Build Help? Answer these questions

[TroyTalksNoMore]

We rotate PC's downstream...
We always kept the fastest game box in the living room as #1.
Our #2 box went to the den & was really just the OLD living room box.
The #3 box went to my oldest kid & the #4 box went to my youngest kid.
~ video cards & RAM just filtered downstream when the top box got upgraded.
The kids are gone now, but I am still rotating boxes & handing down parts!

However, it's time for a whole new mobo & CPU platform...
Therefore, I will only reuse my TV, KB, mouse, game controllers, etc.

My current box (below) will rotate to the den...
Antec 300 Illusion, Rosewill 1,000W PSU, Gigabyte P45T-ES3G (replacement)
Q9550 2.8 @ 3.2ghz, Xigmatek Dark Knight 120mm, G.SKILL 8gb DDR3 1333
Radeon 6870-1gb, 47" TV @ 1920x1080x120hz & 24" Planer touch PXL2430MW
WIN7-64 + (2) Samsung 1TB HD's + (2) Seagate 4TB USB HD's (mirrored)
MS 2000 KB, Logitech Mouse, Playseat Race Chair, G27 Wheel & Pedals

=====================
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
All of the above + weekend video editing.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
I wanna' be cheap @ $600 but can go $1,200 with good reasons & if I wait a little.
I want an SSD for my OS + big fast drive for STEAM.
Yes... tax, shipping, etc.

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Chicago burbs...

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.
CASE
PSU
MOBO
CPU
HS/FAN
RAM
SSD
BIG HD
VID-CARD


5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing?
TV, KB, mouse, gamepad, wheel, speakers.

6) Will you be overclocking?
Yes...

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
47" TV @ 1920x1080x120hz & 24" Planer touch PXL2430MW
I will be gaming at 1920x1080 for now, but want 3 monitors eventually (24"~30").

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Over next 2~3 months = done by Jan 1, 2014

9) What features do you need in a motherboard?
USB 3.0, SATA, eSATA, onboard vid, NIC, sound (typical)

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Yes, WIN7-64

 

[Dangman]

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
47" TV @ 1920x1080x120hz & 24" Planer touch PXL2430MW
I will be gaming at 1920x1080 for now, but want 3 monitors eventually (24"~30").

So you want to be able to game with all three monitors?

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Over next 2~3 months = done by Jan 1, 2014

Can you narrow down that time frame any further? Our hardware recommendations tend to change monthly due to pricing and availability. So if you want a good chance of getting up-to-date recommendations, ask for advice when you're 1-3 weeks away from buying the parts. Or can you afford to buy everything this month?

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Yes, WIN7-64

Which edition? Home Premium? Pro? etc.

 

[TroyTalksNoMore]

Yes, I want to game on all three, but by the time I buy those, I will probably have updated the vid card and do not want two cards / sli, crossfife, etc.

I will buy a new race seat, probably the obutto before the monitors (next summer?)

OK, I'll tighten my dates to buying it all by thanksgiving @ $800~900, but I can wait until x-mas if there is some big thing about to drop.

WIN7-64 PRO

 

[Dangman]

Yes, I want to game on all three, but by the time I buy those, I will probably have updated the vid card and do not want two cards / sli, crossfife, etc.

More than likely you'll still need SLI/CFX for that much real estate.

Y
OK, I'll tighten my dates to buying it all by thanksgiving @ $800~900, but I can wait until x-mas if there is some big thing about to drop.

Guess we'll see you again in November then.

 

[TroyTalksNoMore]

There is nothing on the horizon that will rock our world in the next 30~60 days.
I plan to order my case, PSU in the next week or two & my mobo, CPU, HS/fan shortly after.
If anything, prices should edge down as we approach thanksgiving & x-mas sales...
I expect that would be more the SSD & ram vs. case, PSU / mobo's, etc.

 

[tiraides]

Don't wait on Black Friday. The deals over the past couple of years weren't that spectacular and that trend appears to continue onto this year.

Why do you need to buy the case and power supply now? All they will do is gather dust until you buy the rest of the parts. (Did you already consider something to buy?)

 

[Dangman]

There is nothing on the horizon that will rock our world in the next 30~60 days.

I don't think you're understanding why we're holding off on recommendations: Due to changing pricing and availability, certain parts we recommend today may not be good choices to get next month since it might go up in price, become out of stock, or that there's an even better deal for a better or equal part. Unless you're aiming for extremely good deal for most of the parts, it doesn't help buying the parts over time outside of satisfying your instant gratification need. Not to mention that some of the parts may be DOA and you may not be able to test them until after the 15 to 30 day return window for most online stores.

But just to be clear: You're willing to buy ALL the parts before October 31st? For a budget of $900?

 

[TroyTalksNoMore]

I am paid a weekly salary + a monthly commision check...
If I buy a case & PSU, I will be committed to the new PC path with my next commision checks.
If I don't start buying PC parts, there is always something that comes up to take my money.
~ motorcycles, home brewing gear, wimenz, biz ops, brakes, tires, etc.

But yeah... I'm willing to buy ALL parts before NOV 30 for a budget of $900...

 

[TroyTalksNoMore]

In retrospect... I don't game a hell of a lot anymore.
When I do, it is a marathon weekend of catch up & then a long chill...

BUTTS - I just keep reading shit like this:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1785034&highlight=9550

Any Q6600 / Q9550 upgrade thread has people saying "your CPU sux".

Now I am thinking that I might want to replace my playseat with a new obutto before a new CPU / box.
http://obutto.com/index.php/gaming-cockpits/ozone-gaming-cockpit/
http://obutto.com/index.php/gaming-cockpits/r3volution-gaming-cockpit/

 

[Dangman]

If you have to upgrade, now would be a good time and here's why:
There's supposedly only a Haswell refresh before 2015. Even if Intel releases a new CPU family for socket 1150, it's not going to be that much of an upgrade over Haswell judging from current Intel CPU performance increase trends. So not worth waiting for either a CPU refresh or a newer CPU. When Intel does release their new CPUs and sockets in 2015, it's going to require rather expensive DDR4 RAM. Early adopter price and all that. I don't think your current CPU will last that extra two years till 2015 or longer than that if you want to avoid paying high prices for DDR4 RAM.

So might as well upgrade now while you can get the most out of a DDR3 based Intel setup.