New Build - Need opinions

[Jeeperz]

Hi all!

So in the coming weeks I'm going to be buying a new gaming computer (I've been out of action for a few years) and I've been to a few forums reading other peoples new builds etc. Just basic research, and I've come up with this build which is in within my $700 give or take budget.

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K $220.00
Motherboard: ASRock H61M/U3S3 Motherboard B3 $89.00
RAM: Corsair CMV4GX3M2A1333C9 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 $44.00
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD6850 1GB Overclocked $185.00
Hard Drive: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HD103SJ $60.00
Case: Thermaltake V4 Black Edition with 450W $77.00
OD Lite-On Allwrite $35.00

Total: $711AUD

I just want to hear some of your opinions I'm not the best with computers, so be nice!
Thanks in advance

 

[Davidh373]

No point in getting the K version if you're on the H61.

Things to understand

CPU

2500 = Weaker integrated gpu, no overclocking

2500k - Strong integrated gpu, overclocking

Mobo

H61/ H67 = Integrated GPU usage, no overclocking.

P67 = No integrated GPU usage, overclocking

Using a 2500k with an H61 with a dedicated GPU makes no sense. You aren't going to be making use of the stronger on die GPU, and you are closing yourself out of overclocking.

So swap the CPU for the less expensive non-K version, or swap the mobo for a lil' more expensive P67.

Case + PSU

That PSU is not to be trusted. You may think you're getting a bargain getting a case and PSU, but really you are risking a lot with a shotty PSU.

If you NEED to get a case and PSU combo I'd recommend this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-065-_-Product

Otherwise, I'd still recommend the 300, with an even more efficient Antec 430W Earthwatts.

Antec 300

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-042-_-Product

Antec Earthwatts 430W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...atts%20430

Optical Drive

umm... $35 for a DVD drive?...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

Ram

Save a lil' money

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-253-_-Product

 

[Jeeperz]

Thanks for that I really appreciate it. How does this look?


CPU: Intel Core i5 2500 $209.00
Motherboard: ASRock H61M/U3S3 Motherboard B3 $89.00
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT $40.00
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD6850 1GB Overclocked $185.00
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 430W $54
CASE: Antec 300 $59
Hard Drive: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HD103SJ $60.00
Optical Drive: Lite-On Black $20.00

Total: $716

 

[Jeeperz]

any opinions on that???

 

[aphelion02]

Since you have only 2 dimm slots, I'd rather get 8gb of RAM because you don't have an uprade option.

 

[DesiPower]

May I suggest that you go 1 level down on the GPU, shave off a 60-70 bucks, get something like this (which IMHO is not too bad) and put the money on a better mobo and get the "K" processor. I know you dont want to overclock but later if you change you mind... the mobo has a newer chipset!

 

[Davidh373]

May I suggest that you go 1 level down on the GPU, shave off a 60-70 bucks, get something like this (which IMHO is not too bad) and put the money on a better mobo and get the "K" processor. I know you dont want to overclock but later if you change you mind... the mobo has a newer chipset!

I like this idea! :thumbsup:

unless you are doing a lot of high res. gaming that is...

 

[Jeeperz]

I've read that the 460 gets quite hot, so if i bought a 460 OC'D and with the 450W PSU I'd have would it be good enough?

Would it be worth buying the OC'D one? Or sticking to Stock??
Would there be much difference FPS between the HD6850 compared to the 460?
I'll be playing games like L4D2, CSS, TF2, BFBC2, BF3 when it comes out, maybe WoW if i wanna get my nerd on (lol), GMOD.
Those sort of games.


I've also heard the 460 SE isn't that good, whys that?

And to be honest I've got no idea what to do.

 

[Jeeperz]

I've done abit more researching and did this. Now im hoping that the $$$ starts coming my way as I still wont be buyin a comp for atleast another 2-3weeks.

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K $220.00
Motherboard: ASRock P67-PRO Motherboard B3 $129.00
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD6850 1GB Overclocked $185.00
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT $40.00
CASE: Antec 300 $59
PSU: Antec Neo Eco 450W $54
Hard Drive: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HD103SJ $60.00
ODD: Lite-On Black $20.00

Total: $767

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for that I really appreciate it. How does this look?


CPU: Intel Core i5 2500 $209.00
Motherboard: ASRock H61M/U3S3 Motherboard B3 $89.00
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT $40.00
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD6850 1GB Overclocked $185.00
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 430W $54
CASE: Antec 300 $59
Hard Drive: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HD103SJ $60.00
Optical Drive: Lite-On Black $20.00

Total: $716

I like the value of this a bit better than your latest build. I would try to find a less expensive 6850 though.

 

[Jeeperz]

mm. I'd consider the GTX 460 but I don't really want the SE, havent good things about it.

HD6850 OC'D 1GB vs 460GTX OC'D 1GB

Which one do you guys think is better gaming wise based on the games i listed above?

 

[DesiPower]

GTX 460 will be better IMHO , seems like it has better specs, but that's just me and I am no technical experts on these things. (BTW, gpureview is such a fail these days, its showing both the cards having 128 bit memory interface, fail fail fail)

Couple of suggestions, I know it will increase your budget but just think about them:

Case will be a little crammed and will not move much air, maybe your original choice, V4 was better? not sure, if possible look at Antec 900, more room and will move more air.

HDD - If possible look at WD Black series, better HD performance wise IMHO

 

[Zargon]

or atleast a spinpoint f4....

 

[mfenn]

GTX 460 will be better IMHO , seems like it has better specs, but that's just me and I am no technical experts on these things. (BTW, gpureview is such a fail these days, its showing both the cards having 128 bit memory interface, fail fail fail)

Couple of suggestions, I know it will increase your budget but just think about them:

Case will be a little crammed and will not move much air, maybe your original choice, V4 was better? not sure, if possible look at Antec 900, more room and will move more air.

HDD - If possible look at WD Black series, better HD performance wise IMHO

For a $25 delta, the OP is better off getting a beefier GPU. $25 goes a long way in the $150-$250 price range.

 

[mfenn]

mm. I'd consider the GTX 460 but I don't really want the SE, havent good things about it.

HD6850 OC'D 1GB vs 460GTX OC'D 1GB

Which one do you guys think is better gaming wise based on the games i listed above?

They are pretty much equivalent on average. As for the games you listed:
- Any Source engine game: Doesn't matter because you'll be 80+ FPS with both cards
- WoW: Mostly CPU limited, so it doesn't matter
- BFBC2: 6850 wins here

 

[Jeeperz]

Mmmk, I'll stick with the 6850. If i switch back to the V4 im sittin on about $733 which is great.

Edit: Build so far

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K $220.00
Motherboard: ASRock P67-PRO Motherboard B3 $129.00
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD6850 1GB Overclocked $185.00
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT $40.00
Case/PSU: Thermaltake V4 $79
Hard Drive: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HD103SJ $60.00
OD Lite-On Black $20.00

good??? lol

 

[mfenn]

Mmmk, I'll stick with the 6850. If i switch back to the V4 im sittin on about $733 which is great.

Edit: Build so far

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K $220.00
Motherboard: ASRock P67-PRO Motherboard B3 $129.00
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD6850 1GB Overclocked $185.00
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT $40.00
Case/PSU: Thermaltake V4 $79
Hard Drive: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HD103SJ $60.00
OD Lite-On Black $20.00

good??? lol

Looks fine except that I am not a fan of ThermalTake power supplies. I'd try to get the version of the case without PSU and grab one of the Antecs that you had listed earlier.

 

[Jeeperz]

Looks fine except that I am not a fan of ThermalTake power supplies. I'd try to get the version of the case without PSU and grab one of the Antecs that you had listed earlier.

Ah good and I'll see what I can do about the PSU.

 

[thecrecarc]

Out of all your builds, and given the fact you probally had/have no plans to overclock, I would recommend the build you did here:

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500 $209.00
Motherboard: ASRock H61M/U3S3 Motherboard B3 $89.00
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT $40.00
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD6850 1GB Overclocked $185.00
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 430W $54
CASE: Antec 300 $59
Hard Drive: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HD103SJ $60.00
Optical Drive: Lite-On Black $20.00

Total: $716

But change the RAM for a 8gb vs 4gb. It would give you the best bang for the buck.

 

[Jeeperz]

If you could, could you find me a link to the cheapest 2x4GB that you know of?

 

[Zargon]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226095

that one seems to be the cheapest at the moment

 

[ishbuggy]

I have dual 460's and they never get that hot. I have run f@h all day long on both (right next to each other in the PCI slots) and i ahve GPU1 at 76 deg and GPU2 at 65. Never went above that.

 

[Jeeperz]

Okay My budget has been raised to $750 and I've decided to go with the build below

Motherboard: ASRock P67-PRO Motherboard B3 $129.00
CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K $220.00
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD6850 1GB Overclocked $185.00
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT $65.00
Case/PSU: Thermaltake V4 $79
Hard Drive: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HD103SJ $60.00
Optical Drive: Lite-On Black $20.00

Should I stay with the V4 or is there something else I could get (Trusted CASE/PSU COMBO)? Or should I just go back to the Antec 300 with the 450W PSU

 

[mfenn]

Okay My budget has been raised to $750 and I've decided to go with the build below

Motherboard: ASRock P67-PRO Motherboard B3 $129.00
CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K $220.00
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD6850 1GB Overclocked $185.00
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT $65.00
Case/PSU: Thermaltake V4 $79
Hard Drive: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HD103SJ $60.00
Optical Drive: Lite-On Black $20.00

Should I stay with the V4 or is there something else I could get (Trusted CASE/PSU COMBO)? Or should I just go back to the Antec 300 with the 450W PSU

Swap the memory for a normally-priced ($40) 4GB kit, and swap the 6850 for a non-overclocked one (overclock it yourself). That should give you plenty of room in the budget to get a case like the Antec Three Hundred and a good 450W-500W PSU.

 

[Jeeperz]

Would any of these cases be better?? They come with a 500W PSU's. I'm not to sure if there good or not (The Psu's that is), But the cases look good tbh
http://msy.com.au/default.jsp?category=181

I know they don't give the specs of the PSU's but if anyone knows what ones are in there cases or have heard good things about them please reply