Making a gaming PC!

[Occam11]

So having entered college with just a netbook last year, I've been itching to get a computer after seeing everyone but me playing starcraft 2. This summer I've finally scrounged up the money and the time to build mine!

This gaming/general use PC should cost around 1500, as I don't have any peripherals included. I live in Illinois and have a Fry's nearby. I don't have any preferences, except toward future-proofing, and I'll only OC when my system isn't getting the job done performance-wise.

Case: Antec P183
MB: GIGABYTE GA-P55-USB3
CPU: i5 750
Ram: 4GB G.SKILL Ripjaws
Monitor: Dell UltraSharp U2311H (1920*1080)
Video: ATI 5830
HDD : Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB
Keyboard: Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite
Mouse: Already Own
Disk Reader: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA
Power: COOLER MASTER Silent Pro 700W
Headphones:Sennheiser HD555

Reasoning:
This build was influenced heavily by Anandtech's 1700 build two weeks ago.
Case: My case choice was based on how the P183 looked, and not on any airflow/noise determinants. I just like PC doors. ^_^
MB: The motherboard was one of the cheapest 1156 boards I could find that also supported USB 3.0, and it is rated fairly well. The fact that there is no SLI or Crossfire support is moot, as I don't plan on it anytime soon.
CPU: Almost everything I've read tells me to go i5 at this time, and I don't see any reason not to.
RAM: Taken directly out of AT's system buyer's guide article, I've read that there no reason currently to go past 4 GB for gaming and that different timings, in the end, don't have much effect on performance.
Monitor: Dell's got some great deals floating around, and I thought this would be a great time to pick up my first IPS for a decent $240. Don't have much to say here, it's dell and apparently they're known for good monitors.
Video card: Originally I planned on getting a 5770, but after seeing Tom's charts I realized I wanted a bit more performance at 1080p. I also plan on buying another, smaller monitor over the summer so that extra performance can help me read AT's forums while I pwn in TF2.
HDD : I wanted the harddrive with the best dollar per GB ratio, and this one was it. I probably will never use the entire thing, but damn what a great value!
Power Supply: A modular supply is important to me, but after wanting the Corsair TX/HX series, my thinking is that I can shave off a couple dollars by buying this one at the $90 price point.

The particular questions I have are:
1. I have no clue whether or not I should be getting a 5830 or sticking with the 5770. I want the extra performance, but is it too little for $~80? I am going to be getting another monitor later this summer.
2. Dell's got the 23' U2311 for 240 and the 24' ST2410 for 190. I know it's because the U2311 is an e-IPS, so my question is whether or not it's worth it when I'm downgrading by an inch. Keep in mind I'm only going to be gaming/interneting.
3. SSD? I don't really care about load times and all that jazz but I've read so many good things about them. Have they matured enough?

Thanks for responding, I'm planning on biting the bullet this week!

Edit: Oh I already have windows 7, university engineering program ftw!

 

[alm4rr]

I'd say drop down to 5770 to for better value or pay a lil more for a 5850 for better performance (& still a better value) ... double check that the ram qualifies w/ mobo ...

 

[MisterDonut]

Do what alm4rr said. 5770 can handle 1080 gaming just fine (5850 if you want eye candy on more modern FPS/RPG games), especially if you play games of TF2 caliber, which doesn't require too much. SSD's are not worth it for gaming, but it helps tremendously in general computing. Faster load times, boot times, etc. It's up to each individual whether or not he wants that boost. Most people don't need it, but it's nice to have. You can drop down to a ~500w PSU. You shouldn't need that much power.

 

[Occam11]

Good to hear, but why not choose the videocard in between the 5850 and 5770? Is the 5830 really that bad of a card?

Good thinking on the psu though I'll look for a 500W one instead.

PS. sry for the wall of text. It helped me organize my thoughts to write all that down.

 

[alm4rr]

not a bad card, just not as good a value

 

[jchu14]

Since you have a Fry's near you, there's no reason to not take advantage of its awesome cpu/mobo combo deals.

Like this week, Fry's have Core i5 750 and MSI mobo for $195 AR. It's not usb 3 ready, but you can always get a pci-e usb3 card later, when you actually have an usb 3 device. A usb3 card is about $30 right now, but the price is inevitably going to drop as usb3 becomes more popular.

Fry's also have 4gb Corsair 1333MHz ram for $80 AR.

It you don't plan on overclocking, 1600MHz gives you very little performance boost over 1333MHz ram. 1600MHz ram would only make sense if the cost difference is very very small. Otherwise, save a few bucks and put that money into getting a 5850.

 

[Occam11]

Like this week, Fry's have Core i5 750 and MSI mobo for $195 AR.

Wow that's a good deal. I'm going to be driving down to Fry's tomorrow!

 

[mfenn]

I second the idea of either getting a 5770 or 5850. The 5830 is just not work it IMHO, especially since you're getting marginally better than 5770 performance on a 5870's power budget.

I can wholeheartedly recommend an IPS panel. A nice monitor is something work spending a little extra on because you'll be able to use it for several builds.

 

[HumblePie]

Wow that's a good deal. I'm going to be driving down to Fry's tomorrow!

Very good choice

Yep, also you didn't list what cooling solution for the CPU you would be using. That right there is another expense. Right now, the deals on the Cooler Master Hyper 212+ heatsink is about the best you can get for the price. Make sure you get the one marked with the "+" (plus) symbol as that is much better than the one without.

As other's have said, if you are not going to crossfire your video cards, a good 500 watt power supply will suffice. A good one should not cost more than $50 either. However, if you do plan on the future, I suggest buying the corsair TX750 watt one. That's about the best bang for the buck power supply right now with deals and it is absolutely awesome for a supply.

I am also a fan of a small SSD + regular HDD combo. A nice 40-60GB SSD to load the OS on and your favorite game or two works wonderfully. It does make a difference in loading levels for games at least.

Otherwise, all your choices are for the most part sound, but if you are actually going to be gaming, I suggest the 5850 card if you don't want to crossfire. Otherwise get two 5770s.

 

[RaistlinZ]

5830 is terrible value.

5850 or 2x5770 is much better value.

 

[modestninja]

5830 is terrible value.

5850 or 2x5770 is much better value.

I agree that paying $250 for a 5830 is terrible value, but that 5830 at Newegg isn't a bad value in my opinion. At $195 is sits nicely between the 5770s which have been sitting at $150 for the last little while and the 5850 which refuses to drop much below $300.

I'd much rather get the 5830 than a non-reference 5770 like the Vapor-X or the Hawk.

 

[HumblePie]

Uhh, you can get a 5850 for $263 right now from Tigerdirect if you don't mind doing bing cashback.

Do a search on bing for Tigerdirect and at the top is a banner for 12%. Take a screenshot and go through the link to order the Sapphire 5850 video card for $299 shipped. Should get bing of $36~ to bring the total to $263. Just make sure you take screen shots of every screen in the transaction.

At $263, the 5850 is a decent deal.

 

[Reincus]

Not if you consider that $250 is the MSRP of the 5850

 

[mfenn]

Not if you consider that $250 is the MSRP of the 5850

Not true.

MSRP at launch was $259. Shortly after launch it was raised to $299.

 

[Occam11]

UPDATE!!

So I've decided to change my build up

Case: Antec P183
MB: EVGA P55 FTW
CPU: i5 750
Ram: 4GB G.SKILL Ripjaws / Whatever good deals are available
Monitor: ???
Video: ATI 5770
HDD : Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB
Keyboard: Logitech Wave
Disk Reader: LG DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS50
Power: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W

At Fry's, I checked out the deal jchu14 linked with the MSI board, and I got a bit leery of the mATX and very few features. I also looked at another deal they had, with the i5 and EVGA P55 FTW for 250 MIR. After I got back, I looked up some reviews online for both, and I'm kinda leaning toward the EVGA deal. What does AT think? Better bang for buck?

I also went with HumblePie's advice on getting the Corsair series of PS. Modular probably won't be that vital, especially with the p183's bottom compartment. After reading your guy's discussion on 5770/5830/5850s, I decided to back down to the 5770, so that I'll be able to xfire (if I get the evga MB)

Finally, I may not want an IPS monitor. While color accuracy and is great and all, while perusing around at Fry's monitor section, I realized that I really didn't care whether or not the reds or greens I was looking at were 'true' colors.
What I want is a monitor that has great picture quality and really allows the visuals to POP (even if it is oversaturated). Any suggestions for a guy that wants one for mainly gaming/movies/internet?

Thanks for everyone who's answered so far, this discussion is really helping!

 

[mfenn]

UPDATE!!

So I've decided to change my build up

Case: Antec P183
MB: EVGA P55 FTW
CPU: i5 750
Ram: 4GB G.SKILL Ripjaws / Whatever good deals are available
Monitor: ???
Video: ATI 5770
HDD : Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB
Keyboard: Logitech Wave
Disk Reader: LG DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS50
Power: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W

At Fry's, I checked out the deal jchu14 linked with the MSI board, and I got a bit leery of the mATX and very few features. I also looked at another deal they had, with the i5 and EVGA P55 FTW for 250 MIR. After I got back, I looked up some reviews online for both, and I'm kinda leaning toward the EVGA deal. What does AT think? Better bang for buck?

I also went with HumblePie's advice on getting the Corsair series of PS. Modular probably won't be that vital, especially with the p183's bottom compartment. After reading your guy's discussion on 5770/5830/5850s, I decided to back down to the 5770, so that I'll be able to xfire (if I get the evga MB)

Finally, I may not want an IPS monitor. While color accuracy and is great and all, while perusing around at Fry's monitor section, I realized that I really didn't care whether or not the reds or greens I was looking at were 'true' colors.
What I want is a monitor that has great picture quality and really allows the visuals to POP (even if it is oversaturated). Any suggestions for a guy that wants one for mainly gaming/movies/internet?

Thanks for everyone who's answered so far, this discussion is really helping!

Seems fine on the mobo.

WRT to the monitor, you can still have colors that "pop" on an IPS panel due to their excellent color gamut and contrast ratio. (This is very much observable on the Dell 2408WFP). IMHO this is much more pleasing than a simple oversaturation that pushes all colors to the same shade.