Gaming build feedback request

[jdstrawn]

Hey everyone,

I have the following system in mind, but wonder if it's too much, not enough, etc. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

1. Strictly Gaming (Civ 5, Rift, maybe others)
2. $2500, if necessary (I suspect I can get by just fine for a under)
3. US
4. Intel/nVidia, open on all other components
5. No current parts (been several years since I have built a pc)
6. Yeah (although, I may have missed something
7. Default, with the option to overclock
8. 1920 x 1200 (unless others suggest otherwise)
9. ASAP

Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge ($330.00)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115070

ASUS P8P67 PRO LGA 1155 Intel P67 ($185.00)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131682

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB DDR3 1600 ($109)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231428
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231445

Worth the difference? Any other suggestions on memory?

Crucial RealSSD C300 128 GB Sata III ($265.00)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148348

EVGA 015-P3-1580-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card ($500)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130587

ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X... ($17.00)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135204

Corsair Graphite Series 600T Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($160)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811139003

Not sure on power supply, thinking I want a bit of room to grow, possibly sli in the future?

Also need a monitor, still researching a bit on this front (any recommendations helpful).

Thanks for opinions, critiques, or general thoughts

Jim

 

[Patrick Wolf]

2600K isn't needed for gaming, save the cash and go with 2500K. Go with CAS 9 Ripjaw, CAS 8 not worth it. I'd go with P8P67 vanilla unless you plan on using 3-way SLI/CF. The GTX580 is a bad value, go with 570 instead (IMO).

Check out these PSU's. I'd recommend going with an least an 80+ bronze unit.

If you care about image quality, the U2311H, U2410. If not, any TN will do.

 

[mnewsham]

I would go OCZ vertex 2 120gb SSD instead.

 

[fffblackmage]

It's like you just chose the most expensive parts in each category (except the DVD burner - nice choice :thumbsup.

($335) i5-2500K + GA-P67A-UD3
($77) G.SKILL Value Series 2x4GB DDR3 1333
($17) Asus DVD Burner
($215 / $195 AR) OCZ Vertex 2 120GB
2x ($300 / $280 AR) GIGABYTE HD 6950 2GB
($120 / $95 AR) Antec TruePower New TP-750
($160 / $140 AR&P) Corsair Graphite Series 600T

Total = $1524 before rebates and promo.

Actually, you might even be able to squeeze a couple 6970s in there if you go cheaper with the case. (It fits in the Antec 300!):
($70) Antec 300 Illusion
($370 x 2) 6970
($130 / $110 AR) CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX

Total = $1584 before rebates and promo.

This is why I went with the UD3:
*Asus P8P67 (PCIe 16x/4x) vs. Asus P8P67 Deluxe (PCIe 8x/8x) - HD6950s in CF tested*

 

[oynaz]

Not sure on power supply, thinking I want a bit of room to grow, possibly sli in the future?

Jim

SLI "in the future" is normally not worth it. For the most part, you are better off upgrading the video card instead.
Therefore, instead of buying a PSU with room to grow, I suggest getting a smaller, more efficient unit. You will save money on power and up front, money which can be used to get a bigger PSU if you need it, or upgrading the video card in the future.

A good quality, efficient 450-500 watt PSU is more than adequate for most rigs.

 

[f4phantom2500]

dude, it's your money, but imo a gtx 580 is seriously overkill. when you're building a computer, especially when you have this kind of budget, it's easy to buy more expensive stuff, not because it's something that you would need or possibly even notice, but because it makes your epenis look bigger.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-radeon-hd-6870-geforce-gtx-570,2834-6.html

if it were me, and i really "needed" high end performance, i'd go with 2x 6870's in crossfire. or 2x5850's (personally i'd say just get 1 but, again, it's your money). if you're dead set on nvidia, consider 2 gtx 460s in sli. i would say check the 470 or 480 but they're way too hot, imo, when ati offers the same level of performance without the heat. maybe consider a single gtx 570, then if you really think it's not enough juice get a 2nd one...personally i never mess with sli/crossfire, as the last poster noted it's usually not worth it unless you're doing it up front, and i can never justify doing it up front (lol). then again, i have a single radeon 4850 and am quite satisfied with it.

 

[mfenn]

It's like you just chose the most expensive parts in each category (except the DVD burner - nice choice :thumbsup.

($335) i5-2500K + GA-P67A-UD3
($77) G.SKILL Value Series 2x4GB DDR3 1333
($17) Asus DVD Burner
($215 / $195 AR) OCZ Vertex 2 120GB
2x ($300 / $280 AR) GIGABYTE HD 6950 2GB
($120 / $95 AR) Antec TruePower New TP-750
($160 / $140 AR&P) Corsair Graphite Series 600T

Total = $1524 before rebates and promo.

Actually, you might even be able to squeeze a couple 6970s in there if you go cheaper with the case. (It fits in the Antec 300!):
($70) Antec 300 Illusion
($370 x 2) 6970
($130 / $110 AR) CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX

Total = $1584 before rebates and promo.

This is why I went with the UD3:
*Asus P8P67 (PCIe 16x/4x) vs. Asus P8P67 Deluxe (PCIe 8x/8x) - HD6950s in CF tested*

SLI "in the future" is normally not worth it. For the most part, you are better off upgrading the video card instead.
Therefore, instead of buying a PSU with room to grow, I suggest getting a smaller, more efficient unit. You will save money on power and up front, money which can be used to get a bigger PSU if you need it, or upgrading the video card in the future.

A good quality, efficient 450-500 watt PSU is more than adequate for most rigs.

OP, both of these posts are spot on! They saved me a bit of typing in fact. Blackmage's 6970 CFX rig in particular will absolutely dominate the machine that you originally spec'ed out. I would normally recommend a x8/x8 mobo like the P8P67 Pro for a Crossfire setup, but the numbers speak for themselves!

 

[jdstrawn]

So, about to order based on the input above (i5-2500k, GA-P67A-UD3 , ati 6970, etc) . I had initially went with nVidia because there was some confusion on the Rift forums regarding performance with AMD/ATI cards. Looks like it's just driver version, though.

Leaning towards U2410 since I saved budget on this build vs my original (but also researching some ASUS monitors).

Vertex 2 is sold out, so gonna troll Mem and Storage forums for a quick sub.

Thanks for all of your input!

Jim

 

[corpfan1]

Maybe also consider the EVGA 460 FTW... I got this card and the reviews were absolutely outstanding for the price and runs much cooler than the 470s and up.

 

[fffblackmage]

Maybe also consider the EVGA 460 FTW... I got this card and the reviews were absolutely outstanding for the price and runs much cooler than the 470s and up.

I wouldn't recommend the FTW. I believe many of us here would agree that the best idea is to get the plain vanilla GTX 460 1GB and do the overclocking yourself.

Seriously, the FTW is ridiculously expensive. It does perform close to the GTX470, but it's also priced like one. At that point, you'd buy the GTX 470 and overclock it.

 

[corpfan1]

That is really odd...I got the FTW for about $60 less than the 470s and only $15 more than the 460 1GBs...

Maybe a Canada thing?

I wouldn't recommend the FTW. I believe many of us here would agree that the best idea is to get the plain vanilla GTX 460 1GB and do the overclocking yourself.

Seriously, the FTW is ridiculously expensive. It does perform close to the GTX470, but it's also priced like one. At that point, you'd buy the GTX 470 and overclock it.

 

[betasub]

gonna troll Mem and Storage forums for a quick sub

Trolling the forums is likely to get you a ban. Perhaps you mean "trawl"?

 

[Avogadro]

Leaning towards U2410 since I saved budget on this build vs my original (but also researching some ASUS monitors).

I got one of these LCDs last week, and it is AWESOME. No question that it was expen$ive but I'm glad that I decided to go for it.

 

[jdstrawn]

No trolling here! I simply trawled

 

[mfenn]

That is really odd...I got the FTW for about $60 less than the 470s and only $15 more than the 460 1GBs...

Maybe a Canada thing?

Don't even worry about it. The 6970 is much faster anyway.