Help with a gaming build

[Jamsan]

Hi guys - my current system is around 4-5 years old, so I'm looking to upgrade. My current system is a Pentium D 930 with 8 GB of RAM, a GTX 275, and an Asus P5WD2 Premium.

Tasks: My main uses for the system are gaming (L4D 2, BF:BC 2, etc.). The system is starting to lag mostly on the CPU end, so I'm looking to upgrade to something that will last me another 4-5 years (obviously, not always running the latest games at max, but decent enough 3-4 years down the road). Also use VMWare Workstation occasionally, 2-3 VMs running at a time (4-5GB of RAM usage when that's running). Main OS will be Windows 7 x64. Don't ever planning on going SLI/Crossfire

Budget: Around $900

Location: US (will mostly be buying from Newegg / Amazon unless cheaper prices can be found)

Brand Preference: Prefer to go Intel i7 - no preference on Nvidia/ATI

Current Parts: I'll be reusing my speakers, monitors, hard drives (SSD, 4x1TB in RAID 10 with Adaptec controller).


Here is what I have thus far:

CPU - Intel Core i7 950 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115211

Memory - Corsair XMS3 6GB DDR3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145286

Motherboard - Still deciding between the Asus Sabertooth or Gigabyte : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128423

PSU - Corsair CMPSU 750TX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

Video Card - Up in the air still. Thinking about the ATI 5830, but suggestions are welcome here. I have 3 LCDs connecting via DVI, so need atleast 3 connections here (any combination of display ports, DVI, HDMI, etc. is fine) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150502

Optical Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106334

Heatsink: Don't plan on overclocking a ton, but would prefer something over the stock cooler. No personal preference, but this looks to be decent: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103057

Let me know if I missed anything or if additional info is needed. I also plan on ordering a case, but that is more of a personal preference on my point, so I won't be looking for guidance on that (unless anyone has any cases they absolutely love with sideways/downward facing hard drive cages and great built in cable management).

 

[fffblackmage]

You don't need a 750W psu. The Corsair 650TX is cheaper and can still supply you with more than enough power. You could also get by with a quality 500W PSU.

You currently have a GTX275, which is about equivalent to a 4890 that outperforms the 5830. I'd just stick with the GTX275 and wait for the 6xxx series to come out.

And someone's gonna mention this sooner or later... get DDR3 ram that runs on 1.5V.

 

[Jamsan]

Saving money is great - I'll update the build with the lower wattage PSU.

The reason I was looking to upgrade the card was to get the additional monitor connections (current only has 2). Unless there are DVI splitters out there that actually work (prefer not to run a 2nd video card).

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

i second waiting for a vid card... ati will release there 6xxx series real soon which will push prices down on the 5xxx series... i'd go for a 5870 when it happens .. or you can find one cheap in the FS/FT section here... ~ 330$

 

[Davidh373]

(sorry, I have to ask this because I see it all the time) WHY the 9xx series? It benchmarks worse in games than the 8xx series and the 8xx series benchmarks very close to the i5 in games.

Video Card - Up in the air still. Thinking about the ATI 5830, but suggestions are welcome here. I have 3 LCDs connecting via DVI, so need atleast 3 connections here (any combination of display ports, DVI, HDMI, etc. is fine) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150502

The 5830 is by far one of the worst cards to hit the market in years, just like the 465 it is overly power hungry and loud as it is a stripped down uhh... 5870 I think? (could be 5850), anyway, bad card. Get a 5850 or a 460 1GB.

Really all and all since the 9xx series is a rebranding of the Nehelam Xeon processors, it is more geared toward 3D Rendering for apps like 3DS Max or CAD, or simulation calculations and the like.

Get this build instead, it'll save you a TON and allow you to upgrade your performance other places where it matters.

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...%20elite%20335

PSU + HDD combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.492764

Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-067-_-Product

MoBo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-292-_-Product

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-190-_-Product

G-Card (460 1GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-391-_-Product

CD/DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3332167&SID=

Total is at $851.91, but you said you already have HDDs, so you could knock off around $75

 

[Jamsan]

I may actually decide to scrap the need for a 3rd monitor and stick with the GTX 275 for now. That should save a bit of money and allow me to upgrade down the road as necessary.

In terms of 1156 vs. 1366 - is one going to be around longer than the other in terms of new CPUs being released, or are they both pretty much being phased out at the same time when Intel decided to release a new chip?

 

[Davidh373]

In terms of 1156 vs. 1366 - is one going to be around longer than the other in terms of new CPUs being released, or are they both pretty much being phased out at the same time when Intel decided to release a new chip?

They are both very dead sockets already I'm afraid.

 

[mfenn]

I agree with David. There's really no need for you to spend the extra money on a 1366 build, given your requirements.

I like the combo of the i5 760 and the GA-P55-USB3 for $295. You can grab a 2x4GB memory kit like this G.Skill for $160. This leaves open the option of going to 16GB. I'm not sure if the cooler that you picked out supports 1156, but I know that the Hyper 212+ does (back to $30, yay!).

I agree with fffblackmage regarding the PSU and GPU.

 

[Jamsan]

Thanks for all of the useful information guys. I've decided to keep my video card for now and am still undecided on the case. Here is my tentative build based on the recommendations:

Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3 - This supports SATA 3 for a bit more future proofing, for roughly the same cost as the one you recommended mfenn. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128412

Intel i5-760 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115067

GSkill Ripjaw 2x4GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231311

Corsair CMPSU 650-TX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

Lite-ON DVD Burner - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106334

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103065

 

[gixxer]

They are both very dead sockets already I'm afraid.

I thought the 1366 socket was going to be around for awhile to support the 6 core intel chip. Has this changed? Why are they both considered "Dead"

 

[fffblackmage]

I thought the 1366 socket was going to be around for awhile to support the 6 core intel chip. Has this changed? Why are they both considered "Dead"

The $1000 hexcore Core i7-980X EE is already out, but that's the end of the road for LGA1366.

LGA1156 and LGA1366 are being replaced by LGA1155 and LGA2011, respectively.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for all of the useful information guys. I've decided to keep my video card for now and am still undecided on the case. Here is my tentative build based on the recommendations:

Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3 - This supports SATA 3 for a bit more future proofing, for roughly the same cost as the one you recommended mfenn. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128412

Intel i5-760 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115067

GSkill Ripjaw 2x4GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231311

Corsair CMPSU 650-TX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

Lite-ON DVD Burner - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106334

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103065

Looks fine to me, though I personally wouldn't get a Lite-on.