High-End Gaming System

[3xVicious]

Bottom line, you're wasting your money by building a $2.5K system with the hope that it will last 3-5 years. We've given you our best advice that you should build a $1.5K system and upgrade in 18 months. But hey, it's your money, burn it if you want to.

I fully expect to see a thread in 2016 with the title, "So I spent way too much on my last rig and couldn't afford to upgrade until now, please help me come up with a sensible plan".

I understand where you're coming from, but you may understand my decision better if I explain the situation. The money was given to me for the sole purpose of a computer. If I want to I can spend even more on a computer, I'm only trying to restrain myself and trying to be a bit more sensible.

An example is, I don't need a 30in Monitor, I have no where to put it and quiet frankly I don't see why I need a 30" Monitor if a 23" 120Hz would work just as well, if not better... Otherwise I would buy one, I can also go Dual GeForce 580 GTX cards right now, I just see no reason to do it, especially when I can use the $500 and buy a better video card a year from now without having to upgrade everything else.

I also truly believe you're underestimating how long a system can last. I built my last computer in 2004, I remember spending $610 just on the OCZ 2GB DDR PC-3200 Dual Channel Kit, I also spent $1,200 on Dual GeForce 7800 GTs, when SLI was still considered brand new. Lets not forget spending $400 on the first Raptor drives, Dual 74 GB Raptors. I spent nearly $6,000 on the system and less then a year later spent another $4,000 on an Alienware Laptop. Even now both computers work fine and can run any game on the market, though admittedly the settings are set rather low on games like Starcraft 2 (Still pretty good for a 6 year old computer).

The only reason I'm even deciding to buy a new system is because recently one of my 7800 GTs died and I also had to replace the hard drives. So I figure its a sign that my 6 year old Ultimate Gaming System's lifespan has come to an end.

This system will last me 3 - 5 years. Yes, I may not be able to play the games at max setting, especially when games take advantage of PCI-Express 3 that is rumored to come next year, but it'll be enough to hold me over for another big upgrade. Also, one of the biggest factors in building a new computer now is because of SSDs and the new processors, if some new design changing technology comes along in a year or two, I'll probably build another one.

 

[Nebor]

D:

The most demanding thing I've played so far is Borderlands. :biggrin:

 

[BoomerD]

Then by all means, go hog wild. If you REALLY want to spend money on a computer...Intel just released the i7-990X. It's the fastest Gulftown processor to date.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115079

It's one of the few processors to be considered a "Sandy Killer."

Couple that with an ASUS P6T7 Super Computer Ultimate Gamer board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131390

Add 48 Gb RAM, Triple GTX 580 GPU's for that super gaming experience...and you'll have a computer that not many people can touch...and hell...a rig like that deserves a special, custom case...
http://www.amazon.com/CX-830DSPD-01-...8104505&sr=1-1

 

[mnewsham]

It depends on what people think satisfactory FPS and quality in a game is. I am just upgrading my C2D 6850 / 4GB ram / Ati 4870 512 system that I paid $2500 over 3 years ago and it is still giving me very good framerates at 1680x1050. Granted I haven’t played the latest and greatest but it gives me 30 - 60 fps in games like DoW2 , Fallout Vegas and Mass Effect 2 With everything turned on. I think you are over estimating how crappy a 2600k / GTX580 / SSD system will be in 3 years ( I know I’m not, I just bought one )

he isnt over estimating how crappy it will be he is simply saying from a price for performance stand point if you can play all games on max for the next 12-18 months for less money upfront the only thing you have to do later is sell the part you are replacing for a reasonable price (used computer parts can sell for a fairly good prices) then buy a better one for less. a gtx 570 now will play almost every game on max settings at 1920x1080, in 18 months when it cant i can sell it for 200 bucks then buy the gtx 770 or w/e it is and only pay about 150-200 bucks that is about the cost of a single 580 today but much better performance in the long run.


If i buy the i7-2600k now in 5 years the i5-2500k will be able to do the same in games as it did now. the i7 does nothing more then the i5 for gaming and that isnt going to change any time soon. So it is a complete waste, is it a good cpu? hell yea, is it the right cpu for the job? no.

 

[mnewsham]

Then by all means, go hog wild. If you REALLY want to spend money on a computer...Intel just released the i7-990X. It's the fastest Gulftown processor to date.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115079

It's one of the few processors to be considered a "Sandy Killer."

Couple that with an ASUS P6T7 Super Computer Ultimate Gamer board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131390

Add 48 Gb RAM, Triple GTX 580 GPU's for that super gaming experience...and you'll have a computer that not many people can touch...and hell...a rig like that deserves a special, custom case...
http://www.amazon.com/CX-830DSPD-01-...8104505&sr=1-1

No no no, if you are going balls to the walls you dont do that.... you do this:


Case needs to fit E-ATX motherboard

GPU's 4 of these (you need the best graphics afterall)

PSU's you need two of these (one for cpu 1, gpu 1/2, and motherboard and then the other PSU for cpu 2, gpu 3/4, ssd's, blu ray burner)

Motherboard

RAM you need four of these kits to max out your boards RAM

Blu ray burner (who knows why!?)

SSD you want 5 of these to fill out the remaining SATA ports

PCIE SSD (your boot drive)

CPU you want to get two of these to max out your board.

Total: $24,313.85

This computer should last you for a few years. good luck :awe:

 

[mfenn]

very good framerates at 1680x1050. Granted I haven’t played the latest and greatest

This system will last me 3 - 5 years. Yes, I may not be able to play the games at max setting,

I've snipped out the parts of your post that exemplify the flaw in both of your plans. If you would just built a midrange machine and upgrade it, you would never have to compromise on detail settings or resolution. Period.

he isnt over estimating how crappy it will be he is simply saying from a price for performance stand point if you can play all games on max for the next 12-18 months for less money upfront the only thing you have to do later is sell the part you are replacing for a reasonable price (used computer parts can sell for a fairly good prices) then buy a better one for less. a gtx 570 now will play almost every game on max settings at 1920x1080, in 18 months when it cant i can sell it for 200 bucks then buy the gtx 770 or w/e it is and only pay about 150-200 bucks that is about the cost of a single 580 today but much better performance in the long run.

If i buy the i7-2600k now in 5 years the i5-2500k will be able to do the same in games as it did now. the i7 does nothing more then the i5 for gaming and that isnt going to change any time soon. So it is a complete waste, is it a good cpu? hell yea, is it the right cpu for the job? no.

:thumbsup: My point exactly. Buying a ~$3K system with the intent that it will last 5 years means you will be suffering through crappy lowered settings and resolutions for 2.5 years.

 

[Cody1174]

If you get a 2500k or 2600k, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't just clock it to atleast 4.0ghz.

 

[SaberOne]

I’m new but this thread is really helpful. I think Zap’s recommended build sounds great as I’m in the same boat. Been with Mac since the Cretaceous period, but now I want a bulletproof W7 workstation that can double as a respectable gamer. I already have one NEC PA271 and will add another to the mix. The only thing I’m anal about is the SSD’s because they do make life more enjoyable. Anyway, thanks and hello to all.

Dan

 

[Nebor]

If you get a 2500k or 2600k, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't just clock it to atleast 4.0ghz.

I don't know why I would. I think my 2600k overclocks itself anyway, right? It's fast enough to run like 8 google chrome tabs at a time as it is.

 

[mnewsham]

I don't know why I would. I think my 2600k overclocks itself anyway, right? It's fast enough to run like 8 google chrome tabs at a time as it is.

You just went full retard :\

 

[Nebor]

You just went full retard :\

I thought turboboost auto-overclocked the i7?

 

[mnewsham]

I thought turboboost auto-overclocked the i7?

It over clocks one core for a small amount of time (usually a few seconds) and i can open 20 chrome windows on my i7-740Q (mobile CPU) and be fine, you didnt need the i7 for that

 

[fffblackmage]

Just because I saw this earlier in another thread and it fits here:

 

[Nebor]

It over clocks one core for a small amount of time (usually a few seconds) and i can open 20 chrome windows on my i7-740Q (mobile CPU) and be fine, you didnt need the i7 for that

I guess I just don't understand why I would need to manually overclock it. I can't imagine what I'd do with more than 8 chrome tabs at a time.

 

[mfenn]

I thought turboboost auto-overclocked the i7?

Yep, it does.

It over clocks one core for a small amount of time (usually a few seconds) and i can open 20 chrome windows on my i7-740Q (mobile CPU) and be fine, you didnt need the i7 for that

Not true.

Sandy Bridge has 8 different turbo boost levels, two each for 1 core loaded, 2 cores loaded, 3 cores loaded, and 4 cores loaded. Of the two levels for a given number of cores loaded, one is a "stable" turbo which can last forever and one is a "temporary" turbo which only lasts for a few seconds. The "stable" turbo on the 2600K is still 400Mhz for 4 cores, 300Mhz for 3 cores, etc.

 

[3xVicious]

Me Again, I'm sure I've made the final changes to my build now. The SSD is speculation because I have no idea if the rumors about a 120GB being $280 is true. But everything else should be final. I actually got the Razer Headset for only 20 dollars, I just traded my Logitech G5 Headset for it and paid the difference.

 

[mfenn]

Me Again, I'm sure I've made the final changes to my build now. The SSD is speculation because I have no idea if the rumors about a 120GB being $280 is true. But everything else should be final. I actually got the Razer Headset for only 20 dollars, I just traded my Logitech G5 Headset for it and paid the difference.

You wouldn't have to worry about the price of the SSD if you would swap the mobo to something even remotely reasonable.

 

[3xVicious]

You wouldn't have to worry about the price of the SSD if you would swap the mobo to something even remotely reasonable.

I'm not worried about the price, but if its over 350 I'll be going to Vertex 3 or 2 depending on the prices once again.

However, what would be a step down from that mother board? The ASUS P8P67 Deluxe?

 

[Zap]

However, what would be a step down from that mother board? The ASUS P8P67 Deluxe?

Get an Asus P8P67 Pro for under $200. The more expensive boards have stuff like NF200 chip or dual LANs, neither of which is needed. Oh yeah, and more advanced overclocking via one of those plug-in hand held controllers, but you said you won't be overclocking so it isn't needed. The Pro already uses the excellent Intel gigabit Ethernet controller, plus supports x8/x8 SLI. Getting the more expensive motherboard is like big-sizing your fast food meal while being allergic to french fries. Yes you get more, but it is completely wasted.

I would suggest you drop RAM to a single 8GB kit. The reason is that at least for a while the majority of programs (games included) needs to support 32-bit, meaning they are limited to 2GB RAM usage.

I see you totally ignored my suggestion of using the Antec TruePower New 750W to save a few bucks. Internally it is nearly identical to the XFX 750W, having been born in the same Seasonic factory.

 

[3xVicious]

Get an Asus P8P67 Pro for under $200. The more expensive boards have stuff like NF200 chip or dual LANs, neither of which is needed. Oh yeah, and more advanced overclocking via one of those plug-in hand held controllers, but you said you won't be overclocking so it isn't needed. The Pro already uses the excellent Intel gigabit Ethernet controller, plus supports x8/x8 SLI. Getting the more expensive motherboard is like big-sizing your fast food meal while being allergic to french fries. Yes you get more, but it is completely wasted.

I would suggest you drop RAM to a single 8GB kit. The reason is that at least for a while the majority of programs (games included) needs to support 32-bit, meaning they are limited to 2GB RAM usage.

I see you totally ignored my suggestion of using the Antec TruePower New 750W to save a few bucks. Internally it is nearly identical to the XFX 750W, having been born in the same Seasonic factory.

I was actually convinced earlier in the thread to overclock, so I will need a board to be able to handle that well. As for the PSU, right now the Antec TruePower and the XFX are the same price after the XFX's 30 Rebate. Besides that, I find the XFX far more aesthetically pleasing. Worth waiting a couple of weeks for the 30 Dollar Rebate to pull through. So don't assume I ignored your suggestion, I've taken everyone's words into consideration.

Lastly as for the Ram, there have been and will be times where I will run 3DMax, Adobe Photoshop CS2, Microsoft Frontpage 2003, and Adobe After Effects at the same time. I prefer to spend an extra $100 now, than regret it later.

Edit: Looking back it was actually you that suggested I should try my hand at Overclocking, I've also essentially chosen everything you've recommended in your previous post except for the PSU, that you see my reasons for above. And you were correct in you're original post. I'm not the type of person to upgrade, the biggest upgrade I would do is pop in another GTX 580 a year down the line to make this an SLI system. Otherwise if it comes to the point where I need to change my processor/mobo, I will most likely just buy a new system.

I actually appreciated you're advice over all else because most people kept telling me I'm only wasting my money without understand the circumstances, and then when I told them my situation, they started suggesting $25,000 systems. Once again, the reason I'm choosing all the high-end; GTX 580 instead of a 470, or 2600K instead of 2500K, 16GB instead of 8GB and ASUS Maximus IV Extreme is because I'm not paying for this system. It's essentially a reward for getting a Scholarship for College. The funds I have available now aren't guaranteed a year down the line. I also don't pocket any "leftover money".

 

[Zap]

I was actually convinced earlier in the thread to overclock, so I will need a board to be able to handle that well.

The higher end boards just give more features and have a little hand held device for you to play with. I'm not sure it overclocks any better. Besides, if it does overclock better, it wouldn't be anything you would do because "overclock better" is usually only important if you are clocking it so high as to be skirting on the edge of stability.

My recommended overclock for you would be somewhere in the 4-4.5GHz range with all four cores. That will give you a really nice boost while still being reasonably reliable. We'll go over the details once you've gotten the system built.

Even the lower end Asus boards overclock really well. The P8P67 (vanilla, no pro or anything) is the lowest end Asus board with all the overclocking goodies in UEFI (the new BIOS). That's why I probably wouldn't suggest the P8P67 LE because it lacks the UEFI settings for overclocking. Above the vanilla board, it is all just features. Here are some details of some of the Asus boards to give you an idea of how they differentiate products.

P8P67 LE
Basic board, no UEFI overclocking but does allow Crossfire.

P8P67
Previous board, plus Bluetooth and double the USB 3.0 ports?

P8P67 Pro
Previous board, plus SLI support and two more SATA ports (as eSATA) and using a better LAN chip (Intel)?

P8P67 EVO
Previous board, plus dual LAN and more spectacular heatsinks?

P8P67 Deluxe
Previous board, plus front panel USB 3.0 box?

P8P67 WS Revolution
Maximus IV Extreme
Sabertooth P67
These have various features such as funky heatsinks or full board heatshields, more and more PCIe x16-physical slots, extra spots on motherboard for multimeter voltage measurements or thermal probes, Tri SLI support, ROG accessories, dual Intel LAN (cheaper boards use one Intel, one Realtek).

I recommend the P8P67 Pro for you because it seems to have a decent feature set without the extra stuff that you will never need in the next 5 years.

As for the PSU, right now the Antec TruePower and the XFX are the same price after the XFX's 30 Rebate. Besides that, I find the XFX far more aesthetically pleasing.

I didn't know about the rebate. Also, I find the XFX fugly, but if you like it and it is the same price, then go for it! Quality wise both should be right up there with nearly the best.

 

[mfenn]

t's essentially a reward for getting a Scholarship for College. The funds I have available now aren't guaranteed a year down the line. I also don't pocket any "leftover money".

You don't think that your benefactor would be impressed that you're spending their money wisely?

 

[3xVicious]

You don't think that your benefactor would be impressed that you're spending their money wisely?

Oh, I think he will. He said I can build a computer like my first one... I spent $6,000 on my first computer. Secondly my "benefactor" (Father), is a computer enthusiast like me, so he enjoys building computers as much as I do.

He's actually really happy with the amount of money I'm spending. Like I said earlier he was expecting something in the $6,000... For me to skip the Quad-SLI, the 30" Monitor, the Extreme Processors, Max Ram and settle for $2,500 is self-control on my part, and the only reason I'm doing that is because I don't play games for 8 hours a day anymore like I used too (Getting a Social Life has put a damper on my FPS skills!). Besides, when he doesn't have to pay $20,000 a year for my tuition anymore, well lets just say both my parents are ecstatic.