The Challenge! Build A Game Rig for $1000 using i5 2500K

E

epyon2012

n00b
Joined
Dec 14, 2007
Messages
17
Hey I am looking to build a game rig with a i5 2500K and SDD 64 gig hard for $1000. Would love to see some suggestions on a complete build all parts listed with URL links from New Egg. Already have monitor, keyboard, mouse headset. End goal is playing BF3 on high settings averaging 60FPS. Was looking at the Alienware X51 i7 for $1000 but now I am thinking of building it to get a bigger bang for the buck. Ideas?

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? Gaming
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included? $1000 (tax and shipping excluded)
3) Which country do you live in? US New York City
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? SSD (128 around gig), CPU, Motherboard, RAM, Case, PSU, wires, CPU Fans, case fans, video card an mounting screws, ect, NIC (onboard is fine). No fancy lights needed simply and sleek is fine
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Samsung Monitor 22 syncmaster 2253bw, dvd-rw drive
6) Will you be overclocking? maybe, most likely not
7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? 1680 x 1050
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC? in 2 days
9) What features do you need in a motherboard?Crossfire or SLI support woud be nice.USB 3.0/2.0 SATA 6Gb/s, Onboard video (as a backup)?
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?Yes WIN 7 64bit
 
What do you think about this? Am I missing anything?

1 - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+
Item #:N82E16835103099 $34.99

1 - Rosewill 10ft. USB2.0 A Male to B Male Cable, Black, Model RCW-101RT
Item #:N82E16812119005 $3.99

1 - Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
Item #:N82E16819115072 $219.99

1 - Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2CCA 2.5" MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) with Transfer Kit
Item #:N82E16820148448 $160.99

1 - Antec Three Hundred Black Computer Case
Item #:N82E16811129042 $59.99

1 - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
Item #:N82E16820231314 $46.99

1 - OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
Item #:N82E16817341017 $74.99

3 - Scythe SY1225SL12SH "Slipstream" Case Fan
Item #:N82E16835185060 $32.97

1 - EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 01G-P3-1556-KR Video Card
Item #:N82E16814130625 $139.99

1 - ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813157271 $121.99

Grand Total: $892.89
 
Can you wait till the end of April? Ivy bridge processors are coming out at the end of the month and Z77 boards are coming out next week.
 
Made a few changes....

1 - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+
Item #:N82E16835103099 $34.99

1 - Rosewill 10ft. USB2.0 A Male to B Male Cable, Black, Model RCW-101RT
Item #:N82E16812119005 $3.99

1 - EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (Fermi) 01G-P3-1561-AR Video Card
Item #:N82E16814130604 $229.99

1 - Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
Item #:N82E16819115072 $219.99

1 - Antec Three Hundred Black Computer Case
Item #:N82E16811129042 $59.99

1 - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
Item #:N82E16820231314 $46.99

1 - OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
Item #:N82E16817341017 $74.99

1 - ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813157271 $121.99

1 - OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Item #:N82E16820227706 $159.99

3 - Rosewill RFA-120-K Case Fan
Item #:N82E16835200048 $12.84

Grand Total:

$961.76
 
epyon2012 said:
What do you think about this? Am I missing anything?
Click to expand...
You need to find a better power supply and no 550 video card. I personally wouldn't buy the ASRock MB or a $33 case fan. The 212 Plus is cheaper than the EVO.

Can you get to a nearby Microcenter? A 2500k motherboard combo from MC would help you afford a better video card.

edit: Get the Crucial m4 SSD from your first build. 560ti is better but you could afford more if you can include a trip to Microcenter for the 2500k combo. The OCZ Modstream PSU is still junk.
 
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$259.99 - EVGA 012-P3-2066-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 448 Cores FTW 1280MB (Use promo code EMCNFNE52 for $15 off)
$89.99 - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W (Use promo code EMCNFND28 for $15 off)
$44.99 - G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
$132.99 - ASUS P8Z68-V LE LGA 1155 Intel Z68
$219.99 - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz
$26.99 - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
$154.99 - Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD1 2.5" 128GB

Total shipped: $899.93

Choose your own case. These cases do not need additional case fans as they have adequate cooling as is.
$60 - NZXT Source 210 Elite ATX Case
$60 - Cooler Master HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 ATX Case
$60 - NZXT Source 210 Elite ATX Case
$70 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K58W ATX Case
$70 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K56 ATX Case
$90 - Cooler Master CM690 II Advance ATX Case
$90 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B ATX Case
$100 - Lian Li PC-7B Plus II ATX Case
$100 - Cooler Master HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$110 - NZXT Whisper WHI - 001BK ATX Full Tower Case
$100 - Lian Li PC-7FN ATX Case
$110 - Lian Li PC-60FN ATX Case
$113 - Velocity Micro GX2-W Silver Classic Aluminum Case with Side Window
$110 - Fractal Design Arc Mini Tower
$120 - Corsair Carbide Series 400R ATX Case
$130 - Fractal Design Define R3 Black ATX Case
$140 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Full Tower ATX Case
$140 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Full Tower ATX Case
$140 - Lian Li PC-9F ATX Case
$140 - Cooler Master HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$140 - Antec Performance One Series P183 V3 ATX Case
$143 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-002OR Black Finish w/Orange Trim Full Tower ATX Case
$150 - Corsair Graphite Series 600T ATX Case
$160 - Silverstone RV02B-W ATX case
$178 - Silverstone RV02B-EW ATX case
$190 - Corsair Obsidian Series 650D ATX Case

Few things about this build over yours.

-The motherboard you chose is of poorer quality, it also has a shorter warranty than the one I chose.
-That cooler isn't worth the price, seeing as how the similar performing and proven 212+ is cheaper.
-The RAM you selected is a couple dollars more than the RAM I selected.
-The video card you selected is fine for your resolution and the one I chose is complete overkill for it, however if you want 60 FPS consistent in BF3, I'd overkill the GPU since the CPU is already plenty fast enough, even at your resolution. Plus if you plan to upgrade to a 1080P monitor before replacing this system, you'll be good to go.
-A 64GB SSD will fill up very quickly if it's your primary drive, especially when Windows 7 takes ~20GB of that. So I double your space. I'd recommend saving for either another SSD and/or getting a mechanical drive in the future for storage.
-The PSU you chose is from a shitty company that doesn't believe in supporting it's products. Not to mention it's not all that great of a PSU in the first place, therefore I recommend avoiding OCZ at all costs.


edit
Quoted price was wrong, forgot to include one of the items in the price.
 
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epyon2012 said:
what about this one 700W for $89....OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018
Click to expand...
No. The only OCZ to receive decent reviews is the 750W ZT line mentioned above. If you must buy OCZ for some reason. buy that one.

The lowest price PSU I would recommend from Newegg is $60AR CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2

edit: Skillz covered everything you need to know above. several Gigabyte Z68 MB have a 10% off promo at Newegg if you do not happen to like the Asus suggested above. I would recommended either of those manufacturers over ASRock. You still can save roughly $90 by going to Microcenter for the 2500k and motherboard. Since you live in NYC you should have access to one.
 
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also, i just dealt with OCZ for RMA, and did the advanced RMA option (they put temporary charge on your cc and UPS the new part before you send your old one back). and didn't pay for shipping either way, and got new part in three days. makes OCZ A-OK in my book.
 
I think we have a winning build. I am a fan of both Gigabyte and Asus MBs. If you think the Gigabyte model is better than what I have suggest the one I should look at. Thanks for all the suggestions, I might take a drive to a Microcenter also. I appreciate this.

1 - Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
Item #:N82E16819115072 $219.99

1 - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm sleeve CPU Cooler
Item #:N82E16835103065 $26.99

3 - Rosewill RFA-120-K Case Fan
Item #:N82E16835200048 $12.84

1 - G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
Item #:N82E16820231546 $44.99

1 - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W High Performance Power Supply
Item #:N82E16817139020 $89.99

1 - ASUS P8Z68-V LE ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
Item #:N82E16813131773 $132.99

1 - Antec Three Hundred Black Computer Case
Item #:N82E16811129042 $59.99

1 - Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD1 2.5" MLC 7mm Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Item #:N82E16820148529 $154.99

1 - EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 448 Cores FTW 012-P3-2066-KR Video Card
Item #:N82E16814130738 $259.99

Grand Total:
with Promo codes
$978.55
 
I wouldn't go with that case. It's got little to no room for cable management and adding case fans to it wont help the cooling any better. Go with one of the cases I recommended for the best cable management and cooling capabilities.

Otherwise, everything else looks good.
 
That's a good case and it's actually only $50 now, I haven't updated the list lately.
 
When the time is right what is a good 22 inch monitor you would recommend for this build?
 
epyon2012 said:
When the time is right what is a good 22 inch monitor you would recommend for this build?
Click to expand...

Don't think I'm the best guy when choosing a good monitor if you have specific needs for a specific type. However if it were me, I'd spend the money on this 23" model since it's cheaper than most 1080P 22" monitors right now. Though that promo code ends in 3 days, so I'd recommend a different monitor come then.
 
How come you're not waiting till the end of April for Ivy Bridge?
 
As an owner of the Antec 300, I concur with the sentiments listed in this thread. It is OKAY, but outclassed by the 210 and 912. If I had to choose based on internal layout, 912 > 210. 210 has a sleek outside though. [edit] Do not be thrown off by the unpainted innards of the 912, but pay attention to the more thoughtful layout, especially the hard drive bays.
The build that everyone else has directed you to is perfect anyway. You will be incredibly happy with what you will have.

[edit] As for monitors, the well-rated Asus monitors do a good job for their price. I own two of the VW224U's and two VW246H's. I am happy with all four of them. It's not IPS, but we are not all made of money ^_^
 
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