Tech and Talk > Gaming > PC gaming Tech > Building new PC, suggestions welcome!

Building new PC, suggestions welcome!

Looks pretty decent and will probably play SC2 and Diablo fine. Have you maybe consider going AMD if you want to keep prices low?

I've never used anything AMD. Nothing against them, but I've always been an Intel guy. I assumed I could build a nice rig for less than $1k. I should probably look at some AMD stuff. Thanks.

reply to zenthias
Intel is the clear leader right now, especially if you are comfortable using/building Intel. You can't go wrong with that processor you have spec'd.

Power supply - I'm not a fan personally, I like to stick to some of the better name brands like Antec, but you said that is not negotiable, so....

Mobo/Processor - Looks solid to me. With Mobo's it's just a matter of them having the features you want and for $100, it should have most everything.

DVD - Personally, I'd spend a little more here for some BluRay love, but that's a personal decision. Looks like the reviews on that one you show are pretty good and it's hard to beat at that incredible price.

HDD - SATA3, 1TB, name brand....looks good.

RAM - I'm a big fan of cheap RAM, especially when it has Kingston's name on it. I think you're good there.

Video Card - You do realize that's a 560 and not a 560Ti, right?

Other than that, I'd just make sure you do some price shopping because it looks like you did everything on Tiger. I've used Tiger before and never had a problem with them, but with free shipping in this day and age, it's worth the time to check a couple other sources for prices.

I might change my mind on the PS. I guess if the one I had selected ever craps out I can get a new one. They seem to be pretty cheap nowadays.

I thought about getting a BluRay, but wasn't sure if I would use it. I already have a PS3 in my game room and BR player in the bedroom.

I'm not sure what the Ti refers to on the video card. I assume it's a better version?

I did do everything on Tiger, but once I am sure what I want I will shop around for sure.

Thanks for all the help guys!

reply to zenthias
Check out this MB:

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···13157265

It has more SATA6.0 ports on it. I had MSI boards in the X58 chipset for my Core i7. Those boards sucked.

Tried an ASRock and it does rock. I use ASRocks on Intel and AMD builds. Love them as they have Asus features and quality just not the price.

reply to zenthias
You never EVER EVER want you compromise on an iffy PSU.

In my brief 5 seconds of searching, I didn't find a review on the Apevia you selected, but on another one: »www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?na···&reid=92

tl;dr version is that Apevia PSUs are pieces of crap. You risk the electrical integrity of anything you plug into it.

The attitude of "well if it dies I'll just get a new one" is not well-thought-out because the dying PSU may ruin your entire system through faulty power that leaves the rig unreliable.

I highly suggest you stick to a name brand like Corsair, Seasonic or Antec. Your wallet will thank me.

Like others, I've been scammed by Tiger before and prefer Newegg or Microcenter. I will never touch Tiger again.
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If we lose this freedom of ours, history will record with the greatest astonishment, those who had the most to lose, did the least to prevent its happening.

10-4 on the PS. I'll find a different one.

You do have me curious on how Tiger scammed you. I've bought thousands of dollars worth of stuff and never had a problem.

I 2nd the tip of choosing a good power supply.

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···17151093

This one is a nice little unit

I prefer the Seasonic's. Rock solid units.

And as well about Tigerdirect - definately Newegg or MicroCenter.

Damn you guys got me curious about Tiger.

Lets hear the horror stories!!

reply to zenthias
Yeah, here's a really good place to spend an extra $25 for complete peace of mind. This is a rock solid unit and have it my rig.

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···17371020

And here's Tom's chart to show you the relative difference between a 560 and the Ti version. It's not that it's a bad card, I just wanted to make sure you realized it wasn't a Ti because the Ti is a very popular card for the price point it's at right now. Like everything else though, faster is more expensive so at the end of the day it's all about how much you are wanting to spend.

»www.tomshardware.com/charts/2011···674.html

reply to zenthias
mobo is VERY low end no cooling at ALL on the vrms... (big no no to me, normal tiger crap, unlocked CPU with a mobo that can't overclock rofl, they always find some way to F you... be it barebones with the worse PSU's made or combos with mobos so low end it aint funny, and worst yet... that is a P chipset... so it is FOR overclocking rofl)

PSU toss it... or just build the thing and throw it in the bathtub. At least you will know when it is going to die

Never go amd, top top top end amd cpu is beat by the 2500k (rofl)

Me on a vid card aside from the it is not a TI (little faster) look for a -ar part number, that is *lifetime* warranty... I like that over x years... Yes I have used a vid card warranty, YES the replacement card is still in use so... was worth it.

reply to zenthias
Yah another vote for Seasonic here. I have heard nothing but good things about them. The case I am unfamiliar with. I would ensure that it has cable management, CPU cutout(If you plan to use aftermarket cooling at any time), and decent airflow. On the RAM personally I prefer to go ahead and go 1600, but you will probably be ok on the 1333.(G.Skill Ripjaws is usually the best bang for the buck in my experience) As others have stated the Ti version is worth the extra cash. If you ever want to play games like Battlefield 3 you might want to consider the 570, because it has a little more video RAM, which that particular game needs. For the games that you listed though a 560 Ti is plenty. On the HDD, I personally am a Western Digital fan, but again you will probably be fine with the Seagate.

Anyway good luck with your build and hope you get it all figured out.
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Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit / Core i5 - 760 / GTX 460 1GB SLI / 8GB DDR3 RAM / Vertex 2 120GB SSD

Thanks again for all the advice guys. Made several changes. Went a tad over budget. I plan to start buying in the next couple weeks. I'll shop around to make sure I get the best price.

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···13157265
Mobo $150

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···19115072
Processor $230

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···82418RRQ
Video Card. $250

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···20145347
RAM $90

»www.tigerdirect.com/applications···atId=139
HDD $110

»www.tigerdirect.com/applications···tId=1624
DVD Burner $20

»www.tigerdirect.com/applications···107-3036
Case $65

»www.tigerdirect.com/applications···=6256814
PS $85

That all looks good, but I don't know if I would go with a Caviar Green. Those drives are built more for efficiency than speed. The only other nit I can pick at is if you ever get aftermarket air cooling, you may come to hate the heat spreaders on that RAM.

As for the PSU the TS series carries a better warranty and from what I read carries better internal components. It is also 80+ Bronze Certified instead of just 80+. It also carries 50 more watts(even though you really probably don't need anywhere near 650 watts) and ends up cheaper than the GS600 with the promo code EMCNHJN69.(This is not the one listed on the product page. It is a different one for 15% off) The total should come out to $76.49 and free shipping.

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···17139020
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Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit / Core i5 - 760 / GTX 460 1GB SLI / 8GB DDR3 RAM / Vertex 2 120GB SSD

What should I be looking at for HDD? RPM? Buffer memory?
Thanks.

»www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-C···3&sr=8-2

That would be my pick personally.
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Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit / Core i5 - 760 / GTX 460 1GB SLI / 8GB DDR3 RAM / Vertex 2 120GB SSD

reply to zenthias
The Spinpoint gets a TON of great reviews, is $3 more, and is SATA3.

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···22152185

reply to zenthias
I'd get a Z68 board over P67.

The i5-2500K is much cheaper ($180) at MicroCenter, if there is one near you or you have a friend willing to ship one to you.

Why are you buying some stuff at Tiger? Newegg has the same stuff.

All in all, looking much better.
--
If we lose this freedom of ours, history will record with the greatest astonishment, those who had the most to lose, did the least to prevent its happening.