System Build

[DigiGuy777]

Hello Everyone,

I am brand new to the forum just joined today so forgive me if I created a post that may have already been worn out. It took me 30 minutes just to figure out where to go to create a post.....pretty sad I know. Presently my eyes are being tortured by the low quality graphics on my PS3. When I first got it I thought it was awesome, until one day I saw a recorded video on YouTube of the game Mass Effect 3 played on a PC. The description also indicated the settings were on Ultra.

Needless to say going back to playing Mass Effect 3 on my PS3 or any of my games for that matter just isn't much fun anymore. It's like knowing Avatar in 1080p and in full color exsists and being forced to watch Mayberry RFD an old B&W CRT.

I haven't done a build for some time, the last PC I built myself was a 486DX and the latest OS was Win95. So I am waaaaaaaaaaaaay behind the technology of today's PC's.

I'm not looking to build a machine that I can brag over, I just want to put together a Gamer that can run games like, Skyrim, Mass Effect 3 and run Microsofts FSX effortlessly. I'm wanting to build it around the Intel architecture it's what I feel most familure and comfortable with.

I have a budget of between $2k & $3K to work with but am hoping I don't have to get that crazy if I don't have to. Again I am way behind on the technology of today's hardware but I learn fast.

One of the things I hope to be able to do is hook this Gamer up to my Sony Bravia 46" 1080P flat screen. It does have a serial port for doing that but I'd rather hook it up via HDMI. You may be asking why my 46" Sony? I am far sighted and sitting close to my 24" HP monitor is very hard for me to do even with glasses. If the Sony is out of the question I'll have to find another solution.

I hope to be able to play my games if not in Ultra settings then the highest my investment can get for me. Im just tired of the Claymation look the characters of Skyrim and ME3 have on the PS3 compared to a nice PC setup.

I'd love any advice on sound setup, on board verses sound card would be appreciated. I've researched a little on these new SSD drives seems people are using them for boot drives....( OS, Game Installs ) and using the HDDs for save files, I hope I understood that right.

One of the features I loved about the SSDs was the Hot Swap bay. Are there Hot Swap bays for HHD too and if so are there any known Cons? As far as I am concerned once the hard drives are in they are in to stay unless one crashes.

I have picked a case and PSU but not purchased them yet so I am still open to suggestions there too. I really like the Cooler Master Cosmo II after watching a review on it I'd say that would be the last case I would ever have to buy.
The PSU I was considering is also Cooler Master ( RSC-00-80GAD3-US1200W 12V v2.3/EPS 12V v2.92 SLI/Crossfire Ready 80 Plus Gold Certified Modular Active PFC. $229.99 NewEgg.

Any help anyone can give will be greatly appreciated......

Thank you so much in advance.

 

[denis280]

better off getting one with all in it.http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16883227387

 

[DigiGuy777]

Thank you for your response denis280,

Any other time that's exactly what I would do but, I want to build my own. To be honest
I just turned 53 and my brain isn't what it used to be but I'm far from a vegetable either.
Some information I have been able to get from doing a Google search but Google can only get me so far.

Assembling the system isn't a big deal it's after everything is in that has changed.
Back when I was building systems in order for everything to be recognized it wasn't just simply going into the Bios and and making a few selections, you had jumpers on the mother board that had to be set.
From what I understand now most everything is done through the Bios and software.

This build is a challenge to myself to know I can still do it to be able to feel a sense of accomplishment.

I guess I'm like Henery Ford who was a engineer and mechanic who built the first automobile. If he were alive today could he build a car of today? Most likely not until he re-educated himself on today's technology and terminology.

I'm not that bad off, I'm just not familure with today's hardware enough to make the right choices for getting the job done.

For instance until yesterday I didn't know what the heck SLI was now I do, Scalable Link Interface it does for NVIDIA what Crossfire does for AMD graphics cards.

I have never overclocked a CPU before and if it isn't necessary I probably won't but I'm not afraid to try it. I've never installed a Water cooling system, to be honest that scares the heck out of me, not because it would be hard to do just because liquid and electronics don't mix. I guess you hope that it doesn't leak?

There are so many choices of hardware out there it's just not a simple matter of saying, Ya That's the one!

So here's where I stand.....

1. I live in America I don't know if that helps or not.
2. I'd like to have the choice of displaying my games on my 46" Sony or a good Monitor.
3. My budget is between 2K and 3K
4. Would love to run at Ultra or near Ultra resolutions
5. I mainly play games like Skyrim, Mass Effect but would like a system capable of running BF3 at 60fps or close. I also will be playing FSX and really want to be able to max out all settings and not have to worry if the system can handle it.

This will be a Game Only system, no MS Office or Photoshop for this system.

I have to rely on those people who have had hands on experience with the various hardware that's out there. I know there is no garuntee that any specific hardware will work perfectly or exactly the same in different builds but I hope to get some idea of what has worked for different people to get a jump off point.

Here was my first stab at trying to figure out a build but I soon realized a snag with the Ram versus the Mobo.

I7-2600k CPU 3.4GHZ 8MB Cache Socket LGA 1155 $299.99 Amazon

ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 HDMI SATA 6GB/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Mobo $239.99 Newegg

Vengeance-16GB Quad Channel DDR3 Memory Kit CMZ16GX3M4X1866C9R $129.99 Tiger Direct

CoolerMaster PSU RSC-00-80GAD3-US1200W 12V v2.3/EPS 12V v2.92 SLI Ready Crossfire Ready 80 Plus Gold Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply $299.99 Newegg

Corsair Hydro Series H100 CWCH100 $102.74 Amazon

Hard Drive #1
64GB Crucial m4 2.5" SSD WITH Data Transfer Kit $98.43 from Crucial

Hard drive #2
Seagate ST310005N1A1AS-RK 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0 GB/s 3.5 Internal Drive $109.99 Newegg

I soon discovered that the Quad Channel Ram would not be utilized with the chosen Mobo.

None of these choices are written in stone either I just chose the brands I am familure with and have done builds in the past with.

I don't know if this helps anyone in getting an IDE of what I am wanting to do or not but I will be glad to add any other info if needed.

Thanks again denis280 your input is valued highly.

 

[2timer]

The hyperthreading on the i7 isn't going to benefit you at all with the current generation of games. 4 cores 8 threads is more for servers and workstations. You want an i5-2500k for a desktop, it's a hundred bucks less and overclocks just fine. Again, 16GB of RAM is excessive for your stated purposes. Most games and apps are not made to make use of anymore than 4GB. But with cheap RAM, you can go ahead and get 8GB and be future proof.

Unless there is a specific port that is lacking (HDMI or Display Port, for example) I would go ahead and get a Z68 motherboard, if it saves you $50. Performance wise, you won't see much difference in the Z68 or Z77 chipsets, unless you specifically want onboard video or a certain IO like I said.

That PSU is WAYYY overkill, my friend. I know dropping alot of cash on an expensive psu feels awesome, but the fact is everything is becoming much more energy efficient these days, and unless you want a 3way graphics machine just to show off (not recommended), the range you should shoot for is 550-650w rated psus, sub $100. Corsair makes an excellent PSU, the Builder series, which should serve you just perfect.

Finally, if you have some extra dough that is just burning a hole in your pocket, put it all into the best GPU you can. A high end, Radeon 7800 or 7900 graphics card is going to give you the eye candy you want! Pair that with your HD TV and you will be tripping on some ultra settings mayhem.

These are just my suggestions from what I've gleaned on the latest hardware. Oh, and one more tip, there is also a General Hardware section, you can get even more advice there.

Good luck!

 

[denis280]

This is what i have.
case-antec three hundred with 4 fan
psu-cooler master 500watt
cpu-phenom llx4 975
2x4gb ddr3 1333 kingston
500 gb wd hd blue
video card asus engt430
os-windows 7 ultimate 64
and for gaming it's perfect

 

[denis280]

Motherboard asus m4a88t-m

 

[DigiGuy777]

Thank you both so much for the information, this is exactly the replies I was hoping to receive. 2timer, your going to save me a lot of money. I guess the reason I went after so much Ram is in the past I was building machines that did more then play games they were also for 3D animation and Photoshop work. Since this will be a dedicated gamer it only makes sense that I wouldn't need so much Ram to do the job. You made a great point as well with the newer technology becoming more energy efficient so I ecstatic to know I don't have to go over board on the PSU
I will definitely look into the Z68 Mobo and the I5-2500k, do you have any suggestions as to what Ram I should mate with the Z68?
The reason I ask is there are so many types of Ram ( Single Ch, Dual Ch, Tripple And Quad ) the Mgz ratings.....Corsair, Kingston and many others. I'm most familure with Corsair and Kingston but am open to any other suggestions. I guess what I'm trying to get at is what type of Ram is best suited for what I am after.

I don't have money to burn in my pocket but this is the one time in my life I do have enough to put together the best system I can. I hope I don't sound like a braggart when I talk about hooking the system up to my HDTV it's more of a necessity then anything. My eyes are progressively getting worse so the bigger and sharper the display is the better.

Denis280, I will also research your setup, though I am not as knowledgeable in the AMD world. I'm not a Fanboy of either Intel or AMD I am open to which ever products can best produce the results I am after.

Thank you both sooooooooo much your advice is so appreciated and valued highly.

I do have another question, with what I am after will over clocking be necessary or can I just leave everything stock? If OCing is necessary any thoughts on Liquid Cooling verses Air?

Thanks again to you both.

 

[denis280]

for exemple.http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16813128495
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16819115076
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16820104206
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16817153113

 

[random2]

As an old guy myself I admire a person who likes to take on something new.

With your budget you could build a machine capable of some serious crunching, but a very capable gaming machine can be built for around 2000.00 .

Motherboard - Certainly nothing the matter with your choice in the ASUS

CPU - Personally I like the 2600K with multi-threading, but that's just me. I also like to multi task and do media file conversions etc. Yes you can go more affordable, but this is a good value/performance sweet spot.

RAM - You motherboard manufacturer will have a compatibility list of RAM makes and models if you're reluctant to go this decision on your own. Eight GB will be plenty.

SSD - Spend the extra 120.00 to 160.00 and get a 120 GB or 180 GB. OCZ has HAD some issues with their Sandforce controlled drives, but there are others like Intel, Crucial, Patriot etc that supply good product. If moneys no object keep in mind even larger drives can perform a little better on IOPS and read/writes.

PSU - Don't go 1000 or 1200 watts, you don't need it unless you plan on running triple SLI or Crossfire video card configurations. A Seasonic. Corsair, Antec of 650-750 watts will be more than enough for a single video card. Spend good money here, as even some of the reputable manufacturers have budget lines of PSU's and there have been some of marginal quality.

Video Card - You could get away with spending 250.00-300.00 on a card, but if you like high frame rates and ultra-high settings then go crazy here (500.00 to 600.00). If you're gaming at 1080p and you like ultra-high settings for better immersion in the game go with the latest top of the line 680 Nvidia card. If you prefer AMD (was ATI), then look at the 7970. You can get a good idea of the reliability etc of the manufacturers by checking the reviews at Newegg and NCIX.
The 680 is a little faster than the 7970 by the way but inventory levels are low right now.

Gaming on a HDTV - If getting the drop is important, I'd suggest switching to a monitor as they will have considerably faster response times, and less input lag than your HDTV. Most resonably priced monitors use a TN manufacturing process, which is fast and affordable, but viewing angles aren't as good, and colour reproduction isn't always perfect. Fine for gaming etc.

Network card - An affordable Intel network card can offload the networking from the CPU and in the process offer some improvements in connectivity in online gaming versus using the on-board network connection on the motherboard. Cheap and worthwhile.

Soundcard - Onboard sound is pretty good these days, but a decent sound card can offer clearer and better directional sound when used with Gaming headsets with some form of virtual surround sound. Nothing like being able to pick-up when someones sneaking up behind you. At my age I need all the clarity I can get.

Anyhow, good luck with your new build

Cheers

 

[DigiGuy777]

Thankyou again denis280,
The info helps a lot, it gives me something to think about.

Hello random2 it's nice to see I'm not the only grey hair still at this stuff...Hee...Hee.
So far with the information and advice everyone has given me I'm getting closer to making some final choices.

I'm going to post what I have chosen so far and I am open to any suggestions as to a better to options but I think I did ok so far.

( First Consideration )
PC BUILD

Intel *Core I5-2500k 3.30Ghz
$218.98 Amazon

ASUS *P8Z68-V/PRO/GEN3LGA 1155-Z68 PCIe 3.0 and UEFI BIOS Intel Z68 ATX DDR3 2200 $189.99 Amazon

Vengence -Blue 8GB ( 2x4G B ) PC3-12800 1600mhz DDR3
240-pin SDRAM DUAL Channel
Memory Kit CMZ8GX3M2A 1600C9B $53.70

Corsair GS 500W 80 Plus Certified CMPSU-500 $78.79 Amazon

Thermaltake Chaser MK-1
VN300M1W2N $164.98

HIS Radeon HD 7970 3 GB GDDR5 Eyefinity 2x Mini-Displayport HDMI DL DVI-I HDCP PCI Express 3.0 X16 Graphics Card H797F3G2M $449.99 Amazon

I'm still looking into the Hard drives, I definitely want to get a SSD just need to do some research as its a new Technology for me.

Any recommends for a fast second or even 3rd drive?

If my mind is thinking clearly the only thing that will be loaded on the Boot drive is the OS and what ever games I'm going to play. In turn the ( SAVE FILES ) will be saved to the second HHD.

I'm really enjoying doing all this research, my brain hasn't had to think and rethink so much stuff in a long, long time.

Anyway I really appreciate your input and everyone's for that matter this has been a wonderful experience.

Have a great day.

 

[AFurryReptile]

Video Card - You could get away with spending 250.00-300.00 on a card, but if you like high frame rates and ultra-high settings then go crazy here (500.00 to 600.00). If you're gaming at 1080p and you like ultra-high settings for better immersion in the game go with the latest top of the line 680 Nvidia card. If you prefer AMD (was ATI), then look at the 7970. You can get a good idea of the reliability etc of the manufacturers by checking the reviews at Newegg and NCIX.
The 680 is a little faster than the 7979 by the way but inventory levels are low right now.

I mostly agree with what you recommended, but I would not spend that much on a video card. I am rocking a nearly two-year old NVidia GTX470, and I can still play any game I want with mostly full graphics. This includes a bunch of new ones like the Witcher 2, Shogun 2, Skyrim, and a bunch of others. You can get a GTX480 now for ~$200.

The thing about video cards is they are expensive when they come out, but they lose value quickly. The benefits over a budget card are marginal. I, personally, would rather upgrade every 1 or 2 years with new card, than overspend and have it be outdated in the next six months.

 

[DigiGuy777]

Hello AFurryReptile,

Thank you for your input, you make a very valid point. I take what you've said seriously and will take it under advisement. Before I make any definite decisions I will take the advice I get from all who give it in this post and do some research of my own as well. I dont want to spend a dime more then I have to and what I do spend I want it spent wisely. My experiences have been Id rather have slight overkill then end up not having enough and spending even more to get what I want.

It's not like I am rushed to build this system because it will be my personal rig, so I can take my time and the advice I get from here, I can research and make sound decisions from that.

Everyone who has posted has had great advice and you guys will never know how much it's appreciated. My brain isnt what it once was but Im determined to make the most of whats left. I may be behind on the technology and terminology but I have all the time in the World to play catchup.

I really got the bitten by the BUILD BUG when I saw the difference between Skyrim on the PS3 and on a PC. Ive watched tons of videos where they installed Mods that make the enviroment and characters look almost photorealistic. Ive never had a sytem that could do this and before I die I want to experience it just once.

I dont need a system that can do 120FPS but I would like to never drop below 30 in any game. Just once Id like to be able to play a game with maxed setings and not have to sweat it.
I dont know, that may be an unrealistic expectation but for what I have to spend I hope I can create the most stable and powerful system possible. NOT FOR BRAGGING! Just to once in my life be able to play a game to it's fullest potential.

I have alot of research still to do, some of the newer Tech like the SSDs are new to me.
SATA was just coming out when I was still in the loop and Im glad to see its still around.
I must admit the newer BIOS setup on todays Mobos is awesome.

I like your Tagline AfuryReptile....... Nomen mihi Legio est, quia multi sumus. MY NAME IS LEGION, FOR WE ARE MANY.....from the Bible.

Have a great day.

 

[2timer]

Hi Digiguy,

Glad your build is coming together! Fyi, LGA1155 only supports dual xhannel RAM, so Quad channel would be unneccessary. And RAM speeds are not going to make any noticeable differences in performance. Although some extreme enthusiasts get high speed RAM, I would recommend 1333 or 1600 speed. Kingston, Corsair, and G. Skill are all good. My personal fave is G Skill, but I would stay awau from Patriot because I have heard they have QC issues.

The Cooler Master 212 gets recommensed ALOT here on AT. If you are looking for a quality air cooler for under $50, you cannot screw up on that.

Hope this helps.

*edit* I see you found a RAM kit already, looks goid to me!

 

[2timer]

One more thing: you seem like such a nice guy, so I do want to help out. AfurryReptile is basically right: with a sub $200 video card, you will find that you can play any game at a smooth 39-40 fps rate. However, if you really want insane frame rates of 60+, you will have to dish out more. New video cards are always being replaced by something, so I doubt you would be happy paying $400 for sth and then have it replaced by something better 4 months down the road, but thats just me. I would recommend trying to find the best video card for around $250. You said you do want to see some amazing graphics, and I do believe you can for under $300.

I dont know mucg about SSDs, unfortunately, in terms of brands and models, but I do kbow you have basically two options for a setup: one is a SSD that serves as a boot drive, that will hold both your OS AND apps. The second is using the Z68 SRT tech to create a "bridge" bet

 

[2timer]

.. between your primary boot mechanical drive and your smaller SSD. The first option requires a larger SSD, say 120GB, and can cost about $150. Boot times will be noticeably faster. The second optionrequires a smaller SSD, and costs maybe half as much. Your boot times will be roughly the same as before, but commonly used app loading times will speed up dramatically. This is because the Z68 SRT will use the SSD space as a kind of buffer for the files and apps you most commonly use.

If you are one of those people who leaves their computer on alot, and puts it in sleep mode, or if you will only use it infrequently, then I would use a smaller SSD for a cache. But it's really entirely in your hands! How do you want it to be?

Hope this helps you my friend, and Im very happy I could help you!

 

[DigiGuy777]

Hey 2timer,

Thank you for the info on the LGA1155. I must have spent an entire day trying to figure out just what to mate with it. I finally figured out what you just pointed out that it was only Dual Channel compatible. When I saw how cheap the Ram was I figured spending on the 1600 speed wasnt a big deal....Hee Hee.

You must be a mind reader too because Ive been racking my brain trying to figure out how to cool the CPU and I knew it wasnt going to be via Aqua. I just looked up the HYPER 212 and it looks like it would do just fine. Thanks for the tip!

SInce you and AFuryreptile seem to think a lower end GPU will do I will definitely pursue the path. I guess for what ever reason if it shouldnt do what I need I can always get a second one and do the SLI thingy...*LOL*

Dont think I will need to though, Im more after stability with the hopes of the best performance I can get. I guess what I save on the GPU I can put toward a better SSD that puts a smile on my face.

Well Im off to research some $200-$300 GPUs I should have a few more choices hopefully in this price range. Hee Hee

Thank you again for all your advice 2timer its truly appreciated..... By the way, You Seem Like A Nice Guy, Too glad to have met you.

Have a great day.

 

[DigiGuy777]

*LMBO*

You snuck a post in on me. Actaully, there wont be any APPS at all on the Boot drive. This is a game system only and all I will load onto the Boot drive is the OS and what ever files the games need to use. Other then that the secondary drive I am asuming will be used for "SaveGame files". Ive never built a game system before so Im new to this whole setup.
Having a fast boot up time would be nice, most systems Ive had in the past you press the power button....go down stairs......fix breakfast.....drink your coffee.....come back up to see the DOS screen just now appearing. *LOL*
I dont leave my systems on all the time, I usually turn them off if I am through for the day or if I will be gone for a long lenth of time.

Ill know more about what route to go after I figure out what GPU to settle on. That will determine what I have to spend on SSDs and HDDs.

I still have to consider a Monitor too to watch all this MEGA RESOLUTION on. AAAAAAAAAH!

Thank you again 2timer Im off to research some GPUS...

Have a reat day.....UH Night....*LOL*

 

[DigiGuy777]

Ok 2Timer...How about this card?

GIGABYTE GV-N560OC-1GI GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $229.99 at Newegg. Hee Hee

 

[DigiGuy777]

P.S. Is PCIe 3.0 backwards compatible? I ust noticed this card is 2.0 and the slot on the Mobo is 3.0....Aaaaaaaaaaaaah! I hope so I got really excited when I found this card.

 

[random2]

I mostly agree with what you recommended, but I would not spend that much on a video card. I am rocking a nearly two-year old NVidia GTX470, and I can still play any game I want with mostly full graphics. This includes a bunch of new ones like the Witcher 2, Shogun 2, Skyrim, and a bunch of others. You can get a GTX480 now for ~$200.

The thing about video cards is they are expensive when they come out, but they lose value quickly. The benefits over a budget card are marginal. I, personally, would rather upgrade every 1 or 2 years with new card, than overspend and have it be outdated in the next six months.

I don't disagree with you, but if you have the budget why not get higher end hardware?

I run a MSI 560Ti, and cannot always get the frame rates I like, particularly when online (which is where the fun is). I am playing at 1920x1200, with settings not maxed out. Had I the budget I'd go for the 7970 or the 680 and get smoother game play and exceptional graphics and emersion.

Each to their own I guess, but if a person has the where with all to build a higher end gaming rig, why advise against it? It's funny how often you see people giving advice to build cheeper, but who if given the chance to build with the latest and greatest would never pass up the opportunity. I'd love to see the OP get a great rig he'll be happy with for a few years. On that note, if I had the OP budget I might hold off for an Ivy Bridge processor.

 

[AFurryReptile]

What is your monitor resolution going to be, digiguy? That will play a factor in the video card you should get. The GTX470 might suffice for the 1920x1080 in my situation, but like the guy before me, if you're gaming at 1920x1200, you might need something more robust. As he also says, bigger will be better. I understand that you are looking to save money as well, so maybe something in the $250-$300 range would be a good option.

Tom's Hardware puts out quarterly charts that will give you an idea of how the card you choose might perform:
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2012-vga-gpgpu/benchmarks,135.html

 

[DigiGuy777]

Good morning AFurryReptile,

To be honest, At this particular moment in time I'm what I call a 50/50. Half of me wants to spend as little as possible "BUT" like random2 points out I do have enough to get the higher end part "SHOULD I NEED IT". In the past choosing a graphics card was a no brainer, I always chose the least expensive because that's all I could afford.
To further make the choice harder is some games like FSX it doesn't make use of the GPU as much as it does the CPU so getting the a High End GPU would be a mute point. On the other hand games like BF3 or Crysis 2 are close to being a GPU's nightmare if you Push the settings to the Max.

Honestly I'm not aware of any monitors that have a higher resolution then 1920 x 1200 that's what my other systems monitors resolution is. Its a HPw2408 and graphics look awesome on it it's what I did all my Illustrator and Photoshop work on.
I don't know if my eyes could tell the difference if the resolution was higher I have never seen anything past 1920 x1200.

Again being honest, I haven't had the "ONLINE" game play experience since the 80's other then recently playing on my PS3. I have to say my experience with Playstation servers hasn't really been a wonderful experience. The graphics on the PS3 as far as Mass Effect 3 and Skyrim go, they suck. Until they provided a patch the game play was mediocre at best lagging after only a few hours of play.

The textures Skyrim uses are what they refer to as Vanilla Textures and they lack detail and realism. I found a Website called NEXXUS that provides MODS for the game and my jaw dropped when I saw how realistic the game could look when those MODS are applied. Only problem with adding the enhanced graphics is you got to have a GPU that can handle the more detailed textures and colors and not to mention retain the high frame rates.

As it is right now 1920 x 1200 is probably were I will be at for now like I mentioned I don't know of any monitors in the size I am after that do over that. I'm looking at getting 27" LED Flat screen.

I've never experienced first hand "ULTRA Settings and Smooth Game Play" Just once in my life I'd like to know what that's like. I play my games to try and loose myself in them and to me the more real it looks the better I like it. And just once I'd like a system that will take what I throw at it and beg for more.

Granted this is a Game System only so I don't have to worry about having enough RAM to run Apps like Photoshop CS5 or 3DStudioMax. I just want to create the most immersive experience I can.

This may be a weird analogy but maybe I can desrcibe what I am after this way.
Remember the original Wizard Of Oz? For the first half of the movie it was all B&W
and not very nice to look at until it got to the scene where the house landed on the Wicked Witch. When Dorothy opened the door it was like EYE CANDY DELUXE!

I dont have to have the best of everything in this machine, realistically even with my budget I couldn't afford it and wouldn't do it anyway if I could. I just dont want to be in a position where I am playing a game and it plays smooth for a while then starts having FPS issues or lagging. I want as realistic looking graphics as possible, lots of detail in the textures.

I saw a Youtube video where this fellow playing Skyrim added hundreds of dragons attacking Whiterun and his system never even belched. Unfortunately he didn't list his system specs so I have no idea what he was pushing the game with.

I dont have the desire to create that scenario because you can really get ridiculous with your expectations of systems performance if you push it beyond its limits. Even a system with the absolute best of everything in it will beg for mercy if you push it beyond reason.

I just want the best performance that I can achieve with out breaking the bank but if I need to spend a tad more say on the graphics card alone, I don't mind if that's what I need to do to get the job done.

Ive been out of the BUILD circle for over 20 years, for the most part most of the components haven't changed except for being more powerful and more energy efficient. Most of the settings now are done in the BIOS and using software unlike in the old days where you used to have to set jumpers on the Mobo first then go into the BIOS.
Did they ever replace DOS or is it still at the heart of things? *LOL*

It's really hard to make the decision as to what CPU or GPU or MOBO to get because there are so many options out there. Myself never having a "HIGH END" machine "ever", I really have no clue what to do.

Thats why I rely on people like yourself who are in the know and have been out there Kicking the tires and lighting the fires and taking these systems for a spin.

Maybe to make it as easy as possible for everyone to understand I will try to expalain what I want.

I know I have mentioned BF3 and playing it on Ultra settings without FPS loss and killer graphics. Actually I use BF3 as an example of the performance I would my system to be capable of not that I will actually play BF3. I can tell you now I wont....Ive tried games like those and to be honest....I SUCK AT THEM! *LOL*

Honestly I suck at most games but I try....

What I will be playing mostly are games like, Skyrim, Mass Effect 3 both single and multiplayer, Red Dead Redemption both single and multiplayer and Microsoft Flight Sim.

Skyrim and Flight Sim will be getting scenery Mods so that is something to take into consideration.
I dont need to have 120 FPS system but I would hope to at least not get below 30 FPS. Flight Sim will be the hardest to achieve this on but even if it should dip to below 30 "briefly" as long as on the nastiest scenery I can play it with smooth performance.

If Im expecting to much and this cant be done without breaking my wallet, then I will try to get the most bang for my buck and be happy with what I can do.

This will most likely be the last build I do of any significance, I'm 52 years old and my eyes are failing and Im loosing the hearing in my right ear. Most of my family have passed on at early ages not much over their 50's mostly to cancer. So before I die I want to prove that this old brain can still do something and building this system is my quest.

I'm trying to spend the money where it's best utilized.....I originally was going to get the Coolermaster Cosmos II $339 but in order to save some money and be able to put the difference toward a more important component like the GPU I chose instead the Thermaltake Chaser MK-1 VN300M1W2N $164.98.

Instead of the 1200w PSU I went with a 500w and instead of 16GB of Ram I chose 8GM on the advice I have received from this post.

The two hardest challenges for me have been the Mobo and GPU.

I've read on many forums and blogs people debating which is the better Mobo and I giggle when it comes to the choice between ASUS and ASRock. What few may know is that ASRock is actually a spinoff of ASUS. It was established back on May 10, 2002 I believe.
You can check it out here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASRock

When I look into buying a part from a company, I look into the history of the company I'm purchasing from as well. The part can be the best made but if the customer service sucks then how good the product is, is mute.

ASUS is a proven product, they've been around as long as I can remember but I have read in a few reviews that their customer service has back slid with some people.
I haven't researched Gigabyte so I cant say first hand what they are all about but i do know people give them praise as well.

Graphics cards...I'm familure with ATI, NVIDIA, AMD but that's it. After that it's all new territory for me.

SSD drives, New Territory....All they had in my day were IDE and SATA HDD.


If I ramble on to much you'll have to forgive me.....This body has been through some rough times and my brain doesnt fire on all 8 cylinders anymore. But Im a diehard old fart and this build is a challenge to myself to prove that I'm not a useless bag a aging bones and flesh.

I have a nice budget to work with, do I want to spend it all....NO! But I want to build a system that will "HOPEFULLY" run as smooth as possible and run my games at the highest possible settings and not hurt the system.

I'd like to stay with a single GPU setup if I can. From what I have read, most games I play don't see much performance boost from dual setups to justify the price. Maybe BF3 on Ultra does but like I mentioned I wont be playing that one.

It's hard to, because I rely on the advice of not one but several people in my decision making on this system build and each person has a different build themselves that they swear by. Being honest, we all know that all of us could be given the exact same components to build a system with and none of them would perform the same.

It's all a gamble and I know that....but I'm a trusting person and I trust everyone's opinions and their honesty in this post. All of you have wonderful advice and valid points I just need to find that happy medium.

What you guys need from me is to be honest as well and realistic in my expectations of what i can do within my budget. If at anytime what I propose seems ridiculous let me know and I will be willing to listen an rethink my strategy.

So far it seems component wise I have this....

Intel *Core I5-2500k 3.30Ghz
$218.98 Amazon

ASUS *P8Z68-V/PRO/GEN3LGA 1155-Z68 PCIe 3.0 and UEFI BIOS Intel Z68 ATX DDR3 2200 $189.99 Amazon

Vengence -Blue 8GB ( 2x4G B ) PC3-12800 1600mhz DDR3
240-pin SDRAM DUAL Channel
Memory Kit CMZ8GX3M2A 1600C9B $53.70

Corsair GS 500W 80 Plus Certified CMPSU-500 $78.79 Amazon

Thermaltake Chaser MK-1
VN300M1W2N $164.98

I have researched a few SSDs but still am unsude there as well as to what and how many HDDs I will need.

I know I want a 27" LED monitor 1920 x 1200 is fine for Rez but I'd like the best Contrast ratio possible and I definitely want HDMI should I ever decide to play a video on this system.

I still need some type of optical drive too havent research any of those yet.

Wow, I wrote a book here I guess I'd better stop before I have to get a publisher. *LOL*

Thanks again AFurryReptile and random2...actually everyone I appreciate your trying your best to help an old fart out.

Have a great day.

 

[CoDLolcopter]

Hey DigiGuy777,

Many people recommend Crucial, Intel and Samsung for SSDs as they have good track records.

Crucial M4
Intel 520 or 320 (If you're that concerned with Sandforce)
Samsung 830

I'm from Australia so I don't really know the prices and discounts in the USA.

This should help you:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2069761

 

[DigiGuy777]

Good Day CoDLolcopter

First off, pleasure to make your aquaintence and a big "Good Day mate To You Too!"
Thank you for replying to my post and providing me with this awesome information and link. SSDs are a new technology to me, I haven't had the time to read up on them and how they work in relation to an IDE or SATA drive. Sandforce is foreign to me as well but I'm am hoping before I actually start placing orders for parts that I will have read enough about them to feel confident in installing them.

I had been looking at the Crucial SSDs mainly because I'm familure with the brand and I have used their Memory for years with no problems. I'm not what some call a Fanboy of anyone product, I haven't used enough of other brands to become one. I just go with what I am familure with and has worked for me in the past.

I like to think I am a opened minded person, so I listen to what others have to say, research the info they have given, then try to base a decision from that. I'm so grateful I've received so many replies to my post, without them this build would nearly be impossible for me to do.

I'm some 20+ years behind in the technology but even in the short time I have been a member of this forum I have learned so much.

Thanks to your link to the SSD info I now have a good understanding of how the SSD can improve the performance of my system.

Thank you again for all your help I hope I can return the favor to you and all who have helped me one day.

Have a great day.

 

[DigiGuy777]

Hey CoDLolcopter,

I just read this from the link on the SSD drives and I'm wondering how this applies to "SaveFiles".

Do NOT endlessly run anything that writes huge amounts of useless data to your SSD.

Amazed at how fast Windows installs on your SSD? Great! Don't do it 10 times in a row just to watch it fly along. Amazed at how high your SSD benchmarks, especially in random writes versus your HDD? Great! Just don't do it every time your buddies drop by just to brag. Amazed at how fast files copy from your RAIDed VelociRaptors to your new SSD? Great! Just don't copy files you don't need over and over again just to watch the progress bar zip across.

The thing is that an SSD has a finite life. Each NAND cell can only be written to a certain number of times. Now, SSD controllers have BlackMagic™ that allows you to be able to use an SSD for many, many, many years before the NAND gives up the ghost, but useless writes to the drive only serves to reduce the life span. (True that some SSDs die pretty quickly but usually for other reasons - why does ANY computer part die prematurely?)

Reason I ask is Everytime I do a save on my PS3 it asks if I want to overwrite the save or create a new one. Most the time I just overwrite the old file to save space but it sounds like these SSD drives are kind of fragile in this respect.

Just wondering if I should stick to a good HDD?

Have a great day...