Solved New Build Advice needed

[Thorsen]

Hello all,

I am planning on making a new build and have pretty much decided on parts, but wanted to put it out here for anyone who might have suggestions, replacements, insider-info, first-hand-exp, etc.

This will be a mid-budget gaming pc so I am not trying to go for broke, but I want it to be relatively future proof. let me know if I missed anything or if anything is incompatible. Also, not sure about case, but need to keep mid-budget....

Thermaltake Dokker Mid-Tower Computer Case Single Bay HDD Docking Station High Airflow Design VM600M1W2Z

GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity (100315L )

OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom

AMD FX-6200 Zambezi 3.8GHz (4.1GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor FD6200FRGUBOX

Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 15000) Desktop Memory Model PV38G186C9K

OCZ Vertex 4 VTX4-25SAT3-128G 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

ZALMAN CNPS9500A-LED 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler


Thanks,

Thorsen

 

[bassfisher6522]

I like every thing but the case...you have all top of the line parts yet skip out on the case. The big con for me on that case is the cable management....it has some but limited. I do like Thermaltake and I'm getting the Overseer RX new version. It has better air flow options and excellent cable management options, plus nice grommet covers/sleeves.

It's on sale now....

ThermalTake VN700M1W2N Overseer RX-I Full Tower Gaming Case - ATX, Micro-ATX, Extend ATX, 3 Ext 5.25, 1 Ext 3.5, 5 Int 3.5, 2x 200mm LED Fans, 1x 120mm Fan, 2 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, 1 eSATA, Window at TigerDirect.com

 

[Thorsen]

Yeah... that was one concern, but this is going to be for future expansions as well. trying to keep things light where I can. I was planning on getting a better full tower later, but was trying to keep case to about $50 for right now...

Might just go with one I had picked out previously:

Newegg.com - Rosewill THOR V2 Gaming ATX Full Tower Computer Case, support up to E-ATX / XL-ATX, come with Four Fans - 1 x Front Red LED 230mm Fan, 1 x Top 230mm Fan, 1 x Side 230mm Fan, 1 x Rear 140mm Fan

I am Trying to keep under $1000 and win7 puts me over that with the current list ~$1120 +tax (hoping wifey doesn't notice )

 

[Thorsen]

is the thermal take better than that for any particular reasons?

Also found on newegg...

Newegg.com - Thermaltake Overseer RX-I VN700M1W2N Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case

 

[bassfisher6522]

Yeah... that was one concern, but this is going to be for future expansions as well. trying to keep things light where I can. I was planning on getting a better full tower later, but was trying to keep case to about $50 for right now...

Might just go with one I had picked out previously:

Newegg.com - Rosewill THOR V2 Gaming ATX Full Tower Computer Case, support up to E-ATX / XL-ATX, come with Four Fans - 1 x Front Red LED 230mm Fan, 1 x Top 230mm Fan, 1 x Side 230mm Fan, 1 x Rear 140mm Fan

I am Trying to keep under $1000 and win7 puts me over that with the current list ~$1120 +tax (hoping wifey doesn't notice )

I know what you mean with the wife....they just don't understand why we have to have this part, that case, new mobo....I get it all the time. I just flip on my wife with her shoes, clothes and makeup....that usually shuts her up, if only for just a little awhile...LOL.

 

[Thorsen]

hmmm. i never talk about my wife's shoes, lest she throw one at me lol jk,jk...

 

[Thorsen]

Think that case might be too big for my needs. i think i am going with the Blackhawk instead. mid-tower and still pretty big

Newegg.com - Rosewill BLACKHAWK Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, come with Five Fans, window side panel, top HDD dock

 

[bassfisher6522]

Not bad....basic, simple yet very functional and plenty of vents. I think you'll be much happier with the Rosewill case.

 

[bassfisher6522]

My first after market cpu cooler was a Zalman 120mm. Only problem I had with mine was that it laid flat and covered up all my RAM slots. It was my first build. I had no clue what I was doing....lol

 

[Thorsen]

yeah, originally i wanted this (oooo shiny)

but soon realized it was friggin huge....
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler Intel Core i7 compatible

 

[UnknownReverent]

I got this for my most recent case.

Newegg.com - NZXT Crafted Series Tempest 410 Elite Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

I really like it, but I had one problem. For the front fans, they use contact plates so it's not plugged directly into the power supply and you can take them out easy to clean the filters and fans. I had to contact NZXT to replace my contact plates. Since then it has worked perfect. Before I got my replacements, I bypassed it and plugged them straight into my power supply.

 

[Thorsen]

Thanks for posting, I like that case as well. I like the idea with contact plates. your setup is similar to what i am building (although i am going AMD/ATI). Nice system UnknownReverent.

 

[bassfisher6522]

yeah, originally i wanted this (oooo shiny)

but soon realized it was friggin huge....
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler Intel Core i7 compatible

Ah...but it would fit in the TT Overseer just fine....

 

[UnknownReverent]

Thanks for posting, I like that case as well. I like the idea with contact plates. your setup is similar to what i am building (although i am going AMD/ATI). Nice system UnknownReverent.

Thanks. I haven't had a problem since I built it besides a fan seems to be messing up so I may have to RMA it. Other than that, everything has been running smoothly. It's just the pick of the draw really. The case is really nice, and everything is really quiet. Nothing seems to vibrate and everything fits well.

 

[Thorsen]

yeah, originally i wanted this (oooo shiny)

but soon realized it was friggin huge....
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler Intel Core i7 compatible

Ah...but it would fit in the TT Overseer just fine....

yes i am debating what to do about this.....

The Overseer is 8.7 deep, the blackhawk is 8.35

The V8 is 6.22 inches so that leaves 2.1 inches for the chasis, mobo and chip.. I am not sure if that is enough room. I wouldn't think it would take up 2 inches for only that, but I may be wrong.

Still debating to get it or not since it would look nice.

The TT is a little too detailed? not sure I like the styling personally. I am a minimalist.

 

[UnknownReverent]

For my cpu heatsink/fan, I actually have this.

Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX-B 135mm Long life bearing CPU Cooler Blue LED

It has proven quite well even though it's kind of big. It keeps the processor very cool. I sit at 28c idle. I don't think I've ever gone above 40c on load either.

 

[kbrady1979]

Have you considered the Antec Eleven Hundred or the Antec P280? They have an awesome cable management design, plenty of room, and room to grow. They are also Super-Mid Tower cases at Mid tower prices. I have the Eleven Hundred case and it has excellent airflow, 2 dust filters, and a ton of room inside.......with a Mail-In Rebate and a sale on Newegg, I got it for $60.

 

[UnknownReverent]

Have you considered the Antec Eleven Hundred or the Antec P280? They have an awesome cable management design, plenty of room, and room to grow. They are also Super-Mid Tower cases at Mid tower prices. I have the Eleven Hundred case and it has excellent airflow, 2 dust filters, and a ton of room inside.......with a Mail-In Rebate and a sale on Newegg, I got it for $60.

The cable management is pretty much the same as the NZXT Crafted Series Tempest 410 Elite. It's very nice.

 

[kbrady1979]

Thorsen,

How important is it to stick to an AMD based system? Also, I would like to see you step up to a 7000 series GPU if at all possible. With some minor tweaks, I think you can get newer technology for close to that $1000 mark....PM me if you want and I could give some suggestions.

 

[Thorsen]

Thorsen,

How important is it to stick to an AMD based system? Also, I would like to see you step up to a 7000 series GPU if at all possible. With some minor tweaks, I think you can get newer technology for close to that $1000 mark....PM me if you want and I could give some suggestions.

Mainly price range. I had put together a few intel/nvida and intel/radeon builds and were a bit pricier. I would want a 2600K or better and that runs up the price a bit. The AMD chips are about half the price.

Planning for overclocking (light) and for future to upgrade to 32GB of ram, the next FX processor up (or better if AM3+) and adding a second 6850 for crossfire. that should do for quite a while

My main expenses came from actually getting proper parts instead of epic parts and then a cheap PSU or skimping in other areas...

I was originally going to go with the 550i, and the FX 4180? 4 core processor and a cheaper mobo, but saw that this would not be as powerful now as spending just a bit more. my original budget was $600-700 and then adding on windows7, so I am about 200 over-budget (and i seriously hope my wife doesn't notice....)