New Build Advice

[Shifte]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming, Web browsing and some video encoding.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Trying to stay in the 1k-1,200 but can go as high as 1,400
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
North Dakota
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
CPU
MOBO
RAM
GFX Card
(Power supply if existing PSU isn't enough)
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
I have a COOLER MASTER UCP RS700-AAAAA3 700W PSU that I could use, but will it be enough with SLI?
6) Will you be overclocking?
I may do so, depending on the amount of increase i can get with the system as a whole.
7) 7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
24in 1920x1080
19in 1440 x 900
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Now, as long as i can keep the price low
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? etc.
I am looking for some (2-4) USB 3.0, Sata 3 and 6 support, SLI/Crossfire support, Prefer an Intel Lan (but not required)
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 Pro


Bonus (Not part of my budget)
Wireless headset (over ear) $67
Wireless Mouse $74

I am looking to update my main gaming PC. I have the build below but am unsure of a number of things (What GFX card in SLI for one). I love the case and am pretty set on it. With the window I am trying for a matching color scheme. SLI would be nice, but may be unnecessary. I am looking at a new wireless mouse and wireless headphones but these are not part of the build. Can anyone help me trim the fat a little? Trying to last another 3 years before building again.

Case Corsair Obsidian 650 $179
SSD Crucial M4 128GB $174
CPU i5 2500 $209
Cooler H100 $119
MoBo Asus P8P67 PRO 3.1 Rev $179
RAM (4x4GB, 16GB) Mushkin Blackline $94
GFX card (2) ASUS ENGTX550 $129X 2 in SLI
Power Supply (Again, only if my existing 700W inst enough) $174

Total $1386

 

[Forceman]

If you aren't overclocking, get the i5-2400 instead since it is only marginally slower and costs a bit less. Also, if you aren't overclocking the H100 is extreme overkill, the stock cooler is fine for stock clocks. Even if you plan to overclock, you are probably better off with something like the CoolerMaster Hyper 212+, which is fine for overclocks to ~4.5 and costs significantly less.

I would avoid the Asus P67 motherboards, they had a lot of problems with the early revisions, and I don't know if they've fixed them all in the newer ones. The P8Z68-V Gen 3 is only $10 more, so I'd just get that. There is also some discounted G.Skill memory at Newegg right now. I wouldn't get two low-end cards to run SLI - you get all the SLI issues and the total performance isn't much better than a similarly priced single card. I'd just spring for a GTX 560 Ti 448 Core instead. Your link to the PSU is wrong, but if you aren't going to go SLI (and I'd guess even if you did with those cards) a 750W PSU is plenty. The Antec High Current Gamer is a good choice, as is the Corsair 750TX V2, but for a single card your existing PSU would probably still work.

$189 Asus P8Z68-V Gen 3
$80 (after instant coupon) G.Skill Ripjaws Z 16GB DDR3-1600
$29 ($19 after MIR) CoolerMaster Hyper 212+
$189 Intel i5-2400
$255 (after instant coupon, $235 after MIR) Evga GTX 560 Ti 448 Core
$95 ($85 after MIR) Antec High Current Gamer 750W PSU


Or just get the 2500K so you can overclock if you change your mind.
$229 Intel i5-2500K

 

[hdawg06]

I don't understand why you want the 2500. Like mentioned, get the 2400 if you do not plan to overclock. Just a heads up, the 2500k is $225 on amazon and $230 on newegg. That would be a much better cpu IMO for only $15-20 more. It won't be hard to make up that $20 because if you buy the 650 right now it includes a $20 mail in rebate.

IMO you could scale back the h100 to an h60 or other HSF and save ~$40-50.

Do you need the 16gb ram for editing? Because 8gb is more than enough at the moment to game with. You could probably save yourself almost $50 by buying 8gb instead. You could always go out and buy another 8gb if it turns out you do require it, but I am guessing you will not miss it.

 

[Shifte]

Thanks for the ideas guys!

For Editing 16GB I have found is great so i am planning on doing so. I think cutting the i5 to 2400 and swapping cooler for a cheaper one would be a good idea. Also i like the GFX card mentioned.

Could i use my existing PSU would it be enough?

 

[E4g1e]

Thanks for the ideas guys!

For Editing 16GB I have found is great so i am planning on doing so. I think cutting the i5 to 2400 and swapping cooler for a cheaper one would be a good idea. Also i like the GFX card mentioned.

Could i use my existing PSU would it be enough?

I wouldn't recommend using it: That Acbel-made PSU is one of many "700W" rated models that really can't handle more than about 500W without its DC output going out of spec. And any output that's out of spec can (and does) kill PC components earlier than expected even if the PSU itself doesn't die off or explode.

 

[Dropseaa]

yeah id avoid the 550

 

[E4g1e]

yeah id avoid the 550

That too. Two GTX 550 Ti cards even in SLI are still slower than one single GTX 560 Ti, and cost more money than the single GTX 560 Ti.