New Build - Major/Minor Changes needed?

[NCLynx]

http://i.imgur.com/D6RBk.png
(Hardware so far)

Going to be building a new computer soon, but I'm hung up on a couple things.

-Gaming (Building it in anticipation of game released in 2012, I don't expect to be able to run them all on the highest settings but I'd like to get close with what I'm able to order currently)

-Animating (Maya, Blender, 3DS Max, etc)
-Video Editing
-Quite a bit of multi-tasking

I dropped the SSD, Cav. Black HDD should do the trick for now. Don't know what PSU to go with, and will probably bump the 560 up to a 580.

This wishlist was made about a month ago so I'm assuming there may also be some big changes I need to make. I'm also thinking of switching to a HAF X or something else.

Although seeing that the new Sandybridge - E processors might come out soonish IIRC should I just wait until then?

[Goku]

What is your total budget for this and where do you live (in case you live by a Frys or MC)?

Is there any particular games you are wanting to run (other then PS2 obviously lol) coming next year?

I don't know why you are listing two PSUs there. Which one are you considering?

In no way is that WD 1TB Black HDD worth $200. You get a good 1TB these days for $50-$75.

You can check out SB-E, but it will likely be out of your price range for a six core anyway. That is at least $600 right there if not more. The quad core perform better then the 2600K, but it is not known if it can overclock yet.

Answer those questions and I'll give you more feedback.

[NCLynx]

Trying to keep it 2k or under with monitor included. I live relatively close to a microcenter as well.

I listed the 2 PSUs because I wasn't sure which one to go with.

Games? Guild Wars 2, Planetside 2 like you said lol of course, Diablo 3, Dota 2 are the big ones

I'll take the HDD into account, and I kinda figured it wasn't worth it for me to wait for the new SB-Es to come out.

[Goku]

Microcenter has a combo with the 2600K and any Z68 board for $60. That beats going Newegg for that. Is there any particular features you needed on the motherboard?

Depends really on the PSU. I love modular PSUs, so if you want to have the ability to organize your case better go for one of those. The HX line is very good.

I bet even a 560 Ti will max all those games out. If you want to go all out and get the 580 be my guest. You could probably upgrade this time next year for a $250 card and get far better performance then a 580 just keep in mind.

I totally forgot what happened in SE Asia. A major flood knocked out the parts for making HDDs. That is why the prices sky rockets. I paid just a tad over $100 when I got my WD 1TB Black last year. Those prices make me want to puke.

Do you have any older HDDs of a good size to old you over? I would never pay that much for a HDD. Rather spend the money on a solid state disk. For shame.

[Rbstr]

I bet even a 560 Ti will max all those games out.
0_o I wonder about that, considering half of them aren't released.


If you're looking for a better vid card I always recommend the slightly cut down versions of the top-end cards. The 570GTX for instance. You pay hundreds less for damn near 90% of the product.

Who really knows what the gfx market looks like next year. If you always put it off for the thing just around the corner you'd never get a new computer.
It'd be a different story if the new gen was out in a month, you're nVidia, at least, is going to be 2012 before release and more for availability and more for the affordable cards.

[Traak]

This will help those of you who want SSD speed with some general ideas on what kind of box to build

First, a fast, positively-reviewed SSD, 120GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227706)
Antec, good quality at a good price 750W power supply (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371051)
Case: Antec popular tower gaming case with plenty of ventilation and space (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129097)
DVD burner, SATA (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233)
Creative Labs 7.1 Sound (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102034)
G.Skill RAM, 16GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231309)
OCable Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157253)
OC me! i5 CPU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx? Item=N82E16819115072)
No compromise CPU cooler (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118091)
Gaming network card, a little less for your MoBo to process (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833189002)
Video Card: Scalable for up to five displays: (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161385)

[Goku]

0_o I wonder about that, considering half of them aren't released.


If you're looking for a better vid card I always recommend the slightly cut down versions of the top-end cards. The 570GTX for instance. You pay hundreds less for damn near 90% of the product.

Who really knows what the gfx market looks like next year. If you always put it off for the thing just around the corner you'd never get a new computer.
It'd be a different story if the new gen was out in a month, you're nVidia, at least, is going to be 2012 before release and more for availability and more for the affordable cards.

The only game he listed that will bring down a 560 Ti may just be PS2. Just due to the sheer amount of people in the game. I highly doubt any of those games are going to be more demanding then BF3 either. That is really the only problem the 560 Ti will have issues with at 1920x1080.

I do agree the 570 is good middle ground. You aren't wasting as much money on a 580 that way too.


Gaming network card, a little less for your MoBo to process (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833189002)


Killer NIC cards are a no no, Traak. Not worth the money at all. There really is no real world effect to these working even verse onboard NICs.

[Traak]

Killer NIC cards are a no no, Traak. Not worth the money at all. There really is no real world effect to these working even verse onboard NICs.

Statistics? Proof?

A quote from someone who reviewed a Bigfoot Networks 2100 card:

The killer greatly helped my frame rate for online gaming in particular with Starcraft II which is already a hugely taxing game. I could play on lowest settings just fine but who wants that? I have a nice computer I want to see and appreciate the amazing graphics! After putting the killer 2100 in there I experienced no drops in frame rate and I was able to micro manage those big battles with no problems. This card made my gaming both more enjoyable and more competitive!

And another:

The Bigfoot Networks Killer 2100 is a great network card. The software is very easy to install and its basicly plug it in and play. I've noticed that my ping has gone down in games and my downloads are going faster.

And another:
I am an extremely competitive gamer and was having latency problems with my standard MOBO network so I heard that the bigfoot 2100 was an amazing NIC that would drastically reduce the latency of my games and I must say I was not disappointed. With this NIC It feels as if I am playing on LAN latency which has given me a big advantage in my online performance.

And another:
Purchase this product to stabilize you connection. If others lag, they wont drag you down with them. Saw immediate increase and stability with FPS.

And another:
This card is awesome, it kills lag and make online gaming so smooth. it does help increase the frame rate and improve the gaming experience.

So, you have evidence to refute these? You know these guys, know they are all lying, and can prove that it does nothing for any game, under any circumstances?

I mean, it's only 70 bucks or whatever. It works, people have found that it works, and they are happy. Did you try it and find it didn't work?

[Mutant]

Statistics? Proof?



Franckly random anomounus quotes meen nothing.

Here are a few reviews; the results vary.
http://www.kitguru.net/networking/zardon/bigfoot-killer-2100-gaming-network-card-review/
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/bigfoot_killer_2100/
http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/bigfoot_networks_killer_2100_review.html
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/networking-and-wi-fi/network-adapters/bigfoot-networks-killer-2100-701117/review?artc_pg=1


I have no doubt that in CPU constrained situation the killer NICs provide an FPS boost.
And if you can not be assed to turn off your torrents when gaming it would provide a useful reduction in ping.


But today’s games rarely leave a $200+ CPU system CPU constrained.
And at $70 that money spent on additional GPU power would I imagine give better FSP results. And in normal cases a few ms drop in ping is going to be unnoticeable to all but the most pro twitch gamers.




I dropped the SSD


For animating and Vid editing an SDD is now adays a must, it just makes so much differance. I would now never spec a workstaton without one.


Also on a 2K bundget look at getting an ISP monitor. Somthing like an HP ZR24, Dell UltraSharpU2410 or ASUS ProArt Series PA246Q (http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/42204-asus-pa246q-proart-24-ips-monitor-review.html)for ~ $500

[Traak]

But the card isn't 200 dollars. It's more like 70.

If you think 70 dollars is just way too much dosh to risk on something that has been proven to improve gaming for people, then don't do it.

But to just proclaim "It doesn't do anything" is erroneous.

[Vancha]

But the card isn't 200 dollars. It's more like 70.

If you think 70 dollars is just way too much dosh to risk on something that has been proven to improve gaming for people, then don't do it.

But to just proclaim "It doesn't do anything" is erroneous.

Okay, how about "It does something, and what it does is worth maybe $5, but probably less".

Spending that $70 on a better CPU/GPU will do more for you than Bigfoot's cards, which are basically made of marketing. Go to any decent tech forum and praise the Killer NIC...You will be laughed at.

[Goku]

Traak if you insist on debating this please make another thread. I do not want Lynx's thread getting turned into a nic card debate. Thanks.

[NCLynx]

Well because there's a pretty decent discount today I'm thinking I'll at least get the PSU and monitor today.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010 is the PSU I'm lookin at.

[Goku]

Well because there's a pretty decent discount today I'm thinking I'll at least get the PSU and monitor today.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010 is the PSU I'm lookin at.

That PSU will do good. Will easily last you several years anyway.

How much is the monitor going for at the moment?

Did you see what I said about the combo deal on the 2600K at micro center?

Concerning the ram this is the cheapest 1.5V set after rebate (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233190) I see on Newegg at the moment for 16GB. No need for 1600 MHz and you at least still get the heat spreaders.

[NCLynx]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236153 That's the monitor.

With the discount it'll do, can't get that 500$ Dell monitor atm.

Saw the MC deal, there was also this combo on newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.764509
Although I'd like to see if a Black Nov. deal pops up for something like that too.

[Traak]

Spending that $70 on a better CPU/GPU will do more for you...

Which CPU? I have an i5 2600k listed that, at the time I posted it, was $219.99

There is any CPU that offers more peformance and overclocking capability for $289.99? (or even $304.98 which would be with the additional price of the NIC I had listed)

I saw Intel processors that were not the new Sandy Bridge architecture, I saw no AMD processors at all, at least on NewEgg.com, that were priced from 219.99 even up to 300 dollars, except this one:

AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz 8MB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core

I don't know if this is a step up from the i5. There are no other processors available that are overclockable in the price range from $219.99 to $304.99.

I also checked what could be better than this that I specified:
HIS IceQ H697QM2G2M Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
$379.99

for a price of $465.98 or less, which is the price of the NIC added. I looked at benchmarks on Tom's Hardware for a superior graphics card for that price. I couldn't find anything that offered over five percent better performance for anywhere near the price of the HIS card.

Noticeably more video performance is available, at much more than 85 dollars extra.

It isn't about increasing overall system maximum performance. It's about eliminating any possible bottlenecks at a reasonable price.

Now, with that in mind, what would 85 extra bucks do on the storage front? If it could kick you up to a SSD from a HDD, then it would be worth it. If you didn't already have the SSD.

As someone pointed out somewhere, the single most gigantic leap forward in system performance in the past ten years has been the introduction of SSD's. If you don't have one, then an SSD can save your in-game life by making it so those surprise disk reads/writes that bring your FPS down to zero for a split second, don't happen.

[Sirisian]

Which CPU? I have an i5 2600k listed that, at the time I posted it, was $219.99
That processor doesn't exist. I believe you mean the i5-2500k.

additional price of the NIC I had listed
:lol: I had to go back a page. Someone already scolded you for talking about NIC cards. Good. Don't ever mention them again unless you know what they actually do.

AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz 8MB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core

I don't know if this is a step up from the i5.
They are roughly equivalent with the i5 being a little better. I recommend this site (http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php).

//edit: Awesome computer. My only advice would be to get an OS/Game SSD. That 7200 RPM is going to be a bottleneck. If you like to video capture yourself playing games for instance you're going to see random performance drops. Up to you though.

[Traak]

I figure the NIC that they sell makes it so you have a GUI for the tweaks that, if you were so inclined, you could look up on the internet and play with manually.

For most, as in any who have ever had a job, that time could be more profitably spent doing something else.

For some real-world registry tweaks, I use Speedguide.net's (http://speedguide.net) tools, that is, assuming I have a computer that belongs to me at the time. I'm just using the computer my friends who own this hotel in Thailand let me use ATM. 14 FPS in PS. Woot!

[NCLynx]

Likely going with this mobo (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502), with an i7 2600k. Any thoughts?

I need to find RAM and a CPU heat sink for them but I'd like to nail this down first.

[Goku]

Lynx can you give me a current break down of your latest build?

[NCLynx]

http://i.imgur.com/W4vCK.png

I have a PSU for it already (Modular Corsair 750w, there was a newegg black nov. sale for it). Still need to choose a case for it.

EDIT: There's a coupon code for the time being that I can use on the mobo.

[Goku]

First off if you can get this Seagate 1TB HDD from Best Buy for $55 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Seagate+-+Barracuda+1TB+Internal+Serial+ATA+Hard+Drive/8490625.p?id=1186003683968&skuId=8490625&st=seagate%201tb&cp=1&lp=2), so you aren't spending a boat load on the HDD. That is one of the best prices I have seen lately for a HDD.

Second I recommend this Crucial M4 128GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148448&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Solid+State+Disk-_-Crucial-_-20148448) instead of that Agility. It has better reliability and CS verse what OCZ is known for.

Are you still considering the Gigabyte mobo or is that Asus now? If the ASUS is still $50+ I would still go for the gigabyte instead. Does the ASUS offer anything over the Gigabyte one?

[NCLynx]

The ASUS is the 50$ cheaper one, only change I saw between the two was that the gigabyte had better SLI support but I don't plan to SLI.

switched out the SSD as well to the Crucial

[Goku]

The ASUS one is more expensive I think then the Gigabyte one you linked in your previous post.

Are you going to look into the HDD?

What cases do you have in mind?

Are you deadest on the Noctua heatsink?

[NCLynx]

The ASUS one is more expensive I think then the Gigabyte one you linked in your previous post.

Are you going to look into the HDD?

What cases do you have in mind?

Are you deadest on the Noctua heatsink?

Gigabyte-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.764509

Asus-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131701

Unless we're talking about different things.

Definitely looking into that HDD, not TOTALLY deadset on the noctua I've just heard great things and read in the comments on the RAM that it'll fit. As for cases, I was leaning towards a HAF X but the case is likely the last thing I'll get so that could change.

[Goku]

This Gigabyte (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=5414526&SID=skim19668X770041X1e22f8bd888deca894638188d3d83 003). I don't think those others are worth the extra $100 is all.

The HAF X is a good choice you can't go wrong there.

Concerning the air cooler. Check out the reviews of the Corsair H80/100 and Antec Kuhler 900 series. Those are similar to water cooling kits. If you want a HS tower go for that DH-14 that you already have.

[NCLynx]

Must be brain dead tonight, don't even know how I switched from that Gigabyte to the Asus I put in the picture. HAF X will likely be my case then, I'll look at the other CPU coolers as well. Switched back to the gigabyte mobo

[Goku]

Looks like you are all set to order then. Everything looks perfect to me.

[NCLynx]

Gettin the HDD from Best Buy, added the HAF X but in between when I screenshot my cart and now the graphics card went from in-stock to auto-notify. Still looking to go with the 570, any specific card/brand I should be looking at?

[Goku]

That EVGA you have will be good. Especially with their step up if any new Nvidia cards do come out in January. REMEMBER TO REGISTER YOUR CARD :).

[NCLynx]

The one in the picture is no longer readily available, I assume downgrading to one of the 1280mb memory EVGA cards will be good enough? (The one pictured was 2560mb memory)

[Goku]

Oh lol I didn't notice. Get the 1280 MB and make sure it has the AR at the end of the model number for the life time warranty.

[NCLynx]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130622

Went with this one.

[Goku]

Looks good Lynx. Enjoy it.

[Traak]

I thought this had ONE part of the interview that was most interesting: If you have two cards in SLI, you can actually dedicate one card to left eye channel, and one card to right eye channel.

I wonder if that means that you can get 100 percent out of each card, because they are rendering two separate angles individually, instead of the reduced percentage from SLI both rendering the same scene...

So, you would get, say 120 fps for both, 60 fps per eye, instead of maybe 100 fps if both combined on the same view instead of having each card doing a separate eye. Dunno.

Newegg TV: NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 - YouTube