HELP!!! - Building A New System

[Chess Gator]

Hello group,

My computer is several years old and I am not up to date anymore on the new hardware. I will be using it for some gaming and general computer usage. Here is my first configuration. Are all of the component compatible, is there better hardware configuration available that I have missed, i.e. cost/benefit?? Please don't hesitate to critique my specifications!!

LIAN LI PC-X2000F Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case

ASUS Rampage III Black Edition LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Extended ATX Intel Motherboard

ZOTAC ZT-50103-10P GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 3G 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX1200 (CMPSU-1200AX) 1200W ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Certified 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Intel Core i7-980 Nehalem 3.33GHz LGA 1366 130W Six-Core Desktop Processor BX80613I7980

OCZ RevoDrive X2 OCZSSDPX-1RVDX0240 PCI-E 240GB PCI-Express x4 MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

G.SKILL Ripjaws X + Fan Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2200 (PC3 17600) Desktop Memory Model F3-17600CL9Q-16GBXLD

Thank you in advance!

CG

 

[stargazr]

I will be using it for some gaming and general computer usage.

This is all overkill. You could step down to a 2500k, you don't need the X58 chipset. Smaller PSU. Don't need a PCI-e SSD, a SATA III would be fine.

A $500 case?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Do you live by a Micro Center?

That build is a 2009-2010 Extreme rig, minus the vid card. The platform is EOL. Go with a 1155 socket build.

First of all, though. Fill out the builders guide-line to help us help you. Lots of knowledgeable members browse here daily. So get that guide filled in and re-edit your post. Lets get things rollin!

 

[mfenn]

Do you live by a Micro Center?

That build is a 2009-2010 Extreme rig, minus the vid card. The platform is EOL. Go with a 1155 socket build.

First of all, though. Fill out the builders guide-line to help us help you. Lots of knowledgeable members browse here daily. So get that guide filled in and re-edit your post. Lets get things rollin!

:thumbsup::thumbsup: OP, I agree that that build is pretty bad. Fill out the sticky and we will do something reasonable for you.

gg & gl.

 

[Chess Gator]

Do you live by a Micro Center?

That build is a 2009-2010 Extreme rig, minus the vid card. The platform is EOL. Go with a 1155 socket build.

First of all, though. Fill out the builders guide-line to help us help you. Lots of knowledgeable members browse here daily. So get that guide filled in and re-edit your post. Lets get things rollin!

Hi, would you please advise me what is the "Builders Guide-Line"?

Thank you,

CG

 

[Puppies04]

look at the top of this forum (general hardware) there is a sticky thread. Copy and paste it into this thread and fill in the answers to the questions. You are way over spec'd and spending about 3 times as much as you need to at the moment

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Here ya go

 

[Chess Gator]

Hi fellows, I found the build sticky

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Some gaming (COD3 & BF3) - general computing

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

Not sure, it costs what it costs

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

Canada, either from a local builder or newegg.ca

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

No brand preference only the best quality / price point!

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Maybe the DVD player and monitor - my box is several years old and needs to be completely replaced!

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Just started looking yesterday, my computer just started acting up! Not worth the money and trouble to fix it.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Default, I am not technical enough to do overclocking.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

I am currently running at 1680 by 1050. That might increase if my new hardware can handle it?!

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

This month, once I figure out an appropriate build for my needs.

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.

I would appreciate constructive criticism, just not trolling and name calling.

 

[Chess Gator]

Hello group,

Okay I have drank the kool-aid and listened to your constructive criticism. Here is my second-build for you to critique. Don't be shy about tearing it apart, I would rather find out now, than later!

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-17000CL11Q-16GBXL

MSI N580GTX Lightning Xtreme Edition GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 3072MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

This video card is quite expensive. Is it over kill for my build? Would you please recommend a better video card with a more appropriate price point for my build and needs.

ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z LGA 1155 Intel Z68 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Extended ATX Intel Motherboard

Do you feel this E-ATX mobo is overkill? Perhaps another mobo would be more adequate for my build?

Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K

Prolimatech Supermega Intel Socket 1156, 1366 and 775, 6 Dual Heatpipes, Twin Tower CPU Cooler

Does everyone agree the Prolimatech is the appropriate/best CPU cooler for the Sandy Bridge CPU?

The things I still need help with are the appropriate:

PSU - wattage and manufacturer and model.

Computer case - I want to acquire a full tower.

Harddrive - type and manufacturer.
Is the SATA III SSD the correct HD for my system build?

Did I forget anything?

Thank you in advance

CG

 

[dma0991]

I don't think it is absolutely necessary to get 16GB of RAM as of now and 8GB is more than enough for general computing and gaming. That GPU is pretty expensive for what it can do. Unless you're looking to SLI with another GTX580, I suggest getting two GTX570 instead. The cheapest GTX570 is nearly $320 but for a pair your have the performance that is better than the GTX590.

The MIVE-Z is quite an expensive board and you could probably get the same results with a board that is within the $200-250 price range. The MIVE-Z definitely has a selling point if you're aiming for a triple SLI. I'd say that the Core i7 2600K is overkill for your needs but if you can afford it then go with it. I'd rather go with the Noctua NH-D14.

PSU - Corsair, Silverstone, Seasonic, XFX = 650W single GTX580, 850W dual GTX580, 600W single GTX570, 800W dual GTX570.
Casing - Corsair 650D or any case that you like.
SSD - Corsair Force 3, Vertex 3, Intel 510 = 60-120GB

 

[T_Yamamoto]

So pretty much, OP is tellling us to build him a super computer with no price limit..?

What is your ABSOLUTE max limit you could go?

E-ATX... really? you dont need that for gaming
8 GB RAM is fine, doesnt have to be fancy!
Change that cooler to a hyper 212+
Get one HDD and one SSD (1Tb Spinpoint made by Samsung)
SSD: Im not sure :/ not the expert

 

[Blue Shift]

OP, none of us know what it will take to max out BF3. It's a safe bet, however, that an i5 2500k and GTX 570 [or Radeon HD 6950 2GB] (basically the sweet spot right now) can handle it at 1920x1080.

If you'd like to step your resolution up past 1920x1080, or would like to try 3D or 120Hz gaming, that's a different story.

So, what's your goal? Are you trying to run BF3 well at a particular resolution at as low a cost as you can cut the rig down to, or are you planning to spend thousands on a supercomputer and 6-screen array?

 

[Chess Gator]

So, what's your goal? Are you trying to run BF3 well at a particular resolution at as low a cost as you can cut the rig down to, or are you planning to spend thousands on a supercomputer and 6-screen array?

Hi, thank you for your questions. I will being running one monitor and one video-card. I cannot give you the resolution yet, depends on what the hardware can do. I am thinking I will downgrade from a GTX580 to a GTX570.

One side question, is there a particular monitor or two that standout for gaming these days? My Samsung SyncMaster 226BW is a few years old now.

Best regards,

CG

 

[wand3r3r]

The first BF3 private beta was pretty similar to BFBC2 but it doesn't tell too much about the final product. Currently a gtx 570 or HD6950 appear to be sufficient for the best settings at 1920x1080 so presumably if your budget suffices you can always upgrade and go crossfire / sli when it comes out if they do increase the requirements a lot from now.

A gtx 560 ti (HAWK) is pretty sufficient for BFBC2 at 1680x1050 at the highest settings. (~80fps+ avg?) so if you keep your current monitor a 570/6950 would be a pretty safe bet.

Edit* I see your not keeping that monitor. If you go much larger you may want a minimum of the 570/6950 or even the 580/6970. It's still not a guarantee to run BF3 with optimal settings, but likely should be able to.

 

[mfenn]

OP, luckily for you, you can build a system for "Some gaming (COD3 & BF3) - general computing" for probably about 1/3 the cost of the system that you have in your posts.

First some general advice: the "best" component is almost always a terrible value compared to the "second best". The second best part is almost always within 10-20% of the performance of the best part. Also, anything with the word "extreme" (or variation thereof) in the name is probably a waste of money.

Now to get specific:
i5 2400 + GA-Z68XP-UD3 combo $337 - no point in getting the i5 2500 since you won't be overclocking
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $45 - 16GB would be pointless for your given use
6950 2GB $250 AR - as Blue Shift and wanderer said, we obviously can't know if this will be good enough until the games actually come out, but it probably will be fine
Crucial M4 128GB $210 - solid, fast SSD
Samsung F3 1TB $75
Samsung DVD Burner $18
XFX Core 550W $63 AR
Lian-Li PC-K7B $80
Total: $828 AR

Now, if you want to spend some real money, get a quality IPS panel like the the Dell U2410. Otherwise something like the ASUS VH242H will be decent, but not incredible.