Building a new system for Christmas

[Adsertif]

Budget: $1050, I'm willing to budge a little bit, but not a bunch
Resolution: 1920x1080
Games: World of Warcraft 25 man raiding
Settings Desired: Mostly ultra settings, I could live without little things, like ultra shadows etc. Mainly, I don't want any lag in boss fights that hinders performance.
Any other intensive software or special things you do (Frequent video encoding, 3D modeling, etc): I watch movies, but they aren't really HD per say. I also have a mouse and headphones, so I'd need a keyboard, monitor etc. I have a 750W PSU and a Case in the box already, also. Forgot to mention I don't need speakers because I never take out the headphone jack, and prefer no sound in WoW.
Country: United States

[phenix]

Gaming 1200



MoBo: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H – $159.99 Review
CPU: Intel i5 2500k – $219.99
RAM: G.Skill Sniper 1600Mhz 2x4GB – $54.99
GPU: ASUS DCII GTX 580 – $499.99
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint 1TB – $59.99
PSU: Corsair TX550M – $99.99 Review
Heatsink: CM Hyper 212+ – $27.99 Review
Case: CM 690 II Advanced – $89.99

Estimated Total Price – $1213


Gaming 1500



MoBo: Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3P – $179.99 Review
CPU: Intel i5 2500k – $219.99
RAM: G.Skill Sniper 1600Mhz 2x4GB – $54.99
GPU: ASUS DCII GTX 580 – $499.99
SSD: Crucial M4 120GB – $196.99 Review
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint 1TB – $59.99
PSU: Seasonic X Series 650W – $109.99 Review
Heatsink: Corsair A70 – $38.00 Review
Case: Corsair 500R Black – $139.99 Review

Estimated Total Price – $1500

mmo-champion. com/threads/986175-Marest-s-Sample-Builds

Depending on what you can salvage (HDD, PSU, Case, etc)

[Deleted]

US Configuration (using newegg.com)
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz
MB: [Z68] ASRock Z68 Extreme4 ATX
GPU: XFX HD 6870 1GB ($155 with MIR)
RAM: G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB
CPUHS: Corsair A70
CDROM: LiteOn DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium OEM (64-bit)
MONITOR: ASUS Black 23.6" HDMI Full 1080P W/Speakers
Total Price: $1042 +- USD

You'll have to add a keyboard to that, other than that I think I got it all.

[mooshi]

US Configuration (using newegg.com)
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz
MB: [Z68] ASRock Z68 Extreme4 ATX
GPU: XFX HD 6870 1GB ($155 with MIR)
RAM: G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB
CPUHS: Corsair A70
CDROM: LiteOn DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium OEM (64-bit)
MONITOR: ASUS Black 23.6" HDMI Full 1080P W/Speakers
Total Price: $1042 +- USD

You'll have to add a keyboard to that, other than that I think I got it all.

I would suggest a slightly bigger HDD if you watch movies that you save onto your HDD. perhaps 1tb. if not, then 500gb is good enough.

also, could you mention what size monitor you want? the 23.6" mentioned is pretty good, but if you want to go cheaper, here's one that's only 21.5" but ~$40 cheaper. link.

for a keyboard, personally, I'd recommend this. although if you can, try and get it on sale. I got mine for only $40, and I love it. slight problem though - sometimes it won't register three keys pressed simultaneously (can be a hassle if you play fps games, isn't a problem if you play WoW or other games).

[yumee]

There's no need for a CPUHS if you're not planning to OC - the boxed version of the i5 2500K runs just fine.
And like Mooshi already mentioned, a bigger HDD (1TB+) is also nice to have - given that you're watching a lot of movies/saving them on your HDD.
Last but not least: DDR3 1600 RAM isn't worth the money - just buy some 1333s. There's almost no difference between them except for a few % in benchmarks - that's all.

I've also ordered some parts to upgrade my system. Maybe it'll help you decide, so I'll post the stuff I just ordered:

2048MB Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 Aktiv PCIe 2.1 x16 (Retail) - actually there's no need for the 2GB version when not using crossfire/SLI - but somehow ... I JUST WANT TO HAVE IT! :>
Intel Core i5 2500K 4x 3.30GHz So.1155 BOX
8GB TeamGroup Elite DDR3-1333 DIMM CL9 Dual Kit - only 28€, maybe I'll order some more of them
Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 Z68 S1155 ATX - this was the hardest decision (didn't want to spend more than 90€). But after 4 years of using a Gigabyte-Board in my current system, I'm very pleased with them.

[Deleted]

I would suggest a slightly bigger HDD if you watch movies that you save onto your HDD. perhaps 1tb. if not, then 500gb is good enough.

He is on a budget and adding a 1TB drive is $45+

There's no need for a CPUHS if you're not planning to OC - the boxed version of the i5 2500K runs just fine.
And like Mooshi already mentioned, a bigger HDD (1TB+) is also nice to have - given that you're watching a lot of movies/saving them on your HDD.
Last but not least: DDR3 1600 RAM isn't worth the money - just buy some 1333s. There's almost no difference between them except for a few % in benchmarks - that's all.

The point of getting 2500k is to OC (or at least some time in the future) otherwise you might as well buy a non "k" version. As for the HDD, read my first comment. Also 500GB is quite fine, you can always expand when prices come down, pair it with external storage etc.
As for the RAM, don't listen to them, you're not going to save very much. If you really want to save anything on the build I linked you can drop to 4GB but I would still recommend staying with the 8GB.

[dlouhys]

He is on a budget and adding a 1TB drive is $45+

Not since the flood in Thailand. It put a very serious dent in the world's HDD supply and while warehouses start running tighter on stock on hand prices go up rapidly. For instance check that link in the 2nd post. That $45 drive is now about 3x that price.

[mooshi]

He is on a budget and adding a 1TB drive is $45+

The point of getting 2500k is to OC (or at least some time in the future) otherwise you might as well buy a non "k" version. As for the HDD, read my first comment. Also 500GB is quite fine, you can always expand when prices come down, pair it with external storage etc.
As for the RAM, don't listen to them, you're not going to save very much. If you really want to save anything on the build I linked you can drop to 4GB but I would still recommend staying with the 8GB.

$45+? a 500gb was suggested, but going from 500gb to 1tb isn't that pricey.
I've seen some 1tb HDDs for as low as $70 recently, even with the huge price surge from the flooding in thailand.

also, he didn't say whether or not he wanted to oc his system, so I suggested a k version in case there was a desire to do so.

lastly, I never mentioned anything about dropping ram. I would stick with 8gb also.

seems like you've been out to get me in two posts I've made. no idea why but ok.

[Deleted]

Not since the flood in Thailand. It put a very serious dent in the world's HDD supply and while warehouses start running tighter on stock on hand prices go up rapidly. For instance check that link in the 2nd post. That $45 drive is now about 3x that price.

Read my post again

My build has a 500GB drive at $115, they suggest adding a 1TB drive which is an added $45+ (Spinpoint F3) total $160.

[dlouhys]

Read my post again

My build has a 500GB drive at $115, they suggest adding a 1TB drive which is an added $45+ (Spinpoint F3) total $160.

Ah thought you were still going off the old prices. Sorry, I've had to explain this about a dozen times in the past month.

[Deleted]

$45+? goodness, where are you getting your HDDs from? also, it was just a suggestion, as he said he has a tiny leeway in prices.
I've seen some 1tb HDDs for as low as $70 recently, even with the huge price surge from the flooding in thailand.

also, he didn't say whether or not he wanted to oc his system, so I suggest a k version in case there was a desire to do so.

lastly, I never mentioned anything about dropping ram. I would stick with 8gb also.



seems like you've been out to get me in two posts I've made. no idea why but ok.

I'm not out to get anyone, this is about computers and budgets, nothing personal. My comment about not dropping the RAM was directed at Yumme (hence why I quoted him) and I'm talking about not dropping to 1300MHz RAM, not really the amount.

And yes it's $45+ to go from 500GB to 1TB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...spinpoint%20f3

[mooshi]

And yes it's $45+ to go from 500GB to 1TB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...spinpoint%20f3

mm, pricey HDDs... dunno about the OP, but if you don't mind other brands, like seagate or something, there are plenty cheaper. although this linked one is definitely good, just a bit too pricey for me.:P

[Deleted]

You're right there are some 7200Rpm 1TB drives down at $150 so yes you could save another $10 I guess.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...20and%20higher

[Adsertif]

Alright, this is what I have:
CPU - GTX560 Ti $220
MB - MSI P67A-G43 $115
CPU - i5 2500k $215
CPUHS - Cooler Master Hyper 212+ $26
Monitor - ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor $155
RAM - G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 $43
HDD - WD Caviar Black 1TB 3.0GB/s $130

≈$905
I'm getting a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate to close the gap, anyone have stories to share about it?
I know the P67 won't support the integrated graphics on the i5 chip, but I'm not particularly concerned, unless one of you sees it absolutely necessary I go pick up a Z68.

[Deleted]

The RAM is 1600MHz, just a typo though , see I wasn't sure you needed Windows 7 or not, optical drive etc. Looks good though

[Adsertif]

Oh, I forgot to add the OD, that's just another $17, I should be able to get my hands on a Win7, if I can't I'll just get the x64 Premium when necessary.

The reason I don't want to get the 1600Mhz is because on that MB it has an asterisk by 1600 in the RAM supported and in parenthesis it says OC, obviously denoting overclock. I may be misinterpreting it, check out that page on Newegg and see if I'm just dumb.

[Beat5beat]

I've seen some 1tb HDDs for as low as $70 recently, even with the huge price surge from the flooding in thailand.

Where? I don't believe that until I see it. Please link so I can purchase.

[Adsertif]

Here.

Hmmm, I might get that over this.

Not sure that $60 is worth 32MB more of Cache...

P.S. Don't buy them all and be a glutton -- share the wealth. :>

[Beat5beat]

Thank you very much

[Deleted]

Yeah that HD is fine and your board will support the RAM.