First Build Comments/Advice Please ;)

[kidovate]

Hey all,

This is my first build and I consider myself a pretty serious PC gamer, for fun, not competition of course.

Here's what I'd LIKE to do as cost-efficiantly as possible:
1. Be able to play Black Ops on top graphics
2. Be able to play Crysis 2 on decent (maybe excellent?) graphics
3. Be able to play most games on VERY nice settings.
4. Not lag XD

Anyways, basically I'm looking for a good first build with very good graphics and preformance on most games.

Here's what my friend came up with for me:

http://screensnapr.com/e/a3DcGG.png

What do you think? Suggestions?

The combo is well, a combo, and I cant really change it. i suppose I could add things I would need.

Thanks for your help!
Kidovate

[glc]

I don't like the MSI video card or motherboard or the Coolermaster PSU or the G.skill ram.

EDIT: Sorry, I really should have elaborated more.

For a motherboard, I recommend one of the Asus P8P67 series. For Nvidia graphics cards, I prefer EVGA or Asus. For a power supply, I recommend a Corsair VX, TX, HX, or AX, a Seasonic, or an Antec Earthwatts. For ram, I recommend Corsair, Crucial, Kingston, or A-Data.

[kidovate]

So basically the entire combo is bad? -_-

If anyone sees a newegg combo that would be better please tell me.

Do you think this would at least work for what I want to do? I understand those are better but this is a lot more... convienent.

What about a sound card? is that included or do I need to buy one?

Thanks,
Kidovate

[kidovate]

This might be long, so I pastebinned it.

This combo is out of stock but is it better than what I currently have above?

1x COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel AT - Pastebin.com

Thanks,
Kidovate

[glc]

Why are you so hung up on buying a combo? For BEST results, choose EACH component individually. Compared to the total system cost, the combo price reduction is negligible.

[kidovate]

Okay, have it your way, remember this is my first time

I really like that case, but whatever's good is, well good.

What do you think is the best build for a target budget of
$1000 - $1200?

Thanks,
Kidovate

[glc]

Which case please, and does that budget need to include Windows and/or any peripherals? What state do you live in?

[kidovate]

Hey!

Any case you think would be good, although I am liking the looks of the Nvidia Coolermaster Haf X that is on the current quote I posted. Really, I don't know what would be best, so give me whatever you think would be good.

The budget will NOT need to include windows, or the perifierals. The budget that I set forth is basically for the working computer itself - CPU, ram, graphics card, case, etc.

I live in California.

Thanks very much for your help!

Kidovate

[glc]

$1097 plus tax after rebates and promo codes:

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF X nVidia Edition NV-942-KKN1 Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

Newegg.com - ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg.com - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K

Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1600C9

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - CD / DVD Burners

Newegg.com - EVGA 01G-P3-1561-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Newegg.com - ASUS PCE-N13 IEEE 802.11b/g/n PCI Express Wireless Adapter Up to 300Mbps Wireless Data Rates 64-bit/128-bit WEP, TKIP, and AES WI-Fi alliance WPA, WPA2

[kidovate]

Thanks! I'll look into this.

How will the video graphics end up being? That meets my budget almost exactly. Very nice.

How's the video card? How's everything generally?

Thanks again for the help,

kidovate

[Sourtop]

I went for:

Newegg.ca - EVGA 01G-P3-1373-AR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) Superclocked EE 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

and that runs everything I play (Starcraft 2, Empire: Total War, Left for Dead 2, etc) on max graphics with no loss in frame rate. Its also a bit cheaper too.

[birddog_61]

Originally Posted by kidovate Thanks! I'll look into this. How will the video graphics end up being? That meets my budget almost exactly. Very nice. How's the video card? How's everything generally? Thanks again for the help, kidovate

What resolution is your monitor? How it performs will depend entirely on what resolution you will be gaming at. If your using a standard HD monitor at 1080 the 560 will easily max out black ops and crysis 2, it should play upcoming games like battlefield 3 at very acceptable levels.

As far as everything in general about the build, its an extremely nice build and will game very well. I think your paying too much for the case, its not a bad case but I think having the name nvidia associated with it jacks the price up about 50$.

[kidovate]

Hey,

Thanks for the replies. I do not remember my monitor resoution but I will post it later. Its a very large intel lcd screen.

My friend pointed me toward the $10 more twin frozr 2 version of that GTX 560 Ti card. What are your thoughts on this?

Also, he sort of convinced me into saving $100 by using the, I believe its called, corsair version of the HAF X case, which is slightly shorter. He says it is just as good as the haf x nvidia for what I'm doing, once again, what do you think?

Thanks,
Kidovate

[glc]

Cases are really a personal choice and you can actually get a decent quality case for as little as 50 bucks.

Don't care that much for MSI cards - this one is even better:

Newegg.com - EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1563-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

[birddog_61]

I can't find the case you are referring to, if you can post a link we will happily look at it.

The EVGA card is a much better card than the MSI, the EVGA has a lifetime warranty and is available for the step up program which will allow you to sell the card back to EVGA at full retail price and buy a bigger card if you decide the 560 is not enough.

There are only 2 other 560's that I would even consider, one is the asus DCII
Newegg.com - ASUS ENGTX560 TI DCII TOP/2DI/1GD5 GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
it doesn't have the warranty of the evga card, or the step up program, but its from a great company and has a fantastic cooler on it. The other is for sheer speed out of a gtx 560, and its the gigabyte SOC
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE Super Overclock Series GV-N560SO-1GI-950 GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
it has a fantastic cooler on it and has binned chips that allow it to clock faster than just about any other 560 out there. However it is from gigabyte which in most peoples opinion is not as good of a company as EVGA or Asus.

Edit
Just saw this card, its got a 30$ rebate and a free 10 year extended warranty, plus its only 249$ before rebate. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-651-_-Product

[kidovate]

Screen resolution: 1920x1200

Those all appear to be the same card with different coolers.

Okay, I'd rather not cut out on quality, but still keep a good price.... What should I get that has crysis 2 max settings most likely, yet still fits my budget?

I guess that's been the discussion all along, but honestly what SHOULD i get

The link to the case is: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case

Graphics card I was looking at that has the same price: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127565

Thanks,
Kidovate

[birddog_61]

Any gtx 560 will max crysis 2 at that resolution, and do it easily. Crysis 2 is not hard to max out, the original crysis is still taxing for modern cards. It sounds to me like a 560 will be all the card you need for a good while, however if you are concerned about it then get a 570 and don't look back, it will max out any [U]current[U] game at your resolution.

The 560's we posted are not all the same card with different coolers, they have different stock clock speeds, and different warranties also. I would never run an MSI card any any computer I built just because of some of the stories I have heard about their lack of customer support. Personally I really really like EVGA for their customer support, and their outlook on overclocking cards. The last card I posted (which is now out of stock) was easily the best deal on a 560, 219$ AMR and a 10 year warranty.

[glc]

The last one I posted has the same clock speeds and a lifetime warranty.

[kidovate]

Wow, and I thought macs had good hardware until I tried playing black ops and had to play lowest settings lowest resolution....

Then you're telling me that a card of that price can run Crysis 2 on highest settings with THAT resolution?

I'm wondering why I ever got a mac in the first place.

What are your opinions on getting the twin frozer 2 version rather than the EVGA?

Kid

[birddog_61]

Originally Posted by kidovate Wow, and I thought macs had good hardware until I tried playing black ops and had to play lowest settings lowest resolution.... Then you're telling me that a card of that price can run Crysis 2 on highest settings with THAT resolution? I'm wondering why I ever got a mac in the first place. What are your opinions on getting the twin frozer 2 version rather than the EVGA? Kid

MSI makes the twin frozer 2 card, we have made our thoughts on them known already several times in this thread. I will however try to clear it up a little more, MSI sucks I would not buy one of their cards even if it was half price.

And yes the 560 will play crysis2 maxed out no problem at that resolution.

[glc]

Answered in one of my previous posts.

[kidovate]

Thanks for your help. I'm going with what the admin first posted here, as you have all said that it will work for my needs.


Thanks very much for the help and I will certainly post back here with my experience with it.

Kidovate

[kidovate]

Here's what I'm going with...

[EDIT] Wrong links, sorry Fixed
The above except with

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-197-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130610

What do you think? Smaller case is probably better for my needs anyways, and costs less. The blue version looks awesome but unfortunately they are out of stock.

Graphics card is $10 more and superclocked, so why not?

My friends think I need a better motherboard, but I really would rather stick with what you have here.

Once again thanks for your help...

Kidovate

[paJAMbla]

For the life of me I don't know why you'd spend 200 bucks for a case. You can have a fine one for 100. That's a hundred you'd have left for concert tickets, or a couple of video games, or a better video card, or a nice dinner and movie with your girlfriend, or tickets (and beer) to see the the Giants, or Dodgers, or Angels (wherever you live in CA).........etc., etc. In the end, you won't miss that $200 case.

[kidovate]

Hehe, that's why I downgraded from the haf x to the other one. Now it's $100 less.

Anyways, your opinions? I'll be building it in a couple weeks.

Kidovate

[glc]

Ask your friends why they think you need a better motherboard.

[kidovate]

Hey,

Laughed at that last comment. I trust the people of this forum way more than I trust them. They are also novices. They consider that they have done (1) build before that they are suddenly experts...

So honestly I have no idea, I'll ask them for the lulz, but what really matters is what you think.

I am fine with the smaller and less expensive case, in fact happy. I took the graphics card which you recommended after posting the first build, as it is only $10 or so more and superclocked.

Sorry to keep sounding indecisive but when its your first build its hard to decide who to listen to

Anyways, that's what I'm currently set on getting, and was wondering if you had any last min advice.

Kid