Source
r/buildapc•
arkanus

[Build Help] Looking for a gaming computer, leaning towards 2500k

I posted a few weeks back. After reading your comments and also other threads I think that the best bang for my buck is an overclocked 2500k, which is crossfire capable allowing me to throw a second card in down the road.

Would you mind reviewing my build and offering any comments?

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

TypeItemPrice
CPUIntel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor$216.98 @ Mwave
CPU CoolerCooler Master RR-B10-212P-G1 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler$29.51 @ Amazon
MotherboardMSI P67A-G45 (B3) ATX LGA1155 Motherboard$104.99 @ Newegg
MemoryPNY XLR8 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory$24.99 @ Newegg
Hard DriveSamsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive$54.99 @ Newegg
Video CardXFX Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card$169.99 @ Newegg
CaseRosewill DESTROYER ATX Mid Tower Case$54.98 @ Newegg
Power SupplyRosewill 600W ATX12V Power Supply$56.98 @ Newegg
Total
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)$713.41

A few notes - I have a Microcenter near my house and plan on buying my CPU there. Others have said that this may allow me to get $40 off of a motherboard, is it worth getting that at Microcenter too? Also my case and PSU are a combo on Newegg and are $10 less than shown.

Some specific questions:

  1. With PNY RAM so cheap, is it worth getting 8 GB at the outset?

  2. Should I be going for a 6950 instead of the 6870? I am not the type who requires all settings to be maxed out, but I also want to try to get as much longevity as possible. Whichever card I choose, I plan on crossfiring it in 2-3 years to extend this machine's life.

  3. Is this PSU powerful enough for overclocking and a future crossfire? I also plan on adding a Wireless card and at least 1 additional hard drive in the future.

Thank you!

Posted Jul 9, 2011, 12:07 AM UTC

16
socialcapital•

Law of diminishing return. Just get a mobo with 2 pci-e slots and get the chcheaper card for now. If you feel like its not enough, pick up a second. More powerful cards use a lot more power (also diminishing returns) and so you may want to upgrade the PSU.

2
arkanusOP•

Social, thank you for your response. My prime objective is to avoid diminishing returns, including the marginal electric cost of using a CF setup. As I posted to Captain, what do you think about a 6950 for the time being and then evaluating what the best path is in 3-5 years? I just fear that without either a powerful card or the potential for CF, my GPU will hold back the 2500k in 3-5 years.

1
socialcapital•

I mean the 6950 is a hell of a lot of card. I use a 5850 and am really pleased with it. It handles everything i've thrown at it very well. That being said, the next generation of games (battlefield 3 namely) may make it look outdated.

Personally, I don't think a 6950 is worth the money.

2
Captain_Midnight•

With PNY RAM so cheap, is it worth getting 8 GB at the outset?

Even at these prices, a gaming-oriented computer doesn't really need 8GB of RAM.

Should I be going for a 6950 instead of the 6870?

The 6950 has a very good price-performance ratio. I think it's a smart buy if you can afford it; it will have more longevity.

Is this PSU powerful enough for overclocking and a future crossfire?

It's a surprisingly tough question to answer. One the one hand, seemingly knowledgeable enthusiast websites like Guru3D will swear that you need at least a 700w PSU to CF 6870s. But this reportedly reliable calculator will ask for less than 500w for two 6950s and a 2500k OC'd to 4.5GHz. Any 650w PSU worth its salt can muster that. Personally, I think 650w is fine for CF 6870s, and 750w should be fine for CF 6950s.

Either way, I would avoid Rosewill power supplies. If you're running multiple video cards, you want something with chutzpah. In this case, I'd just go with a Corsair TX750.

2
arkanusOP•

Thank you Captain. One concern I have about Crossfire is that the extra PSU cost and the extra energy use may not be cost effective. I am certainly not married to that idea and would be just as happy to later swap out my card, or if it was more cost effective, swap out my entire computer in 3-5 years.

What do you think about bringing the card up to a 6950, adding this PSU and calling it a day?

1
Captain_Midnight•

What do you think about bringing the card up to a 6950, adding this PSU and calling it a day?

Well, AMD recommends at least 500w for that card. Doesn't leave much headroom, and OC'ing your CPU will easily eat up the spare juice. I'd be more comfortable with 650w.

2