BleepingComputer.com: Building a Gaming PC

Hi all,

I'm wanting to build a new PC, below is what I have picked out:

Case: LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62 Black 0.8 mm SECC, Plastic + Mesh ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Motherboard: EVGA E758-A1 3-Way SLI (x16/x16/x8) LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

Processor: Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601930

Memory: G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ

GPU: EVGA 012-P3-1470-AR GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

DVD Burner: ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM

CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler

What do you think? This will be used for gaming, video/image editing, music production, movies, etc. Any input would be great!

oops, cool setup
I prefer AMD processors myself

This post has been edited by diggi: 30 August 2010 - 12:41 PM

Can't question the build as posted, but...............................

That TX650 limits your future options. If you are set on using a single card, then that is a great PSU. IF you plan to go SLI, it becomes a limiting factor. If you have no intention of going SLI, then a Socket 1156 board/CPU would work as well and be cheaper. For SLI GTX470s, you are looking at an 850 WATT PSU.

No experience with that case. Always a good idea on mid towers to get the distance from the back plane to the hard drive cages to make sure your videocard fits.

It is a really good time to hold off a bit on a videocard. Good deal on that GTX470 by the way. The numbers on the 6XXX Radeons are leaking now and they are expected to be introduced an 4 to 6 weeks. This is already having an effect as prices are trending down across the board on the higher end cards now. Could be a bargain hunter's paradise soon.

Looks fine, though to continue with what dpunisher has already stated, there is also something else you may want to consider. The LGA 1366 socket will be replaced next year and will not be backwards compatible with the new LGA 2011 sockets, ending future upgrades. A few other points to consider are that you may be able to get a less expensive motherboard if you looked around, your case is mid-ATX which may cause problems with large graphics cards or those in an SLI/Crossfire configuration, the power supply should be increased, and you need an operating system.

Yea, I don't intend to SLI. However I wanted my build to focus around the i7 930 as I really want that processor. And if I kept waiting on the newer technology to come out, I would never get anything lol. Since everything changes constantly.

I already have a copy of Windows 7, so all good there.

whoosh88, on Aug 31 2010, 10:24 AM, said:

Can't disagree.

Eventhough Socket 1366 is "mature", there will be upgrades available. After overclocking that 930 to ~4ghz, there is always a 6 core 9XX as an upgrade path. Your setup should be good for possibly one CPU, and at least one videocard upgrade in the future.

It's a bit of a funny time now as games are now being limited by CPU horsepower vs fillrate. At normal single monitor resolutions, modern videocards aren't pressed to deliver playable framerates even with all the eyecandy on (Yes, Crysis excepted). The latest and greatest games are more CPU dependant/multicore dependant, than ever.

I have said it before, If I had to build a new gaming rig, and had the money to spend, I would build an i7 9XX/X58 based system in a heartbeat.

EDIT: i7 950 down to $299 now.

This post has been edited by dpunisher: 31 August 2010 - 08:53 PM

The i7 950 is absolutely worth getting if you have the extra $10 or so on hand. Upgrades are available for the LGA 1366 socket, for now, but don't expect too many newer sockets to be released on it when LGA 2011 comes out. You're pretty much looking at the CPU's the socket will use though EOL, unless Intel releases special 1366 CPU's based on Sandy Bridge. For desktop CPU's, you may be better off going for an LGA 1155 CPU, however, the i7 950 is FINALLY priced at a somewhat reasonable level for what you are getting.