Yay flooding! (PC Build)

[Schnozzinkobenstein]

The basement flooded and my computer had decided to be on that night, so everything got fried and oxidized except for the monitors and speakers.

I just use this computer for gaming and music listening. I am intending to play Skyrim when it comes out.

My budget is around $1000, but using even less is better.

I'm buying in the USA.

Based on experience, I really hate ATI cards, and I really like eVGA.

I'm reusing my two monitors: ACER G235H, and another hunk of junk that uses DVI.

I won't be overclocking.

I like running at max resolution (1920x1080).

I would prefer to get this soon (in a week or so).

This article helped in my decision on the motherboard and RAM.

Graphics card: eVGA GTX 560Ti (Recertified) - $199.99

CPU: i5 2500K Sandy - $219.99

Motherboard: ASUSP8H61-M Micro ATX - $72.99

RAM: G.SKILL F3-10666CL9D-8GBXL - $47.99

HD/Power Supply Combo: WD 1TB/Corsair 650W - $129.99

Optical Drive: ASUS DVD Burner - $20.99

Case: I want it as small as possible while being able to properly cool a not-overclocked system. Do I have to pay $100 if I want a good small case? As long as it's not a dumb color, I don't care how it looks.

Sound card: I care way too much about sound to use onboard audio, but I don't know what I can get away with as far as price. I only use headphones (they cost about $100 for an indication of quality) and 2.1 speakers (about $200), so I need something that can output quality audio, but I don't need to spend $150 to get 7.1 and extra doo-dads.

If you have comments on or better suggestions for my current selections, do tell.

 

[Ken g6]

I'd spend a little less on the CPU and RAM. For an h61 mobo with a discrete GPU, there's no point to a K-series processor. You can use the extra money to get a plastic tub your CPU can float in next time!

Here is a nice, cheap case. Do you need Windows with that?

Don't know on sound card.

Edit: No SSD?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

inwin Dragon Slayer is a good mATX case

 

[Schnozzinkobenstein]

Am I correct in thinking that the next step up from the GTX560Ti is the GTX570? Video card numbers seem to go all over.

I'd spend a little less on the CPU and RAM. For an h61 mobo with a discrete GPU, there's no point to a K-series processor. You can use the extra money to get a plastic tub your CPU can float in next time!

I did not realise that the K was the part that enabled the multiplier, so I'll definitely go for that combo, thanks. I had picked out the mobo because of my lack of overclocking, and that was the only reason. Is there a reason you mentioned the discrete GPU on it, though?

No SSD?

I couldn't find any HDD vs SSD benchmarks in my searching, and from what I had read, it looked like SSD only results in reduced loading times (because it obviously reduces read and write times), not FPS. I don't think I want to drop an extra hundred just so Windows boots up in 10 seconds or so that loading screens in my games are quicker.

 

[mnewsham]

Missing out on the SSD, but it's your loss. the i5-2400 is a better buy for what you are doing, and yes the next step up would be the GTX 570

 

[Schnozzinkobenstein]

Missing out on the SSD, but it's your loss.

What am I missing out on?

 

[paperwastage]

What am I missing out on?

it's just usually the SSD is the bottle neck for anything you do(you rarely max out your CPU or RAM or GPU, but you always are hitting up against the HDD loading times). if you put your OS on a plain 64GB ssd(available for ~$70-$90 on the right deal/price), it'll be a lot better

also, if you live near a microcenter/frys, cheaper CPUs/Mobo combos

HINT: Ram doesn't really matter as long as its at least 1333. 2x4GB kits are really coming down in price, maybe $20 after rebates is possibe

Also, OS-installs can be done via USB drives. another reason why you might not need a DVD drive(unless you watch a lot of DVDs)

 

[fralexandr]

you might want to get a new EVGA card with lifetime warranty, as their warranties are awesome (recerts have 90 day warranty)

soundcard wise you could go with the ASUS Xonar series

also i wouldn't consider the antec 300 a small case :\

the silverstone temjin tj08b-e seems nice but it's expensive and not "small" $99 + $18 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163182

aerocool m40 seems pretty good $80 + $12 (120mm fan!)
http://www.amazon.com/AeroCool-M40-M.../dp/B001DQY6BE
better information at newegg


thermaltake black lanbox $81 shipped (90mm + 2x60mm fans :|)
http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-La.../dp/B000PLY5BE

silverstone sugo sg02 $75 + $10 shipping (80mm fan :\)
pretty poor cooling though, might want to get a corsair h60 or something for the cpu, and a card that exhausts out of the case ie evga 460 or 570 (with fan at far end of card), since the 560s all vent in both directions
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163112

 

[mfenn]

What am I missing out on?

Think of every single thing that click on on your desktop. Now imagine if that action happened instantly. Not 1-2 seconds of lag, but instantly. That's what you're missing out on.

Also, why are you opposed to using an AMD card? (There hasn't been such a thing as ATI in a long time.) The 6950 2GB slots perfectly into your budget.

Finally, with regards to sound, $100 headphones are decent, but not mind blowing. You'll be better served by spending the money on an outboard DAC/AMP than a soundcard.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I honestly dont want a SSD, becauase of the fact that the tech is so new and that i have the PATIENCE to wait a few seconds

plus theyre expensive!

 

[mfenn]

I honestly dont want a SSD, becauase of the fact that the tech is so new and that i have the PATIENCE to wait a few seconds

plus theyre expensive!

Don't ever use a machine with an SSD if that's the case! Once you get used to one, using a machine with a mechanical drive is the next closest thing to infuriating.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Haha, thats why i wont get one till the tech is solid

i want a 1tb SSD

 

[paperwastage]

Haha, thats why i wont get one till the tech is solid

i want a 1tb SSD

it's maybe $70 for a 64GB SSD, which is enough for a basic OS (install games on your mechnical HDD)

seriously, it's worth the improvement/cost. of course right now, there is a new generation of SSD being released, so take your time and buy when the price-performance-features is right... don't dismiss it

 

[T_Yamamoto]

it's maybe $70 for a 64GB SSD, which is enough for a basic OS (install games on your mechnical HDD)

seriously, it's worth the improvement/cost. of course right now, there is a new generation of SSD being released, so take your time and buy when the price-performance-features is right... don't dismiss it

i might go with the 30 gb