New I7 build for gaming

[EGrunt66]

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

Mostly for gaming at high resolution with all settings set at max. I am using a 24" (HP w2408h) monitor that I intend to use with the new rig. Also browsing the internet and word processing.


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

$2,500.

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

USA

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.

Intel for CPU, nVidia for the GPU ,and Corsair for memory.

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

I have a BFG GTX 295 that I am thinking about using in the new rig but I purchased a GTX 480 to see if it would provide an improvement in my older rig (CPU Intel E6850 overclocked to 3.6, 4 gb Corsair XMS DDR2). Game play was smoother with the 480 so I might keep the 480 and put in the new rig. I have 2 - 1tb WD black hard drives that I will use and a Creative X-FI sound card.

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

I have read the general hardware section along with reading my issues of Maximum PC and Tom's Hardware site.

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

overclocking. I am looking at the I7 950 CPU and would like to overclock to 4.0 on air.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

1920x1200

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Immediately

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.

Thick skinned here. All advice is welcomed.


So after researching over the past month this what I came up with:

Case: Corsair Obsidian Series 800D, Newegg $269.99 or Amazon $259.99
I like the size of this case and the wire management it provides. This case is rated highly over at Maximum PC.

PSU: Antec TPQ-1200 Newegg $249.99 or CORSAIR Professional Series AX1200 $299.99

MB: This was the hard one. Looking at reviews over at newegg, it appears that the customer support is lacking for ASUS. I was looking at the ASUS Rampage Extreme III but there appears to be problems with this board according to reviewers. So after much thought I am considering the MSI Big Band Xpower for $299.99

CPU: I7 950 presently on sale at Frys for $259.99. I want to OC to 4.0 on air.

CPU cooler: Prolimatech Megahalems Rev.B CPU Cooler, $62.00

Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $169.99. I have always been a fan of Corsair and I have always used their ram in all of my builds. I have read some good things about G Skill and I am looking considering G.SKILL PI 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $194.99. The G Skill has a lower latency of 6 compared to 8 of the Corsair. Is there any reason to increase the memory to 8gb?

Video: GTX 295 or GTX 480 single card now but SLI later in the year. Have to keep the wife happy. I already have both cards. Thats one of the reason for the big power supply.

OS: I am currently running Vista 32 bit but I am going to purchase Windows 7 64 bit. What version should I buy. I am inclined to buy Windows 7 Professional and the best price I found was on Amazon and both Professional and Ultimate are the same price $269.99 for the full retail version.

I will more then likely purchase the parts from Amazon for two reasons. All the parts ship from Amazon and since I am a prime member I get 2nd day shipping for free and there is no sales tax. I will be saving over $200 going with Amazon over Newegg.

I know I am probably missing something but any and all help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Sp12]

Eh, you're buying 'entushiast' components, which command a hefty price premium, but offer less than 10$ more than 'performance' components. Nothing wrong with that, but a GA-X58A-UD3 mobo would be within a percent of those others you have listed, while the PSU/case are overkill.

The Corsair D series is for water cooling and has mediocre airflow. Consider a HAF series case.

G.skill Pi series, but only at 1.5 volts. Higher voltage ram makes overclocking harder, and consume more energy.

You really don't need that large of a PSU for dual 480s. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/159 The max load on an OC'd i7 system in Furmark (unrealistic) is 851 watts. An 1000 watt unit would be fine.

Why not get Windows OEM?

 

[mfenn]

No offense, but it seems like most of your picks are expensive just for the sake of being expensive. The only thing that is justified is the GTX 480 as there is simply nothing out there that can touch it.

You can easily get another GTX 480 right now by doing what Sp12 suggests and cutting the fat out of the PSU, mobo, case, OS, and memory.

 

[Blain]

"1920x1200"... You won't need SLI for that.

 

[EGrunt66]

I appreciate the input. I use to rely on Sharkey Extreme web site and they use to build value, high end, and extreme gaming rigs. When I built my current system years ago I used their high end system as a guide line. Now they are no longer posting the rigs they build. The current ones are from last year. The only other source is the employees from the local Fry's in the PC department.

With my current rig (Intel E6850 overclocked to 3.6 on Abit IP Pro35 MB) while playing Mafia II I would get stuttering while driving through the cities. Star Craft II and Just Cause 2 there would also be lag issues. The setting for the game are on high and resolution at 1920X1200. I feel as though I am CPU limited. I just got the EVGA GTX 480 and game play is much smoother however when using the benchmark utility in Mafia II the 295 was giving me 44 fps and the 480 gave me 37 fps. So please advise what I need to change. I am looking for gaming rig that we last me 4 to 5 years.

So I should look at the Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3 MB. The G Skill PI Series is $20.00 cheaper then the Corsair and the voltage is 1.5.

Is there any particular Cool Master HAF series case I should consider?

I am looking at this PSU on Newegg: COOLER MASTER Silent Pro RSA00-AMBAJ3-US 1000W for $163.98. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139007.

Correct me if I am wrong but going with an OEM OS if the MB is changed the OEM OS will no longer work. I rather pay for a full retail so that I can use it again. Granted I am not looking at changing the MB but if I have problems I will need to buy another OEM OS.

Thanks for all the comments and recommendations. Keep them coming.

 

[EGrunt66]

Well this is the direction I am going after the input that I received.

MB: Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3, picked this up at Micro Center and they matched Neweggs price of $199 and I also get a $20 mail in rebate.

Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX6GX3M3C1600C7. Purchased at Fry's for $159 with a $20 mail in rebate, total price $149. I know many of you recommended the G. Skill but I reading that people were having problems with the G Skill on the Gigabyte MB. It appears Newegg is one of two retailers that sell G. Skill. If I have problems with the Corsair it will go back to Fry's

PSU: I went overboard in this area but it was the direction that I wanted to go after researching. Corsair AX1200 for $288 total from Amazon.

OS: I went back and forth deciding on OEM vs retail and I decided to go retail Windows 7 full retail premium for $180 shipped from Amazon. Micro Center had the OEM version for $109 after listening to the pro's and con's I went with retail version.

Case: I am going to use my current Antec 900 even though I wanted to start a fresh build.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[darkewaffle]

OS: I went back and forth deciding on OEM vs retail and I decided to go retail Windows 7 full retail premium for $180 shipped from Amazon. Micro Center had the OEM version for $109 after listening to the pro's and con's I went with retail version.

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-

And I thought the exact same thing as mfenn. Expensive doesn't mean better, it just means it costs more. It really seems like you're just bent on saying you've got a computer that costs alot

Not much lasts 4-5 years aside from monitors, cases, and mechanical keyboards. Trying to spend a lot now to save a little later is just going to be frustrating when you spend a lot now and still feel dated in a year or two.

With that said, your system will be fine, you just make a lot of choices with extremely small marginal gains. I did the same thing when I built my first computer about 5-6 years ago. It was bleeding edge for a few months, but I later regretted wasting so much cash. Maybe that's not a concern for you, lucky

 

[mfenn]

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-

And I thought the exact same thing as mfenn. Expensive doesn't mean better, it just means it costs more. It really seems like you're just bent on saying you've got a computer that costs alot

Not much lasts 4-5 years aside from monitors, cases, and mechanical keyboards. Trying to spend a lot now to save a little later is just going to be frustrating when you spend a lot now and still feel dated in a year or two.

With that said, your system will be fine, you just make a lot of choices with extremely small marginal gains. I did the same thing when I built my first computer about 5-6 years ago. It was bleeding edge for a few months, but I later regretted wasting so much cash. Maybe that's not a concern for you, lucky

My thoughts exactly :thumbsup:

OP, what you have is fast and will work, but it seems a bit necessary ($288 for a PSU ).

 

[Davidh373]

You totally should have done the OEM version of windows. You totally got ripped off...


At this point, keep the 480

With that budget you can be very foolish EASILY, so we're here to make sure that doesn't happen.

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-043-_-Product

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-009-_-Product

Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-223-_-Product

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-068-_-Product

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-155-_-Product

SSD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-550-_-Product

HD X 2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-533-_-Product

(Not sure enough about CPU coolers to give advice)

Total without Disk Drives or Graphics is

$1995.91

However, I will say this. Save about $1000 and get a more reasonable build

Case + PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-064-_-Product

Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-067-_-Product

Motherboard (no SLI)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-634-_-Product

Ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-311-_-Product

SSD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-550-_-Product

Storage
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-533-_-Product

Total: $935.94

You don't really need a $2500 computer for games anymore. SLI and outrageous OCing is for people who are compensating for something. Don't fall prey to those who want you to spend more than you need to. I strongly encourage you to get the second build, if you want top of the line that is going to be outdated by the 990x and the new SSDs coming out within the next few months be my guest. You'll feel just as crappy in a month as I did just after I got my build. The only difference between you and me is I don't have to think about how I wasted an extra $1500 to get 10 frames per second more in crysis that the human eye cannot even see.

 

[skuzzzzy]

case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119225

gpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130552

psu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139011

ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145286

motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131665

gpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115211

heatsink
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835608018

ssd
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820233131

Grand Total:* $1,835.92

Edit, didnt realize you already had a gtx 480. grand total without one is Grand Total:* $1,355.93.


leaves room to where you could save money, upgrade cpu to say a i7 970 or sli gtx 480s. But really that setup would last you along time, i wouldnt upgrade any more then that because by the time you need something more powerful for gaming there will be better stuff out there and the stuff you spent the extra money could have been saved towards your next build.

 

[HumblePie]

If you have that much to spend, you can pretty much put together the same system I have for my main rig if you know how to shop around.

 

[MisterDonut]

$2500 on a gaming machine? You could probably spend half of that and get = gaming experience. Spend the rest of the money on a HT system or just save it for future upgrades.

I'd probably go with something like the i7-870 + Gigabyte P55 UD3P + your GTX 480 + 4GB G.Skill DDR3 + HAF 922 + Corsair Force 60GB (could opt for the 80GB, but for the extra $$ you might as well run games off the HDD and not feel a huge difference) + Samsung F1 1TB + Corsair 750W (TX? Can't remember)

IMO, multi-GPU setups seem to just be a scheme to rob your wallet, especially with the premiums we already pay for GPU's...One GTX480 is enough to hammer any game, especially at that resolution. When the need comes for a more powerful card to keep up with current games, just sell the 480 and upgrade. Besides, some of the most demanding titles out there are barely played consistently...