Getting ready to order my build

Hi everyone,

Warning long post!

I have been doing a bit of catching up as it is been a few years since I had a chance to properly pc game. I am more out of touch with hardware choice etc then I would like to be when finalizing a build so would like some input before I order. I am looking for a desktop that will be a great at gaming for current generation fps, mmo, rts games without breaking the bank. The other uses will be connecting to a HDTV to watch movies (don't have a standalone dvd player) and the generic email/internet stuff. I do need to be able connect to my wireless network (not sure if a pci card vs usb stick makes more sense if I expect to be continuously connected).

Budget is ~1.7-1.8k, I do already have a nice mouse and keyboard, but would need a monitor (was using a laptop as I was traveling a lot before), anything at least 1080p and ideally with built in speakers as my desk area is quite small and I have good quality headphones already.

When I was considering building my own here is what I was looking at:
Samsung 22X DVD Burner
Corsair Carbide Series 300R
Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s
ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 1080P
ASUS PCE-N15 PCI Express 300/300Mbps
EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 448 Cores FTW 1280MB or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 2GB
Corsair TX750 V2
Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
ASUS P8Z77-V LGA
Intel Core i5 3570K 3.40 GHz
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
Total ~$1455-1580

Things like adding a harddrive or swapping out a gpu downstream, I am happy to tackle myself but decided I would prefer to leave the overclocking, thermal paste etc to someone a bit more experienced and have a slick wired tower. I have a feeling overclocking a lower end cpu is better value then plunking down for a higher end one and leaving it stock...agree?

On the Digital Storm Epoch configuration here is what I am looking at (couldn't find exactly the same parts but I think this is pretty close):
Corsair Carbide 300R
Intel Core i5 3570K 3.40 GHz
ASUS P8Z77-V LX
16GB DDR3 1600MHz DS Performance Series
800W Corsair GS
1TB Western Digital Caviar Black Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 2GB
Generic DVD Writer 24x
Wireless PCI-E 802.11n
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
Stage 1 Overclock CPU
Stage 1 Overclock GPU
OS Cleanup
Hanns-G HANNspree 21.5 inch
Total ~$1796

Where I would specifically like feedback is where I am past or not quite at the peak of the bang for buck curve. For example if I went 20 bucks more on the RAM that would be huge improvement or if I went 80 bucks down on graphics I wouldn't notice the difference, would sli on some lower cards be better than a gtx 680 single etc.

Thank you for time in reading this, and let me know if some more information would help. I am excited to be able to get a higher level system from what looks to be a top level builder!

Oops just saw the template....

Budget:
~1.7-1.8k

Expectations:
Play current generation at high settings

Usage:
Lots of gaming (mostly fps, mmo, and some rts), movie playing via second connection to a 42" 1080 HDTV, usual internet music etc

Special Needs:
Nothing crazy loud but doesn't need to be silent

Saved Ticket #: 705069


Edited by UKCoopeR - 04 Jul 2012 at 5:31pm

Understood, thanks for the tip!

Hi UKCoopeR... For your budget I would suggest checking out the ODE lvl 1 or lvl 2.  They are great systems for the money and the 600T case is much better than the 300R in keeping the components cool and safe.  The 300R only has a single 120mm fan feeding air to the parts.  The ODE 600T has a 200mm fan in front and a 200mm fan on top to good airflow.

The ODE stage 1 looks like everything I was looking at anyway aside from HD, RAM, and wireless and a great price point.... The main reason I was playing around with the Epoch was the ability to change things in the configuration screen, but after looking at some other threads on this forum it looks like I could get whatever options anyway if I ask them, which is cool… Didn't know about the colder running case either, thanks!

Thanks everyone for the heads up on the gpu overclocking, I saw free and higher performance and said why not, now I know... Same with the OS tweaks.

The main reason I was looking at 16GB ram is because in the past I had done some cost savings there and it quickly became the next bottle neck but that was a lot of years ago and I don't know if that is true anymore… none of them ever had heat sinks either ha-ha I was quite startled when I first started my research as my knowledge is quite out of date. I suppose if the motherboard supports it, I could always swap in more ram in a couple years if that makes the most sense bang for buck wise?

So I am leaning towards the ODE stage 1 with the Caviar Black HD instead of the standard and a wireless internet card/usb (any thoughts on a card vs. usb?... didn't even know usb solutions existed till last week lol) which should add something like 150 to the 1.5k price (basing that on how much it added in the epoch configuration) leaving me ~200 for a monitor.

Anything else I am missing? I want to order yesterday ha-ha but also want to be sure I am getting the right one for me.

Love the embrace the noobs community on the board thanks for your time!

Here's another config to check out.  It has the 1TB Balck caviar HDD, wireless card and a nice case for cooling and better psu with 5 year warranty..

 

AND...your free t-shirt.

 

You mentioned a monitor....The Dell UltraSharp U 2312HM is great and is on sale right now for $239.  Just a thought...

Edited by bprat22 - 05 Jul 2012 at 6:42am

nvm on the monitor price, found a place that has them at 229.99

If by chance your build starts approaching the $2000 mark and that can happen real quick, look at the Dreadnought level 2.  It has the 800w psu, better cpu, the best air cooled case, the HafX , and the mobo allows another gtx670 to be added to it in sli when the time comes for a big boost in gaming.  The Z77 Deluxe mobo, another option,  has built in Wifi, no extra card needed, but is another $48,  I think.

Edited by bprat22 - 05 Jul 2012 at 10:40am

Couldn't stand it anymore and ordered!!!!

Dell U2312HM on the way, should arrive monday

Build is bascially as suggested by bprat22, with two changes 16GB ram (at only $50 seemed like a good deal) and Cooler Master Hyper 212 (took a thermodynamics class back in the day and as a result like the flat heat pipes and no air pockets for only $7)

Ticket:705361

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!!!!!

I am super pumped once I have a estimated arrival date I might have to ask for that day and the next couple off or buy a bunch of energy so I can game all night and still make it to work hahahahaha

Payment processed, stage 1 complete!

Can't wait to get rid of the laptop that overheats after 1 hour of gaming haha

looks like i have a verified customer tag now too!

Thanks, will do!

Just checked back and last time I built a gaming machine it was a PowerColor EVIL COMMANDO 2 Radeon 9700PRO 128MB (still the best name I have heard for a gpu lol) with 2GB of ram running windows 2000 sometime in the early 2000s hahaha. Been making do with playing last generation games on budget gpus for quite a while. The one this will be replacing is an off the shelf laptop that would over heat and shutoff after 1 hour of star trek online (despite me adding more cooling), just about manage half life 2, barely run the newer need for speeds (not at an enjoyable fps though) and batman arkham city at low settings.

I know the stress testing etc is one of the reasons I went with digital storm but doesn't make the waiting any easier! At least I can have this going on loop to keep me pumped up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9jK-NcRmVcw#!


Edited by UKCoopeR - 06 Jul 2012 at 10:36am

Haha

P.S. Just got the stage 2 and 3 emails!!!!

Getting closer every day. 

Stage 6 Woot Woot!!!!

Monitor arrived today, nothing to plug it into yet though

For me, 5 business days shipping, to  New England. 

Edited by bprat22 - 13 Jul 2012 at 9:26am

Sounds like a call-in-sick day to me

haha i will try an wrangle a telecommuting day for friday

thursday will be a nice energy drink and install party and maybe move the hard-drive from my dead computer from the external it is currently in into on the free bays on the new rig

Weather has been crazy.