Critique this gaming desktop build...

[nagooro]

Memory express has a sale going on right now, and unfortunately I don't have alot of knowledge with computer parts + specs so hopefully someone on here can help me out.

Is this build any good for the price and parts? Any suggestions/modifications?
Will be playing games like counterstrike source + global offensive, diablo 3.
(I think it has all the parts I would need?)

[BMW Power]

Intel's new Ivy Bridge processors are coming out within the next 2 months. I would hold on if I were you.

[msommers]

Not familiar with that motherboard but the rest looks pretty good. RAM is cheap, I'd go with 8gb. Factor in assembly too.

[GQBalla]

you don't need them to assemble if you know how to do it

but yeah not familiar with that board but its a good price

used is always cheaper though!

get 8 gigs of ram you can get cheaper ones

i think gskill is like 50 bucks for 8 gigs

[Boat]

That's laptop ram, bigshot

[Zero102]

Originally posted by Boat
That's laptop ram, bigshot

^^^
This, but also, why stop at 8GB? Get 16GB of desktop RAM.

Also, there are new processors coming out shortly so IMO the CPU/mobo is a bit overpriced, and at $270 for a PSU/case that seems a bit on the expensive side, better quality/appearance/performance can be had for less.

If it were my build I'd wait until the new processors from Intel ship, then build up a nice i7 system, that way you get triple channel memory, go with 12GB of ram, and I'd swap to an ATI/AMD card but that's more a personal preference.

[Zero102]

Originally posted by msommers
Not familiar with that motherboard but the rest looks pretty good. RAM is cheap, I'd go with 8gb. Factor in assembly too.

Originally posted by GQBalla
you don't need them to assemble if you know how to do it

but yeah not familiar with that board but its a good price

used is always cheaper though!

get 8 gigs of ram you can get cheaper ones

i think gskill is like 50 bucks for 8 gigs

He did get 8GB, 2x$19.99 = $39.98
Unfortuntely, it is the wrong type of ram anyway.

[bart]

ssd is a must

[nagooro]

Been looking at used computers, but I haven't had much luck finding a decent rig thats around my budget. If I find a good deal on a new one ill probably just grab that.

thoughts on this used computer?:
-Asus P8P67
-Intel I7 2600k
-16 gigs of ddr3 memory
-2TB harddrive
-650w corsair power supply
-cooler master v8 on the processor
-sapphire HD5670
-cooler master p190 advanced case
-LG blueray combo drive

hes asking $800 but willing to negotiate on the price, worth it? (wish I had more knowledge with specs+parts)

edit: I would like to stay in the $800-1000 range, not sure how far that will get me though. I'm not in a huge rush to buy, so might just wait for the new processors to come out..

[jsn]

Originally posted by bart
ssd is a must

I think you missed the point completely. At 800-1000, this would be considered a budget gaming rig. Money would be better spent on other components such as better GPU/CPU rather than a SSD...

[HiTempguy1]

Originally posted by bart
ssd is a must

Yes, even if it is a gaming rig, the items that will make the biggest difference in your OVERALL experience are an SSD, 16gb's of ram, and a bitchin' gpu. It's rare nowadays to see the CPU as a bottleneck, and I don't want to say a mobo is a mobo, but unless you are OC'ing, an inexpensive mobo from a good manufacturer with the appropriate hardware on it is the best way to go.

SSD's aren't even expensive nowadays. Get one for around $100-$120, it only has to be a 40gb or 60gb one, and use it strictly for program files (Windoze install, and a game or two). Even the slowest SSD is basically faster than a raptor, I've had mine for 1.5 years now and it BLOWS MY MIND!

Also, if you don't mind used, there is a dude on 780tuners.com that sells BITCHIN' computers for s00per cheap (and is legitimate). I'd guess he's sold over 50 computers on beyond, including some to my friends. The deals he gives are screamin', fully assembled with Windoze 7. You can't built a computer brand new yourself for as cheap as he sells them.

http://forums.780tuners.com/showthre...uters-for-Sale!&highlight=computer

[WhippWhapp]

Originally posted by nagooro
Been looking at used computers, but I haven't had much luck finding a decent rig thats around my budget. If I find a good deal on a new one ill probably just grab that.

thoughts on this used computer?:
-Asus P8P67
-Intel I7 2600k
-16 gigs of ddr3 memory
-2TB harddrive
-650w corsair power supply
-cooler master v8 on the processor
-sapphire HD5670
-cooler master p190 advanced case
-LG blueray combo drive

hes asking $800 but willing to negotiate on the price, worth it? (wish I had more knowledge with specs+parts)

edit: I would like to stay in the $800-1000 range, not sure how far that will get me though. I'm not in a huge rush to buy, so might just wait for the new processors to come out..

Not bad, especially if you can get the seller down a bit on price- the GPU is pretty weak.

As noted above, buy used to make your dollar go farther.

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-s...AdIdZ353289635

Pretty much ready to go, quad core with hyperthreading, decent case, weak GPU.

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-s...AdIdZ362810522

This one has a kick ass CPU/GPU combo, if you could get it for $400ish it would be and outstanding deal and leave you enough room to meet your budget.

Also remember any build with a z68 will allow you to save on the SSD capacity and utilize the caching feature included on the chipset.

A couple of the i7 systems in the link HiTempguy1 posted are very good deals.

[nagooro]

Originally posted by nagooro
Been looking at used computers, but I haven't had much luck finding a decent rig thats around my budget. If I find a good deal on a new one ill probably just grab that.

thoughts on this used computer?:
-Asus P8P67
-Intel I7 2600k
-16 gigs of ddr3 memory
-2TB harddrive
-650w corsair power supply
-cooler master v8 on the processor
-sapphire HD5670
-cooler master p190 advanced case
-LG blueray combo drive

hes asking $800 but willing to negotiate on the price, worth it? (wish I had more knowledge with specs+parts)

edit: I would like to stay in the $800-1000 range, not sure how far that will get me though. I'm not in a huge rush to buy, so might just wait for the new processors to come out..

So I got him down to $650 + mouse and keyboard. Figured I can upgrade the GPU on my own when needed. Thoughts?

[natejj]

Originally posted by nagooro


So I got him down to $650 + mouse and keyboard. Figured I can upgrade the GPU on my own when needed. Thoughts?

650 sounds good. Then sell the GPU, buy a new one, good to go.

Found this for $450

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-s...AdIdZ364118029
CPU: Intel i7 860 Quad Core Processor @ 2.8 GHz
Motherboard: Intel DP55KG
RAM: Kingston 8GB DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600)
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 5760 1GB GDDR5 Vapor-X Cooling (Dual DisplayPort AND Dual DVI)
HDD: Western Digital 300GB 7200RPM
Optical: Samsung SH-S223B 22x SpeedPlus DVD Writer
Case: Antec Sonata III with 500 EarthWatts Power Supply
Keyboard: Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
Mouse: Microsoft Wireless Mouse 1000
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate Edition (Installed)

[nagooro]

Ended up going with a build recommended by KG810.

Mobo/cpu/case/power supply bundle: Intel i5-2500K + Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 + Corsair 600T Graphite White Edition + 600W Modular PC Power and Cooling Silencer PSU
Ram: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB PC3-12800 DDR3
SSD: Crucial M4 64GB SSD
Video Card: Radeon HD 6870 1GB
Hard Drive: 750GB Western Digital Caviar Black 7200rpm 64MB Cache
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
Optical Drive: Asus 24x DVD-RW Drive Black

[KRyn]

600 series cards are dropping soon, I would hold out until then as 500 series cards will come down $20-50. Same with new Intels.

[Zero102]

6870 is one of my favorite current ATI/AMD cards. Dare I ask what this set you back, and what your thoughts were on upgrading the CPU cooler? The stock cooler is perfectly adequate for a stock clock/volt core i5.

[Kg810]

Originally posted by nagooro
Ended up going with a build recommended by KG810.

Hope you enjoy it once you get it built

Originally posted by Zero102
6870 is one of my favorite current ATI/AMD cards. Dare I ask what this set you back, and what your thoughts were on upgrading the CPU cooler? The stock cooler is perfectly adequate for a stock clock/volt core i5.

I can send you the build list that I sent nagooro. It has the prices and links for the price matches.

PM your email if you want the list.

[The_Rural_Juror]

Nice one kg810.

Agree on the 6870. I got the gigabyte variant on sale. Love it, but a waste since I don't game. Great case also. Plenty of room for upgrades.

[nagooro]

Originally posted by Zero102
6870 is one of my favorite current ATI/AMD cards. Dare I ask what this set you back, and what your thoughts were on upgrading the CPU cooler? The stock cooler is perfectly adequate for a stock clock/volt core i5.

I bought everything except the GPU, set me back about ~$800 (incl tax+rebates) so far. The GPU is $150 with a rebate, which I will pick up tomorrow. So total cost for the system will be around $920-930 with GST/rebates.

As for the cooler, I don't really know much about the hardware, KG recommended it so I just threw it in. Was another $25 or so dollars.

Originally posted by Kg810


Hope you enjoy it once you get it built



I can send you the build list that I sent nagooro. It has the prices and links for the price matches.

PM your email if you want the list.

Thanks again for all the help. The price matches saved me a decent amount.
Had my cousin help me build it this evening. Everything is in except the GPU so hopefully we did it all correctly. Haven't hooked up a monitor to it yet, but the fans, fan controller, usb ports and whatnot are all working well.

Are there any programs I can use to test the hardware to make sure its all working properly?
And a program to monitor the temperatures, wanna make sure the cooler is working correctly for the first little bit.

Happy with the system thus far, and pretty impressed with the case as well.