Need help picking right parts for a gaming system please

[r4sh1d]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Gaming: Battlefield 3, Crysis 3, sport games..etc. Mostly offline missions though

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

$800, $1100; excluding parts under Answer # 5


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


USA


4. IF YOU have a brand preference.

No

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

I have a crucial M4 240GB, Logitech KB+mouse, one of the korean IPS 27" 2560X1440 monitors (can't decide which one to get), A couple of 1TB 5400RPM HDDs for storage.

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

Yes!

8. What resolution will you be using?

2560X1440 27" monitor.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

This week

*

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

Nope.

I have a 3570k in my cart @ newegg, plus I guess I'll need a 680 card or a 7970( has more memory & 384bit?). I'd like to get a modular PSU unit, that will support SLI so I can add another card in near future to drive this screen at this resolution I guess. I haven't done SLI before, (my system that's going to be used as an HTPC has an e6750, ati 5850, 4GB memory, x25 M 80GB).
I still haven't decided on the case, motherboard ( I think I'll need something with 2 X16 pcie-x 3 minimum, right?

 

[mfenn]

I'm a little confused about the way you've worded your budget. Do you mean that it is $800 to $1100 not counting what you've listed in #5 or do you mean that it is $800 with the approximate value of the parts you have listed in #5 taking the total cost to $1100? The reason I ask is that you aren't going to get everything that you want for $800, but it is doable for $1100.

For example:
i5 3570K $230
Scythe Mugen 3 $50
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 $135http://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16820178333&user=u00000687
Samsung DDR3 1600 8GB $50
GTX 670 $400
http://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...0897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687&user=u00000687Reuse SSD $0
Reuse HDD $0
Lite-ON DVD Burner $18
XFX 650W $65 AR
Antec Eleven Hundred $80 AR
Total: $1028 AR

 

[r4sh1d]

My budget is 800 to 1100, the less the better. This budget is for: case, psu, memory, cpu cooler, cpu, gfx card, fans, dvd drive..etc
So it's for the case, and whatever is inside it (excludes the SSD drive that I have)
Sorry for the confusion!

 

[krnmastersgt]

For the cost mfenn's build is pretty much the best you can hope for, unless some special deals crop up in the next few days.

 

[philipma1957]

if you are close to microcenter the cpu is 189.99


http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388577

the same mobo picked drops to 89.99

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0387554

this is a 280 total

the total above is 365

if you are in NJ the tax rate is 3.5% in the Patterson NJ Store. you save around 90 bucks.


this is a set of cases from nzxt


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ce+210&x=0&y=0


40 to 50 bucks

they are roomy have a lot of fan spots. save 30 or so on the other case.

120 less.

 

[r4sh1d]

Thanks for the reply guys. But in order to play modern games on 2560X1440 I'd need at least a 680/7970, then SLI in 6 months - a year, right?
I can up my budget to $1500, I didn't think I'd need to spend this much; but a 670 + a 650W PSU would limit me in the long run?

 

[philipma1957]

Thanks for the reply guys. But in order to play modern games on 2560X1440 I'd need at least a 680/7970, then SLI in 6 months - a year, right?
I can up my budget to $1500, I didn't think I'd need to spend this much; but a 670 + a 650W PSU would limit me in the long run?

no get the 670 and a 850 or 1000 watt psu .

then add the 670 as sli.

2 670's will run anything. the premium on the 680 or 7970 is too high. this unit is on sale

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-061912-Index-_-PowerSupplies-_-17171049-L07B


$15 off w/ promo code EMCNDJA29 so 175 = 160 and a rebate goes to 150

 

[krnmastersgt]

As philip said, SLIing the 670's is the best option, you'd be paying a lot more for a very minor increase in framerates. However that 1000W PSU seems to be overkill to me, fairly certain you could make do with a quality 650-800W unit even with a ton of over things hooked up inside.

 

[DSF]

I agree with krn. No need for a 1kW, a quality 750W PSU will be plenty.

Also, the 670 doesn't lose much to the 680 while being significantly less expensive.

 

[Moonbeam]

How about the refresh time on your monitor for games? Won't it be kinda slow?

 

[azeem40]

What monitor? How do you know it will be slow?

 

[r4sh1d]

Thanks, I guess I'll go with the 670 then.

How about the refresh time on your monitor for games? Won't it be kinda slow?

What would slow it down? Hopefully the geforce 670 will do good!

 

[lehtv]

I agree with krn. No need for a 1kW, a quality 750W PSU will be plenty.

Also, the 670 doesn't lose much to the 680 while being significantly less expensive.

Agree. Single 670 now, buy another later on. 670 SLI will definitely be worth it on 2560. However, XFX 650W is fine: http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-670-2-and-3way-sli-review/4 "System Wattage with GPUs in FULL Stress = 433W"(at the wall, so under 400W DC)

 

[Moonbeam]

I said refresh time and meant response time. I was put off on IPS from articles I read. Maybe it was 30in that were borderline inadequate for gaming.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for the reply guys. But in order to play modern games on 2560X1440 I'd need at least a 680/7970, then SLI in 6 months - a year, right?
I can up my budget to $1500, I didn't think I'd need to spend this much; but a 670 + a 650W PSU would limit me in the long run?

ANYTHING that you can buy today will limit you in the long run. So it's better to plan your build around that eventuality rather than trying to overcome it.

The GTX 670 performs very well at 2560-wide resolutions, but no single card will be able to max out MSAA or SSAA at that resolution in all games. If you are happy with lower levels of anti-aliasing or post-processing based anti-aliasing like FXAA (most people are), then the GTX 670 is more than sufficient for now. The base that I laid out will handle GPU upgrades for quite a few years.

 

[r4sh1d]

What I meant was that a 650W PSU will limit my SLI options in the future.

I thought that a 680 card is minimum to drive a monitor in this resolution, then I'd need to add another card in near future. I guess a 670 card is enough for the time being!

 

[lehtv]

You can do 670 SLI on 650W just fine.

 

[mfenn]

You can do 670 SLI on 650W just fine.

:thumbsup: OP, here's a link to the typical total machine power usage with various gaming cards.

 

[lehtv]

Aren't those numbers also measured at the wall socket, i.e. not adjusted for PSU efficiency?

 

[krnmastersgt]

Indeed they are as its hard to get accurate readings from the system itself. That being said a high efficiency PSU (anything over 83% at load) should be able to make it work, though I'd feel more comfortable adding in some overhead just in case, I figure 700-750W just to be safe.

 

[r4sh1d]

I'll go with 700+W PSU, just have to make up my mind on which one to get I guess. I think I'll go with the gigabyte 670 gfx ( I'll check the clearance), plus a 3570k.

Here's what I ordered so far:
1 x ($134.99) ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $134.99
2 x ($49.99) SAMSUNG 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model MV-3V4G3D/US $99.98
1 x ($34.99) COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+ $34.99
1 x ($-14.99) DISCOUNT FOR COMBO #980532$-14.99
1 x ($-22.50) DISCOUNT FOR PROMOTION CODE$-22.50
Subtotal: $296.45
Tax: $0.00
Shipping and Handling: $10.10
Total Amount: $306.55
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I'll install these parts in a CM storm scout case ( my old case ) and will be ordering either a LIAN LI PC-A71F or a Fractal Design Define XL as an htpc that'll house my old parts from my old system (c2d 2.66, 4gb memory, ati 5850, TT 750W, 7X 1 & 2tb 5400 RPM HDDs, intel x25 80gb

Can't decide on which case to get though! Decisions decisions!!

 

[krnmastersgt]

You don't need 16 GB of RAM just for gaming, you could save yourself $50 by just grabbing 1 of the sets.

 

[r4sh1d]

I was thinking about this as well, I thought it'd be better to go with 16gb now than later. Thanks, I emailed them asking to cancel one set.

 

[lehtv]

Are you buying a new case for your old PC because Storm Scout wouldn't really look good in the living room as HTPC case? If so, the PC-A71F and Define XL are ridiculously overkill. What's your thinking there? I'd just go for something simple like Lian Li PC-7B

I'd also recommend reusing the Thermaltake 750W PSU in your new system, it should be good for 670 SLI and your old one doesn't need more than a good 400W unit especially as the GPU won't be stressed much at all in HTPC use.

 

[r4sh1d]

I like the looks of the define XL & the LIAN LI PC-A71F, plus they have space for tons of HDDs. I have the space for it in a corner in this room. I'll be adding more HDDs to my htpc, and like the roomy case + the looks.

The PC-7B plus II doesn't have the space for 10+ HDDs.

The PSU I have is a thermaltake toughpower 750W, 3 years old.