Returning for seconds after a very successful first build

[djm227]

Firstly, I just wanted to thank you guys for helping me out the first time around. It's been about 5.5 years since I built my first, and it's still running strong. I wanted to wait until it died before I built a second, but consoles are starting to piss me off....so I would like to transition to PC gaming ASAP. Time to send this old beast into retirement with my parents, and start build #2.

Besides the norms (internet, word, etc.), I use my computer for a wide range of things. Music production, photo editing, web design, small scale programming, and 3d design once in a while. I'm now adding gaming to that list, and would like to be able to play all current games as well as games coming out in the not-to-distant future (battlefield 3, skyrim, guild wars 2, and more) on pretty good settings. I'm not looking for a monster, but I do want it to be capable.

I know the current recommendation for gaming is to get dual core...but I want this thing to last. I regret getting single core last time (when dual core was new), and I don't want to make the same mistake again. I also want to try my hand at overclocking...so right now I'm thinking the i5 2500k. If I'm totally off base, feel free to put me in my place.

BUDGET: $450ish
So here's what I have so far:

Intel Core i5 2500k $180 @ Microcenter

Gigabyte LGA 1155 Z68 ATX Motherboard $140 after rebate @ microcenter

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB RAM $59.99 @ Newegg

COOLER MASTER HAF 912 case $59.99 @ Newegg

PSU - Already have one (400w, but going to upgrade to 500w soon, budget = $75)

HDD - Already have one, WD 300gb SATA 3gb/s (going to upgrade eventually)

OS - Already have one, W7

Disc Drive - Already have one

As for the GPU, I have an O.K. one, but it will need an upgrade in a few months. A recommendation would be fantastic. Budget is under $200 for this.

Is this setup SSD compatible? I want this build to be as future proof as possible for my budget. Also, what is mSATA? I see this motherboard has it.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. Sorry for the novel.

[glc]

If you are planning on overclocking, I'd get 1600 speed ram, preferably 1.5 volt and Intel XMP compatible.

mSATA was designed to fit into netbooks and tiny laptops.

What is your budget for a new video card and PSU?

You can do a lot better than that case for that kind of money. Look at Antec and Coolermaster.

The Z68 chipset supports SSD Caching. That's where you can use a relatively inexpensive 40gb or 60gb SSD to cache the main hard drive.

[djm227]

How do you feel about g-skill? I've heard mixed reviews, but these guys seem to be popular...and the price is right.

Budget for new video card is as much under $200 as possible. I would also like to be 3d ready, in case that tech takes off....not sure if that is standard though. I would consider xfire and SLI in the future if necessary.

Budget for PSU is probably around $50.

I think I'm going to wait to overclock until I upgrade the PSU, and I may get a simple water cooling system at that time as well.

Thanks for the info on mSATA and SSD

[glc]

Won't touch G.skill. My preferred ram for Intel Sandy Bridge platforms is Corsair Vengeance.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ4GX3M2A1600C9B

50 bucks is a bit light for a power supply in a system with a $200-class video card.

Best Graphics Cards For The Money: July 2011 : Updates From June

You are looking at a minimum of 450 watts for a GTX560 and 500 watts for a 6870. There aren't really any high quality 500+ watt units out there unless you find a sale with a big rebate on top of it. I'd bump the PSU budget to $75.

If you are even thinking of SLI or Crossfire, that puts you in the 750+ watt category, and probably $125 or more.

DO NOT SKIMP ON A POWER SUPPLY.

[djm227]

If that's the case, I think I'll opt for the 500w now, and maybe upgrade to a 75w0+ if I decide to do SLI down the road. Hows this Antec for the 500w? Thanks for that current graphics guide, I'll scour that before I purchase one.

I'm going to opt for that Corsair RAM instead, I noticed it just after I posed about the g-skill.

Also, I came across this Cooler Master case. Does that seem better?

[Khalil]

That Antec 500 you linked is an excellent power supply. The Cooler Master you linked is a great case, superbly made for $60.
After trying this case, I bought 52 of them for my stock, they look awesome, built very well with clean fit and finish, fits a ton of components, has excellent air flow and a great value.

[djm227]

Awesome!

So how does the final build look to you guys? I updated the OP with the components you recommended. All modern (affordable) tech accounted for? Anything new exiting stuff coming out in the coming months I should definitely hold out for?

Thanks again! Don't know what I would do without you people.

[Sourtop]

$10 more gets you 8 Gb of ram.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9

As for the GPU you could get:
Newegg.com - 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

or

Newegg.com - ASUS EAH6850 DC/2DIS/1GD5/V2 Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

You'll need that 500 W PSU though.

[glc]

For $10 more than the 500 watt Antec, you can get a 650 watt Corsair after rebate.

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

[djm227]

Originally Posted by glc For $10 more than the 500 watt Antec, you can get a 650 watt Corsair after rebate. 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

Do you think that that guy could do SLI, or would I still need 750+?

[glc]

Nope.

Build an SLI PC - Certified SLI-Ready Power Supplies

[djm227]

Well, if I'm going to go that high, I might as well just go for a 750 (like this one) or even higher so that I can be ready for whatever graphics setup I may have in the future. May stick with my 400w until I save a few more pennies, though.

Other than that, do you think the final setup I listed is good to go?

[Khalil]

Makes sense!

[djm227]

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but unfortunately I ran into some car troubles, and my PC budget went towards that instead. Good news is that my brother is upgrading his PC, and has offered to pass his old CPU/MB/RAM down to me.

My plan is to upgrade the PSU, GPU, and buy a new case for it. It's an older duel core though, so I was hoping that somebody may be able to glance through this parts list and let me know whether it will be able to run newer games at decent frames (35+, 40+ preferably) at medium to high settings.

Anything not listed is already owned. Let me know if you need more detailed specs:

AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 5000+ (Dual Core) 64-bit processor
Motherboard (unknown, but computer specs are here)
2gb DDR2, 667 MHz, duel channel (not sure the brand)
Corsair 600w PSU
Sapphire Radeon 6850 (or whatever is in that price range at the time of purchase, no more than a month)
HAF 912 case

So, is buying the GPU & PSU worth it? Can this computer run newer games well? I'm looking to keep the things I need to buy as much under $300 as possible.

Any input would be appreciated, and sorry for wasting your time with this thread originally.

[glc]

Nope, that Gateway maxes out at 2gb ram. Not worth trying to do much with it.

[djm227]

2GB isn't enough? I've heard that Skyrim can't even use more than 2 without a mod. If not, is there nothing that I can do to make this a viable gaming computer?

Either way, I appreciate the help.

[glc]

It's really not worth spending the money in my opinion.

You may have an issue transplanting that motherboard into a generic case unless the I/O shield in the Gateway case is removable and easily installed in the new case. There's also the issue of whether the generic front panel connectors will connect to the motherboard, very often the board is set up for a proprietary unitized connector.

That's not a recommended power supply.

[djm227]

My plan was to use this cpu/mb/ram until I could afford to upgrade to a sandy/ivy setup, using the case, PSU, and GPU I am looking at now. I'm going to at least use the gateway components for now even if I need to keep them in the Gateway case, since anything is better than my current P4 setup.

If putting better graphics into the Gateway is not a viable option, I guess I'll just keep saving my pennies. But could you explain what is wrong with that PSU? I was under the impression that that Corsair series was well regarded.

[glc]

No, the CX Builder and GS Gamer series Corsairs are not well regarded. The TX, HX, and AX series are excellent. If you don't want to spend the money for a TX, get an Antec Earthwatts or HCG.

You can certainly stick a video card and a power supply into the Gateway box as long as a standard ATX power supply will fit.

[djm227]

Someone else just told me that the chipset on the gateway motherboard supports more than 2gb RAM, so the listed max may just be the max that gateway will give you. A standard ATX PSU will fit, as we have put one in it previously. Right now I'm mostly worried about a gaming bottleneck caused by that cpu...

As always, thanks for the help glc. I have to think about what I want to do. If I don't work with what I can afford now, it's going to be a long time before I can get something current.

[David M]

You can go to Cruicial.com, enter in your computers model number and find out how much RAM your computer can utilize. I'm sure glc is correct though.

[djm227]

Yep, GLC was right. Thanks for the site David M.

[glc]

Well, that X2 5000+ is certainly better than your P4!

[rwest]

Here's some more info on your system:
From this page:
Gateway Support - 1009603*Gateway GT5476E Desktop Computer
If you click on 'components' it takes you to this page:
Gateway Support - Components list for 1009603
From there select the only MB listed, 'MCP61PM2MA' You get your MB specs:
Gateway Support - Specifications

It's an AM2 system and will support up to an AM2 Athlon64 X2 6000+ Windsor, it's a 3 gig processor, the downfall is it's Probably still $$$ if you can find one for sale.

Memory also supports DDR2 800, but that's not much differnce over the installed 667

Uping the ram and cpu will give you a bit of a boost, but nowhere near the value of the cost.

I wouldn't do it, and I work on these kind of machines alot.

[glc]

6000+ Windsors are 75 bucks at Starmicro. Not worth it over a 5000+.

[djm227]

Thanks for the links rwest, I'm surprised gateway gives such detailed info.

As you guys said, it's probably not worth upgrading the memory and cpu for minimal gains.

What I think I'm going to end up doing is just go with a good PSU and a cheaper card....maybe a 6770? That way, if I am somehow able to afford a sandy/ivy setup in the coming months, I can transfer those two components to it and have a modest gaming rig. As long as I am able to play some older games in the meantime, I'm happy.

glc, the parts list that rwest posted has info on the power connectors. I don't mind keeping everything in the gateway case...but the form factor is small and I'm afraid a good GPU won't fit. Here is the picture of the power connectors with info...any idea if it will work with an aftermarket case? Is the I/O shield necessary?

Thanks again fellas, I really appreciate the help.

[glc]

As long as you can connect the power switch, it will work. That looks straightforward. I/O shield is not totally necessary, but without it you will have RF leakage and disturbed airflow.

What exact PSU is in the Gateway now? What does it have for a video card?

[djm227]

The gateway had a 300w Bestec. I asked here about a GPU recommendation a couple years ago, and you recommended we replace the PSU as well since Bestec is garbage

I believe the PSU that is in it now is a Thermaltake 430w, and the video card is a Sapphire HD 4650. Besides that card, I also own another 4650 and a Sapphire 5570, but none of them seem to keep above 30 frames/s on lower end games.

I would gladly keep that PSU, but all the cards I have been looking at require 500w min.

[glc]

Newegg.com - Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

[djm227]

I was looking at that one, I think I'll get that instead. The good corsairs are really pricey.