New Gaming Build: ~$1100

[dbzakj]

So these are the parts for this gaming pc:

560 GTX
Newegg.com - MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Corsair 750W
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

Antec Full Tower
Newegg.com - Antec DF-85 Black ATX Full Tower Computer Case

MSI Mobo
Newegg.com - MSI P67A-GD65 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel i5 2500K
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

4gb DDR3
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL

2TB HDD
Newegg.com - HITACHI Deskstar 5K3000 HDS5C3020ALA632 (0F12117) 2TB 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Dvd burner
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

Suggestions/comments?

[flanzig1]

3 suggested changes: Go with an Asus motherboard, better quailty.
Use Corsair/A-data/Kingston ram-Gskill has had quailty issues
Go with WD Black hard drives.

[glc]

And get an Asus or EVGA video card. Crucial is also a good ram brand.

[kidovate]

I almost called the EVGA comment by the admin

You guys really do like EVGA over msi don't you?

[dbzakj]

The last couple cards I've had were evga, while I've got little to complain about, the cooler on that msi just really called out to me (and the reviews aren't bad either). Upon closer inspection, I didn't really see the rpm on that Hitachi so I opted for a 1TB WD 7200rpm. Also switched to corsair 8gb (2x4) 1600 ram. I didn't see a whole big difference between reviews on mobos but the msi had more on it than the various ASUS's...

[glc]

MSI has reliability and support issues.

EVGA has excellent support, lifetime warranty on many of their cards, and they are also the company that builds the reference boards for Nvidia.

I believe Asus also makes dual fan cards.

If you need to cut costs, a 650 TX PSU is still more than enough power. However, if you are anticipating SLI, stick with the 750 and get an Asus P8P67 Pro motherboard.

[dbzakj]

I'll definitely rethink eVGA, it appears there's some reviews to back up what you're saying.

As for the Asus mobo, it appears there's list of complaints there Newegg.com - ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Not sure if I want to get that one!

Edit: Ok after looking at a few more cards I'm considering these two, but I'm not sure about the difference between them besides the fan placement (is that the only difference?)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130610

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tx%20ds%20evga

The DS doesn't have any reviews but this is eVGA so I'm not really worried about quality, all I see is more cooling and cheaper price.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Dual fan solutions tend to be quieter.

[glc]

If you are not planning on SLI, you can get a P8P67 or P8P67 LE. You could also get the new Z68 board.

[dbzakj]

Hmm how about this ASRock Newegg.com - ASRock P67 EXTREME4 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Or the slightly more expensive Extreme6?

[Nuclear Krusader]

ASRock is garbage. Stay with Asus as G suggested.

[glc]

The only brand motherboard I'd consider other than an Asus would be a Gigabyte, or a Biostar if you want a CHEAP board that's got a good chance of being stable and lasting.

[dbzakj]

I'm starting to think you were right about the Asus, although there's a number of 3/5 reviews on the P8P67 PRO, a lot of them are rated low in helpfulness by users. Quite a confusing spectrum of reviews!

[glc]

It looks like they had a bug, and Asus is taking care of it. As I said, if you are not going to SLI, the P8P67 or P8P67 LE will both work fine.

[Nuclear Krusader]

You have to take "reviews" on seller sites cum grano salis: most of the people who never have issues NEVER go back to post any positive comments.

[dbzakj]

I ended up getting that Asus mobo recommended, corsair 8gb XMS3 ddr3 1600 ram, 1tb WD HDD. I built it and am using a nvidia 6800 g-card since the other hasn't arrived yet. I tried to turn it on and there's a single green light on the motherboard. When I press the power button, some lights and fans try to turn on but turn off the next instant. There are no fans spinning inside including the psu. Any help would be appreciated.

[Nuclear Krusader]

PROBLEMS with a NEW BUILD? Try This!!

[David M]

Build it outside the case with a bare minimum of things plugged in.

Having problems with a new build? Try this.

[dbzakj]

I'll see what I can do tomorrow on account of it being so late...but just considering possibilities, could it be that it's shorting out because of the way I screwed it in? My friend says I should've used the paper washer things between the screw and the mobo but I just used the screws.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by dbzakj I'll see what I can do tomorrow on account of it being so late...but just considering possibilities, could it be that it's shorting out because of the way I screwed it in? My friend says I should've used the paper washer things between the screw and the mobo but I just used the screws.

no washers needed. Do the out of the case build found in the sticky (Nuclear Krusader's link) to isolate the problem. Make sure all power supply connections are properly connected. Take your time and follow the sticky.

[dbzakj]

It booted using that method, and turns out some of the mounts were loose, I removed them so there's a total of 6 now...going to try reinstalling the mobo now.

[dbzakj]

Unfortunately I'm getting the same problem...

ed1: Ok turns out it wouldn't turn on because of some fan...go figure, going to reinstall mobo again.

ed2: It booted! Going to do some 'data management' with my old pc...once things are finished I'll update.

[kylehoward]

Intel Core i7-2600 3.4GHz LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor

newegg price: $299.99


$75 more bucks, and you think, wow, only 100 mhz faster, forget it. But the i7 destroys the i5.

passmark CPU score for i5 2500k at 3.3ghz: 7018
passmark CPU score for i7 2600k at 3.4ghz: 9496

'nuff said.

[Nuclear Krusader]

And your post helps the original poster how?

[dbzakj]

I was able to get as far as .02 seconds in before it says something like "AHCI no disk detected!" and it reboots continuously unless I press Del on the first menu or space to "continue." Using the bios, I could then start my HDD with my current windows stuff in it but it freezes at "starting windows" where the flying colors appear but freeze before they get to form the logo...and anytime I restart no matter what I still get that AHCI no disk message...help?!

[Nuclear Krusader]

Go to the BIOS setup and change SATA mode to IDE instead of AHCI.

[birddog_61]

Originally Posted by kylehoward Intel Core i7-2600 3.4GHz LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor newegg price: $299.99 $75 more bucks, and you think, wow, only 100 mhz faster, forget it. But the i7 destroys the i5. passmark CPU score for i5 2500k at 3.3ghz: 7018 passmark CPU score for i7 2600k at 3.4ghz: 9496 'nuff said.

He is building a gaming rig not a synthetic benchmark rig, the two processors are very close in most games.

$75 more bucks, and you think, wow, only 100mhz faster, remember it. The I7 is negligibly faster than the I5 at gaming.

Actual gaming scores i5, and i7.
AnandTech - The Sandy Bridge Review: Intel Core i7-2600K, i5-2500K and Core i3-2100 Tested

'nuff said.

[glc]

What are you doing - trying to use a hard drive from a different system with Windows already on it?

[dbzakj]

Yes, and Krusader's tip worked. Sounded counter-intuitive but I'll be damned. While it's up and running, I still have to do it from the bios instead of it working automatically. Not sure why.

[glc]

You are losing a bit of performance by not running AHCI. Try installing the motherboard AHCI drivers and switch it back.