first computer build

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brallen1

Member
Dec 6, 2012
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Hello,
I am looking forward to building this computer. As this is all new to me, if someone could review my choices or offer suggestions to improve performance or prevent conflict's , I would be grateful ! I got the idea to build from ketchup79 (thank you) and only made a few changes to his recommended system.
This system will be used for gaming at 2560x1600 in ultra settings. It will also be used for stock trading using esignal advanced GET software.
I'm buying in the US
if over clocking could help, then i'd do it as long as it's stable
Hoping to get the system finalized so that can be ordered next week, Dec 21-25
Hope this is enough to get started, Thank you

Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver Thermal Compound AS5-3.5G - OEM 9.99

Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply 74.99

Intel Core i5-3570k Ivy Bridge

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 680 2GB Video Card

BELKIN BE112230-08 8 Feet 12 Outlets 3780 Joules Surge Protector 19.99

GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 Motherboard 136.99

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 CPU Cooler 30.99

TP-LINK TL-WN722N USB 2.0 High Gain Wireless Adapter 17.99

Kingston HyperX Blu 16GB

SAMSUNG DVD Burner SATA Model SH-224BB - OEM 17.99

Western Digital WD Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive 109.99

Keyboard?
Mouse?

COOLER MASTER CM Storm Stryker Computer Case
HP ZR2740W Monitor
 
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DSF

DSF

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2007
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I think you hit most of the sticky questions, but you left out one of the most important, which is your budget. We can get a sense of it from the kind of parts you chose, but it really helps to have a specific number.

Basic thoughts:
- You're buying a Z68 chipset board and an Ivy Bridge CPU, which is a potential compatibility problem. To avoid that issue buy a Z77 chipset motherboard.

- Arctic Silver is unnecessary unless you want to have thermal goop on hand for future tinkering, which isn't necessarily a bad idea. The cooler will come with some though, so I don't want you to think it's mandatory to buy it separately.

- At that res if you truly want the highest settings you're probably looking at a dual-GPU setup.

- If I'm guessing at your budget correctly then you should find room for an SSD.
 
Torn Mind

Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
12,078
2,772
136
The 'power user' recommendation for your stock trading software lists an i7. Will your usage be that heavy? If so, you'll find it best to invest in the i7-3770 or i7-3770K.
The recommendation page also mentions:
In addition, we recommend the Power User Requirements for users of eSignal, Advanced GET Edition, in particular.
Click to expand...

I do not see an SSD in there. It will help.

Your Z68 motherboard will likely need to first have a Sandy Bridge chip installed first, then your perform a BIOS update, and then the Ivy Bridge chip can work.

Depending on what games you want to play, you might need to SLI or Crossfire, and that can affect motherboard choice, but I'll let the experts chime in on that.

Arctic Silver is ok, but there are better alternatives performance-wise.
 
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brallen1

Member
Dec 6, 2012
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$2000.00 or so. Don't want what to spend unnecessarily. An ssd sounds great! What to get? I have no idea what kind of motherboard to get. Your suggesting SLI , then do I need the 680 or would 670 do?
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
I would probably get a Xeon E3-1230 V2 and a H77 board. Same cost as 3570K+Z77 but the performance of a stock i7.
 
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brallen1

Member
Dec 6, 2012
60
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the primary use will be gaming, not charting, so want to focus on computer gaming. I would like to get close to ultra settings when possible, but not at any cost. will use windows 7 premium for os.
 
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dmoney1980

Platinum Member
Jan 17, 2008
2,471
38
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brallen1 said:
the primary use will be gaming, not charting, so want to focus on computer gaming. I would like to get close to ultra settings when possible, but not at any cost. will use windows 7 premium for os.
Click to expand...

If you're looking to play games at max setting @ 2560x1600, then you'll need dual video cards.

Maybe 2 of these in crossfire: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ab=true&Page=2

motherboard options:
Asrock extreme 3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157330
extreme 4 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157293

Asus vlk- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131837

This power supply deal is HOT- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

the i5 3570k cpu is your best bet if your primary concern is games. you can buy that cooler master 212 cooler you listed and get a decent overclock out of it.
 
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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
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www.mfenn.com
Dual GPUs are the minimum requirement to play at the highest settings and 2560x1600. Even then, you will be running at well under 60 FPS in some games (Crysis, Shogun 2, etc.) Triple or quad GPU setups are possible, but those types of setups certainly qualify as "performance at all costs".

i7 3770K $330
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 $125 AR
G.Skill DDR3 1600 16GB $79
Sapphire 7970 3GB Crossfire $740 AR
Samsung 830 256GB $205
Seagate 2TB $110
Lite-ON DVD Burner $18
XFX Core 750W $85 AR
Corsair 400R $100 AR
Xigmatek Dark Knight II $52
Rosewill Cherry MX Black $75 - the red version is also good
Logitech G400 $50
Total: $1969 AR
 
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Torn Mind

Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
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brallen1

Member
Dec 6, 2012
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Sorry for the confusion, my bad. I have a HP lp3065 which is 2560x1600 and was thinking of the smaller moniter for this system. But I am thinking of the HP zr30w now. I'll be able to use it for charting down the road. Also, I noticed your preference for AMD over Nvidia. Why? Thank you for your input...
 
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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
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www.mfenn.com
brallen1 said:
Also, I noticed your preference for AMD over Nvidia. Why? Thank you for your input...
Click to expand...

Costs less for the same performance?

See this chart 7970 CFX vs GTX 680 SLI. They trade blows depending on the game and are overall quite close. The only big discrepancy is in Batman where I think the AMD benchmark must have been run with Crossfire disabled. GTX 680 SLI will run you something like $900 versus the $740 for 7970 CFX.
 
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MrK6

MrK6

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2004
4,458
4
81
brallen1 said:
mfenn, would there be a problem substituting the I-5 3750k for the I-7 3770k ?
Click to expand...
You'll lose hyperthreading and some a tiny bit of clockspeed. You can easily make up the clock speed with overclocking, and most applications, especially most games, are not threaded enough to take advantage of hyperthreading. Sometimes, the overhead of hyperthreading can actually decrease performance.
 
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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
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www.mfenn.com
brallen1 said:
Any thoughts on adding some lighting on the inside ? I like the CM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119260.
Click to expand...

You can add some LED fans or CCFL tubes to light up the inside if you want. I haven't kept up with that sort of thing since I was in my teens though. FrozenCPU is a great place to get that sort of thing.

As for the case, objectively speaking the Storm Stryker is a worse value than the 400R. Subjectively, I also think it's hideous. However, if it looks good to you and you don't mind spending the extra $50, then I don't see any reason not to get it.
 
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