Gaming PC Build - Would like suggestions please

[vh5150_2002]

Hey all I have a list of components I am thinking about putting together and would like some feedback from the collective experts that do this kinda stuff regularly.

The use of the PC is mainly for gaming (like COD, Uncharted, Witcher etc) and media entertainment (video capture, photos, movies etc.) but in addition will use for Groupware activities - Office 2010 - e-mail, web browsing etc.

As for a budget -- I guess I was going with what the products cost, was trying to keep under 1K and would like the unit to last for 3-5 years all things being equal.

Equipment not needed: Monitor, keyboard, mouse

Equipment list-

MOBO - ASUS P8Z68-V Intel Z68 Express motherboard
CPU - Intel Core i5 Processor i5-2500K 3.3 Ghz
GPU - MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II
Mem - Corsair Vengeance Blu 8 GB PC3-12800 1600mHz
Case - Thermaltake Dokker Mid-Tower
PS -- Corsair Professional Series Gold High Performance 850AX
Cooler - Corsair Hydro Series H70
SSD - Intel 320 Series 40 GB Sata 3.0 - I was going to try and take advantage Intel Smart Response Technology and use the [FONT=verdana,geneva]SSD to cache the most regular used static data
HD - WD Vaviar Black 1TB 7200 RPM
BluRay - Samsung Blu Ray SATA Drive with Lightscribe

Total damage just under $1,400.00

I don't plan -- at least in the immediate future to use two GPU's

Is this overkill for a gaming/media/general purpose rig?

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[DesiPower]

Its decent gaming performance, not overkill in any way. Now if you had i7 and SLI, that would have been a different story...

 

[Dr.Bubbles]

There is not a lot i can fault here. You may want to consider saving yourself some cash by getting 4Gb or Ram rather that 8Gb. You won't see much of an advantage in gaming past 4Gb

 

[mnewsham]

There is not a lot i can fault here. You may want to consider saving yourself some cash by getting 4Gb or Ram rather that 8Gb. You won't see much of an advantage in gaming past 4Gb

for the price i usually just suggest getting 8GB anyway

However not at 90 bucks

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422

That is 80 and you wont notice a difference in performance (plus the heatspreaders on the Corsair ones can block your CPU cooler)

 

[fffblackmage]

If you want to try and keep cost under $1k, well, you spent too much on some things....

The H70 is expensive, and a cheaper cooler would suffice. Personally, I like the CoolerMaster Hyper 212+ for its excellent price for the performance, but it appears this clone is cheaper after rebate: $39 ($24 AR) - CORSAIR CAFA50 120mm CPU Cooler

The Corsair 850AX is undoubtedly expensive. And since you're not doing SLI in the immediate future, then you can just forget about doing it at all. This should shave a good deal of cost as well.

Antec HCG-620
XFX P1-650X-CAH9
Both PSUs are about $85, but comes down to about $70 AR. You could still do SLI, though I wouldn't recommend doing that in combination with overclocking.

Substituting the WD Black with a Samsung F3 1TB should also shave a few bucks without sacrificing performance.

 

[vh5150_2002]

Hey Thanks very much everyone, the more comments the better informed I become and I greatly appreciate it.

Will I have plenty of room to run the machine and possible expansion in the future with the 650w PS?

EDIT:

One other question for you all, what about AMD, is there a comparable or better processor form AMD -- i have never owned AMD but I see they can be much cheaper. Will the gaming experience be any different, does it matter?

thanks again!!

 

[stahlhart]

Overkill on the PSU unless you're planning for a space heater in there down the road. I'm running a pair of those 560s with 750 comfortably.

 

[mfenn]

If you want to try and keep cost under $1k, well, you spent too much on some things....

The H70 is expensive, and a cheaper cooler would suffice. Personally, I like the CoolerMaster Hyper 212+ for its excellent price for the performance, but it appears this clone is cheaper after rebate: $39 ($24 AR) - CORSAIR CAFA50 120mm CPU Cooler

The Corsair 850AX is undoubtedly expensive. And since you're not doing SLI in the immediate future, then you can just forget about doing it at all. This should shave a good deal of cost as well.

Antec HCG-620
XFX P1-650X-CAH9
Both PSUs are about $85, but comes down to about $70 AR. You could still do SLI, though I wouldn't recommend doing that in combination with overclocking.

Substituting the WD Black with a Samsung F3 1TB should also shave a few bucks without sacrificing performance.

:thumbsup:

Other good places to save some money:
- Mobo: No need to spend $200 on a Sandy Bridge mobo IMHO. Check out the ASRock Pro3 and Gigabyte GA-P67A-D3H.
- RAM: Get normal RAM without annoying heatspreaders as mnewsham suggested. This G.Skill is $75.

 

[SolMiester]

Yeah, if not going dual GPU, I can vouch for the Pro3, 4.7Ghz on 212+ @ 48-52 load!

 

[vh5150_2002]

Thank you everyone for your opinions and assistance.

 

[LuluTheMonk]

If you live near a microcenter, $240 for the 2500k + GA P67A UD3
http://www.microcenter.com/specials/...NDLEpromo.html

 

[Davidh373]

1. Get Gskill value RAM

2. Get a Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

3. Spend around $140 on a mobo

4. get a decent sized SSD or scrap it all together. 40GB is barely enough for Windows 7 alone. My install is up to 28.6GB and climbing, and you want to keep at least 15% clear of any data at all.

5. The PSU need not be $200. Get a Corsair Enthusiast 650W and save half of that.

A lot of your components seem expensive just to be expensive. Trim the fat and get yourself utility over shiny and new.

 

[betasub]

4. get a decent sized SSD or scrap it all together.

With the Z68 board, smaller capacity SSD can be used for caching (aka SRT). Handy if you already have the SSD, or can't afford anything larger - not sure what OP would be paying for his Intel 320 40GB. But I agree that better, more reliable performance comes from a larger SSD carrying your ow choice of apps/data.

 

[vh5150_2002]

Thanks everyone, you have given me much to think about.