New Rig

[scar11]

My current rig is turning 4 years old soon and is beginning to show it's age. Since I'm about to move into a bigger house I figure this is a good time to build a new rig, while turning my current one into a media center or pure business computer or whatever (still taking suggestions).

I'd also like any suggestions you may have for the rig I'm currently building. Below is the list of parts I'm currently looking at. My budget is around $1,000.

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K  -  $220 ($205 is bought by 4/4)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819115072
Alt CPU: Intel Core i5-2550K  -  $230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819115230

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68  -  $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813128512

HDD: Western Digital 500gb 7200rpm 64mb Cache SATA 3.0gb/s  -  $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6822136697
HHD: Western Digital 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB SATA 6.0Gb/s  -  $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6822136533
Boot Drive?: SAMSUNG 830 Series 64GB SSD  -  $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820147133

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper N 520 92mm  -  $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6835103057

PSU: Corsair HX650 650W Modular  -  $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817139012
PSU: Corsair HX750 750W Modular  -  $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817139010

Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600  -  $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820231277
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws X 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600  -  $47
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820231428

GPU: EVGA GTX 560 Ti 1GB  -  $230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814130623
Alt GPU: Take the GTX 460 in my current rig and put it in this one  -  $Free
I have an old GTS 260 or something from 8ball that I'd stick in the old rig

Total Price of ~ $1,050 (w/ boot drive & new gpu)
(not including OS which I'm hoping I can find free from someone)

Case and optical drives have already been purchased. Went with the Cooler Master Scout case (here it is if you're curious http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...rm%20scout)

[Didzo]

I'd get the 2x4GB memory. It's cheap now and you'll be able to expand to 16GB in the future. Totally worth the $17 price increase in my opinion.

[Kirby]

The only fault I can find there is your HDD selection, RE4 drives are meant for applications like 24/7 video surveillance systems and whatnot, its performance point will not suffice for a gaming PC.

Please consider upping your HDD budget by $10 and get It's bigger brother so you're not emo sadface when the new rig is built.

(Shameless plug, that drive is my current C:\ drive and I huggle all over it. A benchmark of said drive)


Also Didzo is right, go for 2x4GB - DDR3 RAM is el cheapo and games are rapidly becoming able to utilize every bit of a 4GB system nowadays. StarCraft 2 leaves my 4GB with only a bare 100-150MB free when it's loaded up. More room for future expansion too.

[scar11]

The only fault I can find there is your HDD selection, RE4 drives are meant for applications like 24/7 video surveillance systems and whatnot, its performance point will not suffice for a gaming PC.

Please consider upping your HDD budget by $10 and get It's bigger brother so you're not emo sadface when the new rig is built.

(Shameless plug, that drive is my current C:\ drive and I huggle all over it. A benchmark of said drive)


Also Didzo is right, go for 2x4GB - DDR3 RAM is el cheapo and games are rapidly becoming able to utilize every bit of a 4GB system nowadays. StarCraft 2 leaves my 4GB with only a bare 100-150MB free when it's loaded up. More room for future expansion too.

Did not know that. Which is why I'm glad I'm asking you guys  

[StolenToast]

Thats basically what I would build if I had that budget, and its basically a younger brother version of what I have right now (especially the case).

A+

[Didzo]

On the subject of CPU heatsinks, this is the one I purchased a few months back. I chose it over the one you linked because it's larger (more surface area = more dissipation) and its fan can move more air than the push-pull set up. And if you ever need to replace the fan or want to add another one, there's much more variety with 120mm fans than with 92mm fans.

But honestly, I'm not sure if you'd get any noticeable difference with either choice.

[at0m]

I'm waiting for the second gen i7 processors to become available next month before upgrading my rig.

Sent from my Desire HD

[StolenToast]

THis specifically is what I use http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6835106150

Its more expensive but also super efficient.  Its big and loud and powerful, but thats kind of the theme for my build.  Performance over aesthetics.