First custom PC

[CedarC]

This is my first true gaming computer. I have friends that have done it in the past so they will help me with the assembly.

What computer will be used for: Gaming
Budget: $1,000 + or - a little (NOT including shipping)
Country I'm buying parts from: USA
Brand Preference: Not really, but I guess ATI/AMD
Intend on using current computer parts: No
Overclocking: I don't think so....
Resolution I game at: 1920x1080
When do I plan to build it: As soon as I get feed back, and buy the parts.
But i'm in no hurry, I could wait a few weeks.
Do I need a monitor, keyboard or mouse: No


The build:

Case: I cant decide between these two cases. Is the extra fifty dollars worth it?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147153
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

CD/DVD drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

Hard drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136544

Mother Board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131402

Graphics card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102921
or should I go with the ATI 6970 for an extra hundred dollars. Is it worth it?

Power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371021

Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231276

Processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103849

Operating System:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754

Total price for this build, with the expensive case: $966.91

Also, do I need a heatsink for the motherboard?

Thanks for the help!
- Cedar

 

[mfenn]

The #1 main problem with this build is the AMD CPU. Sandy Bridge processors are just plain better at the $200 price point right now. They're the same price, faster, and use less power.

With that being said, here's my comments:
- Swap the Mobo and CPU for the i5 2500K + P8P67-M combo.
- Case, doesn't matter IMHO. The Antec will be a bit higher quality but also costs twice as much.
- The Samsung F3 1TB is just as fast, $5 more and has 50% more capacity.
- The GPU you have is good, but I would consider getting a reference 6950 2GB for the unlock capability if you have some extra money.
- This XFX 650W is a bit less expensive and just as good.
- Don't pay a bunch of money for tight timings. This plain Jane G.Skill DDR3 1333 kit will be within a couple percent on performance.
- The stock HSF is fine if you don't plan to overclock.

 

[CedarC]

Hey thanks. Is the Samsung F3 1TB just as fast as the one I picked out. The one I picked out had a 64mb cache as apposed to only 32mb. and has 6.0Gb/s apposed to 3Gb/s.
What do the difference in these numbers mean?

So here is the new build:

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687


CD/DVD drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

Hard drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136544

Mother Board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-707-_-Product

Graphics card: I went with the 6950 2GB, but what does unlock capability mean?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-355-_-Product

Power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371021

Memory: I kept the fast ram. It was only $10 more.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231276

Processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-072-_-Product

Operating System:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754

What do you think about that build?

 

[CedarC]

Oh, I changed the CPU and Mobo to the combo back that was in your link.

 

[fffblackmage]

Hey thanks. Is the Samsung F3 1TB just as fast as the one I picked out. The one I picked out had a 64mb cache as apposed to only 32mb. and has 6.0Gb/s apposed to 3Gb/s.
What do the difference in these numbers mean?

Those bigger numbers are primarily marketing gimmicks rather than something practically beneficial.
HDDs are nowhere near fast enough to saturate 3Gbps SATA II, so 6Gbps SATA III is pointless, and the difference between 32MB and 64MB cache is not significant enough to make any appreciable difference.

Some of your links are bad. You should post the name of the part here anyways, so people don't have click all the links to figure out what what parts you picked out. Remember, help us help you.

 

[aphelion02]

Its all about finding the right combos and deals. I already specced out a ton of similar systems, here's an example of what you can do with the right discounts. A lot of components are what mfenn suggested:

i5 2500k + EVGA Superclock gtx 570

Gigabyte UD3 mobo + 8gb RAM

Xigmatek Dark Knight HSF

XFX 650W PSU

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

Antec Three Hundred Case

LG DVD Drive

Use EMCKFHH39 and EMCKFHJ22 promocodes for $30 discount

Total : $1,016.83 - $85MIR = $931.83 after rebates.

You have $70 to spend as you wish if you want a better case, or a small SSD.

Edit: Or you could spend the extra money on Win7...

 

[mfenn]

Hey thanks. Is the Samsung F3 1TB just as fast as the one I picked out. The one I picked out had a 64mb cache as apposed to only 32mb. and has 6.0Gb/s apposed to 3Gb/s.
What do the difference in these numbers mean?

So here is the new build:

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687


CD/DVD drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

Hard drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136544

Mother Board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-707-_-Product

Graphics card: I went with the 6950 2GB, but what does unlock capability mean?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-355-_-Product

Power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371021

Memory: I kept the fast ram. It was only $10 more.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231276

Processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-072-_-Product

Operating System:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754

What do you think about that build?

The stuff that I can see looks fine. The rest of your links are broken so I can't comment on those.

"Unlocking" in the context of the 6950 2GB means that you can flash a 6970 BIOS to the card via a simple procedure. The card is then for all intents and purposes a 6970.

Also, I wouldn't bother paying any extra money for faster RAM because the performance benefit just isn't there.

 

[CedarC]

I've been looking at reviews of the 6950 2GB vs the Nvidia gtx 570. And.... if I'm reading things right the 570 out preforms the 6950, but not by much. Is it worth the extra hundred dollars or so to get the 570.

I'm down between two build configurations. What which one will be better?

Build #1

GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD3-B3 LGA: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128476

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231276

i5 2500k + EVGA Superclock gtx 570: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.630038

Antec Three Hundred: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152185

XFX P1-650X-CAH9 650W: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817207007

Widows 7: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116986

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103065

Blue ray player, is it worth it get a blue ray player? I guess what I'm trying to ask is, will cd/dvd be 100% replaced by blue ray some day?: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151222

Total price for build: $1,160 - $95 (for rebates). $1065. plus $100 for shipping. = $1165


Build #2:

Same Blue ray player
Same Power supply
Same Hard drive
Same Ram
Same Windows 7
Same Heat sink
Same Processor

ASUS P8P67-M: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131708

Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147153

MSI R6950-2PM2D2GD5 Radeon HD 6950 2GB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127555

Total price: 1073 - $55 (rebates) + $100 for shipping. = $1118


Which build would be better? ATI card vs Nvidia card? Another question. 4gb ram with Cas Latency of 7.... or 8GB of ram with a cas latency of 9? The price is about the same...

Thanks for all the help. I would really like to order the build tomorrow too. I'm really looking forward to have a fast new computer.

 

[aphelion02]

Isn't your first build just my build with less RAM, a slightly worse HSF and costing more? You should make use of the promo + combo codes if you can.

 

[CedarC]

You build, with windows 7, plus shipping, is $1131. The HSF I picked out appears to be better, and Ram has a lower case latency. But your right, I should make use of the promo + combos.
Referring back to my last question:

4gb ram with Cas Latency of 7.... or 8GB of ram with a cas latency of 9?

Also. 6950 vs 570?

 

[fffblackmage]

I've been looking at reviews of the 6950 2GB vs the Nvidia gtx 570. And.... if I'm reading things right the 570 out preforms the 6950, but not by much. Is it worth the extra hundred dollars or so to get the 570.

If you have the budget, sure, why not? Personally, I like good bang-for-the-buck, so I'd go with the 6950 2GB though.

Which build would be better? ATI card vs Nvidia card? Another question. 4gb ram with Cas Latency of 7.... or 8GB of ram with a cas latency of 9? The price is about the same...

8GB of CAS 9 ram >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 4GB of CAS 7 ram.

 

[mfenn]

If you have the budget, sure, why not? Personally, I like good bang-for-the-buck, so I'd go with the 6950 2GB though.


8GB of CAS 9 ram >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 4GB of CAS 7 ram.

:thumbsup:

 

[aphelion02]

You build, with windows 7, plus shipping, is $1131. The HSF I picked out appears to be better, and Ram has a lower case latency. But your right, I should make use of the promo + combos.
Referring back to my last question:

4gb ram with Cas Latency of 7.... or 8GB of ram with a cas latency of 9?

Also. 6950 vs 570?

Ahh good point about Win 7. Frosty tech does have the xigmatek doing better than hyper 212 though.

 

[CedarC]

Do you guys think it would be worth it to get a blue ray player?

 

[CedarC]

I found some ram for the same price. 8gb Ripjaw at case latency of 8.

 

[fffblackmage]

Do you guys think it would be worth it to get a blue ray player?

Maybe if you like to watch blu-ray movies?

I found some ram for the same price. 8gb Ripjaw at case latency of 8.

You're throwing the CAS numbers around a lot, but you don't really mention the operating frequency much. In case you don't know, CAS numbers are not equivalent if the ram operates at different clock speeds.

A lot of ram that uses lower CAS numbers or higher clock speeds tend to require higher voltages (usually 1.65V). I recommend sticking with DDR3 that operates at 1.5V. While lower latencies are preferred, I wouldn't take it at the cost of increased voltage.

 

[CedarC]

Oh, sorry. I read on another forum that for gaming you want the lowest CAS possible. The core speed is the same as the ram that aphelion found, but for the same price, the combo comes with the same mobo, and ram with a CAS of 8 (same clock speed).

 

[aphelion02]

Nope, the ram I found has a higher clockspeed (1600 vs 1333). It is also twice the capacity. However, the 25% promo code has expired; so while its still a good deal its not as crazy good as before.

Really, for sandy bridge RAM speed + cas don't matter in normal usage scenarios. What you want is maximum ram at the correct voltage for the cheapest.

 

[tnecniv]

You probably won't build it in time, but the RAM that aphelion recommended did lose the 25% off promo code, but it is now at the same price until 1 PST as a Shell Shocker deal.

 

[CedarC]

Oh dang. I should have mentioned that I found a new mobo + ram combo. The mbno is the same but the ram has a speed of 1600, cas of 8, and is 8GB.

 

[fffblackmage]

You're thinking too hard.

The difference between DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 is very small. The difference between CAS latencies is as small or smaller than the difference in clockspeeds.

I even ran a few benchmarks (STALKER:COP, Crysis, FC2) comparing DDR2-800 at 5-5-5-18 compared to 4-4-4-12. I expected the difference to be very small and largely negligible, and well, it is.

Using 4-4-4-12 timings gave me an average of 0.78% gain in average framerates.

*In a separate test, I increased memory clockspeed to DDR2-1000 with 5-5-5-18 timings. This gave me a nicer 1.75% average increase (compared to DDR2-800 with 5-5-5-18).

Bottom line: Just get the most ram you can at the cheapest price.



*When running the DDR2 at 1000MHz, I overclocked by increasing the base clock, rather than changing the multiplier. This resulted in CPU clock frequency at 3125MHz instead of the stock 3100MHz.
While I could change the memory divider to get 1066MHz, it wasn't stable.