Need help with a build, if not an education.

[melorock]

Hey guys, thanks for all your help and interest.

It's been ages since I've researched so forgive me for my unfamiliarity.

I need a rig that can play some games and to record music on. I don't play FPS games, mostly Elderscrolls and strategy games like the Total War series and starcraft.

Here's what's important to me

• I have a 1 TB external hard drive, so I can skimp a bit on the HDD
• Cool, quiet, and power efficent (HDD, Power supply, and Fans)
• Core i7 Intel
• Many interfaces options for plug-ins (Intel MOBO)
• Mid Range -- Lower High-end Video card for games

My budget is $1000-1500. Sorry if too broad.

CPU
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I72600K

16 RAM
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

Hard drive - No clue
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

SSD
Newegg.com - OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Monitor - No clue
Newegg.com - ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ Speakers 300 cd/m2 20000 :1 (ASCR)

Case - No clue
Newegg.com - Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan

Video Card - No Clue
Newegg.com - EVGA 01G-P3-1561-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card


MOBO, Power Supply, Fan and heatsinks
Really No clue


Much appreciated if you can review what I'm looking for and what I have looked at. Please let me know if I have missed anything, or you can scrap what I have if you have something else in mind, won't hurt my feelings. Maybe I should look at PC combos?


Thanks again
Melorock

 

[Sean W.]

Case: $50
NZXT Source 210 Elite
http://www.amazon.com/Source-210--I...9J4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326689518&sr=8-1

Mothebroard: $165
MSI P67A-GD55
Newegg.com - MSI P67A-GD55 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

CPU: $230
Intel Core i5-2500K
Amazon.com: Intel Core i5-2500K Processor: Electronics

Ram: $46
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

PSU:$140
CORSAIR Professional Series HX750
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Professional Series HX750 (CMPSU-750HX) 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

GPU: $290
ASUS EAH6950 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5 Radeon HD 6950
Newegg.com - ASUS EAH6950 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5 Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

SSD: $170
OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB
Newegg.com - OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

DVD Burner: $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

CPU COooler: $40
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CAFA70 120mm A70 Dual-Fan CPU Cooler

Monitor: $200
ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms
Newegg.com - ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 (1000:1) Built-in Speakers



Total: $1299

 

[Roark]

I dig Sean's build. If you have a hard drive already, just go with an SSD and use the external for storage.

Personally would go with the MSI Z68A-GD55 (G3), pretty much the same specs, $5 more, but has a $30 rebate.
Also, 8GB G.Skill Ripjaws X, 1.5v instead of 1.65v.

 

[I_Am_Skip]

Yeah, pretty much the current decent build revolves around a 2500k, 6950/560ti, 8-12gb ram, p67 or z68 mobo and a 750w power supply. Stick around that and feel free to choose your own parts at will and you will have a great value for money system, however Sean has done the hard work for you on the most part, I would recommend the ram Roark said though

 

[Sean W.]

i went with that ram because it has short heat spreaders and wont interfear with the CPU cooler...

 

[I_Am_Skip]

Haha my fail. if your budget stretches get a corsair h60 or equivelent or better. Then you wont have issues with ram heatsinks.

 

[Slaymate]

i went with that ram because it has short heat spreaders and wont interfear with the CPU cooler...

You always want to stick with 1.5v memory modules with the new LGA1155 and LGA2011 CPU's, always.

 

[tj_extreme]

Case: $50
NZXT Source 210 Elite
http://www.amazon.com/Source-210--I...9J4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326689518&sr=8-1

Mothebroard: $165
MSI P67A-GD55
Newegg.com - MSI P67A-GD55 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

CPU: $230
Intel Core i5-2500K
Amazon.com: Intel Core i5-2500K Processor: Electronics

Ram: $48
PNY XLR8 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
Newegg.com - PNY XLR8 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model MD8192KD3-1600-X9

PSU:$140
CORSAIR Professional Series HX750
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Professional Series HX750 (CMPSU-750HX) 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

GPU: $290
ASUS EAH6950 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5 Radeon HD 6950
Newegg.com - ASUS EAH6950 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5 Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

SSD: $170
OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB
Newegg.com - OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

DVD Burner: $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

CPU COooler: $40
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CAFA70 120mm A70 Dual-Fan CPU Cooler

Monitor: $200
ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms
Newegg.com - ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 (1000:1) Built-in Speakers



Total: $1299

Everything looks good, though I would recommend the XFX 6950 (out of experience).

$279.99
Newegg.com - XFX Double D HD-695X-CDFC Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

 

[melorock]

Wow, thanks for the quick replys


That's not an open air case is it?
Case: $50
NZXT Source 210 Elite
http://www.amazon.com/Source-210--In...6689518&sr=8-1

 

[Sean W.]

You always want to stick with 1.5v memory modules with the new LGA1155 and LGA2011 CPU's, always.

ah, my mistake, out of my haste i over looked the voltages...


Melorock, what do you mean open air case?