Please Critique My Gaming Build

[Skarr]

Hello, my name is Jonathan and I am an avid gamer and engineering student. It's been three years since my last system build and after winning some components in raffles and contests I'm ready to go full bore into a new system.

I've used this website as a resource for all my builds going back a long, long time. I deeply value your opinions and advice.


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

Primary objective is gaming.
Secondary objective is running CAD and Analysis software. Specifically atm - ProEngineer, MathCAD, ANSYS.

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

Approximately $1000.

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

USA. I'm located in Texas.

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.

I have no loyalty but to the best value.

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

I have won the following components and wish to use them:
-Corsair 1050W PSU
-Sapphire 6870 1GB GPU
-3 TB Western Digital HDD

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

I have, and my initial build below is based upon those recommendations.

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

I plan on overclocking as much as I can without changing voltages.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

I have a 21" widescreen running at 1680x1050 atm. I plan on upgrading in the future, but not now.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Right now. I need it put together by the 17th.

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

Go ahead, make me bleed:


CPU: i7 2600k @ $280 + tax = 303 @ Micro Center

MoBo: ASUS p8p67 Pro @ $169 @ Newegg

GPU: Sapphire 1GB 6870 @ $180 @ Amazon

RAM: 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws @ $100 @ Newegg

Case: Cooler Master HAF 932 @ $140 @ Newegg

Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212+ @ $27 @ Newegg

Optical-Drive: ASUS 24x DVDRW @ $20 @ Newegg

Total - $943

To remind you, I already have a Corsair 1050W PSU and a second Sapphire 6870, and a 3 TB Western Digital HDD. The case is totally up in the air - I may not need such a big one. My previous build used an Antec 900 and it was great. I may also add in a small SSD, but I'm not too sure about those.

Thank you for your advice, I appreciate your time and wisdom.

 

[mnewsham]

What Microcenter is close by to you? If you buy a sandybridge motherboard with a Sandybridge CPU right now you get 40 bucks off. I would not however recommend getting the P67 motherboard.

 

[008Rohit]

Get 8GB RAM instead of 16GB and get a Z68 MoBo.

The QuickSync technology of the integrated GPU boosts the video transcoding speeds.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

i5 2500k
z68 mobo
8gb ram
1tb spinpoint
69xx(not sure of radeon cards) or 560 ti
550watt psu
optical
haf 922 or 912
coolermaster 212 or something like it

 

[mfenn]

What Microcenter is close by to you? If you buy a sandybridge motherboard with a Sandybridge CPU right now you get 40 bucks off. I would not however recommend getting the P67 motherboard.

I agree. The GA-Z68X-UD3H isn't something that I would buy for $160, but it is reasonable at $120. Also, what specific HDD did you win? If it's not a Black, you don't want to use it as your system drive.

As for the rest of the parts:
- CPU: I would get the i5 2500K instead. Games and FP-heavy engineering codes don't really benefit much from HT.
- GPU: This Sapphire 6870 is $155 AR
- RAM: Would not pay $125 for 16GB of memory. I'd grab two of these Corsair DDR3 1333 8GB kits for $49 each.
- Case: The 922 will provide plenty of airflow for your setup and is $50 cheaper.
- SSD : I think I saved you enough money above so that you can get a 64GB SSD like the Crucial M4. It would be a crime to build a $1500 machine (about what yours will be worth all told) without and stick it with a mechanical HDD.