PS2 Gaming Rig

inigma · 2011-12-15, 03:31 PM

I hope to update this page with the latest parts for best performance for the money, until I hit the trigger and build my PS2 dream machine either a month away from release, or if I get an invite to the beta.

Update: I purchased the rig and all its parts on Dec 23, 2011 when notice of the beta signups were out. I built it Jan 1, 2012. As of Aug 15, 2012 I have verified all parts are working great together and put them through good stress testing of every capability. No issues. This system is amazingly fast and should meet your needs for the next decade with appropriate upgrades after a few years. This original post will be updated with prices every week until PS2 Release Day 1. Now if you want me to build you one too... pms work great, but I encourage you to build your own as well. Pictures here.

The purpose of this build is to be able to play PS2 at max settings at release, with an eye towards maximum upgrade-ability, and a neutral color scheme from which to add VS/NC/TR color switchable led bling.

This will be my first computer build as I see it as a much cheaper alternative than buying a pre-built machine.

My budget is $2190 including monitor, keyboard, mouse, everything. After all, I am moving away from a 10 year old P4 1GB, and 17" tube.

The PS2 Gaming Rig: (newegg prices)

Case:$120 NZXT Phantom Black ATX Full Tower
PSU: $210 Corsair Pro Series Modular HX1050W (for future upgrade to 2 gtx 580s)
Mobo: $140 ASRock P67 EXTREME4 GEN3
CPU: $290 Intel i7 2600K
Cooler: $34 Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
RAM: $92 Corsair Vengeance 16GB
SSD: $95 OCZ Agility 3 120 GB SATA III SSD
GPU: $500 EVGA GTX 680 2 GB
BR Burner: $90 Pioneer Black 12X BD-R

Rig Total:$1571 (newegg wishlist)

EXTRAS:
Monitor: $205 ASUS VS248H-P Black 24" LED LCD
Keyboard: $24 Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000
Gaming Keypad: $60 Logitech G13 USB Advanced Gameboard
Mouse: $75 Logitech G9x Black Two modes scroll USB Wired Laser 5700 dpi Gaming Mouse
Headset: $25 KOSS SB45 3.5mm Connector Circumaural

System Total : $2033
-$40 (Current Rebates and Promos, ($15) SSD and ($25) Monitor)

PS2 Gaming Rig Grand Total: $1973

EDIT 12/31/11: GTX 580 3GB price dropped to $550 the next business day. Newegg customer service was kind enough to bypass their standard policy when I asked, and gave me a one-time exception refund for the diff! Awesome Newegg! I'll definitely be buying stuff from them again in the future.

EXTREME BUILD: Add in a 2TB or larger WD Caviar Black HDD, switch out the Hyper 212 EVO with a Corsair H100, add LED bling, and add a second GTX 680 2GB in SLI.

PS2 Gaming Rig Benchmarks (stock settings):
Boot from Power On (cold) to Firefox Google loaded: 18 seconds
Warm Restart Back to Google: 14 seconds.

Temps (using SpeedFan to measure)
Idle CPU temp: 26C
Max CPU temp: 34C (gaming in Tribes Vengeance and World of Tanks)
GPU (GTX 580 3GB) Max temp: 72C (gaming in Tribes Vengeance and World of Tanks)

(Ambient temp is about 70F)(CPU cooler mounted using Arctic Silver 5, large center dot method)

GTX 580 3GB FPS (frames per second on ultra high settings maxed, @ 1080p):
Planetside 1: 218 fps
Planetside 2: excellent fps (NDA prevents disclosure, but you can tell based on what Higby uses in his videos)
World of Tanks: 86-128 fps
Tribes Ascend: 90-110 fps

inigma · 2011-12-15, 03:56 PM

Which case? NZXT Phantom Black Full Tower or Corsair 600t Mid Tower?

If I get the Corsair case, it can bundle with the 1050w PSU, taking $5 off the total rig price, but if I keep the NZXT case I have a full tower for future upgrades and water cooling vs a mid tower.

Bags · 2011-12-15, 04:19 PM

I used the corsair carbide 500r on my recent build and loved it. 600t looks more of the same greatness.

Here is a picture of my finished build... very easy to work with, very spacious, and great cablemanagment. Was my first build ever, too.

you'll probably even be able to get it even neater since you have modular.

One note of advice I can give you; you might want to get low profile vengeance ram. since you will be filling all four slots. I have an aftermarket cooler like that, and on my Z68 by msi I would not be able to fit the ram that big under the heatsink in the 4th slot.

inigma · 2011-12-15, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Bags

I used the corsair carbide 500r on my recent build and loved it. 600t looks more of the same greatness.

Here is a picture of my finished build... very easy to work with, very spacious, and great cablemanagment. Was my first build ever, too.

you'll probably even be able to get it even neater since you have modular.

One note of advice I can give you; you might want to get low profile vengeance ram. since you will be filling all four slots. I have an aftermarket cooler like that, and on my Z68 by msi I would not be able to fit the ram that big under the heatsink in the 4th slot.

Excellent pictures. Neat build. I read the entire thread. Thanks!

I was a bit concerned that the Corsairs usb 3.0 port doesnt attach to a board header but rather routes a cable to the back port taking up a whole port back there. The NZXT doesnt have usb 3, but i could just get a face mount for one for cheap.

Bags · 2011-12-15, 04:40 PM

Huh, mine connected from the front panel to my mobo.

inigma · 2011-12-15, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Bags

Huh, mine connected from the front panel to my mobo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811139007 reviews indicate no header connect. maybe its the diff between the 500r and 600t series.

Bags · 2011-12-15, 05:56 PM

dunno mate, too busy trying to get my pc to work to help you

7 days and counting... pc building is easy my ass

inigma · 2011-12-15, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by Bags

dunno mate, too busy trying to get my pc to work to help you

7 days and counting... pc building is easy my ass

lol. good luck.

Bags · 2011-12-15, 07:54 PM

If you're worried about the headers you could always get a 500r instead. YOu get a side 200mm instead of a top 200mm, and 2 front 120's instead of a 200mm. Other than that and some more less, the only difference seems to be the look.

Coreldan · 2011-12-16, 04:38 AM

If you are only upgrading for PS2s sake, I would wait till closer of at least closed beta. Components will get cheaper and/or new generation components will be made in that time.

But that said, I don't really have anything to contribute with to this discussion

Infektion · 2011-12-16, 11:47 AM

This is my PS2 rig

c2d E8400 @ 4.0Ghz
Gskill 2x 2GB ddr2 1066Mhz
PNY GTX 460 1GB Xlr8

inigma · 2011-12-19, 01:33 PM

New prices updated. Increased budget by $150. Bumped up gtx 580 from 1.5 GB to 3 GB for more future proofing. Added mouse, keyboard, and headset based on recommendations.

Bags · 2011-12-21, 02:16 AM

Isn't AMD releasing new cards very soon?

Traak · 2011-12-21, 02:50 AM

I would like to see someone engineer a pancake version of the best components and make a "Slabtop" computer, basically full-speed, full-size components, all arranged in as thin an array as possible, with flip-up screen.

It could be briefcase-mounted, so it was possible to carry by just shutting it like a briefcase.

With carbon fiber components (conductive) instead of steel or aluminum, it could be fairly light.

The briefcase gaming workstation. Some would, of course, prefer the "Samsonite" sized model.

inigma · 2011-12-21, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Bags

Isn't AMD releasing new cards very soon?

Limited on the 22nd and not commercially avail until January. Until then we have no pricing yet so, therefore no update to the PS2 Gaming Rig... yet.