Building a Gaming Computer

[je3ff]

Hello,
I'm looking to possibly build my first gaming computer within this month. I'm working on the parts to go in it, budget isn't an issue as of now. So here are some of the parts I put together trying to make a high end gaming computer but also saving on cash. But I'm looking for someone to verify everything should work together. From what I know, everything will run swimmingly, but to be 100% sure, I brought that here. So can someone possibly help me verify that all this will run together.

Total- $1285.12
Saved: $145.80

Case- 129.99(mail-in rebate) < 149.99($10 off) < 159.99 - Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0, Black Interior and Four Fans-1x 230mm front RED LED fan, 1x 140mm rear fan, 1x 230mm top fan, and 1x 230mm side fan
Power Supply- 89.99($30 off) < 119.99 - Newegg.com - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
Motherboard- 129.99($20 off) < 149.99 - Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-990XA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
CPU- 199.99 - Newegg.com - AMD FX-8150 Zambezi 3.6GHz Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core Desktop Processor FD8150FRGUBOX
GPU- 349.99(mail-in rebate) < 359.99 - Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition OC 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (11199-03-20G)
Ram- 119.99($5 off) < 124.99 - Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M2A1600C10
HDD- 169.99($40 off) < 209.99 - Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD7502AAEX 750GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

[ShyguyXPC]

I wouldn't waste the money on the AMD system, Go with Intel Socket 1155, Z77 Chipset (one that supports CrossfireX And SLI), Intel Core i5 "Ivy Bridge" Quad core (preferably K variants for OCing potential), and spend a bit more on the Video card and get at least the Radeon HD 7950, or get a Geforce GTX 670.

The 7870's are good cards, but even at stock their not far off from the 7950, with some decent Overclocks, they can nearly match the 7950.

Get a 7950 and Overclock a little, or a factory OC model and they come close to the 7970 models.

Or just get the GTX 670 instead. for $400, you'd be good to go with that instead.


Make sure you get Windows 7 Professional 64-bit to use all that RAM. (Home Premium 64-bit is limited to 16GB max)


for Hard drive, if you want, grab an Intel 330 Maple Crest Series SSD (60GB at least), for the OS, and use of Intels Smart Response Technology on the Mobo, and a 1GB Seagate 64MB Cache 7200RPM HDD, or larger if you need, but for about $100 you can get a Seagate drive as mentioned.

Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb&#47;s 3.5&#34; Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - Intel 330 Series Maple Crest SSDSC2CT060A3K5 2.5&#34; 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive &#40;SSD&#41;



Using some parts from your existing list.


Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Internal DVD Writer 22X DVD&#43;R 8X DVD&#43;RW 8X DVD&#43;R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model SH-222BB&#47;RSBS

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0, Black Interior and Four Fans-1x 230mm front RED LED fan, 1x 140mm rear fan, 1x 230mm top fan, and 1x 230mm side fan

Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb&#47;s 3.5&#34; Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - EVGA 02G-P4-2678-KR GeForce GTX 670 FTW 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31&#47; EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply

Newegg.com - Arctic Silver CMQ2-2.7G C&#233;ramique 2 Tri-Linear Ceramic Thermal Compound - Thermal Compound / Grease

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB &#40;2 x 8GB&#41; 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 &#40;PC3 12800&#41; Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M2A1600C10 (Due to RAM fins, it may obstruct the CPU heatsink fan)

Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TZ77XE3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb&#47;s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

Newegg.com - Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz &#40;3.8GHz Turbo&#41; LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K

Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011&#47;1366&#47;1155 and AMD FM1&#47;AM3&#43;

Newegg.com - Intel 330 Series Maple Crest SSDSC2CT060A3K5 2.5&#34; 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive &#40;SSD&#41;

Subtotal: $1,522.88

up to $50 in MIR's.

$15 Promotional Gift Card with the CPU.

Definitely can shave some fat out of that list, like a cheaper case, bit slower Ivy Bridge CPU (and before you mention AMD's 8 core... it can't compete, keep in mind your main goal is a Gaming PC and not a high end Workstation, there are no games that really take advantage of 6 cores let alone 8, and the AMD CPU's are underpowered and crap in performance for gaming compared to Intel CPU's, the entire FX series was an Epic Fail for AMD this round)

At best the AMD 8 core can match the Intel quad's, but for gaming the Intel's will beat it, for applications where all 8 cores can actually be used, and efficiently, then the AMD pulls ahead, but this is stuff like AutoCAD, 3D graphics rendering, and heavy workstation like tasks.

But to shave off the fat, an 8GB Kit of DDR3 would be MORE than sufficient if not Overkill currently as well, and no need to go with 16GB right now either.

Sure RAM is cheap now, but for $50-60 range, you can get 8GB which is more than enough, and shave another $50 of the list.

Doing that, you could save $40 as well and get Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

[je3ff]

Thank you so much! I appreciate this. But for a CPU with 6 cores or 8, what one would you prefer? I'd like to have a mighty computer so I wont have to upgrade for a while.

[ShyguyXPC]

neither is needed for gaming right now and won't be for some time.

Granted the extra cores will help if your running a ton of programs at once while gaming, but the top end Intel Quad cores are MORE than enough for gaming these days and will be for some time.

I'm still running 1st Generation Core i7 Quad cores that are 3+ years old, and they're still able to match current generation Quad cores, as well as best any AMD CPU's.

my old Core i7 was a 920 @ 2.66GHz, my more recent one is a 940 @ 2.93GHz, and aim to Overclock it a bit if I can.

I'm only running a single Geforce GTX 560 Ti right now, intend to run a 2nd for SLI, or upgrade to a Geforce GTX 660 once they come out, have to see how it performs first before deciding that. But I can run games like Skyrim on Ultra settings fully maxed out at 1080p and get 50fps or more in frame rates, Usually much higher, as I've seen frame hit 80 or so in game.

I don't have BF3, so I can't comment on that, but from sound of it, most people are saying a 560 Ti would run decently at moderate settings for that game.

GTX 670 should be able to run the game at higher settings easily enough, and even better settings and performance in Skyrim than I get.

not sure which games you plan on playing, but just using those 2 as examples.

If its games like Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2, or SWTOR, it will run all those at max as well.

If you want to go 6 core, I'd spend a bit more and get an Intel Socket 2011 Platform, and the base 6 core for that, as it will easily decimate the AMD 8 core in performance. Downside is that 6 Core costs over $500...

otherwise Socket 2011 has a Quad core that will easily beat most other Quads as well, and even face off against the AMD 8 core and take it on easily.

The AMD's FX series was a flop, the hype and marketing they did for it didn't help either, when they were released the AMD FX Quad and Hex cores didn't perform any better than prior Generation AMD Phenom II X4 & X6 CPU's, and to add insult to injury they use more power and run warmer.

The FX quad runs at 3.6GHz and performs on par with Phenom II Quads at 3.2GHz... if that says anything.

the only useful FX is the 8 core, but only if you really plan on using all 8 cores. otherwise for the money Intels Quad cores are going to be better.

Core for Core (AMD cores vs Intel cores on the CPU's) the Intel runs better, even at same clock speeds. And since most games are still only Optimized for Single, Dual and sometimes Quad cores, anything more is a waste on actual Game Processing.

Don't get me wrong, the AMD's are more than capable of performing, but for the money being invested you might as well get the better performing CPU and stave off upgrades that much longer.


But for a Socket 2011 Build list (and honestly I feel Socket 2011 will last the longest, since Socket 1366 has been around for 3.5 Years now and still able to hold its own against newer Intel Platforms) replacing these parts in the list above.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB &#40;4 x 4GB&#41; 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 &#40;PC3 12800&#41; Desktop Memory Model CML16GX3M4A1600C9

Newegg.com - ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb&#47;s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-3820 Sandy Bridge-E 3.6GHz &#40;3.8GHz Turbo Boost&#41; LGA 2011 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80619i73820

Subtotal: $1,669.89 before shipping

There's a $20 Promo code on the CPU, so that's $20 off as well. (but it expires tomorrow)

If your wondering about the RAM, its the regular Height Vengeance, since Socket 2011 has 4, 6 or 8 slots for RAM (Quad Channel Memory), it flanks the slots on both sides of the CPU socket, so high profile RAM with heatsinks may obstruct the Heatsink for the CPU, at least for Aftermarket CPU Coolers.

[ZeR0]

If $400-500 is something you care about (some folks don't really mind throwing that away) AMD should be fine. Most games are going to utilize your GPU and if you're planning on overclocking I'd up your PSU frankly.

Intel is a superior processor (cost aside) to AMD no doubt, but if you want to save $300+ and are on a budget, then AMD is the right choice.

[ShyguyXPC]

I'm working on the parts to go in it, budget isn't an issue as of now.

$300 in savings over Intel? I don't think so.

Good motherboard for either one costs about the same, and price difference between the Core i5 Quad cores and the AMD quad cores is about $100. So not sure where the $300 in savings is coming from? They use Same Aftermarket Heatsinks, RAM, etc, the only things unique to each platform is the CPU and Mobo.


And the PSU is MORE than sufficient for Overclocking, you seem to be stuck with the myth of needing more Power and wattage for Overclocking and its just not true, you need STABLE power, and more power but not THAT much.

If you were doing some MAJOR OCing with large Liquid Cooling setups, Phase Change etc, sure you'd need massive amounts of extra power, but not for mild to moderate overclocking.

If that was the case, they wouldn't be looking at budget $100-150 range enthusiast/gamer boards.



I just used this PSU Calc: eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

And selecting 1 CPU, Enthusiast Mobo, 2 Sticks DDR3, the Low end Core i5 Quad Ivy Bridge above, one GTX 560 Ti 448 core since it has slightly more power consumption than a GTX 670 which isn't listed yet, 1 HDD, 1 SSD, 1 DVD, 2x 120mm Case fans (CPU cooler), 4x 140mm Case fans, Corsair H60 cooling kit, and a CPU OC of 4.4Ghz over stock 3.4GHz with a purely guesstimated 1.35 CPU voltage up from stock, and even then, it shows it only needs 460W or so to run that system as is.

so a 650W Corsair will be more than sufficient.

If they were running Dual Cards, then maybe a 700-750W would be enough for everything with OCing in mind.

[SoloCamo]

The GPU and CPU represent the most important components in a gaming PC, but the rest of the gear contributes in important ways. Here’s the complete build list. Then I’ll dive into the rationale for the choices and offer possible tradeoffs.

The build list:

CPU : Core i5 2500K

Graphics : XFX Radeon HD 6870

Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H

Memory : Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1600 8GB kit

HDD : Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB

Optical drive : Samsung SH-B123L BD-ROM combo

Case : Coolermaster HAF 912

PSU* : Corsair Builder Series CX600 600W

OS : Windows 7 Home Premium OEM

this configuration approx around only $ 1000 .

Not to be rude, but seriously, a $1,000 part list and you throw in a 6870?!?!?!? Your list is off topic, out of date and not very good at all for the price... And to make matters worse, on a gaming rig, you threw in a blu-ray drive? For what? All that does it take away from gpu/cpu money.

[ShyguyXPC]

Why are you posting in a thread thats now 3 months old?



Your list is a bit out of date as well. Z68 Chipset? You do realize thats no longer made, and the Z75/Z77 boards replaced it?

Intel Core i5 2500K Sandy Bridge also has been supplanted by the 35xx Series Ivy Bridge models, and offer PCI Express 3.0 bandwidth on Z75/Z77/B75/H77 chipset motherboards?

Radeon HD 6870 is ALSO no longer made, and with the recent AMD HD 7850 price drops, the 1GB models of those are much better deals than the 6870 was.




Newegg Pricing, Not factoring Shipping...


UNDER $1000.


Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Elite 430 RC-430-KWN1 Black Steel / Plastic Computer Case

Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100355-1GOCL Radeon HD 7850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card OC Version

Newegg.com - Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

Newegg.com - ASRock Z77 Extreme3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg.com - Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K

Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems

Newegg.com - Intel 330 Series Maple Crest SSDSC2CT120A3K5 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE - CD / DVD Burners

Spend another $35, tad bit over the $1000 range and you can fit in a decent CPU Cooler like the Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO.



Faster CPU, Faster Video card, Better Motherboard, Decent Sized Solid State Drive, Faster HDD, PSU is enough for a Dual GPU CrossfireX system... etc.

[ShyguyXPC]

I see Solo posted while I was making my comparative and better build list.