Spending between 2K-3K on a new comp, help please!?!

[hapylol]

Ditch the 850W power supply. You can get a 600W Corsair or SeaSonic.

Also I am not sure why your W7 is showing up as $300 but don't pay more than 100.

By the way, what monitors will you be using? You might want to look into a multi monitor setup if you have some money to blow

[Vladimeir]

...No. :|

Imo, the i5 2500k will be suitable. IB shows minuscule benefit for anyone not doing extreme overclocking, and is certainly not worth 20+ bucks. Moreover, multithreading and multitasking is not all that relevant to one another.

@OP:
I'll be back a bit later, but I have a shopping list ready in a bit.

I didn't realize the price difference was that steep between the i5-2500k and i7-3770k. I would have to agree that the minute difference in performance isn't worth the $100. Multithread is a better word than multitasking and I do tend to use them synonymously.

However, I do have to support the 680 for the reasons you even mentioned:

"Usually, the differences that remain are blatantly favoring nVidia, whether it be an error on AMD's drivers, nVidia's drivers being more optimized for those games, or the game itself being made (presumably accidentally) more compatible with nVidia. However, it's a moot point; both cards still play really well, and drivers may in the future nullify the differences. "

Albeit a moot point, it is still a trend that has existed forever.

Either way, Drunkenvalley can probably help you out best for your needs. If he says 7970, go with it. I may just be a little biased.

---------- Post added 2012-05-09 at 10:02 AM ----------

Ditch the 850W power supply. You can get a 600W Corsair or SeaSonic.

Also I am not sure why your W7 is showing up as $300 but don't pay more than 100.

By the way, what monitors will you be using? You might want to look into a multi monitor setup if you have some money to blow

I don't think a 600W will run any of the linked setups. If it does, it will be pushing it and leave little room for adding anything additional later.

[hapylol]

The OP has had several builds linked that are perfect for what he needs. Shit the build the OP linked is pretty much perfect without going overboard with 2x GPU's.

OP,

This is exactly what I would recommend. If you want to go with different case you can look at the Fractal Arc Midi or the Corsair 600T.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.00 @ Scorptec)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($86.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($157.50 @ Mwave Australia)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($119.00 @ Scorptec)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($130.00 @ Scorptec)
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($349.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Video Card ($695.00 @ Scorptec)
Case: Fractal Design Define XL Titanium Grey ATX Full Tower Case ($209.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($135.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222AB DVD/CD Writer ($29.00 @ Scorptec)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 3-Pack (64-bit) ($99.00 @ Scorptec)
Total: $2233.50
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-05-10 00:06 EST+1000)

[Deleted]

I don't think a 600W will run any of the linked setups. If it does, it will be pushing it and leave little room for adding anything additional later.

You should be able to run GTX 680 in SLI with the build hapylol linked. I guess a 750-800W is recommended but it's still possible. Just fyi.

[Creotor]

You should be able to run GTX 680 in SLI with the build hapylol linked. I guess a 750-800W is recommended but it's still possible. Just fyi.

Hapylol's linked a build with one card which suggests that's also what he recommended ditching the 850 PSU for. Even trying to run 2 GTX 680s on a 600W seems like a horrible idea.

Though, the one linked by him is 650W, unlike in his previous post; which would be alright, but still not ideal.

[Deleted]

I don't think a 600W will run any of the linked setups. If it does, it will be pushing it and leave little room for adding anything additional later.

You can run 2 gtx 680's on a corsair 650w psu.

[Deleted]

Hapylol's linked a build with one card which suggests that's also what he recommended ditching the 850 PSU for. Even trying to run 2 GTX 680s on a 600W seems like a horrible idea.

I thought it was pretty clear i meant that build with an additional GTX 680. That exact build with 680 in SLI would be running on ~560W under full load (not overclocked). And no he should not be going for a 850W, i never said that. I said it would be recommended to go for 750-800W for GTX 680 in SLI but is possible with a 650W.

[Creotor]

I thought it was pretty clear i meant that build with an additional GTX 680. That exact build with 680 in SLI would be running on ~560W under full load (not overclocked). And no he should not be going for a 850W, i never said that. I said it would be recommended to go for 750-800W for GTX 680 in SLI but is possible with a 650W.

Umm.... what? Are you hapylol?
Where did I say you recommended he buys a 850W PSU? I don't think anyone did, actually.
As for the 650 instead of 600, yea, my bad - hapylol's first post recommended ditching an 850 in favor of 600, so I didn't check his build which apparently contained a 650.

[hapylol]

I AM HAPYLOL RWAR.

OP you will never need 2 GPU's to accomplish what you want so I say just go with the 650W and a single GPU(either 680 or 7970).

[Deleted]

Umm.... what? Are you hapylol?
Where did I say you recommended he buys a 850W PSU? I don't think anyone did, actually.

I'm not sure what you mean with "what? Are you hapylol" but i assumed you where talking to me since you qouted my post..

Anyways, i read it like you "accused" me of recommending 850W since i said 750-800 would be ideal, but i guess i missunderstood you, my apologies

[Drunkenvalley]

My own list looks as follows...

From pccasegear.com:
CPU: i5 2500k
Cooler: Corsair H100 which is pretty overkill, but eh
Mobo: AsRock Z77 Fatal1ty Performance 50+ bucks for the "pro" seemed moot...
RAM: G.Skill Ares 1600MHz @ 1.5v, 8GB (4GB x2)
GPU: HIS Radeon HD 7970 reference card, but that's fine; overclocks well
SSD: Corsair Force 3 240GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 3TB for fraps and excess data
Case: NZXT Switch 810
PSU: Seasonic X-660 it was only 14 bucks more than 560... >.>
Fans: Cougar 120 CF-V12HB x2

Total: 2214 AUS

This is just my pick. A fair few of them are subjective, and I'm sure some will disagree with them.

EDIT: I also added two Cougar 120 CF-V12HPB PWM fans as well, to be mounted on the H100, as the original fans are just noisy as frag. In retrospect I've replaced them with CF-V12HB, since the Corsair H100 features two 3pin connectors after all, as will most fan controllers you may choose to buy and install.

[chukabi]

Thanks heaps for this guys, still a tad confused with overclocking and the different wattage requirements from the PSU, any other variables I should take into acc? I got a dicksmith 21.5 inch flat screen, has hdmi input obviously, vga, etc etc.....

[Drunkenvalley]

You may want a new monitor, for example the U2312HM. Emphasis on "may" however, as I don't know about the monitor you have. Though I hope the name of the brand's just a joke you made up.

[chukabi]

Not a joke lol, bought it ages ago, its a tv not a monitor, but it supports hdmi and pc input.

---------- Post added 2012-05-10 at 02:34 AM ----------

So from what I understand, even with the money i'm willing to spend, there's no better CPU for gaming than the i5 2500k?

[hapylol]

The CPU's above 2500k are all technically better for gaming, but the gains are so minimal that it is advised against highly. The only CPU that we recommend would be the 3570k which is just the Ivy Bridge version of the 2500k(but since you will probably be overclocking hard it is best to stick with 2500k).

[JoccE]

You're better off with one HD 7970 if the price of the GTX 680 is in the roof. Which on pccasegear.com it certainly is, as the GTX 680 starts at 100 bucks above the HD 7970... In other words, go for the HD 7970.

While the GTX 680 is better per se, it's sure as heck not by a margin worth 100-200 bucks more. And I really have to emphasize that these two high-end cards are really quite close to each other when overclocked as far as they'll go. Just evening the clocks between the two cards almost nullifies the difference.

Usually, the differences that remain are blatantly favoring nVidia, whether it be an error on AMD's drivers, nVidia's drivers being more optimized for those games, or the game itself being made (presumably accidentally) more compatible with nVidia. However, it's a moot point; both cards still play really well, and drivers may in the future nullify the differences.

Do you even know wtf you're saying..?

First of 680 Perform a lot better then 7970.

And second of 7970 cost like 50 bucks more then 680... Not the other way around.

A signle 680 can even outperform 2 Crossfire 7970 in some of the games..

[chukabi]

don't know how to overclock lol, or if it'll be required? So am I better off getting the 3570k or the 2500k?

[Friendlychap]

Do you even know wtf you're saying..?


A signle 680 can even outperform 2 Crossfire 7970 in some of the games..

Excuse me.

"Do you even know wtf you're sayin..?"

2x GTX 680 vs 2x7970 is pretty much identical in performance unless you're a robot.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1239058/g...own-comparison

Winner : Nvidia.
NVIDIA : 100.98 % Performance
AMD : 100% Performance



Winner: AMD
NVIDIA : 98.63% Performance
AMD : 100.00% Performance

(Best Game for Each Removed - (AVP : AMD / MAFIA II : Nvidia)

[JoccE]

Excuse me.

"Do you even know wtf you're sayin..?"

2x GTX 680 vs 2x7970 is pretty much identical in performance unless you're a robot.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1239058/g...own-comparison

If you accually have facts..

The new Zotac GTX680 AMP (Overclocked edition) Out perform Crossfire 7970 in 4 out of 8 games they tested on the other 4 it was like 2-5% under.

Games tested where Just Cause 2, Metro 2033, Dirt 3, Mafia II, Dark Void, StreetFighter, AvP and FarCry with Dx11 1920x1200 Settings.

don't know how to overclock lol, or if it'll be required? So am I better off getting the 3570k or the 2500k?

Will be no need to overclock

[Friendlychap]

If you accually have facts..

The new Zotac GTX680 AMP (Overclocked edition) Out perform Crossfire 7970 in 4 out of 8 games they tested on the other 4 it was like 2-5% under.

Games tested where Just Cause 2, Metro 2033, Dirt 3, Mafia II, Dark Void, StreetFighter, AvP and FarCry with Dx11 1920x1200 Settings.

That is all facts.....buddy

You're probably confusing a 680 with a 690. - Which costs about $1,000 more than getting 2x7970s