Aright so basically I've always wanted to get a really nice PC to play the latest games possible. Never really had a chance as a student to dish out that much cash but now that I have a well paying job I feel its the right time. I'm looking for a PC that will handle every game I throw at it and at the same time future proofing my setup. Just a heads up, I am quite new to the whole building a pc scene, any tips and adjustments will be greatly appreciated. Mobo: ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS Newegg.com - ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS $199.99 CPU: Intel Core i5-2550K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Without IGP http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16819115230 $239.99 RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9B Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9B $99.99 GPU: SAPPHIRE 11196-02-40G Radeon HD 7950 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (OC Version) http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16814102963 $489.99 PSU: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750M 750W ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular High Performance Power Supply Newegg.com - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750M 750W ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular High Performance Power Supply $129.99 SSD: Intel 520 Series Cherryville SSDSC2CW120A3K5 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) Newegg.com - Intel 520 Series Cherryville SSDSC2CW120A3K5 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $189.99 HDD: HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.D HDS721050DLE630 (0F13178) 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Newegg.com - HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.D HDS721050DLE630 (0F13178) 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $84.99 DVDR: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM Newegg.com - ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - CD / DVD Burners Now: $21.99 CASE: Corsair Obsidian Series 650D (CC650DW-1) Black Steel structure with black brushed aluminum faceplate ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Newegg.com - Corsair Obsidian Series 650D (CC650DW-1) Black Steel structure with black brushed aluminum faceplate ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $189.99 Total: 1646.91$ (not including shipping) Probably going to grab a 24 inch monitor on top of all that. If everything goes well I will start ordering stuff by next week. Many thanks in advance for any kind of help! Oh and would I be needing a CPU cooler? I've seen some people use aftermarket one claiming the stock cooler is insufficient.
Not a bad selection. You could save money on a cheaper board without losing any features you actually need. Will you be overclocking? That SSD isnt the best value for money. The M4's, Samsung 830's are the ones i currently suggest to people. Will you be need KB, Mouse etc? Its generally good to get an aftermarket CPU cooler. The stock one is perfectly capable of cooling your CPU but it will not be that quiet and your temps wont be as low as with a good aftermarket one. If you wont be OC'ing then you dont need a new one, but its one of those nice things to get, maybe build your system and then you can work out if the noise is bothering you at all (stop the CPU fan with a pencil for a few seconds, compare noise difference to see if it is what is causing the most noise. Intel stock coolers are much better than they used to be though so it might not need a new one desperately.
1) Replace that with a 2600K 2) Get your 16GB of RAM in 2X 8GB DIMMS so you have room to upgrade later on. 3) As Farting Bob said, there are much better bang for buck SSD's out there.
The i5-2500K is the better buy because the difference in frequency is insignificant and it has an iGPU which can be useful if something goes wrong with your dGPU. 4GB is plenty for a gaming rig so 16GB is overkill. I would cut back to 8GB. A CPU cooler is 'necessary' if you want to do any of the following: a) overclock, (you can overclock on the stock cooling, but it is not designed to support it) b) keep temps down, c) keep noise down. The Corsair TX750 V2 is generally seen as superior to the TX750 M, and this unit is the same internally as the V2 but comes with a modular interface: Seasonic M12II Bronze 750W $130 http://ncix.com/products/?sku=66286&vpn=M12II 750&manufacture=Seasonic Electronics If you can find the NZXT Hale82 750W unit then that is likely to be cheaper. XFX Pro 750W XXX Edition 80Plus Silver Modular $120 ($20 rebate) http://ncix.com/products/?sku=62224&vpn=P1750BNLG9&manufacture=XFX
Perhaps, but if you're putting together a build at that price, a CPU with hyperthreading is going to be much better. Edit: Apologies, I'm referring to the 2600K vs 2500K, not the 2550K vs 2500K.
Change the Corsair PSU to the HX or AX series. TX series is like any other average PSU, unless that is what you want, but at that point you are paying for the name.
this...i highly recommend the ax...the psu is your most critical piece of kit...splurge additionally, as others have said, the ssd isn't the best choice...i'd recommend the mushkin enhanced chronos 120 gb or the crucial m4 120 as mentioned b4...the mushkin will save you $25 and you won't notice the difference in speeds... also, i'd see if i could grab a second hand 25xxk or even an i3-i5 series since ivybridge should hit shelves in 45 days or so...the power savings alone will be worth the slight hassle of switching out the chips... ive owned 2 hitachis in my life, and the experience was not worth a third...grab a samsung or wd caviar black
Aright guys, I've done some more research and taken most of the recommendations you guys gave me. Now I have some changes and some questions. First off, I'm not in a big rush to build this PC. If waiting ~45 days to make my new system considerably more future proof and increase performance then I will wait. I've been reading on the Nvidia GTX 600 Series and the Ivy Bridge CPU. I'd be getting the GTX670 or maybe GTX680. As for the CPU, the i5-3770k looks very nice in perspective. Here are 2 interesting articles, do they them with a grain of salt however: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Nvidia-Kepler-GPU-GeForce-600-Series,14642.html http://www.tomshardware.com/news/ivy-bridge-intel-cpu-processor-specs,14083.html -------------- Soooo, if I go with the waiting part, my build as of right now would look like this: (Thanks for all the input!!) PC Build w/out GPU and CPU Mobo: ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790 $219.99 RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX16GX3M2A1600C11 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145357 $129.99 PSU + CASE: -CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX750 (CMPSU-750AX) 750W ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply -Corsair Obsidian Series 650D (CC650DW-1) Black Steel structure with black brushed aluminum faceplate ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.838593 $339.98 (Have to validate mail-in savings) SSD: Mushkin Enhanced Chronos MKNSSDCR120GB 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226236 $144.99 HDD: HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.D HDS721050DLE630 (0F13178) 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145531 $84.99 DVDR: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204 $21.99 CPU FAN: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+ http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099 $36.99 MONITOR: ASUS VS Series VS247H-P Black 23.6" 2ms LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 50000000:1 (ASCR) http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236174 $189.99 KEYBOARD: RAZER Black USB Wired Lycosa Mirror Special Edition Gaming Keyboard http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823114008 $79.99 Grand Total: $1,469.37 with shipping/taxes. Now I know that the new GPU/CPU will cost a significant amount and I will have to chose probably between these components: GPU: GTX670 (500$) vs GTX680 (649$) (prices may be incorrect but I doubt by much) CPU: Core i5-3570K (225$) vs Core i7-3770K (332$) Speculated prices from here: http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_i5/Intel-Core i5-3570K.html http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_i7/Intel-Core i7-3770K.html So how does all this sound? I still feel a bit unsure about the motherboard selection but i heard the one I chose is good.
I don't like the HDD choice. HDD, I recommend the Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB, or more quieter the Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB. Last thing I hate the most in your entire build, is your monitor. No reviews, means that ASUS didn't send it for review... that is like if a game publisher doesn't send it's new game for review.... you think that they are hiding something. But that is me... I am very picky with monitors. It's the main interaction device with the computer (as well as keyb/mouse/sound), if it sucks, than the computer experience will suck. Here is my monitor guide: http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=218867 Also what is your current sound setup? What speakers do you have? Games aren't enjoyable with crappy sound. 8GB of RAM is more than enough for games. Most games consumes only 2GB of RAM tops. I have 6GB (triple channel my system, so 3x 2GB stick) of RAM, with large programming project on the back, and demanding games, I can barely reach 4GB of RAM.
GoodBytes is correct. From experience, I know that Asus V series monitors are shite! I have displeasure of having to use the 19" version at school, and the fact that most colours don't even blend together on the panel worry me. And the worst part? The 19" version cost £150! It's also glossy.
I think he was just planning on using it for gaming, but he did mention future proofing too. I was wondering, do any games use hyperthreading at the moment? Are there any big ones on the horizon that do? Looking at your most recent spec - just my opinion but I wouldn't spend $80 on a non-mechanical keyboard. Also not a fan of the glossy finish, but that's just me.
Let's fix those prices: RAM: http://ncix.com/products/?sku=63297&vpn=CMX16GX3M4A1600C9&manufacture=Corsair (97.02$) Motherboard: http://ncix.com/products/?sku=65323&vpn=P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1205 (214.99$) DVD Burner: http://ncix.com/products/?sku=49597&vpn=DRW-24B1ST Bulk&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1215 (18.99$) CPU heatsing: http://ncix.com/products/?sku=64385&vpn=RR-212E-20PK-R2&manufacture=COOLERMASTER (34.98$)
when i saw the monitor choice, i knew goodbytes had unleashed hell... why? excellent ssd, only downside is the asynchronous memory, which i believe they both have and which again, wont be noticed except in e-peen benchmarks...and for $25 less (about 15%) in canada...much better buy... in fact...the mushkin has a higher rated iops
Aright I'm pretty much done choosing the parts as of now I think. As this is my first time building, is there any kind of cables I should be buying that I would need? I know that it will be a paint int he ass to figure out where all the cables plug in, I just want to make sure that I do have them. Here is the final build w/out cpu/gpu again. PC Build w/out GPU and CPU Mobo: ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS Newegg.ca - ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS $219.99 RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CML16GX3M4A1600C9B Newegg.ca - CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CML16GX3M4A1600C9B $81.99 PSU + CASE: -CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX750 (CMPSU-750AX) 750W ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply -Corsair Obsidian Series 650D (CC650DW-1) Black Steel structure with black brushed aluminum faceplate ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Newegg.ca - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more! $339.98 (Have to validate mail-in savings) SSD: Mushkin Enhanced Chronos MKNSSDCR120GB 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) Newegg.ca - Mushkin Enhanced Chronos MKNSSDCR120GB 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $144.99 HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Newegg.ca - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $149.99 DVDR: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM Newegg.ca - ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - CD / DVD Burners $21.99 CPU FAN: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+ Newegg.ca - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+ $36.99 MONITOR: ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 (1000:1) Built-in Speakers Newegg.ca - ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 (1000:1) Built-in Speakers $199.99 KEYBOARD: RAZER Black USB Wired BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Newegg.ca - RAZER Black USB Wired BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Gaming Keyboard $129.99 Sub Total: $1,561.80 (shipped) Then Add: Core i5-3570K + GTX670 + shipping + taxes 225$ + 500$ + 20$ + 100$ =~845$ (These prices are guesstimates enforced by articles I've read.) Grand Total: 2400$ PC Build that would be completed by the end of April or May. Now I know I didn't take the SDD you guys recommended but I had to cut somewhere :/
From someone that bought the p8z68 pro, I would get the non pro now... unneeded features for me. Also the RAM, as Mr Teal said, you might save yourself some money if you try 8GB then go to 16GB if you feel you need more (again I had 16 and it was completely pointless) Is there a reason you like the monitor? I would save elsewhere and buy a better model
OMG must get a good Monitor! You will be staring at the Screen don't cheap out on it. Get a value Mother board(MSI), ram(OCZ), ect as long as they OC well. But do not cut corners on the Monitor! Have a Look at Dell Ultra-sharp's and LG IPS TFT's Must stop before I rant.
If you are looking at a Dell IPS monitor, such as, the Dell U2312HM (1920x1080) or the U2412M (1920x1200), or the U2410 (1920x1200), here is how you can get some really good deals out of them: 1- Call Dell Small Business to order. You don't need to be a business, it's just to order buisness class product, but monitors collide between the home and small business. So why do go through that channel? Well simple. They can cut the price.. and I mean CUT the price, especially in Canada. 2- Order the monitor you want, and ask how much it will be, and start your negotiation! Here is my experience: -> Dell U2410 -> Normal price 750$ Canadian... got it for...... drum roll.... 500$! -> Laptop, Dell Latitude E6400 (with 3 year warranty and 3 year next buisness day on site service)... ~1800$ down to ~1600$ WITH a larger battery upgrade free (9-cell), bigger HDD free upgrade, more RAM (2 to 4GB) for free, better wireless card (Dell G card to Intel 5100 wireless N card) for free, free dvd burner upgrade (my laptop is 4 years old, that is why there was such option), and if I recall correctly, also free upgrade to the higher resolution screen. Oh and a free decent Linksys wireless N router. Now I am not saying to expect such a price slashing on the U2312HM or the U2412M, as they are lower end products over the U2410, and possibly margins are small. But you can get a pretty good price. At least 50-100$ off. If it does not work, well... probably the person you are talking on the phone is new and doesn't know the system well. No problem! Just don't buy it, wait 10min, and call again to get someone else The bad news: You can get a lower price on the 12-Day Deal event that Dell pulls a few times a year. Sadly you missed big specials on the U2412H and the U2312HM. Right now, what's on special is the awesome: Dell U2711 (2560 x 1440), (like the U2410, but higher resolution, the U2410 is much higher end than the U2412HM), with 320$ off. http://accessories.dell.com/sna/pro...l.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=224-8284 If you are good in negotiating, you can perhaps get an additional 10-20$ off.
Aright here is what I did. I just ordered the following from my previous post: -Mobo -Ram -PSU -Case -DVDR -HDD -SSD -CPU Fan -Keyboard At this point we are just over 1300$ shipped at my door. I will be doing some more research on the Dell monitors, I have to admit I overlooked that part. As for the CPU/GPU, well I'll be waiting for the new releases in late April/May.
Doesn't hyperthreading slow some games down still, as the OS can't distinguish between a real core or a hyperthreaded one. Still I suppose you could always enable it in the bios when you wanted to do something like video encoding and disable it for gaming.
