I am looking into assembling a computer, with the primary purpose of gaming. However, up until now, I have been using a Macbook, so I am lacking in both my ability to pick parts, and my knowledge on assembly. As such, I am looking for critique on my build, and advice on how to assemble a computer, preferably in the form of basic tutorials.
I also require peripherals, such as a monitor and keyboard. My budget for everything altogether is $2500 at most, with a preference for somewhere between $2300 and $2400.
Thats not bad in my opinion. I'd have another look at a case tho. I have an Antec case which comes with 2 front fans, 1 top & rear with an option to add a side fan. Gotta keep it cool.
It looks like a good system but your HDD is going to be the choking point. It may be worth trying to skim a few dollars from everything else to get yourself an SSD as well as the 1TB HDD otherwise it gives you the feeling that your awesome new system isnt as awesome as it could be...
I'd say go with a 128/160GB SSD for OS+game installs as well. Your overall desktop performance will be "better" and load times in games will be nothing..
Were you planning to OC the i5-2500k? What about using the iGPU on the 2500k?
If you weren't planning on using quicksync or the iGPU at all, look at one of the P67 boards, which should be a bit cheaper than at Z68 board and put that into a SSD..
Ledgy: Thats not bad in my opinion. I'd have another look at a case tho. I have an Antec case which comes with 2 front fans, 1 top & rear with an option to add a side fan. Gotta keep it cool.
This one comes with three fans, and has room for a fair few more, IIRC. Is there something about it that makes you think I should reconsider?
halfbaked: It looks like a good system but your HDD is going to be the choking point. It may be worth trying to skim a few dollars from everything else to get yourself an SSD as well as the 1TB HDD otherwise it gives you the feeling that your awesome new system isnt as awesome as it could be?
kyhwana2: I'd say go with a 128/160GB SSD for OS+game installs as well. Your overall desktop performance will be "better" and load times in games will be nothing..
Noted. I've added an SSD in there, although I've limited it to 60GB. That gives 21GB towards the OS, leaving me with 39GB to be used for main programs and games. Anything that isn't used regularly can get placed on the Spinpoint.
kyhwana2:Were you planning to OC the i5-2500k? What about using the iGPU on the 2500k?
I'm not sure about using the iGPU, but I am definitely interested in experimenting with overclocking, and I've heard the 2500k overclocks beautifully.
kyhwana2:If you weren't planning on using quicksync or the iGPU at all, look at one of the P67 boards, which should be a bit cheaper than at Z68 board and put that into a SSD..
Yeah, this is where I am stuck. You see, I am planning to overclock it, so the 16 power phases are nice to have, I guess. On the other hand, I don't really need SSD caching due to the way I'm using it. I haven't thrown out the option of SLI-ing in future, but it's not a high priority now.
If I were to go for a cheaper one, which would you recommend?
SSDs are cool, but too small - you'd only be able to fit one or two games on it. What's more, if you use Steam, your entire steam folder has to be on one drive (though there are ways around it). Your SSD would make Windows boot fast, but your games would have to live on the spinning storage so wouldn't really be helped much, unless you want to move them back and fortho all the time. Dunno about you, but I hardly ever reboot so there's little benefit to be had there.
Where SSDs do rock is for doing work - compile NOW dammit! Usually you'll only be working on a fairly small set of files (a few Gb), so it all fits nicely.
For gaming, unless you can afford a big enough SSD to hold all your games, I'd forget the SSD and invest in RAM instead. RAM is so cheap, and Windows will use it to cache your game files. Get at least 8Gb, preferably more (that means ensuring your mobo can take it).
My laptop has 12Gb, and being a laptop has a fairly slow hard drive. Yet I'm still very happy with its performance - it loads portal 2 faster than my friend with his full PC :)
MadAndy: SSDs are cool, but too small - you'd only be able to fit one or two games on it. What's more, if you use Steam, your entire steam folder has to be on one drive (though there are ways around it). Your SSD would make Windows boot fast, but your games would have to live on the spinning storage so wouldn't really be helped much, unless you want to move them back and fortho all the time. Dunno about you, but I hardly ever reboot so there's little benefit to be had there.
Thats why I got a 160GB intel 320.. Most of my actively played steam games fit on it.. You can always symlink directories to spinning disks too.
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