SWTOR, FPS RIG - $1200 Max - Any Changes?

[Anomaly1964]

Son wants this for SWTOR, LOL, and FPS games...

I have a DVD drive to use and a Corsair TX 650 Modular PSU that is less than a year old from his old PC...

Any suggestions to make it a stronger rig but stay at $1200 or less?

Thanks!

Major props to MFENN and MNEWSHAM who have give TONS of advice already!

 

[lehtv]

Hi. That's a pretty nice build, just a couple of things:

SSD - 64GB would be enough for OS + programs, Crucial M4 64GB for instance.

Cooler - Corsair A50 for $17 AR. Or Cooler master 212+ or 212 Evo for a bit more.

Case - Would prefer Cooler Master HAF 922 or Corsair 400R over that, just for the better air flow... But case is always a bit personal, that Silverstone looks cool

GPU - What's the display resolution? Which FPS games is he playing, new ones? BF3?

 

[Anomaly1964]

Hi. That's a pretty nice build, just a couple of things:

SSD - 64GB would be enough for OS + programs, Crucial M4 64GB for instance. - I'm not sure 64GB is big enough for OS and SWTOR (40GB download)

Cooler - Corsair A50 for $17 AR. Or Cooler master 212+ or 212 Evo for a bit more. - DOH, forgot cooler, will go with 212+, have it on my rig and working fine...

Case - Would prefer Cooler Master HAF 922 or Corsair 400R over that, just for the better air flow... But case is always a bit personal, that Silverstone looks cool - Yeah, my son just likes that case...

GPU - What's the display resolution? Which FPS games is he playing, new ones? BF3? - He plays on a 28" 1920x1080 monitor, I have this same card in my rig and it's doing great...

-

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[SithSolo1]

Looks like a winner to me and I also agree with the larger SSD. My 60gb SSD is too small for more than the OS and a game or two.

 

[lehtv]

SWTOR is probably not going to demand much from hardware. If you son is going to be playing BF3 or similarly gpu-taxing games, then the GTX570 would be justified but for SWTOR alone, something like 6870 would be fast enough for less than half the price of the 570.

For a 570 I'd prefer a better cooler than the one on a standard EVGA. Gigabyte's triple-fan 570 is about the same price.

Good luck :thumbsup:

 

[Anomaly1964]

Looks like a winner to me and I also agree with the larger SSD. My 60gb SSD is too small for more than the OS and a game or two.

SWTOR is probably not going to demand much from hardware. If you son is going to be playing BF3 or similarly gpu-taxing games, then the GTX570 would be justified but for SWTOR alone, something like 6870 would be fast enough for less than half the price of the 570.

For a 570 I'd prefer a better cooler than the one on a standard EVGA. Gigabyte's triple-fan 570 is about the same price.

Good luck :thumbsup:

Thanks again for the feedback...

I will look at that gigabyte GPU...

My EVGA never runs hot...even on crysis, rage, etc...

 

[Ken g6]

I prefer to bundle the RAM with the processor. Saves $3, or $8 if you weren't doing a MIR.

 

[dpodblood]

Looks like an excellent build. Assuming you're not going to be overclocking you could drop the 2500k for the standard model 2500, and the stock cooler would be more than enough. Also unless he's going to be playing a lot of BF3 or similar on high settings you could save a little cash by going with and HD 6850 or 560Ti video card instead. As far as an SSD is concerned I'm with you. There's not much point unless you're getting 120GB+. Games these days are huge.

 

[lehtv]

There's not much point unless you're getting 120GB+. Games these days are huge.

Having games on the SSD is a minor thing. The major thing is speeding up the OS, web browser and other programs. And speeding up games can be done with a 64GB ssd by using intel SRT.

 

[aphelion02]

I feel like you just built your son a rig a few months ago?

 

[Anomaly1964]

Looks like an excellent build. Assuming you're not going to be overclocking you could drop the 2500k for the standard model 2500, and the stock cooler would be more than enough. Also unless he's going to be playing a lot of BF3 or similar on high settings you could save a little cash by going with and HD 6850 or 560Ti video card instead. As far as an SSD is concerned I'm with you. There's not much point unless you're getting 120GB+. Games these days are huge.

The idea of the 2500 did come to mind...

Even if you just put the MAIN game you are playing on the SSD, I think 90GB would be plenty...

He likes games to look good but not necessarily all maxed on on video options, I guess the 560TI is an option...

Hmmmm...

 

[lehtv]

Some 560 Ti will easily overclock near 570 performance, some are even factory overclocked in that way. The only problem I can foresee is VRAM. 6950 2GB could be a good choice in this regard, many of them can be unlocked and overclocked to a 6970 (e.g. MSI Twin Frozr II).

An unlocked 6950 will probably get a good price if sold away when the next generation arrives.

 

[Anomaly1964]

Some 560 Ti will easily overclock near 570 performance, some are even factory overclocked in that way. The only problem I can foresee is VRAM. 6950 2GB could be a good choice in this regard, many of them can be unlocked and overclocked to a 6970 (e.g. MSI Twin Frozr II).

An unlocked 6950 will probably get a good price if sold away when the next generation arrives.

I'm an Nvidia Fanboy...grin.

 

[Anomaly1964]

Looks like an excellent build. Assuming you're not going to be overclocking you could drop the 2500k for the standard model 2500, and the stock cooler would be more than enough. Also unless he's going to be playing a lot of BF3 or similar on high settings you could save a little cash by going with and HD 6850 or 560Ti video card instead. As far as an SSD is concerned I'm with you. There's not much point unless you're getting 120GB+. Games these days are huge.

I forgot, the 2500k has a $15 rebate that is not showing so it's the same price as the 2500...

 

[lehtv]

I'm an Nvidia Fanboy...grin.

What about your son? Does he mind having an AMD card (*gasp*) in his PC?

 

[Anomaly1964]

What about your son? Does he mind having an AMD card (*gasp*) in his PC?

*I* would know...LOL!

 

[mfenn]

Build looks solid, but you should stick with the Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti for $200 AR that we were discussing previously. The GTX 570 is 75% more expensive and nowhere near 75% faster. Thus, since you don't need the GTX 570 in order to get playable framerates in SW:TOR, the GTX 560 Ti is a better option.

 

[lehtv]

^ Might i add the factory OC version is $5 more

 

[mfenn]

^ Might i add the factory OC version is $5 more

Anomaly should just make his son drag that slider to the right. It'll be a good learning experience! :awe:

 

[lehtv]

Isn't it probably true that factory overclocked versions are "binned higher"? As in, better chips?

 

[Anomaly1964]

ORDERED!

Since the new Hitachi is just one big drive will I have to format it to a D and E drive like I did on my Samsung 103SJ?

 

[lehtv]

Nice

Yeah, you'll want separate partitions for system and storage.

Did you end up getting the 560 ti or 570?

 

[Anomaly1964]

Nice

Yeah, you'll want separate partitions for system and storage.

Did you end up getting the 560 ti or 570?

I went with the 570 cause he likes shooters too and BF3 should play nicely on it...right?

 

[lehtv]

Yes, it should play very nicely on it. If the BF3 beta performance is to trust, my 560 Ti handles BF3 only on medium-high settings. 570 with a 2500K should handle it on high settings without a hitch

 

[Anomaly1964]

Yes, it should play very nicely on it. If the BF3 beta performance is to trust, my 560 Ti handles BF3 only on medium-high settings. 570 with a 2500K should handle it on high settings without a hitch

COOL!