First Gaming PC Build Help

[jimmyfitz]

This is the first time I'm putting together a PC of my own. Trying to spend around $700. This is what I've put together so far.

ASUS P8H67-M LE B3 Intel H67 Motherboard -
Price: $99.99

Asus DRW-24B1ST 24X Internal DVD Burner - DVD±R 24X,
Price: $19.99

Corsair CMPSU-600CXV2 Builder Series™ CX600 Power Supply -
Price: $59.99*

Corsair CMZ4GX3M1A1600C9 Vengeance 4GB DDR3 RAM - PC12800, 1600MHz, 1x4096MB, Non-ECC, Unbuffered
Price: $34.99*

EVGA 01G-P3-1366-TR GeForce GTX 460 SE Video Card - 1GB GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0, Dual DVI, Mini HDMI 1.4, DirectX 11
Price: $119.99*

Intel Core i5-2500K BX80623I52500 Unlocked Processor - Quad Core, 6MB L3 Cache, 3.30 GHz, Socket H2 (LGA1155), Retail
Price: $219.99

Thermaltake VM20001W2Z Armor A60 Gaming Mid-Tower Case - Price: $54.99*

Seagate ST31000524AS Barracuda Hard Drive - 1TB, SATA 6Gbps, 7200 RPM, 32MB
Price: $54.99

Total Cost is ~$750

on a side note I'm planning on buying a new 32in Vizio 3D tv to use as my monitor/tv for my room.
And i'm not using Newegg because of extra tax costs for NJ residents.

Any tips or help would be appreciated.

[jdeb]

Stay away from the corsair builder series. You want to use the Corsair Enthusiast CMPSU-650TX.

You don't need a i5-2500K, go with a Intel Core i3-2100 to save some money or put that money into a better graphics card, like the EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1461-KR GeForce GTX 560

Drop the Seagate and go with Western Digital Cavair Black 6Gbps. Better warranty, more reliable.

[glc]

Also, you should be using ram in pairs, not a single module.

If this is a gaming machine, you are spending too much on the CPU and not enough on the video card. Don't plan on overclocking with a H67 board, you need a P67 or Z68 (preferred).

If a Corsair TX is too expensive for you, an Antec Earthwatts is a decent alternative.

[jimmyfitz]

Is there a big difference in capabilities between the i3 and the i5? Cause I want a machine that'll be able to last a bit, and maybe upgrade the graphics card as time goes by. Maybe dual graphics if possible.

[jdeb]

If your primary use is gaming than the i3 will be an excellent choice as many games are still not taking advantage of the current technology. The i3's are very impressive, so are the G800 series CPU's. If you are using the PC for other than stated in your title, please advise us.

[jimmyfitz]

pretty much just gaming. I could be running some statistics programs on it which can be hard on the CPU though.

Also I don't need this computer for about a month... is it worth waiting to buy things as their price drops? If it'll drop at all within a month?

[jdeb]

revisit this thread when you are ready... to be sure.

[glc]

In the next month, see if you can increase your budget, then revisit the thread. We can optimize everything for your budget then!

[jimmyfitz]

Ok. This is my new build I set up. Definately max price i can go now with this total at 930.

ASUS DVD 24x $20

Hitachi 7200rpm 64mb cache $65

Saphire ATI Radeon HD 6870 $200

Corsair 650tx enthusiast $90

Logitech mouse/keyboard $60

Corsair Vengence 2x4gb $85

intel i5-2500k sandybridge w/ mother board $367

MSI P67 B3 motherboard

I'm getting ancy. Kinda deciding whether I should build this at home first before i move to my new apartment or just wait it out...

[glc]

I'd recommend a Z68 motherboard instead of a P67.

[Extremerc12]

Dump that Hitachi harddrive for a Western Digital Black 6GB/s as GLC stated. That Hitachi (assuming deskstar) has a good chance of failing.

I live in Jersey and I just go with Newegg. Everything for us ships mainly from Edison, so you have it within a day, depending on how "ancy" you are.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by Extremerc12 Dump that Hitachi harddrive for a Western Digital Black 6GB/s as GLC stated. That Hitachi (assuming deskstar) has a good chance of failing. I live in Jersey and I just go with Newegg. Everything for us ships mainly from Edison, so you have it within a day, depending on how "ancy" you are.

According to Khalil the Hitachi is a good drive and that is good enough for me. I just ordered 24.

[Khalil]

That Hitachi (assuming deskstar) has a good chance of failing.

That statement is based on what?
Out of 4000+ Hitachi drives I have out there in my customer's computers we have had less than 10 Fail, Hitachi RMA service is top notch!

[jimmyfitz]

from what i've read hitachi is a fine drive. and its like $20 cheaper than the western digital with .5tb more space.
And i think i'll just ship this to my g-ma's house in PA and pick everything up there. Problem solved!

I also found this z68 board gigabyte z68 to get instead of the p67.

And do you think i should get the i52500k or just the i5-2400? big difference in performance?

[Khalil]

I would stick to the 2400

[Extremerc12]

I dumped use of Hitachi because I kept getting computers back with dead drives.

Newegg.com - HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.C 0F10383 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

I had about thirty (35) of those drives and about 12 have failed. Hitachi told me they thought it was a firmware issue with the drive. Granted I had similar issues with the Seagate drives when they had firmware issues. Regardless, I have stopped using Hitachi period and have switched back to Western Digital.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by Extremerc12 I dumped use of Hitachi because I kept getting computers back with dead drives. Newegg.com - HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.C 0F10383 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive I had about thirty (35) of those drives and about 12 have failed. Hitachi told me they thought it was a firmware issue with the drive. Granted I had similar issues with the Seagate drives when they had firmware issues. Regardless, I have stopped using Hitachi period and have switched back to Western Digital.

Interesting. Khalil has had about 10 failures out of 4000+ . Pretty darn good odds for me.

[jimmyfitz]

I think i'll take the chance and see how it goes. I could always add a SDD to this build later right?

[Khalil]

Yes when they become reasonably priced, the price of SSD is still rather high right now.

I am still using a Raptor 150 for my gaming rig I simply cant use a 60 or 80 for my system drive it is not enough for all the games I have loaded on it.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by Khalil Yes when they become reasonably priced, the price of SSD is still rather high right now. I am still using a Raptor 150 for my gaming rig I simply cant use a 60 or 80 for my system drive it is not enough for all the games I have loaded on it.

You know, I forgot about that alternative and it is a great one.

[Khalil]

I installed 15 of them in new systems I built for a forensic's lab 3 years ago, they are all still running strong, they can be loud at times!

[glc]

Thing is, benchmarks show that a SATA 6.0 WD Black is essentially as fast as a Raptor.

[Khalil]

Originally Posted by glc Thing is, benchmarks show that a SATA 6.0 WD Black is essentially as fast as a Raptor.

Yes however 3 years ago they did not have SATA 6.0 and I already have the drive and it works why should I go buy another?
If you have a motherboard with 6.0 and are looking for a new drive then I agree the Black is the way to go.

[glc]

I wasn't suggesting that YOU buy another drive! "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" definitely applies. Heck, I have a couple Seagates in THIS computer - and you sure don't see me recommending them to anyone these days.

[jimmyfitz]

so a SATA 6.0 64mb cache 7200rpm is faster than a 10000rpm drive?

[glc]

The difference is so minor that it's a LOT more cost-effective. Why spend $120 for 150 gigs when you can get 500 gigs for $60 and 1 TB for $90?

[jimmyfitz]

Alright. Actually time to build it now. Have the money in the bank, good with a job now, and settled into my apartment. Still planning on the list I have exept adding:

ASUS Wireless Adapter $30

and

Sapphire ATI 6950 2GB $265

... Good final build?

[jdeb]

I like it but to be sure list your final build before you order, just to double check.

[jimmyfitz]

Final Build:

ASUS DVD 24x $20

Rosewill Challanger ATX gaming case $50

Hitachi 7200rpm 64mb cache $65


Corsair 650tx enthusiast $90

Logitech mouse/keyboard $60

Corsair Vengence 2x4gb $85

i5-2400 $195

Z68 Gigabyte $125

ASUS Wireless Adapter $30

Sapphire ATI 6950 2GB $265

Total: $975

[birddog_61]

Why are you buying two non matching video cards?