New high end gaming build. Please help!

**bernardstachman** · October 13th, 2009, 08:25 PM

Hi all, and thanks for being expert! I've been doing a little research on TechIMO and have learned a lot already. I used to build computers, but it has been a few years since my last build. I already have a display, and can figure out my own keyboard/mouse (unless someone's burning to suggest something). I have already purchased:

2 x Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F2EG HD154UI 1.5TB 5400 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
(Plenty of space for storage, but fast enough for high end gaming? Should I consider a smaller, faster drive for the OS and/or game installs?)

EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
(I want a MOBO that supports at least dual SLI, but pref 3-way. Should I worry about buying another 275 now to SLI with or wait on getting a second card?)
-----

So that means I still need a case, processor, fan (2?), RAM (should I get DDR3?), MOBO, PSU, Blu-Ray drive and I think I'll be set. I am hoping to get the rest of this for under $1000. Is this likely?

Processor: Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail
any reason i should spend the extra money on the i7? it seems excessive for my needs...

Blu-Ray: Newegg.com - LG 8X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 5X DVD-RAM 6X BD-ROM 2MB Cache Blu-ray Burner Model BH08LS20 - Blu-Ray Burners
suggestions?

RAM: I think 6GB of DDR3 should do. Ideas?

MOBO, PSU, case, cooling: ?

Please help me live out my nerd dreams, and thanks in advance!

**KarmaKiller** · October 13th, 2009, 09:04 PM

Newegg.com - Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD5 LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 Video Card - 1GB GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0, CrossFireX Ready, Dual DVI, Display Port, HDMI at TigerDirect.com
I know it's not from newegg, all of theirs are out of stock. But for the price point of a 275, you can get the new DX11 5850, which performs better.
I'm a nvidia guy for the most part, but you can't deny the bang for buck value of the ATI cards.

Newegg.com - G.SKILL Trident 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory Model F3-16000CL9D-4GBTD - Desktop Memory

Newegg.com - Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W Continuous Power ATX12V version 2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - Power Supplies

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
These drives are extremely fast as is. If you need more storage then that then pick up a couple, or get one of these for a storage drive:
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EADS 1.5TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 RC-590-KKN1-GP Black SECC / ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
or
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

Umm... lets see.. what did I miss?
If you want to overclock, check into a good after market cooler. I'd recommend the Mugen II.
Newegg.com - Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks

Think that's it.

**bernardstachman** · October 13th, 2009, 09:26 PM

Thanks for the quick reply! So I would have no problem running a 275 and 5850 together? I've always been keen on nvidia but am willing to consider ATI. I don't plan on overclocking right away, should I still worry about getting a CPU cooler? I'm thinking one of the 7200 RPM HDs will suffice for OS and Game installs if I partition, though I might go for 2 drives. Does partitioning affect access speed? And 4GB of ram will be enough you think? Thanks again.

:techimolove:

**Aaron_8015** · October 13th, 2009, 10:12 PM

Im not sure 'KK' noticed you already have the 275 and the hard drives (those hard drives will be very slow for gaming mainly for only being 5400RPM) Use the two you have as storage only and pick up the caviar black like 'KK' listed....

You cannot mix the two cards on the same board, but atm that 5850 costs less and is way faster than that 275. As you already have the GPU don'y bother with the Ati....

Go with everything else in the list though.

**ShyguyXPC** · October 13th, 2009, 10:31 PM

atm the 5850 costs the same,$250-260 range vs the 250ish range for an OC'd 275.

GTX 275 Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Video Cards & Video Devices,Desktop Graphics / Video Cards,GeForce GTX 200 Series,GeForce GTX 275

vs

5850 Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Video Cards & Video Devices,Desktop Graphics / Video Cards,Radeon HD 5000 series,Radeon HD 5850

but yes, it is more faster.

and unless your going to be Overclocking, this ram is a bit cheaper and will more than suffice for now, until DDR3 prices come further down, Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBRL - Desktop Memory

**KarmaKiller** · October 13th, 2009, 10:47 PM

Oops.. Didn't notice you had the 275 already. Sorry..

And the point of the RAM that fast was so he wouldn't have to OC it.

**bernardstachman** · October 13th, 2009, 10:53 PM

well, since i already have the 275, is it more worth my money to SLI with a 285 or wait for an afordable nvidia card that supports DX 11?

i noticed this deal:
Open Box: MSI N285GTX-T2D1G-OC GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

worth it? should i have concerns because it is MSI (im not familiar with them)/open box?

**Aaron_8015** · October 13th, 2009, 10:55 PM

You can't SLI with different cards.... they have to be the same type but not same crad manufacturer eg.... EVGA 275 + XFX 275...

**ShyguyXPC** · October 13th, 2009, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by KarmaKiller

Oops.. Didn't notice you had the 275 already. Sorry..

And the point of the RAM that fast was so he wouldn't have to OC it.

still needs to go into the bios and change settings to get it run that fast though

also if their not going to OC for a while, or are unsure if they even will, makes more sense saving some cash now and just getting that kit for $30 less. thats $30 saved or used elsewhere in the upgrade.

**ShyguyXPC** · October 13th, 2009, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by bernardstachman

well, since i already have the 275, is it more worth my money to SLI with a 285 or wait for an afordable nvidia card that supports DX 11?

i noticed this deal:
Open Box: MSI N285GTX-T2D1G-OC GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

worth it? should i have concerns because it is MSI (im not familiar with them)/open box?

as the others have said, can't SLI that with the 275.

but will comment on it, if you were to buy a new card, its a great card.

have that same exact one now, also bought it Open box, but about $10 cheaper a few months ago. MSI is usually a pretty good brand to go with.

**bernardstachman** · October 13th, 2009, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by ShyguyXPC

as the others have said, can't SLI that with the 275.

sorry, i dont understand. i thought that what was being said is that i cant SLI NVIDIA and ATI.... but it seems i cant SLI a 275 w/ a 285, right? and can i match an EVGA card with another non-EVGA 275? if this is so, am i better off getting another 275 to SLI with?

again thanks for all the help!

**ShyguyXPC** · October 14th, 2009, 04:18 AM

yes, thats what we are saying.

You Can't SLI or Crossfire an Nvidia and ATI card together.

for SLI the card has to have the same GPU on it, example, 275 and 275.

they can be different clock speeds and memory sizes, as well as Manufacturers (Evga and an XFX, or an MSI and a Gigabyte, etc etc).

just that the faster card will default to the slower ones speeds, and card with more memory will default to lesser ones capacity (for example a 1GB card paired with a 512MB will lose 512MB extra RAM on it).

For Crossfire, ATI's cards. same things apply in reference to clock speeds, but if I remember right you don't lose the extra RAM on a larger sized card. also with Crossfire you can combine with any card of the same family.

for example you can have any combination of Radeon 4830, 4850, 4870, 4890, 4850x2 or 4870x2 up to 4 GPU's.

if that were the case with Nvidia SLI, which it isn't, THEN you'd be able to combine a GTX 260, 280, 275, 285 or 295 in any combination as well. but unfortunately SLI doesn't work like that.

for Crossfire though it is highly recommended to use the same GPU though, so for example a 4850 and 4850, or 4850 and 4850x2, etc.

so you have a GTX 275 already, if you buy a 2nd 275 regardless of the brand, it will work.

Nvidia has a few Exceptions, you can SLI a 9800GTX+ and a GTS 250, they are both the same cards, just renamed. and a GTX 260 192 core (first 260's that were out) and a GTX 260 216 core (2nd version that was out) card together. Also a 260 216 core 65nm (fabrication Process of the chip) GPU and a 3rd version of the 260 216 core with a 55nm chip can also be SLI'd together.

as far as I know those are the only exceptions to Nvidia's SLI so far.

but in your case, just grab a 2nd GTX 275 for SLI and you'll be fine. try to match it with your current card, but if you can't then any 275 will do.

**bernardstachman** · October 14th, 2009, 09:03 AM

thanks for the thorough clarification shyguy!

ill prob grab a 2nd 275 and call it a day. my last question is, since the 275 is becoming an older model, should i NOT get a 2nd and wait a year or so for the gt300s to come out, or will my current performance be too hindered for this with just one card?

you guys are all great. thanks!

**ShyguyXPC** · October 14th, 2009, 04:02 PM

275 is still a kick ass card, its not THAT much slower than a 285 or the Radeon 5000 series. if it were me I'd hold out for the 300's.

but unless your wanting to run Crysis Fully maxed with AA and 1920x1080, etc etc etc, then a 2nd 275 will be good for it.

but looking at the specs for the GT300's, their double that of current GTX cards, actually more than double, 512 Stream Processors vs current 275, 285 and 295 cards have 240. but won't know how they perform until their released or close to release. but they should at least be as fast or faster than the Radeon 5000's.