New gaming build - Help

A

AliP

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 25, 2006
Messages
338
Hey, my system is getting old, thinking about upgrading.

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming and general computer use.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Flexible, tough preferably not over 1500$. I like to buy sensible.
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
For the sake of this post I live in the US, I'll probably be ordering off Amazon. I can't order off Newegg.
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
CPU, HSF if I need one, Mobo, Ram, Gpu, 1,5 or 2tb drive, possibly PSU.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
I'll reuse my CMStacker case, 3 monitors, mouse, keyboard and audio systems. I have a 8400 series pci-e gpu running the two extra monitors. I only game with one.

I'll reuse a 750gb hard drive for my C drive, and a 1.5tb storage drive.

If possible I could reuse my PSU, Corsair HX620W.
6) Will you be overclocking?
Unlikely.
7) 7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
Currently 1248*1024, altough I plan on getting a 24" widescreen in the future.
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Flexible, if there is a good reason I could wait for something new to come out or prices to drop.
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video? etc.
The basics, I don't think I'll need sli, firewire or onboard video. Reasonable onboard audio would be good. USB3 would be a plus and I need at least 4 sata ports.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Yes, Windows 7 64-bit.


Also should I get a HSF for the cpu? I probably won't be overclocking much but I do like my system being completely silent, it's on 24/7 right next to my bed.

Here is what I've picked out;
$190 CPU: Intel Core i5-2400
$42 Memory: Kingston Technology HyperX Blu 8GB 1333MHz
$140 Mobo: MSI P67A-GD53 (B3)
$190 GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 560
Total: 562$.
 
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For HD prices, if you can wait, yes it's probably smart. Maybe you have one laying around you can use temporarily? I personally bought a harddrive about 2 months ago for my laptop, looks like it might end up going in a new desktop instead, haha.
 
Build looks good other then the MSI mobo, I used to only use them but after RMA #4 I use gigabyte now and have never had a problem and their boards are a ton more sturdy then any MSI mobo I have ever seen.
 
AliP said:
6) Will you be overclocking?
Unlikely.
Click to expand...

In that case, drop down to the Core i5 2400 since the Core i5 2500K is really only worth it if you plan on overclocking past 3.6Ghz.

AliP said:
7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
Currently 1248*1024, altough I plan on getting a 24" widescreen in the future.
Click to expand...
When are you planning on getting that 24" monitor? Depending on how long it takes for you to get that monitor, getting that GTX 570 would be a waste of money.

AliP said:
If at all possible, I'd like to do the upgrade in two phases for logistical reasons. For example by getting the gpu, hard drive and psu first, (if they are backwards compatable and then getting the mobo, ram and cpu, see my current build in my sub).
Click to expand...
How far apart will those phases be?
AliP said:
I also hear HDD prices have risen lately, is it smart to wait for them to drop again?
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It's gonna be several months before hard drive prices go lower. Some people are saying that it'll be another two years before hard drive prices get back down to pre-flood prices. And some people are saying that hard drive prices could be go even higher.

So yeah, really dependent on how much you really want a new drive and your luck in the even of a hard drive death. However, do note that current 1TB drives will outperform your 750GB drive by quite a decent market

AliP said:
$50 Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws (2 x 4GB) 1333MHz
Click to expand...
I recommend this RAM instead since its cheaper:
$42 - Kingston Hyper KHX1333C9D3B1K2/8G 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM

AliP said:
$170 Mobo: MSI P67A-GD65 (B3)
Click to expand...
From your answer to question 9, you should be fine with this mobo instead:
http://www.amazon.com/MSI-LGA1155-B...4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1320939078&sr=1-4

AliP said:
$360 GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 570 Superclocked
Click to expand...
Do you have to have a Nvidia card or something?
AliP said:
I think my PSU will handle this, according to Evga the GPU needs a 550W psu.
Click to expand...

Your current PSU will be fine.
 
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Danny Bui said:
When are you planning on getting that 24" monitor? Depending on how long it takes for you to get that monitor, getting that GTX 570 would be a waste of money.
Click to expand...
Next summer. Last time I built was 2007, it would be nice to have similar longevity with this system.

Danny Bui said:
How far apart will those phases be?
Click to expand...
Not more than a month.

Danny Bui said:
Do you have to have a Nvidia card or something?
Click to expand...
No, but I've always had one, I also like Evga, but I'm flexible.
 
AliP said:
Next summer. Last time I built was 2007, it would be nice to have similar longevity with this system.
Click to expand...
In that case, no point in getting that GTX 570 since it would be wasted on 1280x1024 for a whole year unless you're one of those guys that absolutely must have 200+ FPS for their games. The extra cash you save now by going with a cheaper video card can be put towards a faster video card next summer that'll be more suitable for the larger resolution of your new monitor.
AliP said:
No, but I've always had one, I also like Evga, but I'm flexible.
Click to expand...

In that case, find a GTX 560 (non-TI) and you'll be set till next year. Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1320940273&sr=1-1
 
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Danny Bui said:
In that case, no point in getting that GTX 570 since it would be wasted on 1280x1024 for a whole year unless you're one of those guys that absolutely must have 200+ FPS for their games. The extra cash you save now by going with a cheaper video card can be put towards a faster video card next summer that'll be more suitable for the larger resolution of your new monitor.


In that case, find a GTX 560 (non-TI) and you'll be set till next year. Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1320940273&sr=1-1
Click to expand...
I do like being able to run the latest games at full settings smoothly, I also forgot to mention I run two monitors and a tv, with an extra 8400 series pci-e gpu running the extra monitors. I only game on one monitor though. Anyway if you think I'll be good running the 560 until I get the monitor I guess that's what I'll do.
 
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AliP said:
I do like being able to run the latest games at full settings smoothly, I also forgot to mention I run 3 monitors, with an extra 8400 series pci-e gpu running my tv. Anyway if you think I'll be good running the 560 until I get the monitor I guess that's what I'll do.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the 560 will be good for such a low resolution. Hell it's still a tad overkill.
 
Danny Bui said:
Yeah, the 560 will be good for such a low resolution. Hell it's still a tad overkill.
Click to expand...

Okay, maybe you can help me with one more thing, I have an creative xfi audio card, will I be any better off transferring that to my new system and using it instead of the onboard audio?

Also, can you recommend a HSF? For the purposes of noise reduction.
 
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AliP said:
Okay, maybe you can help me with one more thing, I have an creative xfi audio card, will I be any better off transferring that to my new system and using it instead of the onboard audio?.
Click to expand...
Yeah it's worth trying at the least.

AliP said:
Also, can you recommend a HSF? For the purposes of noise reduction.
Click to expand...

$26 - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus HSF for LGA 1366 and LGA 1156
 
AliP said:
Okay, maybe you can help me with one more thing, I have an creative xfi audio card, will I be any better off transferring that to my new system and using it instead of the onboard audio?
Click to expand...

Which X-Fi card do you have? If it's the Extreme Audio, be advised that it is not a true X-Fi card at all—but a descendant of the original Ensoniq AudioPCI card instead. As such, that entry-level X-Fi card offers hardly any advantage whatsoever over today's onboard audio.
 
E4g1e said:
Which X-Fi card do you have? If it's the Extreme Audio, be advised that it is not a true X-Fi card at all—but a descendant of the original Ensoniq AudioPCI card instead. As such, that entry-level X-Fi card offers hardly any advantage whatsoever over today's onboard audio.
Click to expand...

"Creative SOUND BLASTER X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card". Should I keep it?
 
AliP said:
"Creative SOUND BLASTER X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card". Should I keep it?
Click to expand...

You can try it. However, keep in mind that the card might not work properly on any OS newer than Windows XP.
 
Okay, I think I'll be ordering the following tonight;

$190 CPU: Intel Core i5-2400
$42 Memory: Kingston Technology HyperX Blu 8GB 1333MHz
$140 Mobo: MSI P67A-GD53 (B3)
$190 GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 560
$25 HSF: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
Total: 587$.

All to be run with a corsair HX620W psu, TBD multi harddrive setup, a 8400 series GPU for extra monitors, and an old Creative sound card.

I still have reservations about the motherboard though, never had an MSI and I fear reliability problems, though the reviews for the Gigabyte one don't seem much better.
 
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How about adding an SSD into the mix as a C: drive? I currently have a 320GB C drive.

I don't think I can do with any less than 100gb, and larger drives than that are pretty expensive.

$210 SSD: 128GB SSD

Opinions on getting one of these? Though I'll have to get used to not filling my computer with crap with such a small C drive space.
 
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Placed the order, with the 128gb SSD, thanks for all your help!
 
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