"High-End" Gaming Build Inquiry - February 2011

[hyliandanny]

I'd like to build a new machine since the one I currently have isn't cutting it. I'll format the request to suit what the stickies asked for

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
- I want to play Aion and StarCraft II at their highest possible settings.
- Ideally, I also want to be able to have League of Legends, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, and EVE Online running in the background. My current machine takes like 10~25 seconds to alt-tab between these; I want my new machine to alt-tab seamlessly, if possible.
- I want to be able to comfortably run FRAPS to record video of any of those games.

2. What YOUR budget is.
- Up to or around $1000.

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

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
- No processor preference.
- For video cards, I like nVidia.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
- I will retain my hard drive.
- If it's able to do what I've described, I'm happy to keep my nVidia GTX 260.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
- Mostly read through the stickies about formatting this.
- Searched for similar gaming builds, but they were usually under other conditions (different budget, for "casual" gaming, etc.)

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

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
- 1680 x 1050

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
- Sometime within the next month or two.

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.
- It's okay, I know I'm out of the know on these things!

• I'm a noOb and I want help picking out my parts kit! Go to General Hardware and post a new topic, or check out the existing ones to get some ideas. The General Hardware crew is great at helping you pick out parts kits. If you ask for help choosing a parts kit, give them this information:

1. your budget (up to or around $1000)
2. what items you need the budget to cover (outlined below)
3. any particular specs you've already decided upon (No specs decided upon other than my "wish list" about being able to play games)
4. what types of uses you want to use the computer for (gaming at settings described earlier, recording those games without dropping abysmally dropping framerate)

• Core items I definitely need for this machine:

1. Power supply
2. Case
3. Motherboard
4. CPU
5. Heatsink/fan for the CPU
6. Memory
7. Operating System
8. Snacks

Thanks!


Items omitted:

1. [Don't need this!] Primary hard drive
2. [Don't need this!] Primary optical drive
3. [If my GTX 260 covers this, don't need this!] Video card
4. [Don't need this!] Monitor(s) ? see xtknight?s LCD thread
5. [Don't need this!] Mouse/keyboard

 

[mnewsham]

PSU
Case
MB CPU combo
HSF
RAM
OS
Snacks

As a note, if you can wait for sandy bridge PLEASE do as it kicks this CPU's ass in most cases and isn't more expensive it should release in 4-8 weeks.


Edit: forgot to mention the GPU, it should be fine for most of the games you play if you want better however i would recommend the GTX 570 for $350

 

[BoomerD]

IMO, while $1000 will build a very nice gaming rig, it's far from being "High End." (although, it can certainly contain the best of the best)

Since you already have HDD, ODD, and monitor, that leaves a bit of cash to throw at better core components.

$1000 SHOULD buy the i5-2500K, a QUALITY motherboard, (not a budget board) 8 Gb DDR3 RAM, a top-of-the-line CPU HSF/cooler, a very good video card, and a very nice case.

Increase that budget by $500, and you can get top-of-the-line video card, (or two slightly lesser cards for SLI/X-Fire) SSD for OS.

BUT, like I said, $1000 will definitely build a very nice gaming rig.

 

[hyliandanny]

IMO, while $1000 will build a very nice gaming rig, it's far from being "High End." (although, it can certainly contain the best of the best)

Since you already have HDD, ODD, and monitor, that leaves a bit of cash to throw at better core components.

$1000 SHOULD buy the i5-2500K, a QUALITY motherboard, (not a budget board) 8 Gb DDR3 RAM, a top-of-the-line CPU HSF/cooler, a very good video card, and a very nice case.

Increase that budget by $500, and you can get top-of-the-line video card, (or two slightly lesser cards for SLI/X-Fire) SSD for OS.

BUT, like I said, $1000 will definitely build a very nice gaming rig.

Thanks for the input! Are you directly referring to one of mnewsham's components in mentioning a "budget board"?

I liked mnewsham's direct products listing, but there's one component in there that I just can't agree with.

-Danny
eww, peanut butter

 

[mnewsham]

Thanks for the input! Are you directly referring to one of mnewsham's components in mentioning a "budget board"?

I liked mnewsham's direct products listing, but there's one component in there that I just can't agree with.

-Danny
eww, peanut butter

Updated with better snackage

 

[mnewsham]

IMO, while $1000 will build a very nice gaming rig, it's far from being "High End." (although, it can certainly contain the best of the best)

Since you already have HDD, ODD, and monitor, that leaves a bit of cash to throw at better core components.

$1000 SHOULD buy the i5-2500K, a QUALITY motherboard, (not a budget board) 8 Gb DDR3 RAM, a top-of-the-line CPU HSF/cooler, a very good video card, and a very nice case.

Increase that budget by $500, and you can get top-of-the-line video card, (or two slightly lesser cards for SLI/X-Fire) SSD for OS.

BUT, like I said, $1000 will definitely build a very nice gaming rig.

EVGA isnt "budget" quality in my mind, i fully recommended going i5-2500k route however, and i still think that is the best route to go with.

 

[fffblackmage]

Oh, I didn't even realize EVGA still made motherboards. The last EVGA mobo I had was the 650i Ultra, but that appeared to be a reference design, as it was identical to the XFX 650i Ultra I also had. I know people didn't really like EVGA mobos in the past couple of years (not sure why though), but I didn't have any problems with the EVGA 650i I had.


Anyways, OP isn't building until a month or two, so maybe those LGA1155 mobos will be back by then....

 

[mnewsham]

Oh, I didn't even realize EVGA still made motherboards. The last EVGA mobo I had was the 650i Ultra, but that appeared to be a reference design, as it was identical to the XFX 650i Ultra I also had. I know people didn't really like EVGA mobos in the past couple of years (not sure why though), but I didn't have any problems with the EVGA 650i I had.


Anyways, OP isn't building until a month or two, so maybe those LGA1155 mobos will be back by then....

8 weeks was the latest i heard.

 

[BoomerD]

Thanks for the input! Are you directly referring to one of mnewsham's components in mentioning a "budget board"?

I liked mnewsham's direct products listing, but there's one component in there that I just can't agree with.

-Danny
eww, peanut butter

Well...I agree with you about the peanut butter...that stuff is ONLY good for cookies...

(my favorites!)

Otherwise, I don't care for the Antec case...it's OK, but not anything that I'd consider for a "high end" build.

Next, I'd go with a better CPU cooler. That one is OK, but...meh...I don't like the direct contact heatpipe coolers. when they're seated right, they work fine, but if you read through the various forums, people seem to have problems getting the TIM applied right and they don't cool properly.
I LIKE the Noctua coolers...VERY good coolers and dead quiet. There are a few out there that may be BETTER coolers than the Noctuas...but they're every bit as spendy.

Otherwise, as always, mnewsham put together a build with components that will do a good job...However, I still say that $1000 does not build a "HIGH end" gaming rig...but does build a VERY good one. (playing semantic games)...and there's no solid gold keyboard or mouse in the build...a MUST for "high end" computers.

 

[mfenn]

PSU
Case
MB CPU combo
HSF
RAM
OS
Snacks

As a note, if you can wait for sandy bridge PLEASE do as it kicks this CPU's ass in most cases and isn't more expensive it should release in 4-8 weeks.


Edit: forgot to mention the GPU, it should be fine for most of the games you play if you want better however i would recommend the GTX 570 for $350

This looks fine except that I'd go with 8GB of RAM considering the OP's multitasking wants.

Also, EVGA mobos are IMHO somewhat crap in the support department, so I'd probably combo the i5 760 and Xigmatek SD1283 (pretty much thee same thing as the Hyper 212+) and get a GA-P55-USB3 mobo instead.

 

[mnewsham]

This looks fine except that I'd go with 8GB of RAM considering the OP's multitasking wants.

Also, EVGA mobos are IMHO somewhat crap in the support department, so I'd probably combo the i5 760 and Xigmatek SD1283 (pretty much thee same thing as the Hyper 212+) and get a GA-P55-USB3 mobo instead.

:thumbsup:

Good combo and i like the MB too.

 

[endlessmike133]

GTX 570 - 1680x1050

DOES NOT COMPUTE

 

[mnewsham]

GTX 570 - 1680x1050

DOES NOT COMPUTE

With his budget he can probably get a 1920x1080 chill out mate

 

[bigbubba3]

1) Right around $1000

2) Here is my build using the new sandy bridge, all off newegg

BIOSTAR TH67+ mobo $105

Core i5 2500k cpu $230

G Skill ripjaw 4gb ddr3 2000mhz $70
(need faster ram since processors
and so that if you overclock you
have plenty of overhead)

Amd ati Hd 5850 Diamond $200

(I have always used ATI, and currently have a 5850,
its definately still an amazing card, and is currently
faster than the 6850 by about 10% but because of
driver updates the 6850 may pull ahead. Price is almost
identical so there basically interchangeable.

NZXT Vulcan mini atx case. $70

Corsair h50 liquid cooler $70

Corsair Enthusiast PSU 650watt. $90

Total price without hdd, optical drive, monitor, or keyboard
and with shipping/handling, and tax included $925
All parts are bought of newegg, seems to have the best service, and prices

I have similar build except with a core i7, and its able to play everything from battle field bad company to crysis on an hdmi monitor with 60+ fps.

 

[BoomerD]

I'm not a fan of the Biostar board...personally, I'd spend a bit more and get a higher quality board...but that's me.

IMO, you're overshooting on the RAM as well. Technically, the i5-2500K supports DDR3-1066 and 1333...although the 2000 spd RAM MAY run on it just fine...check the board's QVL for RAM before you buy. (I looked...don't see it, but there are some 2000 GHz modules listed)
I really doubt you'll notice the difference between 1333 GHz and 2000 GHz RAM...

http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/memory_report.php?S_ID=528

 

[fffblackmage]

1) Right around $1000

2) Here is my build using the new sandy bridge, all off newegg

BIOSTAR TH67+ mobo $105

Core i5 2500k cpu $230

H67 chipset doesn't support overclocking? Pretty sure you need a P67 mobo.

G Skill ripjaw 4gb ddr3 2000mhz $70
(need faster ram since processors
and so that if you overclock you
have plenty of overhead)

There's already plenty of headroom with DDR3-1600 RAM. You'll most likely probably benefit more from 8GB of DDR3-1333 than 4GB of DDR3-2000.

$75 after promo code - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 2x4GB DDR3-1333

Or if you must insist on fast ram:
$97 - Patriot Signature 2x4GB DDR3-1600

 

[jterrell]

I'm not a fan of the Biostar board...personally, I'd spend a bit more and get a higher quality board...but that's me.

IMO, you're overshooting on the RAM as well. Technically, the i5-2500K supports DDR3-1066 and 1333...although the 2000 spd RAM MAY run on it just fine...check the board's QVL for RAM before you buy. (I looked...don't see it, but there are some 2000 GHz modules listed)
I really doubt you'll notice the difference between 1333 GHz and 2000 GHz RAM...

http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/memory_report.php?S_ID=528

Doubt that board has many fans but it might get placed in my own box if they are really still 8 weeks out on working P67... I am sick of waiting.

 

[BoomerD]

Doubt that board has many fans but it might get placed in my own box if they are really still 8 weeks out on working P67... I am sick of waiting.

OK, just be aware that as blackmage pointed out...the H67 boards don't support overclocking...but they do allow you to use onboard video instead of requiring a dedicated video card. (but if you play games, you'll be disappointed in the overall quality)

 

[mfenn]

Sorry bud, but this is just a i5 760 build from ~9 months ago with a i5 2500K slapped on.

BIOSTAR TH67+ mobo $105

H67 doesn't support overclocking (as has been pointed out). Not that there is anything wrong with that per se, but it does make several of the other choices look silly.

Core i5 2500k cpu $230

If you overclock, get the K. If you don't, don't.

G Skill ripjaw 4gb ddr3 2000mhz $70
(need faster ram since processors
and so that if you overclock you
have plenty of overhead)

First, that's about twice what you should be spending on 4GB of DDR3. Second, Sandy Bridge overclocking is done solely via the multiplier, so memory clocks don't matter for overclocking anymore. There is really no reason to get anything greater than DDR3 1333 on a $1k machine.

Amd ati Hd 5850 Diamond $200

(I have always used ATI, and currently have a 5850,
its definately still an amazing card, and is currently
faster than the 6850 by about 10% but because of
driver updates the 6850 may pull ahead. Price is almost
identical so there basically interchangeable.

6850's can be had for $150 AR, making a 10% faster 5850 look like a bad deal. Not that a $200 5850 is a good deal anyway when a 5870 can be had for $190 AR.

NZXT Vulcan mini atx case. $70

OK if you like the styling.

Corsair h50 liquid cooler $70

Expensive as hell for what it is. A $30 Hyper 212+ will handle your reasonable Sandy Bridge overclocking needs.

Corsair Enthusiast PSU 650watt. $90

Too expensive and high wattage. A 5870 in a 1366 system draws about 310W when playing Crysis. The CX500 is only $45 AR.