Replacing many parts, need advise.

M

Manick2005

n00b
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
36
1) What will you be doing with this PC?
Gaming (BF3, SoSE)

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
1500$

3) Which country do you live in?
USA, Houston TX

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget?
MB, CPU, RAM, Case, aftermarket fan.

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
PSU: OCZ GameXStream 700w
HD1: Internal Western Digital 750GB (WD7501AALS)
HD2: Internal Western Digital 620GB (WD6401AALS)
HD3: External AcomData PureDrive 500 GB (PHD500USE-72)
HD4: External Western Digital MyBook 320GB (WDH1Q3200N)
GFX: XFX HD Raedon 5870
(just to clarify I'm not reusing my case, it's too small for my graphics card)

6) Will you be overclocking?
Yes

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
1680x1050

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Between now and 2 months from now.

9) What features do you need in a motherboard?
Don't know

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Yes, Windows 7 64bit


Here are my current computer specs:

Chassis: Antec p180 Mini Gunmetal
Motherboard: Nvidia nForce 650i Ultra
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad @ 2.4GHz (Q6600)
RAM: CORSAIR Dual-channel DDR3 1333MHz 4GB (2 X 2GB) / (XMS3)
GFX: XFX HD Raedon 5870
PSU: OCZ GameXStream 700w
OS: Windows 7 Professional (64bit)
HD1: Internal Western Digital 750GB (WD7501AALS)
HD2: Internal Western Digital 620GB (WD6401AALS)
HD3: External AcomData PureDrive 500 GB (PHD500USE-72)
HD4: External Western Digital MyBook 320GB (WDH1Q3200N)
HD5: External/Mini SimpleTech 250GB (FS-U25)

I hope this is enough information. Any help is greatly appreciated.
As stated in the first question, I am trying to optimize this PC for Battlefield 3 and large scale RTS games such as Sins of a Solar Empire which from what I understand are very CPU intensive.
My current CPU just does not seem to cut it anymore, for anything.
 
Manick2005 said:

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
PSU: OCZ GameXStream 700w
Click to expand...
Don't reuse that crappy PSU: It was barely capable of 500W within ATX specifications 4-5 years ago. So definitely not worth reusing now.
Manick2005 said:

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Between now and 2 months from now.
Click to expand...
Ok, if you can't narrow down that timeframe any further, please come back when you're 2-3 weeks away from buying parts as you'll get better up to date advice that way. Planning months ahead in advance doesn't help you. Not to mention that Intel is planning on releasing new CPUs sometime in Q1 to Q2 2012 and AMD's new GPUs are due out in January 2012.
 
Ok, well in that case I won't wait that long to buy stuff. I'd rather get this done sooner than later.
 
Manick2005 said:
Ok, well in that case I won't wait that long to buy stuff. I'd rather get this done sooner than later.
Click to expand...

So when are you buying the parts? Within the next 5 days or some time in January? My recommendation to you is to wait till mid January as you'll be able to purchase faster AMD cards in that month.
 
How much will they cost though? I don't want to spend a fortune on just my processor alone by getting something top of the line. I do want a fairly high end one however. I paid about 300 dollars for my Q6600 not long after it first came out back when it was still good so I'm hoping I won't have to spend much more than that again.
 
Manick2005 said:
How much will they cost though? I don't want to spend a fortune on just my processor alone by getting something top of the line. I do want a fairly high end one however. I paid about 300 dollars for my Q6600 not long after it first came out back when it was still good so I'm hoping I won't have to spend much more than that again.
Click to expand...

Well, AMD should have some GPUs at or near the price range of their current GPUs. But from the latest rumors, it looks like the newer Intel chips aren't hitting till Q2 2012 or basically April. So with that in mind, I recommend reusing your current GPU to tide you over till release of the HD 7xxx series and get the CPU, mobo, RAM, and case now. Then again, your HD 5870 should be fine for your low resolution.

How far are you away from this Microcenter location?:
http://www.microcenter.com/at_the_stores/houston.html
 
In that case, grab the Core i5 2500K there as it's cheaper there than most online stores.

As for the motherboard and RAM, I recommend the following:
$133 - Asus P8Z68-V LE Intel Z68 ATX Motherboard
$35 - G.Skill Value Series F3-10600CL9D-8GBNT 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM

HSF wise, I recommend this:
$30 - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus HSF for LGA 1366 and LGA 1156

Case wise, I recommend any of these cases:
$70 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K58 ATX Case
$70 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K56 ATX Case
$80 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K58W ATX Case
$65 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B ATX Case
$98 - Cooler Master CM690 II Advance ATX Case
$90 - Cooler Master HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$100 - Corsair Carbide Series 400R ATX Case
$100 - Lian Li PC-7B Plus II ATX Case
$120 - Lian Li PC-9F ATX Case
$120 - Fractal Design Define R3 Arctic White ATX Case
$130 - Fractal Design Define R3 Black Pearl ATX Case
$120 - Fractal Design Define R3 Silver Arrow ATX Case
$133 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Full Tower ATX Case
$140 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Full Tower ATX Case
$137 - Antec P280 ATX Case
$140 - Antec Performance One Series P183 V3 ATX Case
$143 - Cooler Master HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$144 - Silverstone RV03B-W ATX case
$150 - Corsair Graphite Series 600TM ATX Case
$160 - Silverstone RV02B-W ATX case
$164 - Corsair Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T ATX Case
$178 - Silverstone RV02B-EW ATX case
$190 - Corsair Obsidian Series 650D ATX Case
$230 - Silverstone FT02B ATX Case
$270 - Corsair Obsidian Series 800D CC800DW Full Tower ATX Case
 
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Thank you so much for that list, I'll check Microcenter tomorrow to see if they have that in stock. One question though. Do you happen to know of a processor that is quad core, with 4.00ghz and either a 6 or 8mb cache? I saw it at a Fry's Electronics awhile ago and recently went back there but they don't carry it anymore, and I lost the name of it. It was the perfect processor for Sins of a Solar Empire, which can only use one core, but if its 4.00ghz stock I imagine that speed alone would make up for it.
 
Intel has no shipping processors that have stock speeds of 4.0. The fastest would be the i7-2700K, which runs between 3.5 and 3.9 and has 8MB of cache - but there is virtually no performance difference between that and the significantly cheaper 2500K for gaming. The AMD FX-8150 has a max turbo of 4.2GHz, but it is generally considered to be a bad buy due to its relatively poor performance and power/thermal characteristics. Your best bet really is the 2500K, although you could make a case for the 2600K if you are doing multi-core intensive things - especially if you can snag a Microcenter deal like the $60 off a 2600K and motherboard they were running earlier.
 
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Like others have said... ditch the old OCZ PSU. My GameStream 600w just blew up yesterday and caused a scare of a life time (thought I blew up my CPU).
 
Ok, lets start with your budget. $1500. $1500 is a nice chunk of change. If you're going to go that much, go for a new full new build.

My suggestions:

Case: FRACTAL design Define R3 or Define XL ($100-$150)
PSU: Corsair or Thermaltake 750watte or higher. ($100-$150)
Mobo: Asus Maximus Gene-Z ($150-$190 depending on the version)
CPU: If you're only gaming, i5-2500k. ($200 or less) If you're video encoding/professional work, i7-2600k. ($320 or less)
Memory: 16GB of GSkill or Corsair Ram. $90 or less.
If you need a firewire card (for external drives): $50
You'll need a decent cooler. Corsair H50 or H60 is about $60

I'd recommend upgrading to an SSD for your OS/base apps/base games. 120GB minmum, preferably 250GB. $200-$350
I'd recommend adding a 1080p monitor to your setup. Depending on your needs, any Viewsonic, Asus, or Samsung should work (23" about for 1080p) $200-$300.

That should bring you close to $1500 after shipping/tax.
 
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I was finally able to go over to Microcenter. I saw the i5 there for 60 dollars off, but they also had a deal where I could get a Gigabyte motherboard with it for like 50 dollars off. It was a Gigabyte ga-z68ap-d3 1155 atx, for 70 dollars. Is that motherboard any good, and a decent alternative compared to the Asus motherboards I've been suggested? It's 260 dollars for both the processor and the motherboard after taxes which is a great deal, but if the motherboard sucks I won't bother. Any thoughts?
 
Manick2005 said:
I was finally able to go over to Microcenter. I saw the i5 there for 60 dollars off, but they also had a deal where I could get a Gigabyte motherboard with it for like 50 dollars off. It was a Gigabyte ga-z68ap-d3 1155 atx, for 70 dollars. Is that motherboard any good, and a decent alternative compared to the Asus motherboards I've been suggested? It's 260 dollars for both the processor and the motherboard after taxes which is a great deal, but if the motherboard sucks I won't bother. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

It appears to be just a basic motherboard. Not bad but not great either. Totally worth $70 IMO.
 
Hello again. Could I get a recommendation for a new PSU as well? It's possible that the current one may actually be failing.
 
You can try the Antec NEO Eco 620, or the Antec High Current Gamer 620. You would probably also be fine with a 520W - I believe they make both of those models in 520W also.
 
Forceman said:
Intel has no shipping processors that have stock speeds of 4.0. The fastest would be the i7-2700K, which runs between 3.5 and 3.9 and has 8MB of cache - but there is virtually no performance difference between that and the significantly cheaper 2500K for gaming. The AMD FX-8150 has a max turbo of 4.2GHz, but it is generally considered to be a bad buy due to its relatively poor performance and power/thermal characteristics. Your best bet really is the 2500K, although you could make a case for the 2600K if you are doing multi-core intensive things - especially if you can snag a Microcenter deal like the $60 off a 2600K and motherboard they were running earlier.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure there's a 4.0ghz Xeon

edit: http://ark.intel.com/products/55452

edit2: not a recommendation, just FYI
 
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I got my new rig up and running. I must say its performing beyond my expectations so far, and it only cost me a total of 681 USD for all the parts I needed, so I still have a good chunk of cash left. The only thing I need now is a new HDTV, because my old one is only 720p (which I plan to give to my parents), and I need a 1080p for that extra resolution for gaming. I remember you used to actually have to pay quite a lot of money to buy a 1080p HDTV as opposed to a 720p, but now everything is 1080p, and then there are LED's as well which I know nothing about. Could anyone make me a recommendation for that as well? I'm looking for anything between 40-46" and I still have 750 dollars to spend, which hopefully is more than enough. Thanks for the recommendations so far, everything worked out great.
 
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