Build advise/Improvements

[overmyhead]

Thinking of adding a SSD, should I worry about compatibility issues?

 

[GhOsT1321]

no microcentres in your area?

Business Analytics

Micro Center is only in the US
Micro Center - Store Locations

 

[Roark]

No Micro Center locations in Canada.

Yeah you can add an SSD no problem, hardware wise.
If you're sticking to a strict $1k CAD budget though you'll probably have to switch to an AMD system to cut costs.

$115 Phenom II X4 960T
$150 Asus M5A99X EVO

Saves you roughly $115, which is plenty to get a 60/64GB SSD.

*Edit - Forgot the heatsink that comes with 960T is junk.
$30 CM Hyper 212 EVO

 

[iceyc0ld]

First build. Was giving this build list in another post. It looks good to me, but with my knowledge base that means nothing. I will use this for general everyday use, as well as casual gaming. Improvement ideas? Anything that I will regret not doing in a few years? Easy room for improvement in the future? Thanks

CPU: $230 Intel i5 2500K
MB: $160 Asus P8P67 (REV 3.1)
RAM: $42 8GB Mushkin Blackine 1600/CAS9
HDD: $110 750GB Hitachi Deskstar
ODD: $20 Sony Optiarc 24x DVD/CD Burner
GPU: $240 MSI GTX 560Ti
PSU: $70 Corsair CX600 V2
OS: $110 Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit OEM

If you plan on OCing, like said before get an aftermarket cooler.

I can personally recommend: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER V6 GT RR-V6GT-22PK-R1 120mm DynaLoop CPU Cooler w/ Universal bracket & Dual Fan <--- $47 with free shipping.

Alternatively, you can go with a noctua dh-14 or something like that, correct me if the model is wrong. Or step it up and go with an H80 water cooling solution, or H100 if you want to go hardcore.

 

[patonb]

No Micro Center locations in Canada.

Yeah you can add an SSD no problem, hardware wise.
If you're sticking to a strict $1k CAD budget though you'll probably have to switch to an AMD system to cut costs.

$115 Phenom II X4 960T
$150 Asus M5A99X EVO

Saves you roughly $115, which is plenty to get a 60/64GB SSD.

*Edit - Forgot the heatsink that comes with 960T is junk.
$30 CM Hyper 212 EVO

Nah, you can easily build a 2500k system for $1000 I priced one out at directcanada for a grand... besides the harddrive.. That 640 is damn cheap!

 

[Roark]

Nah, you can easily build a 2500k system for $1000 I priced one out at directcanada for a grand... besides the harddrive.. That 640 is damn cheap!

Yeah I'm pretty impressed with how cheap the 960T is considering its just a locked Phenom II X6.

Apparently my shopping mojo doesn't extend to Canada.
Would love to see a full build for $1,000 or less with quality components that includes:
2500K, SSD, HDD, Win7, and a GPU for BF3.

 

[overmyhead]

I was just going to up the budget by a hundred bucks to through in the ssd. Worth it? Or not going to notice the difference?

 

[patonb]

Roark, Its easy to do without the ssd, Can be done if you pricematch.. I think with a small ssd and include mirs.

Samsung SH-222BB 22X DVD Writer SATA Black OEM - DirectCanada
Antec Earthwatts 650W Power Supply ATX12V V2.2 EPS12V Active PFC 80PLUS 120MM Fan - DirectCanada
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64BIT SP1 DVD OEM - DirectCanada
MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II OC 880MHZ 1GB GDDR5 Dual DVI Mini-HDMI DX11 PCI-E Video Card - DirectCanada
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory - DirectCanada
Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB - DirectCanada
Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB - DirectCanada

^That is 898 niot including $40 in MIR, though no HDs.

NCIX has better choices and pricematching so you could lower the 560ti another 20 or so.

If I drop the mobo to say
ASUS P8P67-M REV3.0 mATX P67 LGA1155 DDR3 PCI-E16 PCI-E1 PCI USB3.0 Sandy Bridge B3 Motherboard - DirectCanada REV 3.0&manufacture=ASUS
or
ASUS P8P67-M Pro REV3.0 mATX P67 LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 USB3.0 Sandy Bridge B3 Motherboard - DirectCanada PRO REV 3.0&manufacture=ASUS
its another 40-60 in savings

You can get SSDs for 80~ for 64Gigs.

AMD are starting to lose the pricing battle, and the minor increase to intel well more than makes up for the cost.

 

[Roark]

Roark, Its easy to do without the ssd, Can be done if you pricematch.. I think with a small ssd and include mirs.

Samsung SH-222BB 22X DVD Writer SATA Black OEM - DirectCanada
Antec Earthwatts 650W Power Supply ATX12V V2.2 EPS12V Active PFC 80PLUS 120MM Fan - DirectCanada
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64BIT SP1 DVD OEM - DirectCanada
MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II OC 880MHZ 1GB GDDR5 Dual DVI Mini-HDMI DX11 PCI-E Video Card - DirectCanada
G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory - DirectCanada
Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB - DirectCanada
Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB - DirectCanada

^That is 898 niot including $40 in MIR, though no HDs.

NCIX has better choices and pricematching so you could lower the 560ti another 20 or so.

If I drop the mobo to say
ASUS P8P67-M REV3.0 mATX P67 LGA1155 DDR3 PCI-E16 PCI-E1 PCI USB3.0 Sandy Bridge B3 Motherboard - DirectCanada REV 3.0&manufacture=ASUS
or
ASUS P8P67-M Pro REV3.0 mATX P67 LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 USB3.0 Sandy Bridge B3 Motherboard - DirectCanada PRO REV 3.0&manufacture=ASUS
its another 40-60 in savings

You can get SSDs for 80~ for 64Gigs.

I'm leaving Canadian building to you from now on

 

[patonb]

Yha, you gotta know the 411 up here.. WE also get taxed and most charge shipping too.