Needs Medium Budget Gaming Build Review

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version

   Budget:

Around 1600. Excluding monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers

Expectations:

Using a single monitor 27" 1080p.  Looking to build a stable, upgradable system.

Usage:

Mostly gaming (diable3, starcraft2, skyrim), but also hope to play future games with decent quality.  Watching animes/movies.

Special Needs:

Needs 1TB hard drive.

Saved Ticket #: [674803]

Specifications:

Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master Storm Enforcer 

Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish

Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish

Processor: Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz (Unlocked CPU for Extreme Overclocking) (Quad Core)

Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V LE (Intel Z68 Chipset) (New B3 Revision) (Does Not Support SLI)

System Memory: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)

Power Supply: 750W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible)

Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black) 

Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (1TB Western Digital Caviar (7200 RPM) (Model: Black Edition) 

Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks

Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks

Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks

Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)

Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks

Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)

Video Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 1.2GB (Includes PhysX Technology) (EVGA 012-P3-1571-BR) 

Add-on Card: - No Thanks

Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio

Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: Corsair A50 120mm Fan High Performance Cooler

H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected

Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans

Internal Lighting: - No Thanks

Enhancements: - No Thanks

Chassis Mods: - No Thanks

Noise Reduction: - No Thanks

LaserMark: - No Thanks

Boost Processor: Stage 1: Overclock CPU 4.0GHz to 4.4GHz

Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)

Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory

Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system

Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)

Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows 7 CD)

Virus Protection: - No Thanks

Office: - No Thanks

Game: - No Thanks

Display: - No Thanks

Surge Shield: - No Thanks

Speakers: - No Thanks

Keyboard: - No Thanks

Mouse: - No Thanks

External Storage: - No Thanks

Exclusive T-Shirt: FREE: Digital Storm T-Shirt - Black (Large)

Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed

Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty

Question:

1. Should I go with GTX570 1.2GB or 2.5GB?

2. How safe is overclocking?

Please give guidance. 

Thanks.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version
Ashfur Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Apr 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Quote Reply Topic: Needs Medium Budget Gaming Build Review Posted: 11 Apr 2012 at 11:43pm
	Budget: Around 1600. Excluding monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers Expectations: Using a single monitor 27" 1080p. Looking to build a stable, upgradable system. Usage: Mostly gaming (diable3, starcraft2, skyrim), but also hope to play future games with decent quality. Watching animes/movies. Special Needs: Needs 1TB hard drive. Saved Ticket #: [674803] Specifications: Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master Storm Enforcer Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish Processor: Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz (Unlocked CPU for Extreme Overclocking) (Quad Core) Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V LE (Intel Z68 Chipset) (New B3 Revision) (Does Not Support SLI) System Memory: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested) Power Supply: 750W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible) Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black) Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (1TB Western Digital Caviar (7200 RPM) (Model: Black Edition) Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x) Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections) Video Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 1.2GB (Includes PhysX Technology) (EVGA 012-P3-1571-BR) Add-on Card: - No Thanks Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: Corsair A50 120mm Fan High Performance Cooler H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans Internal Lighting: - No Thanks Enhancements: - No Thanks Chassis Mods: - No Thanks Noise Reduction: - No Thanks LaserMark: - No Thanks Boost Processor: Stage 1: Overclock CPU 4.0GHz to 4.4GHz Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s) Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows 7 CD) Virus Protection: - No Thanks Office: - No Thanks Game: - No Thanks Display: - No Thanks Surge Shield: - No Thanks Speakers: - No Thanks Keyboard: - No Thanks Mouse: - No Thanks External Storage: - No Thanks Exclusive T-Shirt: FREE: Digital Storm T-Shirt - Black (Large) Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty Question: 1. Should I go with GTX570 1.2GB or 2.5GB? 2. How safe is overclocking? Please give guidance. Thanks.

bprat22 Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List DS Veteran Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5395	Quote Reply Posted: 12 Apr 2012 at 4:01am
	Hi Ashfur...Welcome to the forums.. That is an excellant build We like the HafX case better for it's quality and better cooling but it is another $114 and I do understand tight budgets. This case does have a front and top 200mm fans unlike so many other picks, which is all you need for that cpu and single gtx 570. Your call as usual. By 1080p I'm assuming the 27" runs at 1920x1080. If so than the gtx570 will play the games you listed awesome. Games like BF3 and Metro would be at high settings and Skyrim would be on Ultra. Gtx570 1.2 GB is all you need. The 2.5GB card is more for higher resolutions but some have seen a difference at your resolution with it with an increase in fps. If the budget allows, the 2.5 GB is never a waste. Overclocking is safe when done right and DS does it right. You did a great job with mobo, psu, oc'ing and you even put in the free t-shirt Edited by bprat22 - 12 Apr 2012 at 4:03am

Ashfur Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Apr 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Quote Reply Posted: 12 Apr 2012 at 12:51pm
	Thanks for the advice. > I'm assuming the 27" runs at 1920x1080 Right. I assume Diablo3 would be on max as well right? Can this case and psu handle all current/near future single video card setup? How about 2 video cards? If I were to SLI another gtx570 in the future, can you recommend another mobo?

bprat22 Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List DS Veteran Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5395	Quote Reply Posted: 12 Apr 2012 at 1:13pm
	Diablo 3 from specs I've seen will play maxed out with this setup. Without seeing benchmarks I can' t say 100%., but I think it's fine. To sli a safer bet is the 1050hx psu, the 750hx might do it but there wouldn' t be any headroom for psu aging and losing efficiency or anything else you might add later. To sli change mobo to p8z68 V-Pro/Gen3. The case will keep things cool. The HaX is better but more $$.

Ashfur Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Apr 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Quote Reply Posted: 12 Apr 2012 at 11:31pm
	I will probably go with the 2.5GB version of GTX 570, and the rest unchanged.

bprat22 Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List DS Veteran Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5395	Quote Reply Posted: 13 Apr 2012 at 5:25am
	Nice. For the needs you mentioned you really don't need sli. Plus, with newer video cards coming out with more performance and less energy needed to run them a upgrade in a couple of years would be no problem with the LE mobo and 750HX psu. Good Luck and keep us updated if you can. .

Ashfur Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Apr 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Quote Reply Posted: 16 Apr 2012 at 7:56pm
	Order placed. Thanks for your help bprat22.

Alex Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Digital Storm Supervisor Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 11230	Quote Reply Posted: 16 Apr 2012 at 8:50pm