So its been a couple of months since i decided i was going to give the 3-4 year old machine a good boot, and replace it with some nice tech. Yes im 99% convinced i will buy an intel CPU and nVidia GPU, and before you say so.. i know the new AM3 Bulldoser is out soon, but i probably dont care. I like intel, i think its reliable.
So without further explaining here is what i have decided upon for the hardware:
[CPU] Intel Core i7 2600k Processor LGA1155 3.4GHz CPU ($349)
[MoBo] Asus P8P67 PRO V3 L1155 P67 4x DDR3 SATA3 SATA2 eSATA RAID Firewire USB3.0 GLAN CrossFire/SLI ($195)
[RAM] Kingston 8GB(2 X 4GB) DDR3-1333MHZ PC10600 ($66)
[Gcard] eVGA GTX570 SC1280Mb PCI Expresss ($378)
[CASE] CoolerMaster Storm Scout Gaming Black Case With Red Led(NoPSU) ($103)
[PSU] Antec ATX TruePower 750W ($147)
[HDD] Western Digital Black 1TB SATA3 64M(WD1002FAEX) ($98)
Prices are according to my local computer store, and ive found they can be quite limiting compared to other online stores such as newegg. However, still suitable.
My questions are:
1) Is there a similar motherboard from asus which uses the Z68 chipset so that i can take advantage of the CPU graphics if a situtation arises, without sacrificing the benifits of the P67 chipset for a gamer?
2) Is that power supply to much? ive just picked the 750W to make sure it had enough juice, keeping in mind i may feel the need to get a second graphics card later on and run in sli... so what considerations will i need to take here?
3) I actualy prefered the GTX570 HD DS card, however it isnt available from the store, i might have to find it elsewhere if the extra cooling is worth it? Again taking into consideration for a future upgrade to dual cards
4) Ive read some sites saying the i7 2600k is the top of the top, and then other sites can say it doesnt realy give a massive boost to gaming. So does anyone know the major benifits of having the i7 2600k over the i5 2500k?
5) I will probably just end up doubling the ram to 16gb (4x4gb), good idea to have excess yes? Also is 1333mhz suitable, or is it worth going higher ... say the 1600mhz?
6) I was considering the new CM Storm Trooper case, however its a bit of a monster compared to what i have, and the scout, however a bigger case has better airflow for cooling right?. As i will be transporting the computer often enough i decided upon having a handle built into the case.. I was also looking at the NZXT Phantom, and ive breifly heard about computer straps and things to help transport, but i cant seem to find them anywhere. Any comments on these 3 cases would be nice, but ive had a good look at other options and im certain i want one of these so please no other case suggestions.
So thats basically it, any genius out there that can help with quick simple answers.. thanks to you! At this point i realy only want minor changes, im not about to change cpu to an AMD or up the graphics to a gtx590, so ill probably just ignore anyone who feels like saying i should throw out half the parts for other stuff.. that said, im sure there will be plenty with decent sensible input :smile.gif: so post away
The i7 quad is pretty good for multitasking, much better than an i5. It really depends on what you plan to do with it besides play games. Multimedia editing or just in general multitasking would be better on an i7.
1) Is there a similar motherboard from asus which uses the Z68 chipset so that i can take advantage of the CPU graphics if a situtation arises, without sacrificing the benifits of the P67 chipset for a gamer? I'm not sure, since I prefer P67 over Z68, since it brings no real benefits.
2) Is that power supply to much? ive just picked the 750W to make sure it had enough juice, keeping in mind i may feel the need to get a second graphics card later on and run in sli... so what considerations will i need to take here? It's not too much. You could run that rig on 600W if you would like to do so, but I suggest getting a modular PSU, ala Corsair AX 800W.
3) I actualy prefered the GTX570 HD DS card, however it isnt available from the store, i might have to find it elsewhere if the extra cooling is worth it? HD DS? Never heard of it. I can suggest getting either the ASUS GTX 570 or the MSI.
4) Ive read some sites saying the i7 2600k is the top of the top, and then other sites can say it doesnt realy give a massive boost to gaming. So does anyone know the major benifits of having the i7 2600k over the i5 2500k? It's got HT / Hyper-threading, which only gives you benefits in photo editing, movie editing software and alike. In gaming, it doesn't do **** more than the 2500K.
5) I will probably just end up doubling the ram to 16gb (4x4gb), good idea to have excess yes? Also is 1333mhz suitable, or is it worth going higher ... say the 1600mhz? It's alright to have 1333Mhz.
6) I was considering the new CM Storm Trooper case, however its a bit of a monster compared to what i have, and the scout, however a bigger case has better airflow for cooling right?. As i will be transporting the computer often enough i decided upon having a handle built into the case.. I was also looking at the NZXT Phantom, and ive breifly heard about computer straps and things to help transport, but i cant seem to find them anywhere. Any comments on these 3 cases would be nice, but ive had a good look at other options and im certain i want one of these so please no other case suggestions.
Don't get any of them. I can suggest getting a case from the Corsair series, either Obsidian or Carbide, since they have superior cabling management and sleek, clean looks.
1. Asus P8Z68-V PRO but only benfits from a P67 Chipset and a Z68 Chipset is the use the built in Graphics on Intel CPUs and SSD Caching.
2. 750W is fine but if your looking to run GTX 570 in SLI in the future I Suggest a fully modular 850W PSU from either OCZ, Silverstone or Corsair.
3. Never heard of the HD DS.. But I doo suggest a GTX 570 from Asus or MSi.
4. The i7 supports Hyper-Threading which is usefull for Editing and Rendering videos, etc.. And it's stock speed is .1 GHz higher than the i5 but is basically no different if your going to overclock. So if you are more likely to be gaming, go for the i5 to save money, bit if your going to game and edit videos get the i7.
5. There is literally no noticable speed difference between 1333MHz and 1600MHz, so go with 1333Mhz.. Also, get 8Gb sticks over 4gb sticks, because there will be a chance that if you get an aftermarket CPU Cooler, 4 Sticks of 4Gbs won't all fit.
6. I would suggest the Phantom at the least, but the Cooler Master HAF X will top all of them in both Airflow, Space and Cable Management Abilites..
Incase that link is broken the card name is 'EVGA GeForce GTX 570 DS HD' and should be easily found on the evga graphics section.
In response to:
1's) My reasoning for wanting the Z68 was simply if the graphics card died i could potentially work around it in the mean time using the motherboard untill i could replace the card. This is not an essential feature which i can do without, but my understanding is that the z68 only adds to the p67, and doesnt remove any features.
2's) Ill look into a modular PSU now, i have just watched a few youtube vids and one talked about how a modular is much easier for cable management, which id like. Also thanks for the suggestions for an 800w to 850w for an sli configuration, otherwise i would have regreted the 750w later on.
3's) Ive come across the MSI GTX570 Twin Frozr II/OC and rather like it, as it comes overclocked and i dont plan on OC'ing any time soon. Other then that I would just go with the eVGA gtx570 HD SC1280mb.
4's) I dont do much else other then gaming currently, but i have felt like doing video editing and expanding what i use computer for in alot of directions, so i figure the i7 2600k couldnt go wrong and everything mentioned just backs that up. It of course is all round better then the lesser model and I feel comfortable spending the extra to ensure this build will last quite a few years before another upgrade is necessary.
5's) easy solution, ill stick with 1333mhz and double up on GB's.. thanks for the input
6's) As i said im pretty set on one of those 3 cases. The phantom is quite appealing to me, purely for its look and feel. The cable management isnt a high consideration for me as i have no experience to compare with and figure id deal with whatever the case had to offer in that area. However the phantom is a full tower, and has no handles which could quite potentially become bothersome down the road. The scout is appealing because of its nice handle, and its size/weight, potentially the best case for transport. However the more i look at it the more i feel it cheapens the build.
The Trooper is a nice balance between the two, its decent looking, has a very capable handle, some easy dust filters, fan speed control, and enough space to work with.. but of course that could turn around and be it takes up to much volume lol. So right now i feel like it would be the optimal choice unless i can find a way to attach some form of a handle for easy transport to the Phantom
Additional notes:
Im reconsidering an SSD for windows boot, the increased speed might be worth it if there is an afordable option. Ie, picking the smallest possible size which works for what i need it for. Ill be using windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. So if anyone can give me a quick run down of how much space is needed for that, how i could manage back ups and partitions, that would be great, i guess ill just pretend i know absolutly nothing about that.
1's) My reasoning for wanting the Z68 was simply if the graphics card died i could potentially work around it in the mean time using the motherboard untill i could replace the card. This is not an essential feature which i can do without, but my understanding is that the z68 only adds to the p67, and doesnt remove any features.
GPU's rarely die, especially newer ones. If they do, you can easily send it back to wherever you bought it and recieve a replacement in less than a week at most. So go with A P67 board or a Z68 board, whatever is to your liking.
2's) Ill look into a modular PSU now, i have just watched a few youtube vids and one talked about how a modular is much easier for cable management, which id like. Also thanks for the suggestions for an 800w to 850w for an sli configuration, otherwise i would have regreted the 750w later on.
Yeah. I suggest getting a modular, really. It's so much better than having an ugly PSU / ugly cables laying around doing absolutely nothing.
3's) Ive come across the MSI GTX570 Twin Frozr II/OC and rather like it, as it comes overclocked and i dont plan on OC'ing any time soon. Other then that I would just go with the eVGA gtx570 HD SC1280mb.
Yeah. I prefer the MSI since MSI's Twin Frozr II design moves more air and it does it more silently than any other GPU air cooler, except Asus' design. But i'd say go for the MSI, it's a safe bet and you'll get a lot of performance from it.
4's) I dont do much else other then gaming currently, but i have felt like doing video editing and expanding what i use computer for in alot of directions, so i figure the i7 2600k couldnt go wrong and everything mentioned just backs that up. It of course is all round better then the lesser model and I feel comfortable spending the extra to ensure this build will last quite a few years before another upgrade is necessary.
Yeah. I have an Intel Core i7 2600K myself and I could not be happier. Of course, i'll regret my purchase when the Ivy Bridge comes out, so I suggest getting an Intel i5 2500K and then get an Ivy bridge.
5's) easy solution, ill stick with 1333mhz and double up on GB's.. thanks for the input
6's) As i said im pretty set on one of those 3 cases. The phantom is quite appealing to me, purely for its look and feel. The cable management isnt a high consideration for me as i have no experience to compare with and figure id deal with whatever the case had to offer in that area. However the phantom is a full tower, and has no handles which could quite potentially become bothersome down the road. The scout is appealing because of its nice handle, and its size/weight, potentially the best case for transport. However the more i look at it the more i feel it cheapens the build.
Whatever is to your liking ; )
The Trooper is a nice balance between the two, its decent looking, has a very capable handle, some easy dust filters, fan speed control, and enough space to work with.. but of course that could turn around and be it takes up to much volume lol. So right now i feel like it would be the optimal choice unless i can find a way to attach some form of a handle for easy transport to the Phantom
Additional notes:
Im reconsidering an SSD for windows boot, the increased speed might be worth it if there is an afordable option. Ie, picking the smallest possible size which works for what i need it for. Ill be using windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. So if anyone can give me a quick run down of how much space is needed for that, how i could manage back ups and partitions, that would be great, i guess ill just pretend i know absolutly nothing about that.
If you're using it for just OS, an Intel SSD 320 80GB will do fine.
I'd also recommend an aftermarket cooler for your CPU. It does come with a stock one...but those suck. Even if you aren't overclocking, they're horrible. If you have a large enough case you should check out the Noctua NH-D14, it's pricey at about $90 but well worth it.
Ive just remembered that a friend told me windows will be releasing a new OS within a year, so right now with that in mind i might stick with HDD's and get a SSD for the new OS when it is released. But dont quote me on that actualy getting released, i have never researched it myself.
so I suggest getting an Intel i5 2500K and then get an Ivy bridge.
Excuse me? Another CPU line is going to be released soon? Im going to have to research that now lol
Edit: Damn, a quick search says they will release is in the first half on next year, it was mid year but they may rush it to counter the release of the bulldozer by AMD. So i guess your right, stick with the i5 which has all the benifits for gaming, and then upgrade to the top of the line cpu (they will be using the 1155 sockets so thats easy)
Excuse me? Another CPU line is going to be released soon? Im going to have to research that now lol
Edit: Damn, a quick search says they will release is in the first half on next year, it was mid year but they may rush it to counter the release of the bulldozer by AMD. So i guess your right, stick with the i5 which has all the benifits for gaming, and then upgrade to the top of the line cpu (they will be using the 1155 sockets so thats easy)
Thanks for that, saved me $100 or so for now
No problem. I am probably going to buy one myself :wink.gif:
Okay, so you want Intel/nVidia and you want best price/performance for gaming (video editing will also do pretty well on this)?
Well, first, remember that ATI has better power consumption and plays newer games better usually
Here is what I would go for:
Intel i5 2500K (have it, works like a charm)
ASUS Z68-V PRO (Have the regular, there is a bug, so buck up and spend the extra cash)
EVGA GeForce GTX 570 Sc (Sc (superclocked) is optional, but EVGA is the best out there for nVidia)
Corsair Vengeance 8 GB 1600MHz (the speed is sometimes useful, Corsair is a great company, and 8 GB is more than enough for gaming)
Corsair AX850/Corsair 850TX (Corsair is the best, hands down, the AX is more efficient and is modular, versus the TX which isn't...
Cooler Master HAF 922/Corsair Obsidian Series 800D/650D/Corsair Graphite Series 600T/Antec P193
The Samsung Spinpoint 1 TB is almost as good as the Caviar black, at a fraction of the price
Intel 510 SSD (They are the best, SSD Caching from the Z68 is amazing, but Corsair would be my second pick if Intel isn't an option)
Screw the Intels. The best SSD's are the Crucials. They have the best stability. And you do not want any firmware problems with an SSD, trust me.
Also, why is EVGA the best one for Nvidia? Please elaborate.
Actually, Intel and Samsung have the best track record...but I am curious, which driver do they use on the Crucials? I am guessing Sand-Force, which is high speed low reliabillity..
Remember, a GPU company enviroment is a cruel place, EVGA provides good all-around stability for the price...although not the best price out there, it is the most stable for that price
But for overclocking, MSI is always there to help you along :smile.gif:
Nahh. Crucial use Marvel, which is the most reliable controller. Intel 510 uses it as well, but their firmware is not on par with Crucial's. So get a Crucial M4 ;
Most stable? I could swear i've seen ASUS and MSI cards cheaper than EVGA's, yet they have better customer support and better OC capabilites as well as superior cooling capabilities. EVGA is only good when you need a reference card.
Nahh. Crucial use Marvel, which is the most reliable controller. Intel 510 uses it as well, but their firmware is not on par with Crucial's. So get a Crucial M4 ;
Most stable? I could swear i've seen ASUS and MSI cards cheaper than EVGA's, yet they have better customer support and better OC capabilites as well as superior cooling capabilities. EVGA is only good when you need a reference card.
EVGA has the best support and warranties in the business. They're cards are more designed for people with crap HP or Dell cases though and not gaming cases. They aren't meant for hardcore overclocking and yet they can be pushed pretty far.
EVGA has the best support and warranties in the business. They're cards are more designed for people with crap HP or Dell cases though and not gaming cases. They aren't meant for hardcore overclocking and yet they can be pushed pretty far.
I doubt anyone on this site has more first hand knowledge dealing with these company's then i do. I really don't care if i look like a fanboy for telling the truth.
I wont be worrying about SSD's at the current time, for the rest of the build im quite decided on except for the motherboard. Thanks to Earthrace57, good suggestion for the z68 board... ill probably be getting that as its only a $20 upgrade and has a few extra features i might be using later on.
As for eVGA, ive always used them in the past, im actualy upgrading from a eVGA GTS250 and it was a dream machine. Never had a single issue with how the card performs apart from the understandable.. its getting out dated and cant keep up. There was quite a bit of heat in the card, however i blame the cases layout for cooling which should not be a problem in most cases these days. But i think i will go with the MSI card as it is OC'ed slightly more, and the cooling design is open which will work well with a decently vented case IMO.
Ive decided to only get 8gb ram when i buy the crucial parts.. i may throw in another 8gb at a later date, and i dont see why not, more ram cant slow the system up.
As for case, which im in a constant changing state of mind about.. I like the NZXT Phantom Black, i feel like adding some deep green led fans into it which should look spectacular as ive never gone with the display sort of cases before. The only draw back which is making the decision unfinalised is that there is no way to easily carry it with one hand. So does anyone know where to find those computer tower straps/handles? would make life a bit easier for when i do go to lans.
As for case, which im in a constant changing state of mind about.. I like the NZXT Phantom Black, i feel like adding some deep green led fans into it which should look spectacular as ive never gone with the display sort of cases before. The only draw back which is making the decision unfinalised is that there is no way to easily carry it with one hand. So does anyone know where to find those computer tower straps/handles? would make life a bit easier for when i do go to lans.
Heh. You'll never find an ATX shaped case that you can carry wit one hand. That's just asking too much. If you want to carry it around easily yet have good performance then you should have thought about getting an M-ATX build instead.
I dont see why its so hard to beleive carrying a case full of hardware wouldn't be difficult, id be looking at maybe 25kg max for anything im considering and thats not exactly heavy. Also most of the cases im looking at have handles rated for that and then some, except the phantom which doesnt have a handle. The scout has a very prominent handle design, which makes it feel like a cheaper case.. which it is if you look at price only, so your right about an intergrated handle, and all the trooper definatly has a nice one, and the sniper is ok, but i would prefer one handle.
I am probably leaning towards the phantom right now, its available and it would look pretty decent with some green led fans. Hopefully should have everything sorted by the end of next week!
So its been a couple of months since i decided i was going to give the 3-4 year old machine a good boot, and replace it with some nice tech. Yes im 99% convinced i will buy an intel CPU and nVidia GPU, and before you say so.. i know the new AM3 Bulldoser is out soon, but i probably dont care. I like intel, i think its reliable.
So without further explaining here is what i have decided upon for the hardware:
[CPU] Intel Core i7 2600k Processor LGA1155 3.4GHz CPU ($349)
[MoBo] Asus P8P67 PRO V3 L1155 P67 4x DDR3 SATA3 SATA2 eSATA RAID Firewire USB3.0 GLAN CrossFire/SLI ($195)
[RAM] Kingston 8GB(2 X 4GB) DDR3-1333MHZ PC10600 ($66)
[Gcard] eVGA GTX570 SC1280Mb PCI Expresss ($378)
[CASE] CoolerMaster Storm Scout Gaming Black Case With Red Led(NoPSU) ($103)
[PSU] Antec ATX TruePower 750W ($147)
[HDD] Western Digital Black 1TB SATA3 64M(WD1002FAEX) ($98)
Prices are according to my local computer store, and ive found they can be quite limiting compared to other online stores such as newegg. However, still suitable.
My questions are:
1) Is there a similar motherboard from asus which uses the Z68 chipset so that i can take advantage of the CPU graphics if a situtation arises, without sacrificing the benifits of the P67 chipset for a gamer?
2) Is that power supply to much? ive just picked the 750W to make sure it had enough juice, keeping in mind i may feel the need to get a second graphics card later on and run in sli... so what considerations will i need to take here?
3) I actualy prefered the GTX570 HD DS card, however it isnt available from the store, i might have to find it elsewhere if the extra cooling is worth it? Again taking into consideration for a future upgrade to dual cards
4) Ive read some sites saying the i7 2600k is the top of the top, and then other sites can say it doesnt realy give a massive boost to gaming. So does anyone know the major benifits of having the i7 2600k over the i5 2500k?
5) I will probably just end up doubling the ram to 16gb (4x4gb), good idea to have excess yes? Also is 1333mhz suitable, or is it worth going higher ... say the 1600mhz?
6) I was considering the new CM Storm Trooper case, however its a bit of a monster compared to what i have, and the scout, however a bigger case has better airflow for cooling right?. As i will be transporting the computer often enough i decided upon having a handle built into the case.. I was also looking at the NZXT Phantom, and ive breifly heard about computer straps and things to help transport, but i cant seem to find them anywhere. Any comments on these 3 cases would be nice, but ive had a good look at other options and im certain i want one of these so please no other case suggestions.
So thats basically it, any genius out there that can help with quick simple answers.. thanks to you! At this point i realy only want minor changes, im not about to change cpu to an AMD or up the graphics to a gtx590, so ill probably just ignore anyone who feels like saying i should throw out half the parts for other stuff.. that said, im sure there will be plenty with decent sensible input :smile.gif: so post away
2. 750W is fine but if your looking to run GTX 570 in SLI in the future I Suggest a fully modular 850W PSU from either OCZ, Silverstone or Corsair.
3. Never heard of the HD DS.. But I doo suggest a GTX 570 from Asus or MSi.
4. The i7 supports Hyper-Threading which is usefull for Editing and Rendering videos, etc.. And it's stock speed is .1 GHz higher than the i5 but is basically no different if your going to overclock. So if you are more likely to be gaming, go for the i5 to save money, bit if your going to game and edit videos get the i7.
5. There is literally no noticable speed difference between 1333MHz and 1600MHz, so go with 1333Mhz.. Also, get 8Gb sticks over 4gb sticks, because there will be a chance that if you get an aftermarket CPU Cooler, 4 Sticks of 4Gbs won't all fit.
6. I would suggest the Phantom at the least, but the Cooler Master HAF X will top all of them in both Airflow, Space and Cable Management Abilites..
http://www.evga.com/products/moreInfo.asp?pn=012-P3-1577-AR&family=GeForce 500 Series Family&sw=
Incase that link is broken the card name is 'EVGA GeForce GTX 570 DS HD' and should be easily found on the evga graphics section.
In response to:
1's) My reasoning for wanting the Z68 was simply if the graphics card died i could potentially work around it in the mean time using the motherboard untill i could replace the card. This is not an essential feature which i can do without, but my understanding is that the z68 only adds to the p67, and doesnt remove any features.
2's) Ill look into a modular PSU now, i have just watched a few youtube vids and one talked about how a modular is much easier for cable management, which id like. Also thanks for the suggestions for an 800w to 850w for an sli configuration, otherwise i would have regreted the 750w later on.
3's) Ive come across the MSI GTX570 Twin Frozr II/OC and rather like it, as it comes overclocked and i dont plan on OC'ing any time soon. Other then that I would just go with the eVGA gtx570 HD SC1280mb.
4's) I dont do much else other then gaming currently, but i have felt like doing video editing and expanding what i use computer for in alot of directions, so i figure the i7 2600k couldnt go wrong and everything mentioned just backs that up. It of course is all round better then the lesser model and I feel comfortable spending the extra to ensure this build will last quite a few years before another upgrade is necessary.
5's) easy solution, ill stick with 1333mhz and double up on GB's.. thanks for the input
6's) As i said im pretty set on one of those 3 cases. The phantom is quite appealing to me, purely for its look and feel. The cable management isnt a high consideration for me as i have no experience to compare with and figure id deal with whatever the case had to offer in that area. However the phantom is a full tower, and has no handles which could quite potentially become bothersome down the road. The scout is appealing because of its nice handle, and its size/weight, potentially the best case for transport. However the more i look at it the more i feel it cheapens the build.
The Trooper is a nice balance between the two, its decent looking, has a very capable handle, some easy dust filters, fan speed control, and enough space to work with.. but of course that could turn around and be it takes up to much volume lol. So right now i feel like it would be the optimal choice unless i can find a way to attach some form of a handle for easy transport to the Phantom
Additional notes:
Im reconsidering an SSD for windows boot, the increased speed might be worth it if there is an afordable option. Ie, picking the smallest possible size which works for what i need it for. Ill be using windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. So if anyone can give me a quick run down of how much space is needed for that, how i could manage back ups and partitions, that would be great, i guess ill just pretend i know absolutly nothing about that.
If you're using it for just OS, an Intel SSD 320 80GB will do fine.
Excuse me? Another CPU line is going to be released soon? Im going to have to research that now lol
Edit: Damn, a quick search says they will release is in the first half on next year, it was mid year but they may rush it to counter the release of the bulldozer by AMD. So i guess your right, stick with the i5 which has all the benifits for gaming, and then upgrade to the top of the line cpu (they will be using the 1155 sockets so thats easy)
Thanks for that, saved me $100 or so for now
No problem. I am probably going to buy one myself :wink.gif:
Screw the Intels. The best SSD's are the Crucials. They have the best stability. And you do not want any firmware problems with an SSD, trust me.
Also, why is EVGA the best one for Nvidia? Please elaborate.
Nahh. Crucial use Marvel, which is the most reliable controller. Intel 510 uses it as well, but their firmware is not on par with Crucial's. So get a Crucial M4 ;
Most stable? I could swear i've seen ASUS and MSI cards cheaper than EVGA's, yet they have better customer support and better OC capabilites as well as superior cooling capabilities. EVGA is only good when you need a reference card.
EVGA has the best support and warranties in the business. They're cards are more designed for people with crap HP or Dell cases though and not gaming cases. They aren't meant for hardcore overclocking and yet they can be pushed pretty far.
You're making yourself look like a fanboy now
I doubt anyone on this site has more first hand knowledge dealing with these company's then i do. I really don't care if i look like a fanboy for telling the truth.
As for eVGA, ive always used them in the past, im actualy upgrading from a eVGA GTS250 and it was a dream machine. Never had a single issue with how the card performs apart from the understandable.. its getting out dated and cant keep up. There was quite a bit of heat in the card, however i blame the cases layout for cooling which should not be a problem in most cases these days. But i think i will go with the MSI card as it is OC'ed slightly more, and the cooling design is open which will work well with a decently vented case IMO.
Ive decided to only get 8gb ram when i buy the crucial parts.. i may throw in another 8gb at a later date, and i dont see why not, more ram cant slow the system up.
As for case, which im in a constant changing state of mind about.. I like the NZXT Phantom Black, i feel like adding some deep green led fans into it which should look spectacular as ive never gone with the display sort of cases before. The only draw back which is making the decision unfinalised is that there is no way to easily carry it with one hand. So does anyone know where to find those computer tower straps/handles? would make life a bit easier for when i do go to lans.
Heh. You'll never find an ATX shaped case that you can carry wit one hand. That's just asking too much. If you want to carry it around easily yet have good performance then you should have thought about getting an M-ATX build instead.
I am probably leaning towards the phantom right now, its available and it would look pretty decent with some green led fans. Hopefully should have everything sorted by the end of next week!