Gaming Build ready to order, advice?

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Finns14

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2005
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Part list permalink: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7li5
Part price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7li5/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7li5/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ball Bearing CPU Cooler ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($94.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 550D ATX Mid Tower Case ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: OCZ 600W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($43.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH22NS90B DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $937.78
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-04-26 02:02 EDT-0400)


List above is from PC part picker would love any suggestions.

The MOBO will actually be $50 less if I combo it with the CPU at microcenter which I plan to do. Also newegg is running a deal right now where I get the Optical drive for free with the power supply I selected and its still OCZ so I think I am fine. Also I know the HDD is an odd choice but I have 100 worth of Best buy money laying around and that is where I am going to pick it up. So all in I am looking at $775 out of pocket which is good because I need a monitor as well as some peripherals.

Any thing you would swap or change?

Hoping to put some more money into this build over time and get some years out of it (SSD, More ram, SLI) will it be ok for that?

Thanks for all the help.
 
JamesV

JamesV

Platinum Member
Jul 9, 2011
2,002
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I'd drop the aftermarket CPU cooler, unless you expect to be doing extreme overclocks; you'd be amazed what the stock cooler can easily handle, and that $40 can be used elsewhere.

My 2600k/Z68 is currently running stock, because nothing can phaze it except The Witcher 2's ubersampling, and my Zalman cooler is sittting in it's box, waiting for me to stop being lazy and list it on Ebay.

If I were you, and money is somewhat an issue, I'd get a cheap $49 case and ditch the aftermarket cooler, and add a 120GB SSD to that build. Then later as an upgrade, buy a nice $150ish case and transer your parts into it.

Better to have the performance now, of which a SSD is a very noticeable improvement, that you will enjoy doing everything on your on new PC; and making it look cool later.
 
T_Yamamoto

T_Yamamoto

Lifer
Jul 6, 2011
15,007
795
126
Guys. OCZ makes perfectly fine psus.
Op, go look in our mid builders thread and you'll get a good understanding of what you'll need
 
Charlie98

Charlie98

Diamond Member
Nov 6, 2011
6,298
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I was going to say MC has been having sales on Seagate HDD's, but if you have BestBuy money, that looks pretty good (especially for BestBuy!)

I would tend to agree with some of the others... I would spring for a SeaSonic or Corsair PSU, I'm very pleased with both of my Corsairs, but this is just based on my experience.

I would keep the CPU cooler (the 550D is supposed to be a pretty tight case, every little bit helps...) and the 550D, it looks like a very solid case (I want one...) Understand it's a middy case... meaning it's probably bigger than you need (based on your parts.) The CoolerMaster HAF912 is a bit smaller and would save you some money (but would be potentially not as quiet as the 550D, if that's a concern.)
 
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Finns14

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2005
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Finns14

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2005
1,731
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JamesV said:
I'd drop the aftermarket CPU cooler, unless you expect to be doing extreme overclocks; you'd be amazed what the stock cooler can easily handle, and that $40 can be used elsewhere.

My 2600k/Z68 is currently running stock, because nothing can phaze it except The Witcher 2's ubersampling, and my Zalman cooler is sittting in it's box, waiting for me to stop being lazy and list it on Ebay.

If I were you, and money is somewhat an issue, I'd get a cheap $49 case and ditch the aftermarket cooler, and add a 120GB SSD to that build. Then later as an upgrade, buy a nice $150ish case and transer your parts into it.

Better to have the performance now, of which a SSD is a very noticeable improvement, that you will enjoy doing everything on your on new PC; and making it look cool later.
Click to expand...

I am hoping and thinking that I will be able to afford a 240 GB SSD in the near future so thats why I am kind of holding off so I can get more than just a boot disk out of it. I really like the case because not only is it quite with the ability to add more fans it doesn't look UBER LEET!!1111 which I am having a hard time finding too many other cases like that. Even with something like the cool masters I don't love the look of the wire mesh all over it.
 
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Upgrade_Itch

Senior member
Apr 25, 2012
236
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Finns14 said:
Its kind of odd how you look down at this PSU and then the site you tell me to look at gives it an 8.5 only draw backs being stiff cables and a loud fan
Click to expand...

Provide a link where JohnnyGuru recommends that $43 power supply from Ocz. Oh, thats right....he didn't review it.

Loud fan= fail
Most Ocz products= garbage

2006 Evostream OCZ 600 watt review: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story2&reid=26

TWO different products, for those that can read.
 
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lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
Here's a review by hardwaresecrets on the ModXStream 600W: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/OCZ-ModXStream-Pro-600-W-Power-Supply-Review/936

- Golden Award
"We were actually surprised with its performance"
"Voltage regulation from this unit is very tight [...] and ripple and noise levels, while not as low as we'd like to see, were still below the maximum allowed."
"One of the best cost/benefit ratios for the average user today" [Feb 2010]

For $44 AR, it's a bargain. The PSU is not garbage. But there are obviously better units, and they will cost more. I'd recommend XFX 650W for $65 AR, it supports SLI/crossfire and has enough power to handle almost any future upgrades you may do. 5 years warranty, quiet, reliable, price isn't bad.
 
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Finns14

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2005
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lehtv said:
Here's a review by hardwaresecrets on the ModXStream 600W: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/OCZ-ModXStream-Pro-600-W-Power-Supply-Review/936

- Golden Award
"We were actually surprised with its performance"
"Voltage regulation from this unit is very tight [...] and ripple and noise levels, while not as low as we'd like to see, were still below the maximum allowed."
"One of the best cost/benefit ratios for the average user today" [Feb 2010]

For $44 AR, it's a bargain. The PSU is not garbage. But there are obviously better units, and they will cost more. I'd recommend XFX 650W for $65 AR, it supports SLI/crossfire and has enough power to handle almost any future upgrades you may do. 5 years warranty, quiet, reliable, price isn't bad.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info but is it worth an extra $35?
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
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You mean extra $21? (Assuming your rebate goes through. If it doesn't, the difference is only $80-69 = $11.)
 
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Finns14

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2005
1,731
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lehtv said:
You mean extra $21? (Assuming your rebate goes through. If it doesn't, the difference is only $80-69 = $11.)
Click to expand...

$15 on the PSU price difference it self then another ~$20 because there is a deal with the PSU I posted for a free Optical drive. I plan on putting that money towards a monitor or saving it towads a SSD in the future.
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
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91
How do you plan to get a bonus optical drive from newegg for a power supply bought from ncix?
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
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Ah I see. $50 for a PSU and a DVD drive is a nice deal, I can't argue with that.
 
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Finns14

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2005
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Any monitor advice? Also is it worth it to have a USB 3.0 Header in the MOBO because my case does support it.
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
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Finns14 said:
Any monitor advice?
Click to expand...

How much are you willing to pay for a monitor? What sort of games do you play? Do you care about height adjustment?

Also is it worth it to have a USB 3.0 Header in the MOBO because my case does support it.
Click to expand...
Depends on whether you have use for front panel USB3.0.
 
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Finns14

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2005
1,731
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lehtv said:
How much are you willing to pay for a monitor? What sort of games do you play? Do you care about height adjustment?

Depends on whether you have use for front panel USB3.0.
Click to expand...

I will definitely play FPS and DIII might get back into WoW but I don't think that will matter graphically. CS: GO most likely. Keeping it under $200 shipped would be great. As far as USB 3.0 goes I don't really know what the advantages would be except I know it will be relatively faster transferring data. I do own an Iphone and a Galaxy tablet ....
 
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lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
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I will definitely play FPS and DIII might get back into WoW but I don't think that will matter graphically. CS: GO most likely. Keeping it under $200 shipped would be great.
Click to expand...
In that case, you're looking for a standard 23-24" 1080p TN panel.

Asus VH238H $165 ARhttp://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16824236153&user=u00000687

As far as USB 3.0 goes I don't really know what the advantages would be except I know it will be relatively faster transferring data. I do own an Iphone and a Galaxy tablet ....
Click to expand...
You're only going to benefit from USB3.0 transfer speeds if your external devices are compatible with it (I don't know if they are). And having USB3.0 in the front panel doesn't really matter unless you need to transfer large files to/from your external device relatively often.

However, new Z77 chipset boards generally have the internal USB3.0 headers, maybe you should buy one of those, e.g. Asrock Z77 Pro3 or Extreme4?
 
F

Finns14

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2005
1,731
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lehtv said:
In that case, you're looking for a standard 23-24" 1080p TN panel.

Asus VH238H $165 ARhttp://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16824236153&user=u00000687

You're only going to benefit from USB3.0 transfer speeds if your external devices are compatible with it (I don't know if they are). And having USB3.0 in the front panel doesn't really matter unless you need to transfer large files to/from your external device relatively often.

However, new Z77 chipset boards generally have the internal USB3.0 headers, maybe you should buy one of those, e.g. Asrock Z77 Pro3 or Extreme4?
Click to expand...

Ehh if that's all it's going to help for I'll probably just stick with the less expensive Z68 and thanks for the help you have been great all day.
 
jacktesterson

jacktesterson

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
5,493
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zt ocz series are great value

I personally wouldnt buy any other OCZ series though...aka modxstream
 
A

azeem40

Senior member
Mar 11, 2012
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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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www.mfenn.com
Finns14 said:
Ehh if that's all it's going to help for I'll probably just stick with the less expensive Z68 and thanks for the help you have been great all day.
Click to expand...

I believe the Z77 boards are eligible for the MC combo deal as well. Based on MC's listed price, you're only talking $10 more for the Z77 Extreme4.
 
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