Gaming Build < 1k

[calel]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.

primarily MMO gaming, then light gaming with games like Skyrim and L4D2

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20&#37; spread

$1000

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

USA, primarily online from Amazon and Newegg (sales tax in B&Ms is 8.25%).

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.

Intel. Leaning towards nVidia but won't rule out a spectacular sale on a comparable or better ATI.

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

Windows 7
Mouse and Keyboard
22" Monitor (planning to buy a new 24" one at a later date)
2 x 1 TB Seagate 7200 RPM drives

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

Yes

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

Overclocking to around 4 (it's my first OC)

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

Starting at 1680x1050, but eventually 1920x1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

November, no later than mid December. Only really watching the post Thanksgiving sales for new monitors and possibly SSD deals.

Current Proposed Build:
(note: I do not have a Microcenter within reasonable driving distance for the current CPU+Mobo combo sale.)


CPU: i5 2500k $219.99
Mobo: ASUS P8Z68-V LE $139.99
CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus $25.99
PSU: SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W $86.99
RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) $46.99
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB $239.49
HDs: 2 x 1 TB Seagate Barracudas ($143 already purchased)
DVD : ASUS DRW-24B1ST $19.99
Case: Corsair Carbide 400R $104.01 (before rebate)

Total: $1023.44 + $12 shipping

 

[lehtv]

CPU Good
Cooler Good
Mobo Good
PSU 520W doesn't need to be modular. XFX 550 $70 ($55 AR) or XFX 650 $90 ($60 AR) or XFX 750W XXX 80+ silver modular $120 ($90 AR) [for dual-GPU in the next 5 years, if so switch to Asrock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 $125]. All these are high quality Seasonic units.
RAM Won't fit under Hyper 212+. G.Skill RipjawsX 1600 $47
GPU 6950 2GB instead, you'll want 2GB of VRAM for your eventual 1080p resolution. 6950 can also be unlocked to 6970 at a high success rate. XFX 6950 2GB $275 after promo ($245 AR). Lifetime warranty just like EVGA.

Overclocking to around 4 (it's my first OC)

Good plan, 4Ghz can be achieved with no voltage tweaks at all. Just set multiplier to 40 and you're done . It also happens to be frequency after which you start to see declining MHz/Watt. And you can always OC to 4.5 when you need the extra oomph

 

[calel]

Thank you for the feedback. I imagine I would've been pretty frustrated when I discovered the RAM didn't fit under the cooler!

Updated my build list with your suggestions. I don't plan to do crossfire. It would be a lot of money spent on a feature I may never use.

CPU: i5 2500k $219.99
Mobo: ASUS P8Z68-V LE $139.99
CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus $25.99
PSU: XFX Core Edition PRO550W $69.99 (before rebate)
RAM: G.Skill RipjawsX 1600 $46.99
GPU: XFX 6950 2GB $274.99
HDs: 2 x 1 TB Seagate Barracudas ($143 already purchased)
DVD : ASUS DRW-24B1ST $19.99
Case: Corsair Carbide 400R $104.01 (before rebate)

Total: $1044.94 + $11 shipping (before $50 worth of rebates)

 

[Ken g6]

Here's a CPU/PSU bundle that saves $20 before rebates, or $15 after. The Corsair PSU has a surprisingly low 12V amp rating, and is only 80+, not bronze, but it's still plenty for a single 6950.

 

[calel]

Is the case alright (like for the size of the GPU and airflow)? I've been using Antec for my builds up to this point, but I'm interested in a case with decent cable management this round. I noticed that some of the tech guides are starting to recommend the NZXT cases.

 

[mfenn]

GPU 6950 2GB instead, you'll want 2GB of VRAM for your eventual 1080p resolution. 6950 can also be unlocked to 6970 at a high success rate. XFX 6950 2GB $275 after promo ($245 AR). Lifetime warranty just like EVGA.

You sure that XFX will unlock? I did a quick look around and found mostly negative.

Thank you for the feedback. I imagine I would've been pretty frustrated when I discovered the RAM didn't fit under the cooler!

Updated my build list with your suggestions. I don't plan to do crossfire. It would be a lot of money spent on a feature I may never use.

CPU: i5 2500k $219.99
Mobo: ASUS P8Z68-V LE $139.99
CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus $25.99
PSU: XFX Core Edition PRO550W $69.99 (before rebate)
RAM: G.Skill RipjawsX 1600 $46.99
GPU: XFX 6950 2GB $274.99
HDs: 2 x 1 TB Seagate Barracudas ($143 already purchased)
DVD : ASUS DRW-24B1ST $19.99
Case: Corsair Carbide 400R $104.01 (before rebate)

Total: $1044.94 + $11 shipping (before $50 worth of rebates)

For unlocking purposes, I would stick with the 6950 2GB Dirt3 edition because it is a known quantity.

Also, for the RAM I would get some plain old DDR3 1333 for $40. No clearance issues to worry about and there is practically no difference between DDR3 1333 and DDR3 1600 for gaming (maybe 1%).

 

[mfenn]

Is the case alright (like for the size of the GPU and airflow)? I've been using Antec for my builds up to this point, but I'm interested in a case with decent cable management this round. I noticed that some of the tech guides are starting to recommend the NZXT cases.

The 400R is quite good for airflow and GPU sizing. It isn't the quietest in the world though.

 

[lehtv]

You sure that XFX will unlock? I did a quick look around and found mostly negative.

No, I'm not. I may have made it sound like it will, didn't mean that. I picked it because of the price and lifetime warranty (I regarded unlocking it as a potential bonus). But of course the OP can get the Sapphire card for the same price, trading lifetime warranty for a 3&#37; increase in performance

Here's a CPU/PSU bundle that saves $20 before rebates, or $15 after. The Corsair PSU has a surprisingly low 12V amp rating, and is only 80+, not bronze, but it's still plenty for a single 6950.

Also 3 year warranty instead of 5.

 

[calel]

Hmm, it seems like a coin toss at the point. There's no guarantees that the Dirt3 will unlock (but has a high success rate). The unlocked version only nets a small increase in FPS until I also OC it too.

I'm tempted to go with the XFX because I like the warranty. I also probably won't push the limits of the card with the MMOs I'm playing/planning to play and the 6950 stock seems to hold its own with beasts like BF3.

 

[mvbighead]

I'd second the "value" RAM point. I have a Hyper212 with the RAM that was recommended to avert your clearance issue, and I still have my memory in slots 2 & 4 because slot 1 is blocked by the fan. Had it been standard memory, all slots would've been accessible.

 

[calel]

I did a little searching around too and it sounds like the difference between 1333 and 1600 for how I'm using my computer will not even be noticeable. Sounds like I might as well save a few bucks.

 

[lehtv]

I did a little searching around too and it sounds like the difference between 1333 and 1600 for how I'm using my computer will not even be noticeable. Sounds like I might as well save a few bucks.

Just remember that 1600mhz is the default for Ivy Bridge, though 1333mhz should work as well. I'd expect there to be a performance-related reason for 1600mhz being the default for IB, so if you're aiming to possibly upgrade to a PCIe 3.0 graphics card along with Ivy Bridge (PCIe 3 isn't supported by SB; you also need a Gen3 motherboard like Asrock Extreme3) in a couple of years, 1600mhz would be a good idea IMO.

I'd second the "value" RAM point. I have a Hyper212 with the RAM that was recommended to avert your clearance issue, and I still have my memory in slots 2 & 4 because slot 1 is blocked by the fan. Had it been standard memory, all slots would've been accessible.

Ripjaws fit under 212+ fine

 

[mfenn]

Just remember that 1600mhz is the default for Ivy Bridge, though 1333mhz should work as well. I'd expect there to be a performance-related reason for 1600mhz being the default for IB, so if you're aiming to possibly upgrade to a PCIe 3.0 graphics card along with Ivy Bridge (PCIe 3 isn't supported by SB; you also need a Gen3 motherboard like Asrock Extreme3) in a couple of years, 1600mhz would be a good idea IMO.

I don't think that upgrading from Sandy to Ivy will make much sense from a price/performance point of view, and Haswell will be a different socket altogether (and maybe DDR4 for all we know). So I'd say that the OP should keep what he's got.

 

[mfenn]

No, I'm not. I may have made it sound like it will, didn't mean that. I picked it because of the price and lifetime warranty (I regarded unlocking it as a potential bonus). But of course the OP can get the Sapphire card for the same price, trading lifetime warranty for a 3% increase in performance

Usually I consider unlocking the shaders, "OCing" to 6970 clocks, and bumping Powertune to +20% as part of unlocking the card, but I should probably be more specific.

I say "OCing" in quotes because once you've unlocked the shaders and bump the Powertune limit, you have a 6970 for all intents as purposes.

 

[lehtv]

I don't think that upgrading from Sandy to Ivy will make much sense from a price/performance point of view

Not on it's own, you're right. But combined with a PCIe 3.0 graphics card, it could be. And the cost of upgrading to Ivy wouldn't necessarily be that much if you managed to sell the Sandy CPU for a good price. It all really depends on the circumstances at that time, and paying a few bucks more for memory that will get the most out of Ivy isn't a bad idea. As long as he doesn't buy 1066 or 1866, no complaints from me...

 

[calel]

A great big thank you to everyone who gave me advice.

Got all my parts and put the computer together on Wednesday. With the exception of slicing my thumb open on the motherboard back plate (thank god for that Tetanus shot 5 years ago), it was my smoothest build ever. Maybe dripping sacrificial blood on your case is a good thing... Everything turned on and functioned and I installed Windows 7 without a hitch.

I went with a Sapphire card. I felt particularly daring when I was installing the card and flipped the BIOS switch before finishing the computer. After the computer was on and software installed, I checked GPU-Z and it had unlocked the shaders successfully. :thumbsup: Now I get to try OC'ing it.

I'm going to let the computer mellow at current speeds for a bit before trying to OC it. I suspect it's going to sing in the current games I play prior to the OC anyway.

 

[fastamdman]

Don't forget to turn the rig off to let the thermal paste cure Glad you got everything up and running well.

Also to be clear anything above ddr3 1333mhz isn't a major improvement and nothing above ddr3 1600mhz will be seen real world.

 

[mvbighead]

Ripjaws fit under 212+ fine

My Ripjaws and my 212+ beg to differ.

 

[fastamdman]

Im sure it depends on the board, the mounting position of the fan/heat sink and the ram slots your using.

 

[calel]

I put the RAM in the 2nd and 4th slots at the recommendation of the ASUS install guide. I actually went with the G.Skill Sniper series because Newegg had them cheaper at the time. The fan will just touch the top of the RAM in slot 1 if fitted flush at the top with the heatsink...moving it up a fraction will fix that.

 

[lehtv]

My Ripjaws and my 212+ beg to differ.

As I'm sure you know since you have both those components, the heatsink fan can be pushed up by a few mm to accommodate the Ripjaws under the fan on motherboard where the issue arises. It doesn't affect temperatures noticeably

 

[mfenn]

My Ripjaws and my 212+ beg to differ.

It also depends on whether or not you have the original Ripjaws or Ripjaws X. The X are ever so slightly taller.

 

[mfenn]

A great big thank you to everyone who gave me advice.

Got all my parts and put the computer together on Wednesday. With the exception of slicing my thumb open on the motherboard back plate (thank god for that Tetanus shot 5 years ago), it was my smoothest build ever. Maybe dripping sacrificial blood on your case is a good thing... Everything turned on and functioned and I installed Windows 7 without a hitch.

I went with a Sapphire card. I felt particularly daring when I was installing the card and flipped the BIOS switch before finishing the computer. After the computer was on and software installed, I checked GPU-Z and it had unlocked the shaders successfully. :thumbsup: Now I get to try OC'ing it.

I'm going to let the computer mellow at current speeds for a bit before trying to OC it. I suspect it's going to sing in the current games I play prior to the OC anyway.

Glad you got everything up and running successfully!