Building A New Gaming Rig

[StevenOtero]

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

GPU: EVGA 03G-P3-1591-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) Hydro Copper 2 3072MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130665

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9B

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145347

OPTICAL DRIVE: LITE-ON Black 12X Blu-ray Burner with Blu-ray 3D feature SATA IHBS112-29 - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106346

CASE & PSU:

Thermaltake V9 BlacX Edition with Docking Station (NewEgg Exclusive) SECC / Mesh ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Thermaltake Smart SP-730P 730W ATX 12V 2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.803593

CPU & MOBO:

AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core Desktop Processor FD8120FRGUBOX

MSI 890FXA-GD70 AM3+ AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.798720

Grand total: $1,651.92

Any suggestions? I went crazy with the GPU, but it's supposedly one of the best out there. All I really want to run is SWTOR on high settings. I know there are plenty of people on here that can do it for cheaper.

[StevenOtero]

Now, what I actually require would only be:

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9B

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145347

CASE & PSU:

Thermaltake V9 BlacX Edition with Docking Station (NewEgg Exclusive) SECC / Mesh ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Thermaltake Smart SP-730P 730W ATX 12V 2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.803593

CPU & MOBO:

AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core Desktop Processor FD8120FRGUBOX

MSI 890FXA-GD70 AM3+ AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.798720

Grand total: $631.95

Now, I only need a GPU that will run SWTOR on high. Any suggestions as far as that goes?

[Dallas]

Tupperware will be by shortly to set you straight. Listen to his suggestions closely. ;)

I used to build all of my gaming rigs. Every year I would pass down my rig to my son and build a new one.

I got tired of doing that and now I have other adult activities that ties up my budget.


booze

strippers

fishing

new trucks

old cars

strippers

FYI: Some great stuff you have listed. I am not a big fan of AMD or MSI. I strictly build Intel and ASUS.

I woldn't spend so much on that GPU. You can get a slightly lesser quality that will handle Star Wars just fine for half the cost.

Great stuff.

[Sam I Am]

Swap out your PSU for this one: SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W ATX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151087)

You can get the same case, but take the better PSU. :) SeaSonic PSUs extremely high quality. Some of the absolute best on the market.

I actually just got this PSU on black Friday for $119. :) To bad it isn't still black Friday.

EDIT: I'm a big fan of ASUS motherboards. (ASUS Crosshair IV Formula is my board, though newer ones exist.) The only MSI I've had was alright, but nothing to write home about. I don't know much about that one. tupper is more into these days. He can give you the best answer on your GPU also.

[StevenOtero]

Here's the GPU I'm looking at now

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130683

$279 is a hell of a lot better than $679.

[Jenky]

1) Asus Mobo
2) Core i5 2500k is still one of the BEST Cpus for gaming. If you have a microcenter near you, you can get it for a steal + 50.00 off a mobo that they sell there.
3) HD 7970 Radeon is better than the GTX 580.
- Direct X11.1
- PCIe 3.0
- Beats Gtx 580 in everything by 20-30%
- Is priced lower or the same as the gtx 580
- Overclocks like a mofo. 28 nm.
- 3 GB of VRAM STANDARD.

The only real knock on the 7970 is AMD's drivers.

I have Nvidia GPUs. Honestly their drivers haven't been spectacular either.

LGA 2011 is the enthusiast build which came out about a month ago. In February they will have the 4 core processor for this build - i7 3820 which will be priced at 285 ish.

LGA 2011 strengths:
Quad channel memory
PCI 3.0
8 DIMM SLOTS, some have 4.
4 core, 6 core and 8 core processors.

Weakness:
Components like the MOBO cost a lot.

[CowboyMcCoy]

And here I was, I thought you were talking about a Texas Hold 'em table. I just got back from New Orleans, $600 richer than I was when I went. I whooped up on some bama boys.. some Texas and Nawlins boys, too. But the Bama guys... it was like taking candy from a baby. :D

[Jenky]

Dude, I just looked at your GPU again. Its hydro copper edition which means it will require a liquid cooling system. Good ones can run from 200-400$?

Was that intentional?

[StevenOtero]

Dude, I just looked at your GPU again. Its hydro copper edition which means it will require a liquid cooling system. Good ones can run from 200-400$?

Was that intentional?No, wasn't intentional, here is the one I'm looking at now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130683

Which isn't hydro copper.

[Jenky]

No, wasn't intentional, here is the one I'm looking at now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130683

Which isn't hydro copper.

That's a good card. I don't think it will max out swtor at it's highest settings. Maybe a notch below it.

Also when I'm playing swtor, I enable anti-aliasing through the game's .ini file. You can't turn it on in the game menu.

I hate seeing jagged lines/edges. If you enable anti-aliasing, frame rates will drop because the graphics card has to do more to provide greater detail.

[StevenOtero]

That's a good card. I don't think it will max out swtor at it's highest settings. Maybe a notch below it.

Also when I'm playing swtor, I enable anti-aliasing through the game's .ini file. You can't turn it on in the game menu.

I hate seeing jagged lines/edges. If you enable anti-aliasing, frame rates will drop because the graphics card has to do more to provide greater detail.Yep, I hate jagged lines/edges too.

[Achilleslastand]

That looks like a nice build all the way around to me.
Dont expect HDDs to go down soon in price due to the flooding in Thailand and i can personally vouch for the new line of Amd Fx Cpus.
I recently upgraded my phenom 2x4 945 for one of the FX4100s and can see a definate difference.

[Duane]

HDD: Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F90GB3-BK 2.5" 90GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820233204

GPU: XFX HD-697A-CNFC Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814150517

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-12GBRL

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820231358

OPTICAL DRIVE: ASUS Black 12X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 12X DVD-RAM 8X BD-ROM 8MB Cache SATA Blu-ray Burner BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16827135252

CASE

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0, Black Interior and Four Fans-1x 230mm front RED LED fan, 1x 140mm rear fan, 1x 230mm top fan, and 1x 230mm side fan

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811119160

PSU:

PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II 750W High Performance 80PLUS Silver SLI CrossFire ready Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817703027

CPU

Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601920

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819115202


MOBO:
ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813131665

Grand total: $1,434.92

I'm waiting on storage HD's to come down so I didn't include one. Just bought this 90gig Corsair SSD and it's perfect to boot from and play games.

I've also own the full tower case, power supply and video cards. Once you go full tower case you won't want to go back to mid tower ever again.

[tupperware]

I got in a little late so most of the suggestions here covered what I would have said. I personally wouldn't go with AMD but that's just a personal thing, really.

I think it's a terrible time to build a computer due to hard drive pricing. May as well just get this SSD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227706 and then if you still want a TB of space, grab that HD once the prices come back down.

[tupperware]

HDD: Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F90GB3-BK 2.5" 90GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820233204

GPU: XFX HD-697A-CNFC Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814150517

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-12GBRL

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820231358

OPTICAL DRIVE: ASUS Black 12X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 12X DVD-RAM 8X BD-ROM 8MB Cache SATA Blu-ray Burner BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16827135252

CASE

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0, Black Interior and Four Fans-1x 230mm front RED LED fan, 1x 140mm rear fan, 1x 230mm top fan, and 1x 230mm side fan

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811119160

PSU:

PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II 750W High Performance 80PLUS Silver SLI CrossFire ready Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817703027

CPU

Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601920

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819115202


MOBO:
ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813131665

Grand total: $1,434.92

I'm waiting on storage HD's to come down so I didn't include one. Just bought this 90gig Corsair SSD and it's perfect to boot from and play games.

I've also own the full tower case, power supply and video cards. Once you go full tower case you won't want to go back to mid tower ever again.

Is this a recommendation or did you just build this recently?

[Duane]

Is this a recommendation or did you just build this recently?

It's a recommendation.

I have a three year old motherboard and processor that I've upgraded with a Corsair SSD and XFX HD6970 video card. The power supply was part of my build three years ago and I added the full tower case in between upgrades.

[Jenky]

It's a recommendation.

I have a three year old motherboard and processor that I've upgraded with a Corsair SSD and XFX HD6970 video card. The power supply was part of my build three years ago and I added the full tower case in between upgrades.

LGA 1366 is approaching EOL (from Intel's perspective). It was a great platform for enthusiasts. LGA 2011 replaces it.

The best bang for your buck is still LGA 1155. There are new processor that will be able to be put into a LGA 1155 motherboard as well as a LGA 2011 motherboard.

Right now I wouldn't take an i7 920 over and i7 2600k or 2500k. Those two processors overclock insanely with minimal effort and their platforms still offer upgrade paths. IMO.

[Zaxor]

never had luck with an MSI board...

[tupperware]

LGA 1366 is approaching EOL (from Intel's perspective). It was a great platform for enthusiasts. LGA 2011 replaces it.

The best bang for your buck is still LGA 1155. There are new processor that will be able to be put into a LGA 1155 motherboard as well as a LGA 2011 motherboard.

Right now I wouldn't take an i7 920 over and i7 2600k or 2500k. Those two processors overclock insanely with minimal effort and their platforms still offer upgrade paths. IMO.
Yep. That's precisely why I had asked him. I wasn't sure it was a recommendation because of what he was recommending.

[arglebargle]

LGA 1366 is approaching EOL (from Intel's perspective). It was a great platform for enthusiasts. LGA 2011 replaces it.

The best bang for your buck is still LGA 1155. There are new processor that will be able to be put into a LGA 1155 motherboard as well as a LGA 2011 motherboard.

Right now I wouldn't take an i7 920 over and i7 2600k or 2500k. Those two processors overclock insanely with minimal effort and their platforms still offer upgrade paths. IMO.

There are reasons you might go with a 1366 over 1155, but if you don't know what they are, you probably don't need it. :)

[tupperware]

There are reasons you might go with a 1366 over 1155, but if you don't know what they are, you probably don't need it. :)
Tri Channel.. ? Couldn't be too much more than that really, not with 2011 anyway.

[arglebargle]

Tri Channel, and stability.

Mostly coming from a professional audio viewpoint. Audio is one of the areas where you can really push the limits on your computer set up. Earlier this year there were all sorts of problems with various 1155motherboards performing quite erratically with large audio setups. These sorts of things are not as extensively tested in advance.

Leading edge setups can get you leading edge problems.

Again, if you aren't already in the field, you probably don't have to consider that decision.

[tupperware]

Tri Channel, and stability.

Mostly coming from a professional audio viewpoint. Audio is one of the areas where you can really push the limits on your computer set up. Earlier this year there were all sorts of problems with various 1155motherboards performing quite erratically with large audio setups. These sorts of things are not as extensively tested in advance.

Leading edge setups can get you leading edge problems.

Again, if you aren't already in the field, you probably don't have to consider that decision.
Ah but that's a pretty niche thing, hardly worth advocating it over 1155/2011. The only real benefit I could think of inherent to the platform was Tri Channel. I guess you basically said that though :)

EDIT: I got the first batch of boards that went out, which are affected by: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/sandy-bridge-sata-error-sata-3,12112.html

I haven't sent it back in yet though, haven't noticed a problem yet.

[Jenky]

Tri Channel, and stability.

Mostly coming from a professional audio viewpoint. Audio is one of the areas where you can really push the limits on your computer set up. Earlier this year there were all sorts of problems with various 1155motherboards performing quite erratically with large audio setups. These sorts of things are not as extensively tested in advance.

Leading edge setups can get you leading edge problems.

Again, if you aren't already in the field, you probably don't have to consider that decision.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are probably talking about PCIe bandwidth and lanes to the CPU. That's where LGA 1366 would excel over LGA 1155. LGA 2011 has 40 pcie 3.0 lanes which is even better.

lga 1155 = 16 pcie lanes
lga 1366 = 32 pcie lanes
lga 2011 = 40 pcie lanes

[Jenky]

Ah but that's a pretty niche thing, hardly worth advocating it over 1155/2011. The only real benefit I could think of inherent to the platform was Tri Channel. I guess you basically said that though :)

Yeah, gpus aren't anywhere near saturating pcie 2.0 yet. There's hardly a difference between running them in 16x/16x vs 8x/8x mode.

[Jenky]

Ah but that's a pretty niche thing, hardly worth advocating it over 1155/2011. The only real benefit I could think of inherent to the platform was Tri Channel. I guess you basically said that though :)

EDIT: I got the first batch of boards that went out, which are affected by: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/sandy-bridge-sata-error-sata-3,12112.html

I haven't sent it back in yet though, haven't noticed a problem yet.

Dude! Haha, that was a year ago. Most companies will offer a b3 revision (That's what ASUS calls it) of your motherboard that corrects that problem.

[tupperware]

Yeah, gpus aren't anywhere near saturating pcie 2.0 yet. There's hardly a difference between running them in 16x/16x vs 8x/8x mode.
Yep, exactly.

Interesting article: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/49646-amd-radeon-hd-7970-3gb-review-21.html

[tupperware]

Dude! Haha, that was a year ago. Most companies will offer a b3 revision (That's what ASUS calls it) of your motherboard that corrects that problem.
Yeah I know, I was just piggybacking along with what he was saying about bleeding edge and bleeding edge problems.

[arglebargle]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are probably talking about PCIe bandwidth and lanes to the CPU. That's where LGA 1366 would excel over LGA 1155. LGA 2011 has 40 pcie 3.0 lanes which is even better.

lga 1155 = 16 pcie lanes
lga 1366 = 32 pcie lanes
lga 2011 = 40 pcie lanes

Yes. 2011 will doubtless end up being better. But a whole bunch of early adopters had problems with audio on the 1155 platform. Though some of that was on poor implementation by the MB builders. It even varied by bios on the exact same MB.

Stability (from an older platform) is real useful in a field where you can't always go back and get that great performance again.

It is definitely a very small niche, and not of import to 99% of the computer buying public. I do some audio, so I paid attention to this when researching upgrading. The level of audio muscle you get with an
i7 processor over the equivalent core2quad (or anything else) is pretty impressive though. Well worth the upgrade, imo. I'd personally just wait til the new chipset shakes out some before leaping in.

[StevenOtero]

Thank you for all of the replies, I'll be sure to post what I eventually order.