Please critique my $1000 Gaming PC

[JamesWatt1]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
I will be playing FPS's. I am particularly interested in l4d2, mw2, and me2.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$1000 excluding tax and shipping

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
Newegg in 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.
N/A

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

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

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

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1680x1050

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
By the end of January

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

Here's what I have so far (from newegg). I'm $150 over budget. How can I cut out $150 with the lowest impact on performance?

$329.99 Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K

$239.99 SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100281VX-2SR Radeon HD 5870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card ...

$49.99 G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL

$134.99 Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

$152.99 ASRock P67 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

$79.99 COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

$79.99 CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible

$99.99 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

 

[mnewsham]

take out the 2600k replace it with the 2500k combo.

Change your ram to this ram.

This case.

This PSU.

 

[fffblackmage]

With mnewsham's recommendations, maybe you saved more than enough to bump the gpu up to the 6950 ($270 AR)?

 

[mnewsham]

With mnewsham's recommendations, maybe you saved more than enough to bump the gpu up to the 6950 ($270 AR)?

He should have saved close to $135 unless im adding wrong. but who knows it's almost 1 am for me after all.

 

[fffblackmage]

He should have saved close to $135 unless im adding wrong. but who knows it's almost 1 am for me after all.

Shall we bump it up to the 6970 instead then? 😉

 

[mnewsham]

here get this motherboard instead. It only has one PCIe 2.0 x16 slot but you wont be doing SLI or crossfirex anyway. saves you another 30 bucks.

 

[mnewsham]

Shall we bump it up to the 6970 instead then? 😉

With about $160 in total savings i see no reason why NOT to bump the GPU budget up about $30 to increase graphics by about %20... :biggrin:

 

[mnewsham]

okay with the earlier changes i would go with this gpu.

and then

take out the 2600k replace it with the 2500k combo.

Change your ram to this ram.

This case.

This PSU.

 

[mnewsham]

okay with the earlier changes i would go with this gpu.

and then

take out the 2600k replace it with the 2500k combo.

Change your ram to this ram.

This case.

This PSU.
oops forgot to add a HDD.
get this motherboard

total (if my math works out) is $1090 (AR)

 

[fffblackmage]

You can still shave off $15 with a G.Skill Sniper 60GB $120

 

[mnewsham]

You can still shave off $15 with a G.Skill Sniper 60GB $120

with that instead of the c300 it comes out to $1,135.90 with $50.00 in rebates.

 

[Dark Shroud]

The Crucial RealSSD C300 is faster, also without having to deal with the quirks of the sandforce controller.

 

[mnewsham]

The Crucial RealSSD C300 is faster, also without having to deal with the quirks of the sandforce controller.

faster in read speed alone. The write speed is 1/3 the speed of the sandforce.

 

[Ausm]

here get this motherboard instead. It only has one PCIe 2.0 x16 slot but you wont be doing SLI or crossfirex anyway. saves you another 30 bucks.

I agree save yourself the cash there.

 

[dpodblood]

Def bump down the i7 to the i5 2500K. Go for the ASRock motherboard, and the XFX power supply, and Haf912 case (basically all mnewsham's recommendations). Change the video card to the HD 6950, or wait for the GTX 560 to be released.

 

[mfenn]

Def bump down the i7 to the i5 2500K. Go for the ASRock motherboard, and the XFX power supply, and Haf912 case (basically all mnewsham's recommendations). Change the video card to the HD 6950, or wait for the GTX 560 to be released.

faster in read speed alone. The write speed is 1/3 the speed of the sandforce.

:thumbsup:

 

[Davidh373]

Basically, do whatever mnewsham says, he gave great advice!

 

[JamesWatt1]

I really appreciate the input. Based on it, I'm getting this machine for about $1050 from newegg.

$224.99 Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K

$13.99 COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel

$9.99 Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

$274.99 SAPPHIRE 100312SR Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

$49.99 G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL

$134.99 Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

$123.99 ASRock P67 PRO3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

$59.99 COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

$59.99 XFX P1-650X-CAG9 650W ATX12V 2.2 / ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power ...

$99.99 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

 

[mnewsham]

I really appreciate the input. Based on it, I'm getting this machine for about $1050 from newegg.

$224.99 Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K

$13.99 COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel

$9.99 Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

$274.99 SAPPHIRE 100312SR Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

$49.99 G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL

$134.99 Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

$123.99 ASRock P67 PRO3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

$59.99 COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

$59.99 XFX P1-650X-CAG9 650W ATX12V 2.2 / ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power ...

$99.99 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

Looks like a good rig, i might change the SSD personally and maybe the GPU but looks good 😉

 

[Davidh373]

For the same price you can get a 560 which pretty much trades punches with the 6950. While it may be barely worse in some games, it is much better in most.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4135/nvidias-geforce-gtx-560-ti-upsetting-the-250-market

 

[JamesWatt1]

Looks like a good rig, i might change the SSD personally and maybe the GPU but looks good 😉

My argument for the SSD I chose is that I presume that game performance is going to be more read-sensitive than write-sensitive. Specifically, I would rather have a slow initial game install and then wait for shorter periods of time while loading between levels.

In terms of GPU's, I have to draw the line on price somewhere to stay close to the $1000 I budgeted. I couldn't convince myself that the Gigabyte 6950 was worth $25 more than the Sapphire one.

 

[JamesWatt1]

For the same price you can get a 560 which pretty much trades punches with the 6950. While it may be barely worse in some games, it is much better in most.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4135/nvidias-geforce-gtx-560-ti-upsetting-the-250-market

That's interesting. I didn't even consider that card, because I didn't see it on the GPU 2011 benchmarks (which, by the way, is an awesome tool):

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU11/188

From what I could tell from the review they are really neck and neck. For example, in Crysis and Mass Effect 2, the 6950 is better. However, in Dirt 2 and Bad company (at the resolution I would play), the 560 is better. I've heard better things about ATI's stability recently (I hope I don't start a war with that statement), so I opted for the 6950.

 

[Davidh373]

From what I could tell from the review they are really neck and neck. For example, in Crysis and Mass Effect 2, the 6950 is better. However, in Dirt 2 and Bad company (at the resolution I would play), the 560 is better. I've heard better things about ATI's stability recently (I hope I don't start a war with that statement), so I opted for the 6950.

They are about the same, but I've not heard anything about stability being better or worse (in games) recently.

If you already have the 6950, it is a great card. I wouldn't recommend sending it back or anything.

 

[mfenn]

My argument for the SSD I chose is that I presume that game performance is going to be more read-sensitive than write-sensitive. Specifically, I would rather have a slow initial game install and then wait for shorter periods of time while loading between levels.

That is true if you are only going to be using this machine for gaming (like you have a Macbook or something that you use for everything else). If not, I think the Sandforce is an overall better choice because the read speed difference isn't going to matter that much for game loading, but the higher random read and write speeds are better for everything else.

That's interesting. I didn't even consider that card, because I didn't see it on the GPU 2011 benchmarks (which, by the way, is an awesome tool):

The GTX 560 just came out yesterday, so don't feel too bad about missing it. 🙂

 

[Zargon]

mnewsham pratically lives in these threads

so does mfenn 😛