$1000 - $1,500 build

• TA wrote on 2011-08-24 01:43
  I suppose if I can't fix whatever is BSODing my current computer that I need to just throw in the towel and build a new one from (near) scratch.
  
  I haven't built one for awhile, so I'm not quite sure what is the latest and best at this point. So, maybe some of you guys can help me...
  
  I won't need a video card as I already have a GTX 560 Ti, only a few months old. I also may not need RAM, depending on the motherboard chosen. I have this RAM - 12GB kit (4GBx3), 240-pin DIMM. I will not need an optical drive either as I already have this $180 LG one.
  
  Since my computer case at the moment has liquid cooling built into it - Thermaltake Armor+ LCS, I suppose I should just get an entirely new case. I do like how it has a massive fan on the side though, and how it's a screwless case setup and with a removable mobo tray and whatnot. I'm just sick and tired of liquid cooling (too much maintenance, wondering if it's working or not, etc.).
  
  I'd also like a decent SSD for booting, Windows, my core programs and games. Intel, preferably, as they're the most reliable the last I've read. I'd also want an Intel CPU. No AMD, no ATI.
  
  I want absolutely no LEDs. They may look cool and all, but my current rig is lit up like a blue christmas tree (led's in the fans, led's from the psu, led's from the liquid cooling...) and honestly I can't sleep with it on. I get very bad sleep. My eyes always hurt, and it's horrible. I don't know what it is, just something about that blue light that really disrupts my sleep, even with a sleeping mask on. So, no LED's.
  
  As for the CPU, I may want to overclock. I'll also want a good non-stock cooler for it, something probably about like overkill.
  
  I'd prefer good onboard sound like a SupremeFX X-Fi 2 or something on the motherboard. Also, a decent amount of USB 3 connections and I hear the new Marvel SATA 3 controllers are bad, so maybe not those?
  
  This is my current PSU (crap).
  
  [S]So far the only thing I know I have enough current knowledge to decide is probably the PSU, so... I'll start with that.[/S] Alrighty... here's my thoughts so far (edited post)...
  
  CPU
  $219 - Core i5-2500K LGA 1155 - Newegg
  Thoughts: Probably won't need HT the i7-2600K has, but I'm still not entirely sure about this choice. It is $100 cheaper though... That leaves more room for other bottlenecks like SSD or an extra GPU in SLI.
  
  Motherboard
  $179 - ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z Z68 LGA 1155 - Newegg - ASUS
  Thoughts: It has SupremeFX X-Fi 2 built in like I had mentioned before that I wanted, and it otherwise looks nearly identical to the P67 Maximus IV Extreme, except it isn't at heart-attack prices like its $329 P67 Extreme counterpart.
  edit: Product changed, different page.
  
  PSU
  $189 - CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX850 - Newegg
  Thoughts: Well, it's a good one. I'm going to have a lot of HDD's and fans, so it's probably needed.
  
  [SIZE="1"]Note: Price is $587 so far. Not too bad...[/SIZE]
  
  Case
  $159 - Thermaltake Chaser MK-I - Newegg - Thermaltake
  Thoughts: It has the removable screwless HDD trays (that I love on my Armor+LCS), screwless PCI stuff, a decent enough amount of fans, 2 front USB 3.0 ports, looks nice, and etc... And it looks like you can turn the LED's off. Lots of space too... It also has some sturdy looking feet that keep it up a bit, which I think are nice. I wish the case I have now had those... Though, it does have gobs of features I don't care about or will never use, but oh well. It's about standard pricing as far as cases go.
  
  [SIZE="1"]Note: Gotta have a case... Price total so far $746.[/SIZE]
  
  Next, onto SSD's...
  
  SSD
  $236 - Intel 510 SATA III 120GB SSD (450R/210W) - Newegg
  or
  $579 - Intel 510 SATA III 250GB SSD (500R/315W) - Newegg
  Thoughts: Basically what it comes down to here is the GB storage capacity and price. Which I get will have to depend on the rest of my build's pricing, to know which I'll be able to use. I doubt I'll notice much difference in the speeds, so really it's the size and price on these. Intel is known for being the most reliable SSD manufacturer with the least failures of all of them, and that's important to me. I'm more willing to pay a premium for reliability than paying less for more space/speed but having a much larger chance of failure. $1.97/GB, or $2.32/GB ratios. The price jumps are pretty substantial...
  
  [SIZE="1"]Pricing so far: $982 or $1,325, depending on SSD. Still need CPU Cooler, and + any fans needed.[/SIZE]
  
  CPU Cooler
  $69 - ZALMAN CNPS11X Extreme - Newegg
  Thoughts: This one looks a hell of a lot better and it specifically says it fits LGA 1155 and it's way smaller... Comparisons. Not all that much different temps either. Bad thing is, it has a blue LED. fml. pic1 | pic2 | more - looks pretty small. I'd probably want to go to ~4-4.5Ghz, I suppose this could probably do it.
  
  [SIZE="1"]Pricing so far: $1,051 or $1,394, depending on SSD. Still need + any fans needed. Probably not any since I have like 10 fans in my current system I'm sure I could use... So, at this point I'm coming out at or within the budget I set for myself. Though, I could go a bit higher even if I wanted... I could, say... add another GPU? That'd be +$225, bringing totals up to $1,276 & $1,619 respectively. Kinda crazy and unnecessary though.[/SIZE]
  
  RAM addition
  $25 - 4GB 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 -Crucial
  Thoughts: I already have 12GB of the same sticks, so it would bring me up to 16GB, though atm only 8GB is detecting, so it would be like double what I "have" now assuming everything detects with the entirely new build... *shrug* may as well I guess...
  
  If I decide or consider anything else I'll edit this post. Feel free to make recommendations or critiques based on my given criteria.
• Halfslashed wrote on 2011-08-24 01:50
  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 - i5-2500k CPU, best for gaming at the moment
  
  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227706 - SSD, Should hold most of your games and all of your core programs.
  
  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314 - EXTREMELY cheap and reliable memory. Will have you set until DDR4.
  
  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131729 - Top of the line MB.
• TA wrote on 2011-08-24 02:16
  You ignored basically everything I said... @_@
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-24 03:23
  CPU: i7-2600K $315
  
  Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V $180
  
  RAM: you haz
  
  GPU: you haz
  
  SSD: Intel 510 Series 120GB $277
  
  HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB $80
  
  Optical: you haz
  
  PSU: you like Corsair, so .. xd $189
  
  Case: I dunno, depends on taste. I'd srsly consider the noise/cooling optimized Define R3 ($110), but it has no front USB3 ports.. which kinda sucks these days. The Define XL is a bit more expensive and has a separate front panel upgrade kit that will support the USB3 header properly, but I can't find the upgrade kit for sale. :( The Antec P183 ($140) is also an excellent noise/cooling optimized case, and has a front USB3 connector, but it's the crappy kind that has a cable routing to the back of your case and takes up an external USB3 port. You may want to look for a case that takes advantage of the board's external USB3 header. There's some expensive Lian Li cases that support it. I'm kind of lazy right now. xd
• TA wrote on 2011-08-24 03:39
  Sorry, I ended up writing most of this before you replied Yoorah... I'll look at your suggestions here in a sec... Oh, by the way... I don't need HDD's, I already have four 1TB WD Caviar Blacks, it's just the SSD that is needed.
  
  And just some other thoughts... I will never do G.Skill RAM again (their RAM sucks and their support sucks), and I will only do Intel SSD's. Here are my thoughts at the moment...
  
  CPU
  $219 - Core i5-2500K LGA 1155 - Newegg
  
  Motherboard
  $329 - ASUS Maximus IV Extreme - Newegg - ASUS
  Thoughts: This has a ****ton of SATA and USB 3.0 connections (a ridiculous amount of USB 3.0), and it has the Intel P67 controller for 2 of the SATA 3 ports, which is good because I hear the Marvel one sucks (it has two of those as well). The price however, is quite a bit steeper... Although it doesn't have the thermal armor or military grade components the Sabertooth has, and the price is a massive amount steeper... I think this one will probably be the winner.
  or
  $209 - ASUS Sabertooth P67 - Newegg - ASUS
  Thoughts: While I do like the thermal armor and military grade components this thing has, the severe lack of SATA 3 connections as well as USB connections (of any kind) may very well end up ruling it out. I have four 1 TB HDD's already, so it may not even be possible to use due to the limited SATA ports.
  
  PSU
  PSU - CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX850 - $189
  Thoughts: Mentioned it before, it's probably gonna be what I have to end up going with.
  
  Next, onto SSD's...
  
  [SIZE="1"]Note: We're up to $737 at this point and we don't have a Case or RAM yet (since I don't think my triple channel RAM will be compatible).[/SIZE]
  
  SSD
  $236 - Intel 510 SATA III 120GB SSD (450R/210W) - Newegg
  or
  $579 - Intel 510 SATA III 250GB SSD (500R/315W) - Newegg
  Thoughts: Basically what it comes down to here is the GB storage capacity and price. Which I get will have to depend on the rest of my build's pricing, to know which I'll be able to use. I doubt I'll notice much difference in the speeds, so really it's the size and price on these. Intel is known for being the most reliable SSD manufacturer with the least failures of all of them, and that's important to me. I'm more willing to pay a premium for reliability than paying less for more space/speed but having a much larger chance of failure. $1.97/GB, or $2.32/GB ratios. The price jumps are pretty substantial...
  
  [SIZE="1"]Pricing so far: At this point we're up to either $973 or $1,316, depending on which SSD, and there is still no case or RAM (the new stuff seems to only support Dual Channel instead of Triple Channel).[/SIZE]
• Cucurbita wrote on 2011-08-24 03:44
  No LEDs, thank god.
  
  Freaking hate computers that make light. That stupid freaking power button can get really bright at night.
  
  And its not just normal light either. Its the obnoxious type that disturbs you.
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-24 03:52
  You can use your current RAM. Two of the modules will work in dual channel, the third will be in single channel mode.
  The motherboard you picked is massively overpriced and isn't Z68 based, so you'd be missing out on QuickSync, as well as the ability to use integrated graphics (in case your NV fails and you want to troubleshoot). If there's no particular reason why you'd want that board, I'd rather get the one I suggested and put the difference into a 2600K CPU.
  
  And yea, I hate gamer cases with LED crap. >_> But to each their own.
  
  I wouldn't go for the 250GB SSD. The price premium is high and it's just unecessary, imo. You could get a second 560Ti for that price difference and set em up in SLI (though I'm no fan of multi-GPU, but this is just an example).
• TA wrote on 2011-08-24 03:57
  [S]Looking at the RAM, since things now only seem to support Dual Channel, do you think it would be possible to just get 1 more stick of the same type that I have now (bumping it up to 16GB of RAM (4GBx4))? Something like this for just $25... Would that work? The other one is a triple channel kit with 4GB 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 sticks, so it looks compatible from what I can see...[/S]
  
  About those CPU's, what are the major differences between the i5-2500K and the i7-2600K? Also, I have an i7 920 (with d0 stepping) at the moment. I've had it overclocked to ~3.6 GHz, though atm I have it unclocked. But, there's obviously a problem with it since it never detects that 3rd stick of RAM.
  
  edit: What about this motherboard? It has SupremeFX X-Fi 2 built in, like I had mentioned before that I wanted, and it otherwise looks nearly identical to the P67 Maximus IV Extreme. Newegg - $179.
  
  Do those CPU's even support Z68? They say P67...
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-24 04:09
  The 2600K has HT and a slightly higher clock. The HT can help in threaded tasks, not gonna matter much for gaming, but it can help in some professional rendering software that takes full advantage of multithreading.
  
  And yeah, that RAM upgrade would be compatible. Looking at their model numbers:
  CT____51264BA1339
  CT3KIT51264BA1339
  Looks like they're the same parts.
• TA wrote on 2011-08-24 04:13
  I use Blender mostly, though sometimes ZBrush and some other things (mostly for UVMapping, if not those two). But... I don't render. I just export then view in game engines, because I model for games (like Oblivion, Fallout 3, Dragon Age, etc.), not for videos or something.
  
  Other than that, it's mostly I guess video encoding some clips into h.264 to put them on YouTube or something, but that's no biggie...
  
  edit: Oh and I'm pretty interested in some of those cases you mentioned... I've heard good things about the sound insulating cases from Lian Li and Antec. I guess I'll start looking at that stuff now...
  
  I gotta remember not to forget a CPU cooler though. That's probably gonna be ~$100 too.
  
  edit: Okay, I just spent hours looking at cases and I don't like any of Lian Li or Antec's cases, and even the Cooler Master HAF X doesn't have features I'm used to with my Thermaltake Armor+LCS, so I think I'm going to have to go back to Thermaltake again for this build.
  
  $159 - Thermaltake Chaser MK-I - Newegg - Thermaltake
  
  It has the removable screwless HDD trays (that I love on my Armor+LCS), screwless PCI stuff, a decent enough amount of fans, 2 front USB 3.0 ports, looks nice, and etc... And it looks like you can turn the LED's off. Lots of space too... It also has some sturdy looking feet that keep it up a bit, which I think are nice. I wish the case I have now had those... Though, it does have gobs of features I don't care about or will never use, but oh well. It's about standard pricing as far as cases go.
• Mystickskye wrote on 2011-08-24 08:41
  Just get a Hyper 212+ for a CPU cooler. It's cheap and it works well. There are other CPU coolers that work better but that level of cooling isn't needed and is a lot more expensive.
  
  Your PSU is horribly overspecced. Even if you say you have multiple drives and fans, these components don't eat much power compared to say, CPU and GPU. The max TDP of the 560Ti is 170W and Sandybridge is around 95W. Even assuming OCing and dual GPU SLI you're still looking at a good 400W of excess. Take into account other default system power use and you still have far more than enough power for any number of HDs and fans to put into your system. This is ignoring that you don't need a lot of fans (that and the fact that they don't take up much power). Any given user probably should have one on the CPU cooler, two on the case (one intake, one exhaust) and however many come on the graphics cards.
  
  Sandy Bridge works with z68 boards. It's the most recent chip revision and allows for some sort of SSD caching or something as well as onboard graphics support (though this is pointless for most of us with discrete graphics) and some other minor things though those are the two major points. If you're getting an SSD then it's worth considering.
  
  I'd go with the 2500k and the cheaper SSD. Keep your essentials on it and 120GB will last you a decent while. You can get say, a 1TB Caviar Black drive for secondary programs and such and then maybe even a crappy eco Caviar Green drive for storage.
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-24 08:52
  I don't like the board you picked. It like no slots! If you install two graphics cards, you will literally have no slots for things like a wireless network card or whatever. :(
  
  And yea, what Mysticskye said about the PSU. It's for people who run hungry GTX 570s in SLI. xd
• TA wrote on 2011-08-24 08:53
  Well, I've been looking at CPU coolers for awhile now and I honestly have no clue.
  
  Everyone says the Thermalright Silver Arrow and Noctua NH-D14 are the best, the prior supposedly better (but not on Newegg, so I'd have to pay shipping). These two supposedly work fine for LGA 1155, even though they only say 1156.
  
  I'm a bit worried if they'll fit on the mentioned motherboard though...
  
  $85 - Noctua NH-D14 - Newegg
  $75 - Thermalright Silver Arrow - Directron - Thermalright
  Stuff: Use code hard3411e for $8 off, to make the price $66.99 + shipping for the Silver Arrow, dunno if still applicable. It'd end up being higher than the NH-D14 though since I'd get free shipping with Newegg. Although... people say the Silver Arrow wipes the floor with the NH-D14.
  
  Then again, both of those are ugly as all hell, and huge as ****. And it's not like I'm gonna be OCing to 5Ghz or something...
  
  $69 - ZALMAN CNPS11X Extreme - Newegg
  Thoughts: This one looks a hell of a lot better and it specifically says it fits LGA 1155 and it's way smaller... Comparisons. Not all that much different temps either. Bad thing is, it has a blue LED. fml. pic1 | pic2 | more - looks pretty small.
  
  $64+$7.01 S&H - Prolimatech Super Mega - Directron
  Thoughts: It got best mounting system award here, so that's good. Info. Doesn't come with fans... That means it'd probably end up quite a bit more expensive than getting the best one...
  
  I guess maybe the Thermalright Silver Arrow, assuming it will actually fit... Pretty sure it won't be a problem with RAM, but... I dunno about it covering the slot for the GPU... Probably gonna have to go with something smaller in the end...
  
  edit: Wow, double ninja'd...
  
  

  Quote from Yoorah;563817:

  I don't like the board you picked. It like no slots! If you install two graphics cards, you will literally have no slots for things like a wireless network card or whatever. :(
  
  And yea, what Mysticskye said about the PSU. It's for people who run hungry GTX 570s in SLI. xd

  
  
  Chances are that I won't do two GPU's in SLI. I never have before... And well, there wasn't much selection and it did have the sound I wanted in it already. Besides, it's going to be directly hooked into my modem (like a foot away), and it has a LAN port, so that's non-issue. There's not really anything else I'd use the slot for.
  
  Well, I may consider two GPU's depending on the cost, but I dunno. I don't think it's really going to be needed.
• Mystickskye wrote on 2011-08-24 09:52
  Forget what everyone says. Unless you have plans to OC the CPU to say, 6GHz or something then those coolers are unnecessary. Just get the Hyper 212+.
  
  But yeah, definitely change the PSU, even with two 570's you'd still be looking at around 600~650W usage. 700ish if you try really hard. I think there's an 750w version of the AX line though so that might be worth checking out if you still want high efficiency at a decent price.
• TA wrote on 2011-08-24 12:15
  This looks like an interesting board... I can't find anywhere selling it though. I think it was just released this month or something.