1300$ to spend.

[csjesse]

Hey guys, referred here from a friend. will be buying from USA, plan to overclock.

Budget is 1300$. Need programs like 3ds max/autocad/CS5 to run with ease. I'm guessing with those covered, gaming should be fine.

Here's a base off the top of my head...

i5 2500K ~$220
P67 board ~ $150
4 or 8GB RAM (DDR3 1600 CL9 is fine) ~$110
AMD Radeon 6870 ~$240 (maybe 6950 w/ unlock)

the 1300 excludes monitor, keys, OS, mouse, speakers. It's been a while since an upgrade and with the Sandy bridge upcoming release I've decided it's time

any help is appreciated

 

[mnewsham]

Case :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119233

GPU :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-064-_-Product

HDD :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152185

SSD :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211487

CD/DVD :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151192

PSU :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

RAM :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231303

add all of this to the stuff you listed earlier (but without RAM and GPU)

total: ~$1137.93
This gives you room to upgrade a few things if you want, add an extra hard drive, or maybe 8Gb of RAM.
You might also invest in a Corsair H70 for cooling (~$100) and some extra case fans.

 

[mfenn]

I like the i5 2500K and P67 mobo, but can't agree with the DDR3 1600 and AMD GPU.

Here's what I would do:
i5 2500K + P67 mobo $400
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $80 - no point in getting DDR3 1600 for Sandy Bridge as the performance benefit just isn't there
GTX 570 $350 - you really want CUDA for CS5
OCZ Agility 2 120GB $215
Samsung F3 1TB $70
Antec Earthwatts 650W $70
Antec Three Hundred $60
Total: $1245

 

[mnewsham]

I like the i5 2500K and P67 mobo, but can't agree with the DDR3 1600 and AMD GPU.

Here's what I would do:
i5 2500K + P67 mobo $400
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $80 - no point in getting DDR3 1600 for Sandy Bridge as the performance benefit just isn't there
GTX 570 $350 - you really want CUDA for CS5
OCZ Agility 2 120GB $215
Samsung F3 1TB $70
Antec Earthwatts 650W $70
Antec Three Hundred $60
Total: $1245

Only thing i would not get would be the 120Gb ssd, 60Gb is more then enough for your most commonly used apps and your OS. (at least in my opinion) And then the GPU, 460's in SLI like i suggested would give you better performance then a single GTX580 (or in your case a 570).

 

[csjesse]

I like the i5 2500K and P67 mobo, but can't agree with the DDR3 1600 and AMD GPU.

Here's what I would do:
i5 2500K + P67 mobo $400
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $80 - no point in getting DDR3 1600 for Sandy Bridge as the performance benefit just isn't there
GTX 570 $350 - you really want CUDA for CS5
OCZ Agility 2 120GB $215
Samsung F3 1TB $70
Antec Earthwatts 650W $70
Antec Three Hundred $60
Total: $1245

Only thing i would not get would be the 120Gb ssd, 60Gb is more then enough for your most commonly used apps and your OS. (at least in my opinion) And then the GPU, 460's in SLI like i suggested would give you better performance then a single GTX580 (or in your case a 570).

Yeah, 60gb ssd is probably a better value...

Does the single 570 really overpower two 460s? I'll be doing lots of graphics and animation/modeling, in addition to gaming...

Those cases are the same price, any reason you chose an Antec mfenn?

 

[mnewsham]

Yeah, 60gb ssd is probably a better value...

Does the single 570 really overpower two 460s? I'll be doing lots of graphics and animation/modeling, in addition to gaming...

Those cases are the same price, any reason you chose an Antec mfenn?

two 460's will outclass a GTX 580 in most games and will also out pace the 570.

 

[Spikesoldier]

get the 570 now and pop another in later when prices come down or you find a good deal used.

 

[mfenn]

Yeah, 60gb ssd is probably a better value...

I put the 120 in because you have the budget, but feel free to go with the 60. I have a 120 and it's just big enough for me to install all of my applications (including steam games), so it is kinda nice to never have to worry about where you should install.

Does the single 570 really overpower two 460s? I'll be doing lots of graphics and animation/modeling, in addition to gaming...

First off, SLI doesn't do anything for graphics outside of games. Second, SLI is IMHO, too much of a PITA (microstutter, occasional bad scaling, profiles, etc. etc. etc.) to bother with. The GTX 460s are faster sure, but a GTX 570 can handle pretty much anything on a 60Hz 1080P monitor.

Those cases are the same price, any reason you chose an Antec mfenn?

Both the Three Hundred and HAF are solid mid-range cases. I just like the looks of the Three Hundred a bit better.

 

[MisterDonut]

+1 to the single card solution! Even one 460 wouldn't have big problems running most modern games at 1080p...

 

[csjesse]

get the 570 now and pop another in later when prices come down or you find a good deal used.

+1 to the single card solution! Even one 460 wouldn't have big problems running most modern games at 1080p...

First off, SLI doesn't do anything for graphics outside of games. Second, SLI is IMHO, too much of a PITA (microstutter, occasional bad scaling, profiles, etc. etc. etc.) to bother with. The GTX 460s are faster sure, but a GTX 570 can handle pretty much anything on a 60Hz 1080P monitor.

Alright. you guys think the Hydro H70 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835181013) is necessary?

If not.. what kind of additional cooling would I need with the case?

 

[mnewsham]

Alright. you guys think the Hydro H70 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835181013) is necessary?

If not.. what kind of additional cooling would I need with the case?

Cooling System
120 mm fan x 2 or 200 mm fan x 1 (optional)
120 mm fan x 2, 1200 RPM, 17 dBA (can be front swapped for one 200 mm fan)
120/140 mm fan x 1 (optional)
120 mm fan x 1 (optional)

 

[MisterDonut]

H70 is too expensive for my tastes. I'm sure the Intel HSF will do fine...SB has hit really high speeds using the stock cooler.

 

[MisterDonut]

Only case fan I'd change is maybe putting some intake fans on the Antec 300 (which the Antec 300 Illusion comes with ).

 

[Rifter]

The 300 is a good case, a little crammed for a large air cooler and SLI though.

2 460's will beat a 570, they are usually tied or just slightly faster than a 580.

I just went SLI a few weeks ago and must say once you make the profiles and set the settings the way you want for the games you play its not really that bad. And you can crank the AA/settings with the added horsepower to make new games look awesome with 8xAA or even older games look pretty nice when you crank it up to 32xQ AA

Micro stutter isnt all that bad IMO once you force Vsync and get triple buffering enabled for DX(seems to require third party program, Nvidia drivers dont do it for DX only open GL). Some game engines you dont even notice it at all. It seems to vary a bit on a game to game basis but its defiantly getting to be less of a issue with newer games, at least that has been my experience so far.

H70 is a great cooler, have one on my HTPC. Its pricey though.

 

[jterrell]

The 300 is a good case, a little crammed for a large air cooler and SLI though.

2 460's will beat a 570, they are usually tied or just slightly faster than a 580.

I just went SLI a few weeks ago and must say once you make the profiles and set the settings the way you want for the games you play its not really that bad. And you can crank the AA/settings with the added horsepower to make new games look awesome with 8xAA or even older games look pretty nice when you crank it up to 32xQ AA

Micro stutter isnt all that bad IMO once you force Vsync and get triple buffering enabled for DX(seems to require third party program, Nvidia drivers dont do it for DX only open GL). Some game engines you dont even notice it at all. It seems to vary a bit on a game to game basis but its defiantly getting to be less of a issue with newer games, at least that has been my experience so far.

H70 is a great cooler, have one on my HTPC. Its pricey though.

IMHO you NEVER go SLI in a new build.

Best bet is to buy one medium-high card and then you can SLI it later for a significant boost as it becomes needed.

The two cards use more power, require more cooling and generally leave you locked into the build far longer.

On a build I can usually get 2 years untouched then tweak it for the 3rd and maybe even 4th years.

 

[csjesse]

IMHO you NEVER go SLI in a new build.

Best bet is to buy one medium-high card and then you can SLI it later for a significant boost as it becomes needed.

The two cards use more power, require more cooling and generally leave you locked into the build far longer.

On a build I can usually get 2 years untouched then tweak it for the 3rd and maybe even 4th years.

Alright, so I'm gonna go with one 570.

Here's the build so far, obviously without the i5 2500k and MB:

Microcenter is selling the i5 2500k's for 180$ on release day...but no MC near me ;| hopefully Newegg won't slaughter the prices

 

[Davidh373]

Here's what I would do:
i5 2500K + P67 mobo $400
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $80 - no point in getting DDR3 1600 for Sandy Bridge as the performance benefit just isn't there
GTX 570 $350 - you really want CUDA for CS5
OCZ Agility 2 120GB $215
Samsung F3 1TB $70
Antec Earthwatts 650W $70
Antec Three Hundred $60
Total: $1245

I'd recommend this. I also do 3D and switching from my 4890 to 470 was like night and day. you can get that F3 HDD on amazon for $60 as well. It won't come as fast in the mail, but you do save $10.

 

[VirtualLarry]

IMHO you NEVER go SLI in a new build.

Wrong. That's the best time to go SLI, not 2-3 years down the road.

If you are building an "SLI-capable", but not "SLI" system, then you are overpaying for nothing. By the time 2-3 years (maybe a little less) rolls around, there's a new single-card solution that is as good or better than SLI. Therefore, the right time to SLI is when you build.

The only good reason to SLI, is if you need performance that a single-card can't give. Using SLI to "save money" is false economy, due to micro-stutter, increased heat production, power supply needs, etc.

 

[csjesse]

Wrong. That's the best time to go SLI, not 2-3 years down the road.

If you are building an "SLI-capable", but not "SLI" system, then you are overpaying for nothing. By the time 2-3 years (maybe a little less) rolls around, there's a new single-card solution that is as good or better than SLI. Therefore, the right time to SLI is when you build.

The only good reason to SLI, is if you need performance that a single-card can't give. Using SLI to "save money" is false economy, due to micro-stutter, increased heat production, power supply needs, etc.

So... you would recommend the two 460s? i think there's some contradiction in your post lol

 

[Davidh373]

So... you would recommend the two 460s? i think there's some contradiction in your post lol

no, 2 460s< 580 so therefore, if you are needing "performance a single-card can't give" you are getting 2 470s, 480s, 570s or 580s my friend.

EDIT: Also note that SLI for a 3D workstation is almost always a definite no unless you are talking Quadros. The only way I would get even CLOSE to SLI is for a gaming rig.

 

[Celeryman]

Another thing to mention, is that Fermi based Geforce 400 and 500 series have an unexplained problem in viewport rendering performance on many professional 3D programs. I have seen it with my gtx 470 in Blender, but the same problem applies to Maya, Rhino and several others.

It is documented here: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=GeForce_400_Series&oldid=398373485#OpenGL_Problems

 

[mfenn]

T
I just went SLI a few weeks ago and must say once you make the profiles and set the settings the way you want for the games you play its not really that bad. And you can crank the AA/settings with the added horsepower to make new games look awesome with 8xAA or even older games look pretty nice when you crank it up to 32xQ AA

Micro stutter isnt all that bad IMO once you force Vsync and get triple buffering enabled for DX(seems to require third party program, Nvidia drivers dont do it for DX only open GL). Some game engines you dont even notice it at all. It seems to vary a bit on a game to game basis but its defiantly getting to be less of a issue with newer games, at least that has been my experience so far.

I think you just proved my point! :thumbsup:

Wrong. That's the best time to go SLI, not 2-3 years down the road.

If you are building an "SLI-capable", but not "SLI" system, then you are overpaying for nothing. By the time 2-3 years (maybe a little less) rolls around, there's a new single-card solution that is as good or better than SLI. Therefore, the right time to SLI is when you build.

The only good reason to SLI, is if you need performance that a single-card can't give. Using SLI to "save money" is false economy, due to micro-stutter, increased heat production, power supply needs, etc.

+100 :thumbsup:

So... you would recommend the two 460s? i think there's some contradiction in your post lol

I think you need to reread the second sentence that you bolded in Larry's post.

 

[mfenn]

Alright, so I'm gonna go with one 570.

Here's the build so far, obviously without the i5 2500k and MB:

Microcenter is selling the i5 2500k's for 180$ on release day...but no MC near me ;| hopefully Newegg won't slaughter the prices

I probably wouldn't bother with the H70, especially if the 2500K is confirmed to come with the sweet cooler that the 2600K comes with. Otherwise, it looks good to me!

 

[Davidh373]

Another thing to mention, is that Fermi based Geforce 400 and 500 series have an unexplained problem in viewport rendering performance on many professional 3D programs. I have seen it with my gtx 470 in Blender, but the same problem applies to Maya, Rhino and several others.

really? I have noticed a small glitch in Max in Orthographic but I don't render in orthographic often enough for it to really change things.

 

[csjesse]

Before I pull the trigger... any concerns/recommendations?