Gaming build - first timer

[AndreH121]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming and web browsing
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Around $1500. Will probably buy from Amazon so no tax, free shipping
3) Where do you live?
California, USA
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, Motherboard, RAM, Video Card, Hard Drive, Case, PSU, DVD Drive, OS, Monitor, Speakers
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
Completely new build
6) Will you be overclocking?
Maybe some slight overclocking for the video card
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
23" 1920x1080
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Hopefully soon but willing to wait
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? etc.
SLI
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
No


I'm planning on building a gaming computer for the first time and would welcome any input/advice on the following parts.

-Intel Core i5 760
-Intel DP55SB motherboard
-Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) PC3-12800
-GeForce GTX 470
-Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB (thinking of adding an SSD when prices come down)
-Antec 902
-Antec True Power 750
-Samsung DVD Drive
-Windows 7 Home Premium OEM

-Samsung PX2370 Monitor
-Altec Lansing VS2621 Speakers (not much of an audiophile)

Thanks.

 

[Dangman]

Ditch that Intel motherboard for this SLI capable motherboard:
$134 - Asus P7P55D Pro Intel P55 ATX Motherboard

Ditch that Western Digital Black drive for this faster Samsung 1TB drive:
$66 - Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Ditch the Antec 902 case and go with this roomier and easier to cable manage case instead:
$80 - Cooler Master CM690 II Advance ATX Case

Besides that, looks good to me. Though which Corsair RAM are you talking about?

 

[AndreH121]

Thanks for the input Danny. Few questions on your recommendations.

What are the advantages of the ASUS motherboard over the Intel?
The Caviar Black has more cache and is 6.0Gbs. It also costs about $20 more. Does this make a difference?

The RAM is the XMS3 Dual Channel with 9-9-9-24 timing.
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Channel-Memory-Processors-CMX4GX3M2A1600C9/dp/tech-data/B002LE8D2A/ref=de_a_smtd

So do you think this is a good bang for the buck system? Or would it be wise to wait a little while for new releases/price drops.

 

[Dangman]

What are the advantages of the ASUS motherboard over the Intel?

The key advantage is that the Asus mobo supports SLI whereas the Intel mobo does not. Since SLI was one of the features you wanted, the Asus is the better choice. In addition, the Asus mobo is better suited for overclocking due to the larger number of BIOs overclocking options and cooling on the motherboard. Finally the Asus mobo has more room for future expansion cards than the Intel..

The Caviar Black has more cache and is 6.0Gbs. It also costs about $20 more. Does this make a difference?

Not really. Larger cache only comes in handy in very few situations and no mechanical drive in the world exceeds SATA 3.0Gb/s let alone SATA 6.0Gb/s. In other words, that 6.0Gb/s feature is pratically useless and is a marketing gimmick.

So do you think this is a good bang for the buck system? Or would it be wise to wait a little while for new releases/price drops.

It's a good bang for the buck system. However Intel is releasing their new Sandy Bridge CPUs in January. So basically you're looking at an obsolete system in about 2 to 3 months. Then again, since this will be the first release of the Sandy Bridge CPUs, there might be some teething issues.

 

[haitu]

It's a good bang for the buck system. However Intel is releasing their new Sandy Bridge CPUs in January. So basically you're looking at an obsolete system in about 2 to 3 months. Then again, since this will be the first release of the Sandy Bridge CPUs, there might be some teething issues.

I dont know really know anything about sandy bridge except that they are the next gen intel processors.

Will sandy bridge replace i5,i7 or is sandy bridge just improving on those? how much do people expect these sandy bridge chips be?

 

[CMD]

I would get a 850 watt power supply, for SLI later.

 

[Dangman]

I dont know really know anything about sandy bridge except that they are the next gen intel processors.

Will sandy bridge replace i5,i7 or is sandy bridge just improving on those? how much do people expect these sandy bridge chips be?

Yes Sandy Bridge will be replacing i5 and i7 CPUs. Also uses a different socket. Sandy Bridge CPUs should be around the same prices as current i5 and i7 CPUs.

 

[PersonalJ]

The sandy bridge cpus coming out soon will replace the i3 and i5 processors, i7 will be replaced around Q3 2011. The sandy bridge i7 should feature 6 and 8 cores with HT and the ability for proper multi-gpu setups. If you don't care about SLI/CF or more physical cores then just get the mainstream sandy bridge.

 

[E4g1e]

The key advantage is that the Asus mobo supports SLI whereas the Intel mobo does not. Since SLI was one of the features you wanted, the Asus is the better choice. In addition, the Asus mobo is better suited for overclocking due to the larger number of BIOs overclocking options and cooling on the motherboard. Finally the Asus mobo has more room for future expansion cards than the Intel.

Actually, the Intel DP55SB does support SLI. However, all of the other things Danny stated about that motherboard is true: The microATX motherboard would have left the OP with only one free PCIe x1 slot for future expansion if the primary PCIe x16 slot is filled with a double-slot graphics card and the secondary PCIe x16 slot (running at x8) is filled with a graphics card or a USB 3.0/SATA 6 Gbps card. (The DP55SB is one of the few current motherboards that have no PCI-Legacy slot at all.)

Another potential future drawback: None of Intel's current motherboards sold under its own brand have onboard USB 3.0 or SATA 6 Gbps controllers. This will limit the OP to just one graphics card on that mobo if a USB 3.0 or SATA 6 Gbps card is needed for a particular device.

Finally, the DP55SB is priced too close to the Asus for comfort. Especially since none of the Intel-branded motherboards use all-solid capacitors (Intel is one of the few remaining brands that still use old-style electrolytic capacitors and only some solid capacitors). Those make that Intel mobo expensive for what you'd get.

 

[Dangman]

Actually, the Intel DP55SB does support SLI.

Hmm, I must've missed the SLI feature somewhere in the specs. Thanks for the correction!

 

[Gilbert_pwns]

I 2nd the switch to a coolermaster case. I myself own the antec 900 and sometimes regret it whenever I deal with cables and it seems like it hasn't changed much in that department.

 

[AndreH121]

OK I built the computer. I contemplated waiting for Sandy Bridge but got impatient and found some fairly good Black Friday deals. (Core i5 760 for $175, Antec TruePower 750 for $80, etc.) Everything seems to be working fine but when I tried the Unigine Heaven Benchmark with extreme tessellaton it crashed in the middle. Is this a sign of the Geforce 470 overheating? Hopefully an extra fan on the side of the case and cleaning up all the cable clutter will help with that.
A few more questions. I know SATA 3Gps won't affect hard drive speeds but could it slow down an SSD if I add one later on? Also the second SLI slot is only an 8x, how much of a performance hit will that cause?
Thanks.

 

[Dangman]

Is this a sign of the Geforce 470 overheating?

Probably. Use Furmark to find out.

I know SATA 3Gps won't affect hard drive speeds but could it slow down an SSD if I add one later on? Also the second SLI slot is only an 8x, how much of a performance hit will that cause?
Thanks.

Not really. Zero performance hit.