Please help with tips on gaming-based system

[lancery]

Hi, looking to build a gaming-based system. Feedback are appreciated.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
A: In order of priority: gaming, video streaming, programming, work

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
A: $900

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
A: 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.
A: Intel-Fanboy

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
A: mouse, keyboard, 22" monitor, OS (win7), stereo speakers

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
A: Reference below: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu-intel-core-i7-amd-phenom-ii,2926-3.html, http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/p67-motherboard-roundup-lga-1155-sandy-bridge,2837-30.html

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
A: Not interested in OC

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
A: 1920*1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
A: ~ in 2 weeks

Misc: I prefer a cool (i.e. temperature), quiet and stable system that can play games at decent settings. However, I don't play FPS so I think I don't need top-of-the-line hardware. Listed below are my current configuration, and my justifcation for buying them, if any.

===============================
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB
L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
$214.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-072-_-Product
Justification: Since I don't want OC, according to this post (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu-intel-core-i7-amd-phenom-ii,2926-3.html), I know that I should pick up I5-2400 for $189.99. But since it's only like $25 difference, I decided to go with this anyways.

ASRock P67 EXTREME4 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157229
Justification: P67 seems like a very good MB for I5-2500K. And this seems like a nice, cool card based on this post (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/p67-motherboard-roundup-lga-1155-sandy-bridge,2837-30.html).

Asus EAH6850 DC/2DIS/1GD5/V2 Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
$159.99 ($139.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121419

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
$20.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135204

Corsair Enthusiast Series CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
$84.99 ($69.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005
Justification: I know I don't need 650W, but I prefer to be a little over for potential future upgrades.

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3
10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
$84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231311

Samsung Desktop Class Spinpoint F3 1 TB SATA 3.0 Gb-s 32 MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare-OEM Drives, HD103SJ
$59.99
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpo...4694369&sr=8-2

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact"
Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7
$29.99
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-...4719457&sr=8-1
Justification: To cool the CPU better than the stock heatsink & fan to achieve a higher level of quietness.
===============================

Thanks.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Looks pretty solid to me for what you are aiming for :thumbsup:

And Welcome to the Anandtech Forums

EDIT: you could save a little on the PSU by going with an XFX Core Edition XFX Core Edition 550w 59$ after MIR, or the XFX Core Edition 450w for 54$

 

[mfenn]

Pretty good build overall, but I have two suggestions:
1. You don't really need the SLI features of the Extreme4, so I'd recommend the i5 2500K + GA-P67A-UD3 combo and save $50 overall.
2. You really don't need a 650W PSU. A ~450W is enough for any midrange single-GPU rig and a 550W is enough for any high-end single-GPU rig. Check out the chart here. Since you're not a big FPS gamer, the $30AR 430CX is plenty.
3. The $90 that you save can get you most of the way to a 60GB SSD or all the way there if you get a Three Hundred instead of a Nine Hundred. The SSD will make a huge performance difference whereas the mobo and PSU will make no performance difference.

 

[lancery]

Pretty good build overall, but I have two suggestions:
1. You don't really need the SLI features of the Extreme4, so I'd recommend the i5 2500K + GA-P67A-UD3 combo and save $50 overall.
2. You really don't need a 650W PSU. A ~450W is enough for any midrange single-GPU rig and a 550W is enough for any high-end single-GPU rig. Check out the chart here. Since you're not a big FPS gamer, the $30AR 430CX is plenty.
3. The $90 that you save can get you most of the way to a 60GB SSD or all the way there if you get a Three Hundred instead of a Nine Hundred. The SSD will make a huge performance difference whereas the mobo and PSU will make no performance difference.

I think the MB suggestion is a good one, I will look into that. As for the PSU, that's just my being paranoid. Also, looking at the chart you showed, it's possible for single GPU to take up to ~420 W (in the case of GTX 480) so I'd like to keep that for future GPU upgrades. As for the SSD, I am definitely thinking about that, but right now I don't think I got the budget for that. I guess if I can get one later, I will. I will partition my OS/data separately so the migration wouldn't be too bad.

I do have one thing that I am considering now: Fractal Design Define R3 Case. I heard that it's really quiet, and offers reasonable thermals. Do you think that's a good idea given the setup I have? The only thing I think I will need to change to accommodate Fractal Design Define R3 Case is the GPU. I think I will need a GPU with rear exhaust according to this post:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/c [...] 3-review/3
"This is because the fan mount blanking plates of the R3 effectively turn the case into a closed system with hot air only being expelled by the rear exhaust fan. This is fine if it’s only got the heat from a CPU to contend with but becomes an issue if you add the heat from a graphics card to the mix too. As a result we’d recommend anyone thinking of housing their PC in a R3 make sure their graphics card cooler exhausts air out the back of the case rather than into the case."

Thanks.

 

[mfenn]

I think the MB suggestion is a good one, I will look into that. As for the PSU, that's just my being paranoid. Also, looking at the chart you showed, it's possible for single GPU to take up to ~420 W (in the case of GTX 480) so I'd like to keep that for future GPU upgrades. As for the SSD, I am definitely thinking about that, but right now I don't think I got the budget for that. I guess if I can get one later, I will. I will partition my OS/data separately so the migration wouldn't be too bad.

You see, that's the whole point. You do have the budget for an SSD, you just have to focus your build.

I do have one thing that I am considering now: Fractal Design Define R3 Case. I heard that it's really quiet, and offers reasonable thermals. Do you think that's a good idea given the setup I have? The only thing I think I will need to change to accommodate Fractal Design Define R3 Case is the GPU. I think I will need a GPU with rear exhaust according to this post:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/c [...] 3-review/3
"This is because the fan mount blanking plates of the R3 effectively turn the case into a closed system with hot air only being expelled by the rear exhaust fan. This is fine if it’s only got the heat from a CPU to contend with but becomes an issue if you add the heat from a graphics card to the mix too. As a result we’d recommend anyone thinking of housing their PC in a R3 make sure their graphics card cooler exhausts air out the back of the case rather than into the case."

Thanks.

The R3 is a good case, if a bit flimsy. An internally-exhausting GPU is not an issue IMHO as long as you turn the PSU such that the fan is facing upwards. The PSU mounting holes are drilled to accommodate either arrangement.

 

[lancery]

You see, that's the whole point. You do have the budget for an SSD, you just have to focus your build.

The R3 is a good case, if a bit flimsy. An internally-exhausting GPU is not an issue IMHO as long as you turn the PSU such that the fan is facing upwards. The PSU mounting holes are drilled to accommodate either arrangement.

PSU Fan facing upwards...is that intended to blow the hot air outside of the case, or suck cold air inside the case?

 

[mfenn]

PSU Fan facing upwards...is that intended to blow the hot air outside of the case, or suck cold air inside the case?

The PSU fan exhausts air outside the case.