Building my first gaming rig
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Here are the rough specs..
CM HAF 932 Case - $239
AMD Phenom II X4 965 + GIGABYTE 890GPA-UD3H - $482
Cosair H50 - $188
Team Xtreem Dark 2 x 2GB DDR3 @ 1866MHz CL8 - $189
WD 1TB Black - $152
Sapphire HD 5770 VAPOR-X 1GB CrossFire - $558
CM GX 650W - $124
Samsung S223 - $34
Samsung P2350 (23'') - $308
Total $2274
Still not sure on the motherboard, graphic card (2x5770 or single 5870), psu and monitor. Need advice regarding better parts and cheaper stuff. Thanks!
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with that budget, you could actually go for i5 or even i7
cut down on the corsair h50, for OC-ing, a cm hyper 212+ will do (according to raraken) but even if u do want to invest in a solid cooler, there are slightly cheaper and possibly even better alternative air coolers such as the venomous-x or megahalems
as for the graphics card, get a single 5870... running crossfire wastes more electricity
the ram can go for cheaper ones... 1600 mhz rams will do since the diff between 1600mhz and 1866mhz ram is minimal, so not worth paying more imo
for the casing, haf 932 is a good option but u can also consider NZXT cases such as Lexa-S which proves to be rather popular amongst HWZ members since it looks chio and i pressume it has good air flow too...
no need to buy OS?
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I got the OS already. As i only do gaming in this PC so i think AMD is good enough and i5/i7 are expensive and won't it be better to invest in other parts like the graphic cards? Thanks for your quick reply and recommendations!
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Originally posted by LittleFeFe:
I got the OS already. As i only do gaming in this PC so i think AMD is good enough and i5/i7 are expensive and won't it be better to invest in other parts like the graphic cards? Thanks for your quick reply and recommendations!
If you can find the 955, go for it. For the RAM, it is highly unlikely you can run it at that speed unless it is the high-voltage options, not the LV series meant for i5/i7 systems. The GX will do fine, and go for a single 5870. It will allow you to expand the system in the future, should you need to. Also, the HD5870's idle power is (phenom)enally low, as compared to the HD5770 is CrossFireX.
Yes, the Hyper212+ will do just fine, also it is $120 cheaper. With the HAF932, airflow isn't a problem so the cooler should do pretty damn well.
In gaming, AMD will equal Intel, so yeah. Go for value as and when you can.
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Originally posted by LittleFeFe:
I got the OS already. As i only do gaming in this PC so i think AMD is good enough and i5/i7 are expensive and won't it be better to invest in other parts like the graphic cards? Thanks for your quick reply and recommendations!
hmm ok go ahead with amd but i think you can cut down on the ram (choose 1600mhz ones) and the cooler (unless u want to do EXTREME overclocking)
maybe u want to consider getting a better psu like seasonic 650 or 750w?
they are more costly but i heard they're probably the best in the market in terms or quality and service
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if going for i5 750 which cost $299 i suppose , what mobo you recommend along with it ?
I think will cut down the ram to 1600 and the cooler which have good review and cheap. I also don't think will do extreme overclocking as I still noob lol. & also if going for 212+, use a north / south cooler orientation will be better than a east / west on haf 932 right? will be putting 2 fans on the 212+ .
will look into the psu you recommend, will 750/850 be enough for 2 5870 in the future? -
Originally posted by LittleFeFe:
if going for i5 750 which cost $299 i suppose , what mobo you recommend along with it ?
I think will cut down the ram to 1600 and the cooler which have good review and cheap. I also don't think will do extreme overclocking as I still noob lol. & also if going for 212+, use a north / south cooler orientation will be better than a east / west on haf 932 right? will be putting 2 fans on the 212+ .
will look into the psu you recommend, will 750/850 be enough for 2 5870 in the future?i think for the psu 750w will be enough but it is good to do your own research
for mobo, get evga, no doubt about it
can choose from a few models, got V55, P55 and other variations of the P55 depending on your budget
what i like about evga is the ability to oc the processor easily(especially for noobs like us) and they provide excellent customer service support (evga staff even creates guides on how to oc particular mobos at the evga forums, HOW COOL IS THAT!)
north south east west that one idk, ask raraken heh!
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I see... Ok thanks for your help =)
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Buy a CM Hyper 212+, pay $50 to add two big ass powerful fans in push-pull.
And when I say powerful, I mean putting two Nidec Beta V's on them.
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Originally posted by LittleFeFe:
if going for i5 750 which cost $299 i suppose , what mobo you recommend along with it ?
I think will cut down the ram to 1600 and the cooler which have good review and cheap. I also don't think will do extreme overclocking as I still noob lol. & also if going for 212+, use a north / south cooler orientation will be better than a east / west on haf 932 right? will be putting 2 fans on the 212+ .
will look into the psu you recommend, will 750/850 be enough for 2 5870 in the future?Uber win PC:
Asus Rampage II Extreme
i7-980X
PCP&C Turbo-Cool 1200
2x HD5970 Black Edition
G.Skill Trident PC3-1600MHz
CM Cosmos S
OCZ Agility SSD
2x 1TB WD Caviar Black
Corsair H50, Push-Pull 2x Nidec Beta V B35502-35
Replace all case fans with AVC F1225B12V found at SLT.
win puter.
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Originally posted by jonchao72:
i think for the psu 750w will be enough but it is good to do your own research
for mobo, get evga, no doubt about it
can choose from a few models, got V55, P55 and other variations of the P55 depending on your budget
what i like about evga is the ability to oc the processor easily(especially for noobs like us) and they provide excellent customer service support (evga staff even creates guides on how to oc particular mobos at the evga forums, HOW COOL IS THAT!)
north south east west that one idk, ask raraken heh!
1156 got H55, P55, H57, Q55 and Q57. Go for P55.
I would suggest East West orientation, with the cooler fans exhausting the hot air to the rear case fan. It will intake cool air over the RAM modules as well, so that's a plus.
Not overclocking that much, go for MSI.Good warranties and qualities, at a good, cheap price, as well as one of the best distributors in SG (Corbell).
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Uber win and OVERKILL PC.
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Originally posted by SBS7484P:
Uber win PC:
Asus Rampage II Extreme
i7-980X
PCP&C Turbo-Cool 1200
2x HD5970 Black Edition
G.Skill Trident PC3-1600MHz
CM Cosmos S
OCZ Agility SSD
2x 1TB WD Caviar Black
Corsair H50, Push-Pull 2x Nidec Beta V B35502-35
Replace all case fans with AVC F1225B12V found at SLT.
win puter.
lol i would go with the evga x58 classified over the asus rampage
if u have the cash to build this, why stick with h50? DIY your own water cooling system la..lol
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btw, what monitor are you guys using?
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Originally posted by LittleFeFe:
btw, what monitor are you guys using?
samsung 2253LW... they dont sell it anymore, got it from an IT fair last yr
almost wanted to buy new one at this yr's IT fair but i think ill pass since the response time is still better at 2ms compared to many of those that samsung was offering (5ms)
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oh, i should be getting a samsung too, but still looking for a model which has 1920x1200 , with HMDI, 2ms =)
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Originally posted by LittleFeFe:
btw, what monitor are you guys using?
if u want a full HD, P2250 might be a good one. 22-inch, 1920x1080 resolution, 50000:1 contrast ratio...can check up on the Samsung website.
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Originally posted by LittleFeFe:
btw, what monitor are you guys using?
a Panasonic Viera 37" 1920x1080 :D -
Originally posted by LittleFeFe:
oh, i should be getting a samsung too, but still looking for a model which has 1920x1200 , with HMDI, 2ms =)
i dont think there is a samsung 2ms monitor with 1920x1200 resolution
those 24 inch and 2ms ones are 1920x1080...
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Found the monitor which have all the specs i want =)
LG 22'' 2261VP wide $268
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Originally posted by jonchao72:
lol i would go with the evga x58 classified over the asus rampage
if u have the cash to build this, why stick with h50? DIY your own water cooling system la..lol
How many of us know how to assemble WC loops and then properly maintain it? I would go for WC, but I obviously no cash liao :P Or else I would go for a 120.2 rad using non-conductive coolant like Feser One. In red, obviously.
A proper WC loop costs at least 300. You can get away with less lah, but you will be compromising on quality, flow rate etc.
Using sealed liquid cooling allows people who don't know how to build a loop, let alone maintain it, or those who have no time to maintain it, bleed it etc.
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I don't have the time (and space) for a res and rad.
Not to mention, the money.
I don't have that kinda money.
Or else I would've WC'ed every single thing that has a heatsink on it now.
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Originally posted by Raraken:
How many of us know how to assemble WC loops and then properly maintain it? I would go for WC, but I obviously no cash liao :P Or else I would go for a 120.2 rad using non-conductive coolant like Feser One. In red, obviously.
A proper WC loop costs at least 300. You can get away with less lah, but you will be compromising on quality, flow rate etc.
Using sealed liquid cooling allows people who don't know how to build a loop, let alone maintain it, or those who have no time to maintain it, bleed it etc.
if the buyer had that much money to xfire 5970, he could have easily paid someone else to set it up for him lol
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The 5970 is actually the 5870 xfire-ed...Having 2 5970 will not increase performance. If really rich, one can go for the Intel SSDs. The new Killer NIC helps too.
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Originally posted by Call4ljw:
The 5970 is actually the 5870 xfire-ed…Having 2 5970 will not increase performance.
If really rich, one can go for the Intel SSDs.
The new Killer NIC helps too.
haha if really rich can also go for this chassis
800 USD if im not wrong