Buying a Gaming PC Today

[ShantzMD]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
1.A. I will be mostly gaming and HULU/ Internet

2. What YOUR budget is.
2.A. I would like to keep it around $1,000

3. What country
3.A. The USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
4.A. Not really. Looking Intel sandy bridge for sure.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
5.A. I have a monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, Coolermaster HAF X, Hyper 212+ cooler, Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
6.A. Yes looking for final recommendations

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
7.A. Yes will be overclocking. Looking at 2500k

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
8.A. 1920x1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
9.A. ASAP

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

So, I got paid today (YAY!) and have around $1,000-1,100 to finish my build. Would like to buy from newegg. I get the email blasts and there are 10% off coupons for Corsair PSUs, desktop memory, and SSDs.

Really I just want to see what you all come up with to get the most bang for my buck. Thanks ahead of time.🙂

 

[biostud]

You do the finding of your own, post it, then we'll critique your build.
Videocard 6950 or GTX 570
4gb ram
P67 board

 

[mnewsham]

Using these 3 promo codes (EMCKFJE23 EMCKFJE26 EMCKFJE34) i'v got this:


CPU/Motherboard Combo

RAM

GPU

PSU

SSD

Total: $1,104.94
After Promo(s): $1066.94

$85 in MIR, Total after MIR: $981.94

 

[aphelion02]

I shamelessly stole SSD, GPU, and promocodes from mnewsham:

i5-2500k+ Corsair AX850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.624958

Gigabyte UD4 + Ripjaws X 8gb 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.632650

OCZ Vertex 2 , stolen from mnewsham
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162075

Galaxy GTX570, stolem from mnewsham
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227551

$1,152.66 after promo - $70 MIR= $1,082.66 after MIR

mnewsham: how the hell did you find those promos? Didn't see them in email.

mnewsham: I really like your build if you up the PSU to a Seasonic x750 which is at $130 after promo now.

Edit 3rd: I realize I am massively overkilling it on PSU, looking for a good SLI / crossfire solution now.

 

[mnewsham]

I shamelessly stole SSD, GPU, and promocodes from mnewsham:

i5-2500k+ Corsair AX850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.624958

Gigabyte UD4 + Ripjaws X 8gb 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.632650

OCZ Vertex 2 , stolen from mnewsham
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162075

Galaxy GTX570, stolem from mnewsham
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227551

$1,152.66 after promo - $70 MIR= $1,082.66 after MIR

mnewsham: how the hell did you find those promos? Didn't see them in email.

mnewsham: I really like your build if you up the PSU to a Seasonic x750 which is at $130 after promo now.

Edit 3rd: I realize I am massively overkilling it on PSU, looking for a good SLI / crossfire solution now.

I got 2 email's with the promo codes 😉
Link

Also you mixed the GPU link and the SSD link up.

I was going to go for a 750w 2x GTX 570 but it was over budget by about 200 or 300 so i took off a 570 and lowered the PSU to the 550w Corsair (IIRC that series was all Seasonic rebrands.)

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

~194$ for a 2500k

 

[ShantzMD]

I finally got home and had time to shop! Here is what I have so far.

Intel i5-2500K + Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4-B3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.622005

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2x4gb) DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231426

MSI R6950 Twin Frozr II OC Radeon HD 6950 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127562

OCZ Vertex 2 60GB SSD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227550

Corsair Enthusiast Series 650W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

ASUS DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135204

Microsoft Windows Home Premium 64Bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754

TOTAL With Rebates and Shipping = $1,119
TOTAL After MIR = $1,064

Any Thoughts?

 

[mnewsham]

I finally got home and had time to shop! Here is what I have so far.

Intel i5-2500K + Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4-B3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.622005

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2x4gb) DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231426

MSI R6950 Twin Frozr II OC Radeon HD 6950 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127562

OCZ Vertex 2 60GB SSD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227550

Corsair Enthusiast Series 650W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

ASUS DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135204

Microsoft Windows Home Premium 64Bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754

TOTAL With Rebates and Shipping = $1,119
TOTAL After MIR = $1,064

Any Thoughts?

Dont get the ripjaws, get the ones i posted besides that looks fine.

 

[mnewsham]

Oh, and the PSU is overkill by about 200-300 watts over what your max draw will be.

 

[ShantzMD]

I have an Enermax 500W power supply in my current machine. Would that be enough power?

Also, other than $4 difference between the Ripjaws and the ones you posted any reason to switch?

 

[mnewsham]

I have an Enermax 500W power supply in my current machine. Would that be enough power?

Also, other than $4 difference between the Ripjaws and the ones you posted any reason to switch?

the stupid heatsinks block larger heat sinks and just cause problems that dont really DO anything...

And yes 500w would be fine, can you tell me the specs of it? Model number or the +12v rail rating?

 

[ShantzMD]

Yup its an Enermax ELT 500AWT the side says +12V1 22A and 12V2 22A. Cuz if I dont have to spend another $85 that would be sweet.

 

[aphelion02]

I finally got home and had time to shop! Here is what I have so far.

Intel i5-2500K + Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4-B3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.622005

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2x4gb) DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231426

MSI R6950 Twin Frozr II OC Radeon HD 6950 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127562

OCZ Vertex 2 60GB SSD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227550

Corsair Enthusiast Series 650W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

ASUS DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135204

Microsoft Windows Home Premium 64Bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754

TOTAL With Rebates and Shipping = $1,119
TOTAL After MIR = $1,064

Any Thoughts?

2GB is overkill for 192x1080 imo, go with the 1gb version. I like this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-523-_-Product

 

[aphelion02]

Dont get the ripjaws, get the ones i posted besides that looks fine.

Those ripjaws are only $5 more and come with a free flash drive 😛. Also, don't they use higher quality flash (don't quote me on this).

 

[mnewsham]

Those ripjaws are only $5 more and come with a free flash drive 😛. Also, don't they use higher quality flash (don't quote me on this).

Lol no, i managed to OC the pair i suggested higher then the identical ripjaws. Just luck of the draw, same memory YMMV the ripjaws will do better sometimes the value stuff will do better sometimes too.

 

[ShantzMD]

Would it be worth it to maybe go for the Geforce 560TI OC like this instead?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127569

or this one for $249
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127565

 

[mnewsham]

The 6950 performs better, i would just go with a 1GB 6950

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/331?vs=330

 

[aphelion02]

I'm partial to the 6950 because its slightly faster, and cheap enough to warrant OCing yourself should you really wish to.

 

[ShantzMD]

Thanks for the help everyone. I just pulled the trigger as I had posted it. I think I should have enough clearance on the memory. I'm keeping my existing rig as a backup and I got the 650W Corsair because of the rebates and promo codes was the same price as smaller PSUs.

With my previous parts order from Newegg for the CoolerMaster HAF-X, Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB, and Hyper 212+ cooler my grand total was $1,376... Not too bad for a new pc.

I've been running my current PC for about 6 years now. AMD X2 4200+, 2GB memory, 300GB harddrive, 500w enermax, Geforce 7950GT and good old Win XP. This is going to be a HUGE upgrade for me.

 

[aphelion02]

Not shabby at all, congrats! Pics soon 😛 ?

 

[ShantzMD]

Will do. Ill post pictures up as soon as I get them =)

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Thanks for the help everyone. .... This is going to be a HUGE upgrade for me.

Pair it up with Win7.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for the help everyone. I just pulled the trigger as I had posted it. I think I should have enough clearance on the memory. I'm keeping my existing rig as a backup and I got the 650W Corsair because of the rebates and promo codes was the same price as smaller PSUs.

With my previous parts order from Newegg for the CoolerMaster HAF-X, Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB, and Hyper 212+ cooler my grand total was $1,376... Not too bad for a new pc.

I've been running my current PC for about 6 years now. AMD X2 4200+, 2GB memory, 300GB harddrive, 500w enermax, Geforce 7950GT and good old Win XP. This is going to be a HUGE upgrade for me.

You may end up with clearance issues on the Ripjaws and Hyper 212+. Also, I would have gotten a reference design 6950 2GB so that you'd retain the ability to unlock it to a 6970.

 

[ShantzMD]

My order just came in ... damn have to work till 5. I'll be posting pictures of the build tonight. I hope I don't have clearance issues but we will know soon enough.

 

[ShantzMD]

So far so good! No clearance issues with the ram and Hyper 212+. I only have had a chance to get Windows 7 64bit installed, do some updates, get firefox, download avg, and install Starcraft II. What utilities should i use to test stability and is there a good overclocking guide for my motherboard Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4-B3? Thanks again!