First build

[IanGutz]

Ok, Crysis 2 is on the horizon, and i would like to be able to play it at as high a level as possible. Keep in mind i have a good grasp on what parts I need and do what, but as for comparing model x to model y I have decided to come and ask you guys, the experts. This computer will be entirely for gaming only, as i have a MacBook pro that i do all my photo editing and browsing on.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
Gaming on crysis and crysis 2 as well as other visually demanding titles.

2. What YOUR budget is.
1000-1200

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

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
Intel Sandy Bridge.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts.
Monitor, mouse, operating system.

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

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I don't know much about over clocking but I would like to squeeze as much power as possible from my system. If i've left out a needed cooler or something for over clocking, be sure to chastise me.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1920x1080. Single screen.
9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Within a month or so. Not in a huge rush but would like it before Crysis 2 comes out.


Parts I believe I should purchase:
Antec true power 1000w
Intel 2500k unlocked processor
Antec 300 or similar case (just want good quality and adequate space, looks are unimportant)
p67 motherboard (when they are available for purchase again)
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline Stiletto 12GB 3X4GB PC3-10666 DDR3-1333
Kingston SSDNow V100 Series 64GB 2.5IN SSD (Not sure if necessary)
Random dvd drive (dont care for blu-ray)

The part I am really not sure about is what to buy for graphics, i was looking at:
Gtx 570 or 2 lower SLi cards
Radeon 6970 or 2 lower crossfire cards.
Not trying to start an Ati vs. Nvidia war, I just want the best performance for gaming within reasonable price.

Can use any and all advice, forgive me if i've stated something ridiculous, this is also my first post and I tried to follow the format of previously posted setups.

 

[mnewsham]

A 570 will be good, you do NOT need a 1000watt Power supply try 550-650, get a vertex 2 SSD instead of the kingston, and finally you should get 3dimms of ram as your Motherboard only supports dual channel and will only have 4 slots so 2x4gb (8gb) or 4x4 gb (16gb) or 2x2 (4gb) and 2x4 (8gb) to make 12 gb total. rest of it looks fine.


EDIT: 1 tb Samsung F3 for data drive HDD.

 

[IanGutz]

I've read that it may be better to purchase 2 gtx 460 than to use a 570. Which would be better for gaming/how well do games like crysis support dual cards? also, will 2 cards fit inside the case i mentioned?

 

[mnewsham]

I've read that it may be better to purchase 2 gtx 460 than to use a 570. Which would be better for gaming/how well do games like crysis support dual cards? also, will 2 cards fit inside the case i mentioned?

Games like crysis will support SLI however running two cards is never better then running a single card, two 460's/560's would be better then a single 570 yes but you use more power, more heat, you also have to deal with microstutter in games, and you must set up SLI profiles for the games you play and not all games support SLI. At that resolution a single 570 would be better in my opinion. And the ANTEC 300 should fit two 460's (not what i recommend)

 

[mfenn]

Games like crysis will support SLI however running two cards is never better then running a single card, two 460's/560's would be better then a single 570 yes but you use more power, more heat, you also have to deal with microstutter in games, and you must set up SLI profiles for the games you play and not all games support SLI. At that resolution a single 570 would be better in my opinion. And the ANTEC 300 should fit two 460's (not what i recommend)

:thumbsup: This, always go with a single-card solution if it is viable.

OP, do you have links to any Crysis 2 benchmarks? It's really kind of pointless discussing a build for a nebulous future release with no hard performance data. My advice to you is to wait until we have solid performance data.

 

[IanGutz]

No i don't have any links for it. I Just know i will for sure want to play it. I am not building the computer specifically for Crysis 2, it is just a game i would like to play on it. I just had it in mind because it was one of the DX11 games I know. If i buy a single card it would probably be a 570, i am not trying to future proof, i just want to be able to play what avalible now silky smooth (i.e. crysis, dead space 2, metro 2033) and games that are coming out using dx11. What about the ATi side of things, is crossfireX as problematic as SLi seems?

 

[mfenn]

No i don't have any links for it. I Just know i will for sure want to play it. I am not building the computer specifically for Crysis 2, it is just a game i would like to play on it. I just had it in mind because it was one of the DX11 games I know. If i buy a single card it would probably be a 570, i am not trying to future proof, i just want to be able to play what avalible now silky smooth (i.e. crysis, dead space 2, metro 2033) and games that are coming out using dx11. What about the ATi side of things, is crossfireX as problematic as SLi seems?

Yes, both SLI and CFX have the same fundamental issues.

My main point is that we can't guarantee that you will be able to play Crysis 2 well until some benchmarks are released.

 

[mnewsham]

And SLI induces microstutter so playing a game "smooth" might be a problem

 

[IanGutz]

Ok, so it looks like it'll be the 570. Why does nobody seem to mention ATi? Also, is there a reason i should go sandy bridge i5 over an older i7? i suppose i could spring for the 2600k but how much will I notice actually translating to framerate/gameplay ? Keep up the advice gentlemen, I am learning alot from you, and reading in between input.

 

[mnewsham]

The new I5 when overclocked can outperform the i7-980x, now if you would like to spend the money for the 980x dont let me stop you. However getting that performance (minus the cores) for $800 less seems like a fair deal to me. The only difference between the new i7 and the i5-2500k is that the i7-2600k has hyper threading and a higher stock clock speed. Which if you overclock is negated and in games hyper threading is mostly unused. So the difference between the two may end up being 2-5% and even less (if any) once the 2500k is clocked to the same stock speed. Also i didn't mention ATI because the competitor to the 570 is the 6970 which is ~$20-$30 more for the same performance (they trade blows here and there in some games)

 

[IanGutz]

mnewsham you are a lifesaver. So 2500k and GTX 570 I think shall make for nice game play. Will overclocking require me to buy special heatsinks or coolers? or does all that stuff come with the cpus/gpus nowadays? Excuse my ignorance, It has been more than 5 years since I built my last gaming PC. Is water or another specialty kind of cooling practical anymore? Is the case i selected have proper airflow or room for such extra cooling measures?

 

[mnewsham]

You might pick up a hyper 212+ cooler for the CPU as that will usually allow for a 4.4Ghz OC and temps around 60C (at load, which is good ) But if you dont want to pick that up the stock cooler is good up to about 4Ghz. (at least in my opinion) Water is still in use, and is still a rarity, (though getting more common) Your case will provide fairly good airflow, i prefer the antec 900, or the HAF 922, but the antec 300 is a nice case.(at that price range i would pick up the HAF 912 but i favor the HAF series over Antec) And if you didnt catch it the first time 500-600 watt PSU like this one will be fine.

 

[IanGutz]

Thanks for the case reccommendation. That case does look nicer. Would I lose anything by having something like a 750 watt PSU? I figured it's better to have a little head room, and they don't seem that much more expensive, rather than run out of juice and damage components.

 

[mnewsham]

well the one i linked is about 150watts higher then you will ever draw on full load is made by a respectable company and is only 50 dollars after rebate and has a coupon code at the moment.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Those XFX units seem like the hot ticket atm. Though you may not be able to build this rig until April so prices and product availability will be different.

 

[Anomaly1964]

These guys basically chose every component for me....LISTEN TO THEM!

 

[fffblackmage]

Thanks for the case reccommendation. That case does look nicer. Would I lose anything by having something like a 750 watt PSU? I figured it's better to have a little head room, and they don't seem that much more expensive, rather than run out of juice and damage components.

You'll have a little headroom with a 650W PSU.

You'll have a lot of headroom with a 750W PSU.

But anyways, I wouldn't build a gaming computer until you have a good idea of what kind of hardware you need to run the game at its best. If Crysis 2 is anything like the first Crysis was, then nothing you can buy now will get you playable framerates at the highest settings.

 

[IanGutz]

Is that really how long it will be until we get some SB mobos? Also to anomaly, would you mind sharing your setup?

@mnewsham I realize the one you posted would be great for what I said I would buy. I just meant will it hurt me if i buy bigger? say incase i wish to sli another 570 in later? or for some reason need more power down the road?

 

[mnewsham]

First sli now or never, down the road there will be better single cards to replace your current one, 98% of the fine you never sli later, second, nothing is "bad" it just won't be as efficient and you will end up using more power (from the wall)

 

[IanGutz]

Is that really how long it will be until we get some SB mobos? Also to anomaly, would you mind sharing your setup?

@mnewsham I realize the one you posted would be great for what I said I would buy. I just meant will it hurt me if i buy bigger? say incase i wish to sli another 570 in later? or for some reason need more power down the road?

So for right now for gpu(s) alone, would like to spend between 350-500(rather not go this high, but if i must). I will be ONLY gaming, my best card(s) for the buck is the 570? just want to be sure before i lay that down on a card. Feel free to give an opinion, all are welcomed.

 

[mnewsham]

Buy a 570 now if when you get crysis 2 and it isn't playable sell the 570 and buy a 580 or 670 or 680 or w/e is better at the time, I would save the money now for a future upgrade.

 

[Anomaly1964]

Is that really how long it will be until we get some SB mobos? Also to anomaly, would you mind sharing your setup?

@mnewsham I realize the one you posted would be great for what I said I would buy. I just meant will it hurt me if i buy bigger? say incase i wish to sli another 570 in later? or for some reason need more power down the road?

2500k CPU...
Coolermaster Hyper 212+...
GTX 570 OC...
XFS 650w modular Psu...
8GB GSKILL 1333 Ram...
HAF 932 Black Case...
Asus Optical...
Asus P67 Sabertooth MB...
W7 64 Home...


RECENT ADDS:

Gigabyte Aivia K8100 Keyboard...
Bose Companion 2 Series speakers...

 

[IanGutz]

Thank you for posting your setup. How does that thing run the games that you play? I think that is pretty much what i'd like to build.

 

[Anomaly1964]

Thank you for posting your setup. How does that thing run the games that you play? I think that is pretty much what i'd like to build.

I JUST installed my first game on it...Battlefield, Bad Company 2, cutting through it like a hot knife in butter!

 

[mnewsham]

I think anomaly went a tad over budget with that build, but to scale it back go with the haf 912/922 and the gigabyte ud3