Sandy Bridge Gaming PC. Need Advice please.

[ibex333]

Got a great deal on a Sandy Bridge CPU so looks like I am building a new system much sooner than I thought!

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

85% Gaming. 15% College homework, some basic programming (Visual Basic, SQL), browsing, word processing.

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

$700. Please note thought that despite my budget, I am looking to spend as little as possible. I need only the features I am looking for and nothing extra. I am only allocating $150-200 on the video card.

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.

I have NO brand preference. I try to get the most bang for my buck. However if possible, I wouldnt mind trying an nVidia card this time, unless AMD cards still offer more raw speed for less money.

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

I already have:

Intel 2500k CPU
Hard Drives
OS, Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard
Case
PSU
DVD Burner
Sound Card
Xigmatek Dark Knight Cooler

So basically, I only need a Motherboard, RAM, and a Video Card. I am also considering a smallish SSD for OS. Not sure which one to get.

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

Oh, absolutely! Maybe too many... ; )

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

I want to overclock like a crazy maniac. As I always do.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

1920x1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

NOW. ASAP.

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

Please critique away! The more critique, the better!



Some thoughts:

This time I want to go with an SLI/Crossfire mobo, which has at least a few USB 3.0 ports or which has some slots for a USB 3.0 card. This is where I need your help guys. I dont understand why SLI runs at 8x/8x when one of the slots is 16x.... I was some mobos that do 16x/8x but I dont know if that's better or worse than 8x/8x. What should I go with?

Also, if the only difference between Z68 and P67 is onboard video support, I rather save money and go P67. I will be using a dedicated video card anyway! Unless I can use that nVidia/AMD "Boost" technology that spreads the load between onboard video and a dedicated video card. (you guys ever heard of that feature?)
Finally, if a single card 16x solution is faster than 8x/8x or at least faster in MOST games, I rather not bother with SLI/Crossfire at all.

***EDIT: Looks like I must go with Z68 because of Intels SRT technology. Which uses SSD Caching. I definitely want that.


Here's a sample build I threw up together. I hope you guys can help me improve on it or get something that is perhaps cheaper and just as good?


CPU - Intel 2500k (already have)

Mobo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128498

RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231426

SSD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...im17075X740592

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227550 not sure which one's better.

Spinning Hard Drive - Already Have (In my Sig)

Video Card - Not sure About This one. Need some Suggestions. I can go for a single solution for now, or get two cards if there are any good deals atm... or even keep using my 4870(in sig) until a good deal comes along? I am in no hurry in the video card deppt!

PSU - 850W OCZ GameXStream (Had this lying around brand new in box) Yeah I know OCZ is not the best PSU maker, but I did ok with OCZ PSUs for 6 years now, and I like em.

Case - Cooler Master CM 690 (reusing my case)

Sound Card - SB Audigy 2 ZS (Serves me fine for now)

As already stated above, I already have all other required software, parts and peripherals.


Thanks a lot!

 

[mfenn]

So the $700 is just for the mobo, PSU, and RAM? I'm sure that you know that you can get away a lot cheaper.

Your RAM selection looks good. As for the mobo, I'm not seeing a worthwhile difference between the GD65 and the G43. Given the fact that you're still happy with a 4870, I highly doubt that you will ever make sure of Crossfire or SLI.

As for the GPU, it really depends on how much you want to spend. You've got the budget for anything from a 5770 to a GTX 580. Obviously, more expensive cards are faster. A few good values at various price points are:

GTX 460 1GB $120 AR
6870 $165 AR
6950 2GB $230 AR
GTX 570 $285 AR

 

[ibex333]

The GD65 has USB 3.0 support and some SATA features I cant quite understand... But then again I can always get a USB 3.0 card later...

 

[Morg.]

Hello there .

Well, considering your budget, I'll make it simple :

Mobo - anything will do, Gigabyte P67 around 100 bucks is fine.
2x HD6950, unlock and OC for more viktory !

And there you are, around 545 bucks spent and your config is teh destroyer.

You may think your GPU is alright but, trust me I've tested both -- I get 32k 3dmarks06 with one HD6950 unlock/OC , 50 fps in metro test anandtech settings -

If you intend to play any recent game, you will love it - other solution might be to simply buy one for now and another later -

 

[ibex333]

Changed the build around a bit. ; ) Can someone please take a look at that mobo and tell me if there's anything wrong with it?

Thanks.

 

[Doclife]

Changed the build around a bit. ; ) Can someone please take a look at that mobo and tell me if there's anything wrong with it?

Thanks.

It is an excellent mobo. I'm using the same mATX mobo version (GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3) on my rig (see my signature) and it performs flawlessly. I can enter and resume from S3 sleep mode without any problems and audio output is excellent.

 

[dma0991]

The motherboard is good a good choice for single or dual GPU but if you intend to go with a 64GB SSD then Intel SRT might not be a good option considering that a SSD alone as a boot drive performs way better than a hybrid like Intel SRT. Perhaps you could drop it to a cheaper 40GB SSD if you are seriously considering Intel SRT.

 

[ibex333]

The motherboard is good a good choice for single or dual GPU but if you intend to go with a 64GB SSD then Intel SRT might not be a good option considering that a SSD alone as a boot drive performs way better than a hybrid like Intel SRT. Perhaps you could drop it to a cheaper 40GB SSD if you are seriously considering Intel SRT.

Hmm... Maybe I will forget the whole caching thing for now. But hopefully this technology will be improved upon later on and become much more useful or maybe I will buy a 2nd smaller SSD for caching later when they get cheaper.

This RAM I chose is fine for this particular mobo, right?

 

[mfenn]

The GD65 has USB 3.0 support and some SATA features I cant quite understand... But then again I can always get a USB 3.0 card later...

The G43 also has USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s.

Changed the build around a bit. ; ) Can someone please take a look at that mobo and tell me if there's anything wrong with it?

Thanks.

There's nothing "wrong" with it per se, it's just overkill. If you want to do Z68 (fine choice), go with an ASRock Pro3 or a Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3H.

As for the SSD, I wouldn't get either. Instead, I'd get a C300 (surprisingly, it's faster than the newer m4).

 

[ibex333]

There is a 64Gb SSD for sale at Buy.com for only $64 after rebate!

http://www.buy.com/prod/kingston-64g...218194457.html

Can someone please tell me if it's any good? Seems to have average read/write speeds but would something like this be good enough purely for caching(NOT storage)

Just how fast should an SSD be for caching?

ALSO: The D3H mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502&Tpk=ga-z68a-d3h has a 4 pin CPU connector, but the more expensive ones, have an 8-pin.

a)A lot of people state that with a 4-pin connector, you simply cant OC the CPU anywhere close to 5GHz due to lack of power. With 8-pin, you can apparently OC as far as your cooler and CPU will allow. any truth to this?

b)My PSU does not have a 8-pin connector!!! Will an adapted do, or should I get a whole new PSU? (really dont want to do that)

 

[mfenn]

There is a 64Gb SSD for sale at Buy.com for only $64 after rebate!

http://www.buy.com/prod/kingston-64g...218194457.html

Can someone please tell me if it's any good? Seems to have average read/write speeds but would something like this be good enough purely for caching(NOT storage)

Just how fast should an SSD be for caching?

ALSO: The D3H mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=ga-z68a-d3h has a 4 pin CPU connector, but the more expensive ones, have an 8-pin.

a)A lot of people state that with a 4-pin connector, you simply cant OC the CPU anywhere close to 5GHz due to lack of power. With 8-pin, you can apparently OC as far as your cooler and CPU will allow. any truth to this?

b)My PSU does not have a 8-pin connector!!! Will an adapted do, or should I get a whole new PSU? (really dont want to do that)

PM response reposted here for the benefit of all.

Regarding the SSD, that is a good price, but the drive really isn't very fast at all (comparatively).

Regarding the mobo, you will barely have to raise the voltage to get to 5GHz, so no the 4-pin connector isn't necessary. If you were to get a motherboard with an 8pin connector (not necessary) you can plug your current PSU's 4pin connector into one side of the 8pin (its keyed such that you can't screw it up).