Specs on Gaming Rig - Appreciate any input

[Kilgore Trout]

Hello -

New to the forums but have been researching review sites and this forum as I'd like to build a new gaming rig. Respect the comments I've seen here and would like the group's input.

I've been playing with PCs since I was six and my Dad built a Heathkit which I played Adventure on - have been a PC Gamer pretty much ever since. Built my last rig four years ago - frankensteined it out of some parts from an older build two years prior to that, so it's time to update!

I'd like to experiement at overclocking with this build, and in addition to gaming use my PC as most do - for email, accounting, web surfing, etc.

I like high performance and would like to build a system that will last for awhile...have been very happy with my last build but it's time for a change.

OK, here's the build:

-Wanted to spend around $2K - came in at roughly $1700K with the build below:

CPU - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) - $229.99
Newegg.ca - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K

MOTHERBOARD - ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 - $199.99
Newegg.com - ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

RAM - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory - $49.99
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

HD 1 - Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe MKNSSDCR120GB-DX 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - $214.99
Newegg.com - Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe MKNSSDCR120GB-DX 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

HD 2 - Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - $162.99
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

GPU - EVGA SuperClocked 015-P3-1582-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) - $509.99
Newegg.com - EVGA SuperClocked 015-P3-1582-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

PS - Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W Continuous Power ATX12V - $64.99
Newegg.com - Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

CPU Cooler - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus - $29.04
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7

OPTICAL DRIVE - SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X - $19.99
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model SH-222AL/BSBE LightScribe Support - CD / DVD Burners

CASE - Corsair Obsidian Series 650D - $189.99
Newegg.com - Corsair Obsidian Series 650D (CC650DW-1) Black Steel structure with black brushed aluminum faceplate ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

I'll probably pick up a mechanical keyboard and some new speakers - have a mouse and can use existing keyboard and speakers for the time being.

Some questions/thoughts, over than general feedback on the parts listed above and how they'll interact with each other:

1. SSD - Have seen a lot of controversy over these - looked at Inted SSD 320 and Samsung 830 470 series as well, and have seen the Intel SSDs recommended more than once in other posts on this site, but the Mushkin SSD above got good reviews for performance on another review site. Thoughts?

2. Case - Would appreicate suggestions on the case. The Corsair 600T White Special Edition as well as the Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced looked like good cases as well. I'd like something solid, mostly metal, and easy to work with. Open to suggestions.

3. Additional Fans - Seems as if most cases come with plenty of fans, but would like any input on these as well - is what the case comes with good enough, or do I go bigger/better?

4. Any suggestions on sites for beginning over-clockers as well as freeware/shareware to rate speeds, temps, etc.? I don't want to go insane with overclocking where I'm constantly having to worry about temps and/or burning out my system, but I'd like to play with it a bit seeing as it's new territory for me and sounds interesting.

I realize I have a lot of questions and appreciate your help!

Thank you and have a great day!

KT

[Entsure]

Here are a few thoughts which will hopefully be helpful:

Hardware Monitor and CPU-Z are good free, basic utilities for checking how your overclock is doing and temps.

And the Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced is still a great case despite being a bit old now, if you can put up with its not so pretty looks.

The Samsung 830 SSD gets a good write up in the linked review, but the downside is it probably is pricey per gig, as the reviewer says.

Rig looks very nice in general, though. Wish I had it ;-)

[Extremerc12]

You can't go wrong with the HAF 932. I just transplanted my system from an Xclio junk box to a HAF 932 (bought the case Saturday). The case is solid and well built, mre of an industrial feel than anything else. The case has loads of room with excellent cooling. I played with the Corsair 400R, 500R and 600T before I settled on the HAF 932 and thought they felt cheap and cheesy. The metal chassis has a lot of flex unlike the HAF. It is aesthetically pleasing, but I wasn't happy with the feel. The HAF is taller and wider than the Corsair, but that probably isn't an issue. The front face and about a 1/3 of the top of the case is plastic, with the rest all being metal.

Hope that helps.

[birddog_61]

While I really like the PSU you chose I think your cutting it a little close with a gtx 580 and planing some overclocking. I would personally bump up to a 750 to give some headroom.
Newegg.com - Antec EarthWatts Series EA-750 Green 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Continuous Power Supply
Modular
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750M 750W ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular High Performance Power Supply

I only recommend Intel SSD because of reliability, Case is really up to you, I can however tell you I really like my thermaltake v9 blacx edition for its ease of use, solid construction, excellent cooling, and great price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133183
Overclocking utilities are a must if your going to dable in it, hardware monitor and cpu-z are great and mentioned before, for stress testing I like intel burn test the best and prime 95 after that, if your going to oc the graphics also then look at furmark for stress testing the graphics card.