinking with the GPU. I hate dips in fps and if it's a GTX 580 that suits you then wait till the next gen comes out and get the 580 at a cheaper price. The way the prices reflect performance you'll see it is a hefty premium to pay but if that's the one you want look around in the Anandtech For sale/trade sub-forum too.
 
CPU ----------------------------Intel Core i5-2500K :thumbsup::thumbsup: this is only $150 in microcenter if there's one nearby you

CPU Cooler----------------------THERMALRIGHT SILVER ARROW................................http://www.amazon.com/THERMALRIGHT-S...7151410&sr=1-1 Not really needed for a good OC but :thumbsup: quiet and cool

SSD for OS and BF3-------------Crucial 128 GB m4...................................................http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-2-5-In.../ref=de_a_smtd :thumbsup::thumbsup:

HHD for most games-------------Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB.....................................http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpo...ata/B002MQC0P8 :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Motherboard--------------------ASUS P8P67 (PRO)...................................................http://www.amazon.com/P8P67-Motherbo.../dp/B004ZJ14NE Not bad if you don't want the possibility of SSD caching and using your integrated GPU as a backup. You could get a Gigabyte Z68X-UD3 for the same price

Memory-------------------------Corsair 8 GB Vengeance Blu Low Profile 1600mhz......................http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengea.../dp/B0058J1Q7O This for $50 instead G.SKill Sniper 1600 low-voltage

PSU-----------------------------Corsair Gold AX750....................................................http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Profes...uct/B003PJ6QWE Perfect for 6950 2GB crossfire but if you unlock and overclock them along with a heavy OC on your CPU, it'll be stressed to ~650W in full CPU/GPU load scenarios. While that's rare, it's still a bit high for my liking. Go for 850W instead: Antec HCP850 or Corsair HX850. That would probably also allow an upgrade to any SLI/crossfire combo of next-gen 28nm GPUs.

Monitor--------------------------Dell UltraSharp U2412M 24-in (1920 x 1200)....................http://www.amazon.com/Dell-UltraShar.../dp/B005J03SOQ
IPS for gaming? Meh... I'd get 120hz instead: Asus VG236HE

Case Fans(x3)-----------------Nocta NF-S12B.....................................................http://www.amazon.com/NF-S12B-FLX-Se.../ref=pd_cp_e_2 :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Video Cards(x2)-----------------6950 2Gb (Crossfire)..........................................http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-DV.../dp/B0055Y66A4 P183 can't mount a side fan to cool the cards... For a dual-GPU setup, I would absolutely want a case with one or more side fans, e.g. Corsair 400R or Coolermaster HAF series - or silverstone Raven RV-02. If that's not an option to you, perhaps it'd be better to get a single GTX 580 (e.g. this one).
 
Thanks for the ideas.

My backup plan was to get a Corsair 700D. I'm now starting to lean toward a GTX 580, I can always get another later but would be stuck with the 6950's.

Yep, don't care about built in graphics or HHD cashe at all.

You may be right with the 120Hz monitor. I wanted IPS but that Dell might be a bit slow for gaming I'm afraid.
 
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I've never had a problem using IPS panels for gaming, though some may be more sensitive to it that I. I cannot stand to use a washed out TN when I'm not gaming though.

As for the build:
- CPU: Good
- HSF: Alright, but not worth $90. Get the Hyper 212 EVO instead, should be easily good for 4.5GHz
- SSD : Good
- Mobo: $160 is too high for a P67 IMHO. Check out the ASRock Z68 Extreme 3.
- RAM: Get G.Skill as lehtv said. I'd get the DDR3 1333 8GB kit though, because DDR3 1600 doesn't really do anything.
- PSU: 750W is perfectly fine for 6950 2GB Crossfire, but $170 is too much money IMHO. The XFX Core 750W is $85.
- Monitor: Good, but with CFX 6950 2GB, I would set my sights higher if possible. The U2711 for example.
- Fans: Good
- GPU: Good, $245 AR isn't a bad price.
 
I would not recommend a GTX 580 for any reason, if anything i would say get the GTX 570 and if you need to buy a 2nd. I fully support the two 6950's however 😛
 
Lots of good points everyone.

After looking at the AnandTech Benches it seems the GTX 580 is somewhat faster but way more expensive so yep, not as good of value, it's going to be a toss up.

Thinking about the AX750 because I wanted the Gold efficiency, don't mind using power for the overclocking but hate wasting it if I don't have to. Heating up a room in Phoenix, AZ is not fun either 😛

Don't plan to overclock the GPU's. With a 27" I think my fps would be very good but with a 24" they would never drop below 60 pretty much anywhere if I go for the Crossfire setup. I currently have a 22" Acer AL2216W and it's almost big enough.

Just noticed the memory suggestion. I was researching on the main sites(AT/Tom's/[H]ard) and they did some benches at different memory frequencies. There was no real difference except when you dropped from 1600 to 1333MHz and that was only like 10% or less but the price difference was negligible so that's why I picked the 1600. I chose the low profile to get under any oversize CPU coolers I might pick.
 
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There was no real difference except when you dropped from 1600 to 1333MHz and that was only like 10% or less but the price difference was negligible so that's why I picked the 1600.
Click to expand...

Maybe the memory comparisons you were looking at weren't on a Sandy Bridge platform. On SB 1600MHz benefits you about 0% in gaming, 1-2% in cpu-intensive apps/tasks and up to 3-4% if you're heavily multitasking.
 
The Merc Stealth is a great keyboard for gaming and IMO the best... I am typing on one right now.

The P8Z68 motherboard not only gives you the ssd catch but it also has a USB 3.0 header on it so if your using a case like the Cooler Master Storm Enforcer you can make use of the 2x USB 3.0 ports that are on the front of the case.

For a mouse I highly suggest the Saitek Cyborg R.A.T. 7. I have one and love it!
 
Baconator Model T101 said:
Thinking about the AX750 because I wanted the Gold efficiency, don't mind using power for the overclocking but hate wasting it if I don't have to. Heating up a room in Phoenix, AZ i.
Click to expand...

The difference between Bronze and Gold is 5% or so best case. It's not worth it IMHO, but you can just barely break even after 5 years if you live in a place where electricity is above the national average.
 
Corsair H100 not worth paying for.

Corsair Vengeance not worth paying for either (unless you just have to have the bright blue looks.) XMS3 or G.Skill instead.

Corsair 650D can't mount a side fan to cool the dual GPUs. But I'd just go with a single GPU (GTX 570 ot 6950 2gb) and upgrade it next year to 28nm, the second GPU doesn't offer nearly enough at that resolution, and it forces you to buy a more expensive PSU and mobo.

AX850 is pretty expensive at $170. XFX 850 $125, HX850 $150 and HCP850 $150 are all better choices IMO. For single GPU, XFX 650W or Corsair HX650.

$170 is too much for a P67 mobo. You you can get a good Z68 board for less e.g. Asrock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3, Asus P8Z68-V LE (single-GPU), Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3 or Z68XP-UD3. If you want to stick with P67 (though I recommend Z68 still) you could get Asrock P67 Extreme4 Gen3 for $155.
 
lehtv said:
Maybe the memory comparisons you were looking at weren't on a Sandy Bridge platform. On SB 1600MHz benefits you about 0% in gaming, 1-2% in cpu-intensive apps/tasks and up to 3-4% if you're heavily multitasking. ____________
Click to expand...

That is reason enough for me to go with 1600MHz and recommend it 😉

Everything else looks good to me except the crossfire, I would recommend a GTX 570 for now and next year pick up the latest 600 series.

Also I would go with the Z68 Chipset on your Mobo.

Everything else looks good, im excited to see how it turns out!
 
mnewsham said:
1-2% performance for ~10% increase in price.... Hot damn! it makes PERFECT sense :sneaky:
Click to expand...

Actually, 1600MHZ memory itself is 10-20% faster than 1333mhz. But it increases the system performance by 1-2%, for a 1-2% increase in the price of the core components that determine system performance.

But since it improves gaming by 0%, it doesn't make a lot sense to buy 1600MHz for a PC that's primarily a gaming PC. On a big budget, it doesn't really matter that it doesn't make sense 😉
 
I'm going with the Corsair lp 1600 MHz memory because I couldn't find 1333 in that color that was also low profile. Just updated my list with extra notes. Hopefully I'm finished, going to order tonight if nothing else comes up.
 
Strongly disagree on the video card, you should not get a reference cooled 6970. I don't know why mfenn finds them so fascinating. Maybe you're into air planes? 😛
 
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