Decent gaming build - ?'s

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theanimal

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So after starting to search around Newegg, I decided screw it, I'll just spend a bit more and get a better PC. I'm not looking for a super PC or anything, I just want it to be able to flawlessly play games like BF3, MW3, and WoW. I feel like for the components I selected, the price is fairly high.

I'm going to run a dual monitor set up, the second monitor would be for nothing more than chats and random windows, youtube would probably be the most extensive thing I'd use it for.

Motherboard -
Newegg.com - ASUS P8H67-M PRO/CSM (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU -
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-2600 Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I72600
GPU -
Newegg.com - 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
GPU2 -
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER V6 GT RR-V6GT-22PK-R1 120mm DynaLoop CPU Cooler w/ Universal bracket & Dual Fan
Memory -
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9
Sound -
Newegg.com - ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channels PCI Express x1 Interface Sound Card
PSU -
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
SSD -
Newegg.com - Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2CCA 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) with Transfer Kit
HDD -
Newegg.com - Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ/ST500DM005 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
CPU Cooling -
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-1300-LR GeForce 8400 GS 512MB 32-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card
 
1) Get a P67/Z68/Z77 motherboard, they are newer and also allow overclocking.

2) Get an i5 2500K CPU, there is no benefit to the i7 for gamers.

3) Get 8GB of RAM instead of 16, you won't use the extra 8.

4) Unless you are an audiophile you can ditch the sound card and use on-board.

5) No need for 2 graphics cards. Take the money you saved above and get a better single card.

6) Post your budget for the tower and let people here make some suggestions.
 
1) Get a P67/Z68/Z77 motherboard, they are newer and also allow overclocking.

2) Get an i5 2500K CPU, there is no benefit to the i7 for gamers.

3) Get 8GB of RAM instead of 16, you won't use the extra 8.

4) Unless you are an audiophile you can ditch the sound card and use on-board.

5) No need for 2 graphics cards. Take the money you saved above and get a better single card.

6) Post your budget for the tower and let people here make some suggestions.

Alright, thanks for the reply. As for the budget, it's kind of hard to say, I'd like to keep it as cheap as possible to be honest, my original budget I had posted was $750, then I realized that wouldn't happen. At the same time, my 3+ year old AMD CPU and 240GTX provide sufficient game play in all the games I play, so I see know point in going overboard with outrageously expensive components.

So would it be better to run the second monitor off the single video card or to use the onboard GPU? And do sound cards really not make a difference? I don't care about music quality, but in games I've always felt I could sound ***** so much better when I used a sound card, maybe that will be different with a better mobo?

Changes:
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH
Newegg.com - ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Newegg.com - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K
Newegg.com - EVGA 02G-P3-1568-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

With these changes, it actually ended up being $150 more.
 
So would it be better to run the second monitor off the single video card or to use the onboard GPU?
And do sound cards really not make a difference? maybe that will be different with a better mobo?
With these changes, it actually ended up being $150 more.
I personally run 2 monitors off 1 card; I've done it off on-board before and it seems to confuse my computer.

Like I said if you're an audiophile then go for it. My take on it is sound cards can be added later if needed, but returning items can be a pain.

Not surprised its $150 more since the motherboard you selected is $125 more and the GPU is $100 more.
Grab an MSI P67A-GD55, pretty much the same features as your first board choice, and less expensive after rebate.
 
Alright so I think I'm about to put an order in then. Unless someone can come up with a better combination of components, my max is strictly $2,000 and not a penny over. The only component I'm starting with is the keyboard, and even though it's semi pricy, I'm dead set on the case I selected. This is what I've narrowed it down to:

Case - $170
Newegg.com - Corsair Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Monitors - 2x - $290
Newegg.com - ASUS VW224T Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 5000 :1 (ASCR) Built-in Speakers
Motherboard - $170
Newegg.com - MSI Z77A-GD65 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
CPU - $220
Newegg.com - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K
CPU Cooling - $50
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER V6 GT RR-V6GT-22PK-R1 120mm DynaLoop CPU Cooler w/ Universal bracket & Dual Fan
GPU - $210
Newegg.com - EVGA SuperClocked 02G-P3-1469-KR GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Memory - $50
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH
SSD for OS - $80
Newegg.com - Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe MKNSSDCL40GB-DX 2.5" 40GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
HDD - 2x - $160
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
External HDD backup - $110
Newegg.com - Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk 1.5TB USB 2.0 Black External Hard Drive STAC1500100
PSU - $130
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
Case fans - $20
Newegg.com - Rosewill RFA-120-K 120mm Case Fan
SATA cables - $15
Newegg.com - BYTECC Model SATA-118D 18" Serial ATA-150/300 Cable L Shape plug w/Locking Latch
DVD Drive - $20
Newegg.com - ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 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 DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - CD / DVD Burners
Card reader - $20
Newegg.com - Rosewill RCR-IC002 74-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB port / Extra silver face plate
Headset - $50
Newegg.com - Creative Fatal1ty Gaming Headset
Mouse - $40
Newegg.com - RAZER DeathAdder Black Edition RZ01-00152400-R3M1 Black 5 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical 3500 dpi Mouse
OS - $100
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems

Total: ~$1900
 
Only thing I would change is the GPU.

$210 - EVGA GTX 480. Same price as your current choice but with a lot more power; it will be warm though so would suggest using the mesh side-panel on your case.

$295 - EVGA GTX 570. Not sure its worth the $85 more performance wise versus the 480, but will run a bit cooler.
 
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