[Rate/Comment] $1300 Rig, Seeking Feedback

[Roflwofls]

Prelude: Sorry for the lengthy post, I tried to format it the best I could in order to present the data to you all in an easy-to-read format. Thanks for taking the time to give me some feedback!

Please, if you are going to reply to this thread, keep it relevant to the OP.

If you would like to reply to the questions I have made, be sure to provide reasoning behind your suggestions.



Overview:

1. PC Used for Gaming

2. Roughly $1,300 Budget

3. Buying from USA

4. No Brand Preference

5. Parts Available to Salvage:
-Windows 7 Ultimate
-CD Drive
-Monitor
-Mouse
-650W Power Supply
-74gb WD Raptor (x2)


6. I've browsed related threads about 2-3 pages deep.

7. Would like to overclock, but not to fanatical levels.
(Unless someone would like to argue that water cooling = totally worth the performance boost it allows you to achieve through overclocking that fans could not provide)

8. 1980 x 1080

9. Plan to build as soon as I get sufficient feedback.

Proposed Rig:

750GB Deskstar HDD $69.99



XFX Radeon 6970 2gb 256-bit $329.99

Question 1: Is it better to buy this higher-end graphics card or get two cheaper ones and put them into crossfire/SLi?



XFX 650W Power Supply $99.99
Question 2: I have a 3~4 year old 650W, should I just reuse it?



Intel i-5 2500k $224.99
Question 3: Unless there is at least a 25% performance difference in spending another $100, I think I'd stick with this one?



OCZ SSD 60GB $104.99
Question 4: Have read a LOT of negative reviews from people saying they have had problems with these, should I get from another MFC? Or are these worth the possible DOA and replacement efforts?



Lanboy PC Case $169.99
Question 5: Will all of my chosen hardware fit properly into this case?
A little more of an expensive case, but I like the appearance/size/open nature of the case.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129093



ASRock Fatal1ty Mobo $219.99
NOTE: The motherboard is what I have had the hardest time choosing.

Question 6: Is this mobo good, or what would you recommend?


I expect the following out of my mobo:

Easy Overclocking Capabilities (Not extreme overclocker, 1st time will be this rig)
32gb Ram Potential (Think it's necessary?)
USB 3.0
Sufficient PCI ports of the necessary speed (at least 2, in case I go the SLi/Crossfire route down the road)
Or whatever you all see as requirements

Misc Hardware Questions

7. Video Card Standoff: 1256mb 320bit vs. 2gb 256bit, which is more desirable?

8. What are the differences in the different north bridge options on motherboards? (I.e. p67 vs z68)

9. A) Granted how cheap fans are, and how many spots for add-in fans there are in the Lanboy case, should I buy some extra fans? (Noise is not that big of an issue, but would rather not have a boeing landing at my feet at all times)

B) If so, what fans would you recommend? (If same performance, LED fans! 😛)

TOTAL: $1,334.90

Suggestions? Changes? Comments?

Thanks for the time and consideration, really looking toward to hearing some feedback from you all!







Question-Answering Template:

Question 1: Is it better to buy this higher-end graphics card or get two cheaper ones and put them into crossfire/SLi?

Question 2: I have a 3~4 year old 650W, should I just reuse it?

Question 3: Unless there is at least a 25% performance difference in spending another $100, I think I'd stick with this one?

Question 4: Have read a LOT of negative reviews from people saying they have had problems with these, should I get from another MFC? Or are these worth the possible DOA and replacement efforts?

Question 5:Will all of my chosen hardware fit properly into this case?
A little more of an expensive case, but I like the appearance/size/open nature of the case.

Question 6: Is this mobo good, or what would you recommend?

Question 7: Video Cards: 1256mb 320bit vs. 2gb 256bit, which is more desirable?

Question 8: What are the differences in the different north bridge options on motherboards? (I.e. p67 vs z68)

Question 9: A) Granted how cheap fans are, and how many spots for add-in fans there are in the Lanboy case, should I buy some extra fans? (Noise is not that big of an issue, but would rather not have a boeing landing at my feet at all times)

...............B) If so, what fans would you recommend? (If same performance, LED fans! 😛)

 

[Zap]

1) Depends on your goals and budget. One higher end single GPU would be preferred to avoid pitfalls of dual GPUs, but two lower end may outperform one higher end for the price. Pitfalls of dual GPUs are will use more electricity and create more heat, plus potential for issues such as lack of dual graphics profiles for new/certain games and possibly microstuttering.

2) Depends on the PSU in question. If it is the XFX 650W you linked, then it is fine for any single card, and may be borderline for dual cards, but will probably be okay. AFAIK It is a decent Seasonic built unit.

3) 2500K is fine. It is probably the #1 choice for gamers.

4) Fixed link to Agility 2. That's an older generation so look for an Agility/Vertex/Solid 3. Half of the negatives were due to bad firmware, which AFAIK has mostly been fixed. Other decent choices would be Samsung 830, Crucial m4.

5) Probably. The Lan Boy Air is an ATX "gamer" case after all.

6) Fixed link to motherboard. I would get a Z68 chipset board like the Asus P8Z68-V/Gen3 or the ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3. Note that they are Z68 chipset and "Gen3." This gives you the latest generation chipset as well as PCB for possible support of future Ivy Bridge CPU upgrade.

7) That is irrelevant. What is more relevant would be the GPU itself. Seems to me as if the higher end GPUs are priced according to performance, with AMD perhaps having a hair better value. However, it depends on particular games, because some work better on one (AMD) while some games work better on the other (Nvidia). If you have it in your budget, the 6970 2GB is not a bad value. A slightly cheaper alternative would be the new Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti 446 core version, or a Radeon 6950 2GB. Those will probably give you 90% of the performance at a cost savings. However, again, if there is budget then nothing like having a top end GPU.

8) Z68 is newer and supports more features. It basically has everything P67 has, plus more. Thus, go for Z68 and choose a "Gen3" model as detailed above.

9A) No need to add fans for the sake of adding fans. Only add them to fix overheating problems.

9B) See A.

 

[Tool]

--- I would get a cheaper case just to save some cash. Something from the Coolermaster HAF series perhaps?

--- From what i've read there isn't much of a performance increase from 6950 to 6970. Maybe the SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6950 2GB with a possibility of unlocking the card to a 6970 might be a better route if not just to save some bucks.

--On the off chance you have a Microcenter by you.. you can get the 2500k for 179.99


Saving cash here and there would allow a bigger and/or better performing SSD drive.

 

[mfenn]

I agree with tool. Additionally, I would not spend $220 on a Z68 mobo because you just don't get an extra $100 extra value out of it over something like the ASRock Z68 Extreme3. That gives you plenty of cash to get a good SSD like the Corsair M4 128GB.