[Marine678]

This is my first time posting on this forum and my first build, can somebody look over this setup and tell me what they think. My goal in building this is a gaming rig that can be easily upgraded in a few years. I would also like to have the option to overclock if I want to later on. For the OS I would want Windows 7 64-bit. My budget tops out at around $3,000, but cheaper would be better.

Motherboard: ASUS P6X58-E WS LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813131715

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811119225
I wanted something that I could easily expand into, that is why I choose so large a case.

Processor: Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115211

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARX 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136891

RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1333C9
http://www.newegg.co...pk=TR3X6G1333C9

Graphics Cards 1: EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.co...X 550 Ti (Fermi

Graphics Card 2: EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130625

DVD/CD-ROM Drive: SONY Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1681S-0B – OEM
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827118031

Internal Card Reader: Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB Port / Extra Silver Face Plate
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820223103

Power Supply: PC Power and Cooling Turbo-Cool 1200W Server-grade High Performance SLI CrossFire ready Power Supply

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817703012
Is this too big of a power supply, I was uncertain as to exactly how big I needed to get so I just got the biggest I could find. What would be a more appropriately sized supply?
Monitor: ASUS VE258Q Black 25" 2ms HDMI LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor w/Display Port & Speakers 250 cd/m2 50,000,000:1 ASCR
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16824236123

I assume that if I want to connect wirelessly I would need to but a wireless card, and if so what exactly should I be looking for.

Thanks

Edited by Marine678, 01 November 2011 - 08:05 AM.

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Hello, anybody out there.

[Marine678]

Hello, anybody out there.

[Marine678]

After some more research I decided that this power adapter would be a little closer to what I was looking for:

ENERMAX NAXN 82+ ENM750AWT 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817194086

Would this give me enough extra power to upgrade to more graphics cards, hard drives, etc.. in the future or should I just buy a new power supply when I decide to upgrade.

[Marine678]

After a response on another forum I have changed a couple of components, specifically the mobo, CPU, PSU, GPU, and RAM. Is this setup any better.

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811119225

MOBO:ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.1) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813131771

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115072

RAM:CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820233144

This is not on the QVL but it does meet all of the connection requirements, and would there be a problem with adding an extra 2-4 GBs of RAM on later (or is 8GBs enough).

Graphics Card:EVGA 015-P3-1580-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.co...0%20%28Fermi%29

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARX 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136891

Would it be worth the money to by an SSD or is the drive I have now sufficient, if so what should I look for.

PSU: ENERMAX MODU87+ EMG700AWT 700W (Peak 770W) ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] =EMG700AWT

DVD/CD-ROM Drive: SONY Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1681S-0B – OEM
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827118031

Would I be better suited to buy a slightly more expensive drive or is this good enough for gaming and normal use.

Internal Card Reader: Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB Port / Extra Silver Face Plate
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820223103

Monitor: ASUS VE258Q Black 25" 2ms HDMI LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor w/Display Port & Speakers 250 cd/m2 50,000,000:1 ASCR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236123

Keyboard: Logitech G510 Black 18 Function Keys USB Wired Gaming Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823126100

CPU Fan: LOGISYS Computer IC221PWM 92mm Hydro Theta 21 PWM Intel LGA 1156 CPU Cooling
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835999018

Case Fan: I have a couple that I think would work but it is really worth my money to buy an extra fan for the case or does it already have enough.

Edited by Marine678, 01 November 2011 - 02:16 PM.

[iammykyl]

Hi Marine678, .


Your second build selection is much better.

My goal in building this is a gaming rig that can be easily upgraded in a few years.

Consider changing the Mobo to a Z68 platform, this may give you a better CPU upgrade path in the future.
http://www.newegg.co...0^13-157-250-TS

[Marine678]

This the most updated build:
PSU:ENERMAX REVOLUTION85+ ERV1020EWT 1020W (Peak 1120W) ATX12V / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817194081

Mobo:ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157271

Hard Drive:SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 20F3%201TB

SSD:Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F60GB3-BK 2.5" 60GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820233194

Burner:Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model AD-7261S-0B LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118040

CPU Cooler:COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103065

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811119225

RAM:CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820233144

Graphics Card:EVGA 015-P3-1580-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.co...0%20%28Fermi%29

DVD/CD-ROM Drive: SONY Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1681S-0B – OEM
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827118031

Internal Card Reader: Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB Port / Extra Silver Face Plate
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820223103

Monitor: ASUS VE258Q Black 25" 2ms HDMI LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor w/Display Port & Speakers 250 cd/m2 50,000,000:1 ASCR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236123

Keyboard: Logitech G510 Black 18 Function Keys USB Wired Gaming Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823126100

Case Fan: I have a couple that I think would work but it is really worth my money to buy an extra fan for the case or does it already have enough.

[iammykyl]

Hi.

Your links do not work.

Mobo is good.

Your missed out the CPU. If going for the SB 2500K? is good.
FYI, Providing you have a case with good airflow, the heat-sink and fan provided by Intel or AMD is designed to keep the CPU within it't thermal tolerances. If you over-clock the CPU or use an after market heatsink and fan you void the warranty. I would use the stock cooler and see how the system performs before thinking about using the Hyper 212.

RAM is OK. This is the one I would use.
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820233219

Case. Good, very popular. Check to see if you are able to install the card reader you selected. check to see if it has washable air filters One to compare.
http://www.newegg.co...0^11-129-100-TS

Or this one, but out of stock.

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811129176

Extra fans. Build the system first, see how it performs and then add if needed.

HDDs. Do you intend to use the SSD as the boot drive and the Samsung for DATA and storage?

Keyboard good.

DVD. Good.

PSU. I think is over the top but, everything should be selected first and the PSU at the end.

Monitor. Should discuss this later.

OS. Windows7 64bit, good.

GPU. Excellent. I am green.

You might consider a gaming mouse.

[Marine678]

I will be using the SB 2500K

For the SSD I have changed to this
OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820227706

I am planning on using this for my boot drive.

For the RAM I was going to use a low profile version of the one I had selected. Would it be necessary to have a low profile or would the regular size work with a larger CPU fan.

I was thinking this fan:
CORSAIR CAFA70 120mm Dual-Fan CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.co...Tpk=Corsair A70

with this RAM
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820233186

What kind of monitor should I be looking at.

[iammykyl]

For the SSD I have changed to this

OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

<br style="color: rgb(13, 41, 117); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); ">
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820227706

That's a better size. Keep the OS and games on it. Partition the 2nd HDD for programs DATA and backups, including OS image.

For the RAM I was going to use a low profile version of the one I had selected. Would it be necessary to have a low profile or would the regular size work with a larger CPU fan.

Low profile RAM is better if you are going to use an after market cooler as some (and you don't know until you fit it) can make it impossible to install or swap sticks without first removing the fan.

RAM is good.

Be warned, RAM coolers are usually very noisy. I would test the system first and if you think you need one, then fit it.

Have you easy access to a large store where you can eye ball monitors?

[iammykyl]

How is your selection going?