Gaming rig build! First build since nf7 with amd 2500+Mobile Barton

[Cawchy87]

Hey Anandtech, I finally got a job out of university so I'm treating myself to a new gaming computer! I want it to be able to play Americas Army 3 on high settings. As I stated in the thread title, I haven't built a computer since my nf7 and 2500+M overclocking rig like 6 years ago. I had a sick 9800 pro with the r360 core too! Therefore I'm totally lost in the new world of motherboards, ram that goes faster than my old processor and dual, triple and quad core technologies.

I'm not a fan boy and simply want to best gaming computer I can get for under 1000CND priced out on NCIX without operating system.

Thank you to everyone for their input!

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
***Gaming, mainly Americas Army 3.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
*** $1000-1200CND

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
***Canada unless I find some cheap stuff on the buy/sell forums

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
***I just want the best gaming computer I can get

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
***Nope, everything I got is too old

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

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
***Depends on chip and mobo I get. I don't see why not.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
***1920x1200 - I have a benq 24 inch 16x10 monitor already

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
***As soon as I come to a decision on all the parts

UPDATEDx2! I think this is the computer I'm going to go with. Please give me your thoughts!

Case: Antec Three Hundred Mini Tower Gaming Case 300 ATX - 55.99
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...2&promoid=1088

PSU: Corsair TX650W 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX - 89.99
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...4&promoid=1088

MOBO: ASUS Maximus III Gene LGA1156 DDR3 2PCI-E16 PCI-E4 PCI 7XSATA2 GBLAN X-FI Sound - 149.99
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=44628

RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) - 124.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...scrollFullInfo

CPU: Intel Core i5 750 Quad Core Processor Lynnfield LGA1156 2.66GHZ 8MB Cache Retail Box - 227.99
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42499

Video Card: Used Sapphire 5850 bought locally - 225.00 ->This is 340.86+tax on ncix!
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=45093&vpn=21162-00-50R&manufacture=SAPPHIRE

Samsung SH-S243D/BEBE 24X Black DVD Writer SATA OEM - 32.99
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...acture=Samsung

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB SATA3 6GB/S 7200RPM 64MB Cache - 87.99
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...5&promoid=1088

CPU Heatsink: Cooler Master Hyper 212+ - 28.94
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=41337

Total(Updated Aug. 27): $1117.55 priced out on NCIX

 

[mfenn]

Your overall build looks good. I have a few comments though:

• I wouldn't both with any sort of discrete sound card these days. Onboard audio has come a LONG way since AC'97.
• Be aware that you're not going to be able to SLI with an AMD chipset. Nvidia still makes a few chipsets for the AMD platform, but the glory days of the NForce 2 are long gone. The AMD chipsets are overall a much better option in terms of features.
• You really, really should use Windows 7 instead of XP. Benefit from the last 9 years of OS innovation!
• The 768MB version of the GTX 460 is substantially slower than the 1GB version, especially at 1920x1200

By my calculations, you're at $320 with the parts you've already picked out (minus the sound card and GPU). To those I would add:

GA-870A-UD3 $110
G.Skill DDR3 1333 4GB $98
GTX 460 1GB $254
650TX $100
Total: $882

Like I mentioned above, this is NOT SLI capable. I question the wisdom of "upgrading to SLI" anyway because in a 12-24 months you'll be able to get a new $200 card with twice the performance.

EDIT: You can add a Corsair Force 60GB for $143 AR.

 

[Cawchy87]

I need help picking a cpu cooler. I will be overclocking this machine

 

[darkewaffle]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2100327

If you're ordering soon you can get that exact GPU for $210 shipped, though I think it might be backordered presently, see above link.

Or get a 470 for $250 AR + coupon, also comes with free Mafia 2 coupon. Edit: Also can get free Just Cause 2 coupon by way of a combo deal

For overclocking, a Cooler Master Hyper 212+ is a great value heatsink (14.99 + shipping refurbed from CM currently, dunno about stock). For performance, there's a few heavyweights that are all within a degree or two. I think the Noctua NH-D14 and Prolimatech Megahalems are the cream of the crop in most cases.

1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 $60 w/ coupon "HIGH5", pretty much equal in performance to the WD Black while saving you some cash.

As far as your configuration itself goes, looks solid. I'm not at all familiar with Americas Army so I can't really speak to whether you'd benefit from a 470 over a 460 though. Also seeing as you're going with Intel now, I think you'd benefit from picking a DDR3 1600 RAM kit, these Mushkin Blacklines would be my choice and even save you a couple bucks.

 

[mfenn]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2100327

If you're ordering soon you can get that exact GPU for $210 shipped, though I think it might be backordered presently, see above link.

Or get a 470 for $250 AR + coupon, also comes with free Mafia 2 coupon. Edit: Also can get free Just Cause 2 coupon by way of a combo deal

For overclocking, a Cooler Master Hyper 212+ is a great value heatsink (14.99 + shipping refurbed from CM currently, dunno about stock). For performance, there's a few heavyweights that are all within a degree or two. I think the Noctua NH-D14 and Prolimatech Megahalems are the cream of the crop in most cases.

1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 $60 w/ coupon "HIGH5", pretty much equal in performance to the WD Black while saving you some cash.

As far as your configuration itself goes, looks solid. I'm not at all familiar with Americas Army so I can't really speak to whether you'd benefit from a 470 over a 460 though. Also seeing as you're going with Intel now, I think you'd benefit from picking a DDR3 1600 RAM kit, these Mushkin Blacklines would be my choice and even save you a couple bucks.

He's in Canada I'm afraid. Good recommendation on the cooler though. CM might ship to Canada.

 

[Cawchy87]

Awesome information guys, I really appreciate it! Updates today include:

Video Card: buying an ATI 5850 for only 225CND second hand which is an absolute steal and much better than the 460 I was going to buy.

RAM: I updated to get the mushkin 1600 suggested

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212+ -> very good price and highly reviewed. Less than half the cost of one of the top of the line coolers too.

The best part is that I can make the upgrades to the ram, cpu cooler and video card and actually end up saving some money because of that local deal!

 

[mfenn]

Awesome information guys, I really appreciate it! Updates today include:

Video Card: buying an ATI 5850 for only 225CND second hand which is an absolute steal and much better than the 460 I was going to buy.

RAM: I updated to get the mushkin 1600 suggested

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212+ -> very good price and highly reviewed. Less than half the cost of one of the top of the line coolers too.

The best part is that I can make the upgrades to the ram, cpu cooler and video card and actually end up saving some money because of that local deal!

Well, a 5850 is pretty much equal to a GTX 460 (faster in some games, slower in others), so it is a pretty decent deal you're getting, but not a great one. AMD's Canadian pricing structure simply doesn't reflect market reality at the moment.

Everything else looks good!