Help Me Build My Computer

[Nauticas]

Well, it's that bi-decade time of the decade when I purchase a new computer. So lets get started. I'm going to throw some ideas out and questions, please speak your mind and your opinions.

Budget: $1000

I already have the following and plan to put into the new computer:
Windows 7 64-bit
Geforce PNY 560 Ti

Audio is not a big thing for me because I use my wireless head phones 90% of the time when I'm gaming. So I'll be using on board sound.

1) I want to hear your opinion on processors. It seems the best process for under $300 for gaming is the i5-2550K. What are your thoughts on this?

2) Should I be concerned that Intel is going to release their new Ivy bridge-based processors "soon". I'm guessing the price point on something new like that would be over $300? Anyone in tuned to things like this?

3) Is LGA1155 still the way to go?

4) RAM recommendations please

5) What's your motherboard of choice? I like Gigabyte alot and would consider an MSI or ASUS too. How are EVGA and ASUS these days? A motherboard that is easy to overclock is a MAJOR plus. I do not need RAID support.

6) I'll need help picking a good case too. I'm looking for something that that has good air flow as I'll probably overclock the processor at some point.

7) Is it worth buying another heat sink or do the Intel sock CPU heat sinks/fans work pretty well?

8. What size power supply do you recommend for: i5, 2x560Ti, DVD burner, 4xDDR3 RAM, on board sound, 7200 RPM HD, and a SSD?

9) I'm going to move a 7200 RPM, 320 GB drive and will probably also buy at 120GB SSD. That should help with the gaming load times, hehe.

10) Anything else?

[Dead...Again]

The Ivy Bridge release date is April 23. I would wait until then so you can compare the new Ivy bridge motherboards.

[MR_MADHATTER]

It's not quite the same as it used to be when building a rig. Used to be that even if you bought top of the line everything and paid through the nose for it, it would be out of date by the time you got it turned on. So the trick was to buy stuff that was still considered high performance but not high dollar. That way you got the most for your money and not blowing your budget on trendy flash. And your rig would still be useable for at least a couple of years before it needed an upgrade.

But Processing power has leveled off. Buying top of the line gear makes more since now. You still have to wait a while for the price to drop a bit on "new" gear, but that gear should be with you for a longer time before upgrade. I will be upgrading my spare rig soon and I intend on making it a screamer. Then this rig will be the "slower" one. But not much slower.

My advice......Go for the gusto...it's a better investment now and prices aren't gonna do anything but go up after this.

For a case with good airflow and good looks... http://www.antec.com/product.php?id=704845&pid=2


Or the new Lanboy series. Comes in red and yellow too. http://www.antec.com/product.php?id=2452&pid=2

[goldenfooler]

ahh man the amount of dusting would kill me

[Donziboy2]

I built an i5 2500k system about a year ago and its doing just fine stock, I have not found a game yet that uses more then about 50% of its power.

Ram is really cheap atm. Have had no issues with my Gskill and Gigabyte board.

Im using an MSI 560 TI 448 Twin Frozr 3.


For 2 460 Ti's, id say a Quality 700 or decent 800 watt supply, make sure its got enough wires for SLI.

The Intel heatsink is ok, but i prefure to have a quality chunk of metal on my CPU's.

[K PhaNTOM]

RAM: Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB Desktop Memory Model CML16GX3M4A1600C9 (It's what I have)

PSU: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER GX Series RS750-ACAAE3-US 750W ATX12V v2.31 SLI Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

CPU Cooler: Newegg.com - CORSAIR H80 High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler

CASE: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0, Black Interior and Four Fans-1x 230mm front RED LED fan, 1x 140mm rear fan, 1x 230mm top fan, and 1x 230mm side fan

CPU: Newegg.com - Intel Core i5-2550K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Without IGP BX80623i52550K
(Same one you suggested)

SSD Alternative: Newegg.com - Western Digital VelociRaptor WD6000HLHX 600GB 10000 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive (I love the raptor series, amazingly built)

SSD: Newegg.com - Intel 520 Series Cherryville SSDSC2CW180A3K5 2.5 (I have an older series 510 and they haven't failed yet. SSDs aren't as fast as I hoped, though.)

Just a couple more suggestions to look at.

[Nauticas]

Thanks for comments so far.

I actually have a Raptor HD I'm using now that I plan to move over too, but it's only 60GB so I just move whatever game I'm playing the most on it, hehe. I fine it does make a difference too, about 10% to 15% faster load times on most games.

Phantom, do you think the SSD is worth the extra money? I've heard mixed reviews on load times. Have you played any MMO with that SSD?

So April 23rd is the new bridge release, I'll keep any eye out on Tom's Hardware to see if they recommend it for gamers then.

What about the i7? Is it better at all than the i5-2550K? I'm talking the regular i7, not the i7 Extreme.

[Dead...Again]

The I7 is better, but not enough to make it worth the extra money IMO.

[K PhaNTOM]

I don't know. All I play is FPS and the loading times are always tiny, even with regular HDDs. However, you do get an advantage. In BF3, I spawn first, always first in the server, people spawn 5-10 seconds after me, which allows me to already be in a jet.

[{CLR} Cobalt]

I don't know. All I play is FPS and the loading times are always tiny, even with regular HDDs. However, you do get an advantage. In BF3, I spawn first, always first in the server, people spawn 5-10 seconds after me, which allows me to already be in a jet.

He not only hax everything else, he hax the dang loadtimes too.. sheesh.

[goldenfooler]

Be honest phantom.. jets load about 7 seconds after you can load into a map. You have to have a few seconds of patience.. I get into a lot of jets. And I have a normal HD.

Now I have to see if I load up before you next time.

[WalkinTarget]

Phantom, I can't believe you recommended a CoolerMaster GX as the PSU to use. This coming from me who has bought 3 CoolerMaster PSUs in the past 6 months too.

Don't skimp on the PSU - buy a SeaSonic unit. This is the one I'd go for if money was no concern:

SeaSonic 750w - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151087

This one is next on my short list of quality PSUs - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817207015

And last but not least, the Antec 750 that I own - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371049

[K PhaNTOM]

Woah, what is wrong with Cooler master? I haven't even heard about SeaSonic. Is the GX supposed to mean something? lol

I assumed it was Great Xuality lol

[ryanbatc]

Don't skimp on the PSU - buy a SeaSonic unit. This is the one I'd go for if money was no concern:
SeaSonic 750w - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151087

I own this one - superb PSU.

[WalkinTarget]

Woah, what is wrong with Cooler master? I haven't even heard about SeaSonic. Is the GX supposed to mean something? lol

I assumed it was Great Xuality lol

CoolerMaster review from the one and only JohnnyGuru:

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php...tory5&reid=188

Facepalm.

Past Coolermaster units have done pretty well here in the lab, and I'm puzzled that this one has done so poorly. I hope that next time, if there is a next time, we'll have something worth getting excited about.

You've never heard of SeaSonic because they are an OEM builder for just about any higher end PSU you may have looked at, including Antec, XFX, Corsair, older PC Power & Cooling (new ones made by OCZ), etc. All of the above buy from SeaSonic and slap their own sticker on it and market it as their brand.

See here for more information on who makes what:
http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/psu_manufacturers

Trust me, if it isn't a SeaSonic, it isn't the cream of the crop. That's not a bad thing at all ... dude, I'm STILL using your Aspire Apevia 650w that I picked up from you !! But when someone wants a parts recommendation, you have to make a quality PSU recommendation or bad problems can and will occur.
Nightmare scenario - power surge hits your house and toasts the line the PC is plugged into. If it does not offer 'active PFC' then everything plugged into the PSU can also be toast.