High-End Gaming Build

[HardwareSearcher]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Heavy Web and Streaming Video Browsing, Basic Windows & Web Development (non-graphic intensive), 1080P Video Viewing (non-physical media), High-End Gaming.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
I do not really have a set-in-stone budget - my main financial objective would be to avoid "wasteful" spending.
3) Where do you live?
TX, USA. Not within Microcenter/Fry's driving distance.
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.
"Everything."
Case, Additional/Replacement Fans (if beneficial), PSU, Motherboard, CPU, CPU Cooler, RAM, VGA, OS/Applications Drive, Data Drive, DVD Drive
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
None.
6) Will you be overclocking?
Yes. Heavy overclocking but not "extreme" overclocking (I am hoping for 100% stable 4.5ghz (or more) at a long-term safe voltage and temperature).
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
22" 1680x1050.
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
ASAP, as I am having ongoing issues with my current system - including the fact that my video card is 100% dead (and out of warranty).
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? etc.
USB 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Windows 7 - 64bit

CASE: SILVERSTONE RAVEN RV02B-EW = $190
I am looking for the very best air cooling case, as I have zero interest in ever watercooling or using any other kind of non-air cooling with this build. Obviously, build quality is also important and I would prefer something that isn't a struggle to use. In my research, two cases seemed to come up most with these attributes: the Silverstone Raven RV02(E revision) and the Cooler Master HAF X. I read multiple discussions on this and it appears that the Raven RV02-E is more efficient with its positive, bottom-to-top airflow - as long as the case is not cluttered.

PSU: SeaSonic X Series X650 SS-650KM 80 Plus GOLD Modular Active PFC = $140
It appears that this PSU is the cheapest (and also exceeds my power needs) of the "best of the best" tier of PSUs when it comes to stability, efficiency, and overall quality.

MB: ASUS P8P67 (REV 3.0) = $155
Looks like all the Sandy Bridge motherboards are having problems Since the problems can't be avoided, it looks like ASUS has the best BIOS and "smoothest" overclocking features, and it does not appear the PRO or higher models give any features that are useful to me. I simply won't do SLI/Crossfire until it is near-100% scaling and near-100% the same stability and game-compatibility as single-card systems. Clearly, neither of these are true and likely won't be for the life of this sytem.

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K = $220
Not doing anything that will take advantage of 2600K's limited advantages.

CPU COOLER: Thermalright Silver Arrow ~$90
If I understand correctly, lower-tier coolers are hit-and-miss when it comes to adequate performance for a safe, low-temp, long-term stable 4.5+ ghz overclock. I know there are other slightly cheaper coolers that may be adequate, but the silver arrow is supposed to be pretty quiet as well...and I don't think the cost savings is big enough to warrant not going ahead and getting the best? I keep my room temperature at 24C/75F.

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1333 = $45
Seems to be the cheapest brand-reputable 8GB Kit DDR3 1333 or higher that is on ASUS's P8P67 official memory compatibility list.

VGA: MSI R6950 Twin Frozr III PE/OC 2GB = $300
I want 2GB VRAM because I may play Oblivion and Fallout 3/NV with heavy mods. The Twin Frozr III seems to be the only 6950 worth the money and the good 6970s are too expensive.

OS/App Drive: Intel 320 Series SSDSA2CW160G3K5 2.5" 160GB SATA II MLC = $298
I am not going anywhere near those SF-controller drives, 120GB seems to be a bit tight, and the Intel 510/Corsair/Crucial 200+ GB drives are too expensive.

Data Drive: SAMSUNG EcoGreen F4 HD204UI 2TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" = $80
Just a data drive so I don't see the need to spend more money on the Western Digital Black that may be marginally faster.

DVD Drive: Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner 24X = $20
Supposedly this is one of the higher quality DVD drives remaining (with all of the former top-quality drives long gone over the years). However, as I almost never use my DVD drive, the attributes most important to me here are stability/reliability and quietness. I don't care about having slightly better read speed, and I don't care about the write capabilities at all (never make DVDs).


If anyone has any opinions or suggestions, let me know. Even if it conflicts with my current opinions, I would appreciate any feedback. I don't want to make a mistake because I missed something.

Thanks!

 

[Direfox]

Why build such a powerful system and stick with your 1680x1050 monitor? At the very least I would get a 1920x1080 (or 1200) or that 6950 will be spinning its wheels.

 

[Dangman]

Any chance that you can wait another week? By then Newegg's August combo deals should be out and those will save you some money.

For now, some advice:

- Avoid the Intel 320 series as they seem to have a big bug at the moment:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1624680

Stick with the Intel 510, Crucial m4, or Crucial C300 series SSDs.

- Mobo wise, personally I wouldn't go with an Asus P67 motherboard as they're a bit tainted in my eyes. I'd go for a MSI or even a Gigabyte P67 mobo at this point in time.

 

[HardwareSearcher]

Thanks for the feedback.

Newegg:
I actually have not looked at the combo deals thoroughly yet (but planned to do so). Newegg does not start their new combo deals on the first day of the month? If not, where is it announced (at Newegg or here or somewhere else) that the combo deals have been updated for the month?

SSD:
As for the 320 SSD issue, I will keep an eye on that and consider it. Price is a big factor in my SSD decision since they get very expensive very quickly for a decent size.

MOBO:
I am actually now considering the cheaper ASRock Pro 3 P67 or Z68, since I seem to be reading the least issues with ASRock, I am never going to SLI/Crossfire, and these appear to overclock just as high.

MONITOR:
I currently have a LG Flatron L227WTG monitor (back when I bought it, I think December 2008, it was considered the very best in terms of response time and hardcore gaming performance, as listed in the old LCD Thread on Anandtech's forums - but obviously it no longer holds that title).

Now I am looking into monitors again. As is the case with sandy bridge motherboards, my initial research is showing potential problems with everything available...but I guess that is becoming the norm these days - extremely poor design forethought and quality control everywhere. Is there currently any consensus on the "best" full-hd (not higher) gaming monitors both in the TN and IPS categories? I know IPS is not going to have the same response, but since I do not only play FPS games, I am also interested in image quality - so I may be willing to try one out that doesn't destroy FPS gaming. But I am still interested in the best among TNs as well. I hear a lot of hype about 120hz, but I also hear some opinions that realistically they do not really help except under certain conditions. I just know that I am certainly not changing to another TN unless it is full-hd and has response time, input lag, and image quality that, all three of which, is as good or better than my current monitor. I have no preference between 16:9 or 16:10. So any recommendations to consider here (not promising anything though - I may not upgrade yet)?

 

[Dangman]

Thanks for the feedback.

Newegg:
I actually have not looked at the combo deals thoroughly yet (but planned to do so). Newegg does not start their new combo deals on the first day of the month? If not, where is it announced (at Newegg or here or somewhere else) that the combo deals have been updated for the month?

Newegg's combo deals do start at the first day of the month. However some of the previous month's and sometimes invalid combo deals also show up. Not to mention that Newegg doesn't show all of their combo deals on the first day. Usually takes a full week for those combo deals to come out. And no, there's no announcement of the new combo deals.

MOBO:
I am actually now considering the cheaper ASRock Pro 3 P67 or Z68, since I seem to be reading the least issues with ASRock, I am never going to SLI/Crossfire, and these appear to overclock just as high.

I don't recommend ASRock at all due to their one year warranty on most of their motherboards.

Is there currently any consensus on the "best" full-hd (not higher) gaming monitors both in the TN and IPS categories? I know IPS is not going to have the same response, but since I do not only play FPS games, I am also interested in image quality - so I may be willing to try one out that doesn't destroy FPS gaming. But I am still interested in the best among TNs as well. I hear a lot of hype about 120hz, but I also hear some opinions that realistically they do not really help except under certain conditions. I just know that I am certainly not changing to another TN unless it is full-hd and has response time, input lag, and image quality that, all three of which, is as good or better than my current monitor. I have no preference between 16:9 or 16:10. So any recommendations to consider here (not promising anything though - I may not upgrade yet)?

You're gonna have to ask that question over in the Display subforum.