Durza's Gaming Rig

Durza · **Joined:** Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:02 am **Posts:** 434

So after several months of searching, I think I may finally have a job, which means I'll have the cash to do this

<3

Like I said, I'll take any major suggestions that you guys have, but this is mostly just a way for me to double check and make sure everything is compatible. Also, if anyone who knows what they are looking for happens to take the time to go through all this, I need someone to make sure that all the hardware will work with the case I've chosen.

Thanks for your time guys, I really appreciate it

<3

Myst · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:11 am

Intel > AMD

AMD ATI = nVidia

AMD ATI $$$ < nVidia $$$

imo

Phoenix7015 · **Joined:** Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:13 pm **Posts:** 293

Intel just launched Ivy Bridge, which will continue to kick AMD's ass in the $200+ range. It should hit Newegg in a few days. Some of the corresponding Z77 motherboards already have.

See this review: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5771/the-intel-ivy-bridge-core-i7-3770k-review

You might want to get a SSD if you care about booting/loading times and general storage speed.

Not sure if you noticed, but that keyboard has a non-standard layout.

You should probably also look into a better mouse.

More thoughts later perhaps.

Durza · **Joined:** Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:02 am **Posts:** 434

Well, I've done a slight overhaul on what I'd like to get...give me your opinions on this:

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813130643

CPU: http://ark.intel.com/products/65523/Int ... _90-GHz%29
This CPU is supposedly going to price at about $315.

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102981

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136533

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139020

MD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827136246

Speakers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6836121033

Keyboard and Mouse Combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6823165015

RAM and Case Combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.890760
I know that 16GB of RAM is wayyy overkill, but this is the case I'm getting regardless, and the price of the case + my previously chosen RAM is = to the price of this combo, and I'll get 2x the RAM.

This is pretty much my final decision, but if anyone has an issue or warning about this rig, speak up.

Durza · **Joined:** Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:02 am **Posts:** 434

I've changed a couple parts, added a couple parts, and decided to wait a few months to do the accessories.

Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 77-V%20Pro

Processor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819116501

Graphics Card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102982

RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102982

Power Supply & RAM Combo Deal - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.878099

Hard Drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136533

Heat Sink - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 15&Tpk=h60

Media Drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827135247

Operating System - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832116986

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119225

I know this is an expensive rig, and that you are all going to rag on me for spending so much on a computer that will be outdated in a few years

The first comment I'm sure you'll make, is that 16 gb of RAM is completely unnecessary, as I am well aware. But consider the situation, I am being offered 8 gb of RAM for less than half of its normal price. That is a deal I'll take without a doubt. The second you'll mention is that I should exchange that Hard Drive for a Solid State Drive, but I don't foresee it as being worth it. I'd rather have a slower hard drive that has 4 times the memory for the same price, just sayin'. The third will probably be that the case I've chosen is unnecessarily expensive, and that I could find a good deal on a case for much, much less, and still be satisfied with it. While this is true, I want this case. It has 5 fans, plus the fan that is included with the heatsink, and has a see through door and is the only case on the Coolermaster line that I see with a fan on the side of the case. That and the fact that it look rather bad-ass, is why I am getting this case. Next you'll continue to persist that I should go with a lower level, cheaper processor, which I will again refuse to do. I want the most powerful processor around, and this seems to be it, therefore it is my processor of choice. Then you'll mention that there are cheaper versions of the same motherboard on the market, but I've seen a few articles about it, and they all recommend ASUS' model of the Z77. It supposedly much faster when it comes to USB 3.0, audio, and several other fields; making it the motherboard of my choice.

If I've missed anything, please let me know.

Now for the accessories:

Monitor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824236049

Mouse - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... cat%20kone

Keyboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... cat%20isku

Mouse Pad - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... t%20alumic

Headset - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... kulo%207.1

Speakers - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6836121033

Now, I understand that some of this stuff is unnecessarily expensive, but I'm going to put out a good bit for my accessories. Do not think that I have downgraded the parts of my machine for this, because I am going to order all of these separately a month or so after I've built the main rig. These accessories are very pricey, but they are also good quality pieces of equipment, and I fully intend on purchasing them, unless you can show me better for less.

Thank you for taking the time to look through all of this once again, I'm sorry my mind continues to change, but that's how its going to be until I chill out and just make the money.

Speaking of money, the main machine will total out to about $1,686.89(after the mail-in rebates) and the accessories total to about $600-$700.

Thanks again,
Durza

P.S. Sorry if there are any comments in here that make no sense at all, this was posted on another forum as well, and I wrote most of it to reflect the feedback I've received with them. Sorry! xD

TheIronhide · **Joined:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:05 pm **Posts:** 278

-You do not "need" a SSD right now, but I suggest to add one in a couple of months when you got some money left. It is not highly necessary, but really worth it. Anyway you should not get a Western Digital HDD, they only give you one year warranty. Samsung for example give 3-5 years depending on the exact HDD. Of course in both cases you could lose the data, but at least not the money.

-Looking at the current RAM price, you should go for 16GB. It is not really needed, but the price is very low currently and you would barely notice the difference in the price, but in the future you might need some more GB of RAM for a few programs, or if you decide to run virtual machine(s).

-Do not buy 2.1 speakers, go for 5.1! Much, much better sound quality and gaming/movie experience! That one is not only suggested but highly needed!

-Also I do not think you should buy the HD 7970 GPU, comparing the high performance cards, Nvidia's GTX 680 is definitely ahead of AMD right now, and not only by a bit, their card is much better and almost has the same price (at least where I work it has). AMD only has an advantage on higher resolution like 2560x1440 (and even there it is only better in some games), but since the screen you want to buy only supports a resolution up to 1920x1080, it is a bad idea to buy that card. Nvidia is definitely better in that resolution, in actually 99% of all games.

-I can't see which PSU you wanted to buy because I receive this error message: "Sorry, the combo deal is no longer available.". Anyway the best PSUs are made by Enermax and Be quiet. High quality, really silent and low temperature. The best you can get.

-What I also suggest to buy in some time is an additional soundcard. Of course onboard sound is ok, but still an aditional soundcard has a much better quality and you will notice the difference. You could for example take one out of the Asus Xonar series or a Creative card, they are really good!

Phoenix7015 · **Joined:** Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:13 pm **Posts:** 293

I like this site for reviews of power supplies, cases, and cooling stuff: http://www.silentpcreview.com/

Corsair is generally good stuff.

Agreed on the sound card, my last computer had one and I kinda miss it now. I almost always use a headset with virtualized surround sound instead of speakers though.

Durza · **Joined:** Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:02 am **Posts:** 434

Thanks for the input guys. I'll probably stick with the 7970, but I'll look at some more benchmarks for the GTX 680. As for the HDD, I'll look around for a cheap Samsung drive for the same price. I'm not too concerned about the warranty though. As to the RAM, I did have 16 gb picked out, it was part of the power supply deal. I'll have to go back and find another PSU now, and add another packet of RAM. Thanks for the tip on the speakers too, I dont know anything about them, so I wasn't entirely sure about what I was getting. Im deffs getting a sound card, but I'll probably do it when I get the accessories.

Thanks again guys, I'll definitely take you input and ideas into consideration.

TheIronhide · **Joined:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:05 pm **Posts:** 278

Some benchmarks:

Spoiler:

Phoenix7015 · **Joined:** Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:13 pm **Posts:** 293

This would probably be a pretty good SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820148442

Benchmarks: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/SSD

Durza's Gaming Rig

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