Help! Choosing Mobo, Cabinet and PSU

mOCHU

mOCHU

Broken In
I am looking to build a gaming rig myself and have zeroed in on or already procured the following components:
1. Processor - Intel Core i5-2400
2. Memory - G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
3. VideoCard - GIGABYTE GV-R687OC-1GD Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
4. SSD - Performance 3 Series P3-64 Solid-State Hard Drive
I have procured all of the components mentioned above except the processor itself and am open to suggestions to change the same.

Other requirements:
1. Usage - I plan on using this desktop for gaming and watching HD movies.
2. Future Upgrades - I also plan to include a second HD6870 card in a Crossfire setup 6-9 months down the line. Might also include an additional 8gb of memory after a year. Need at least 2 SATA 6.0 Gbps connectors.
3. Overclocks - Might overclock the memory. Will definitely not be overclocking the processor. Gigabyte gfx card is already overclocked. I might be overclocking the memory at around the same time.
4. Procurement - Motherboard can be got for me from a friend returning from the US. However, I have to get the cabinet and psu myself from Chennai or Bangalore.
5. Timeframe - Am looking to get the PC running as soon as possible.
6. Budget - Cheapest possible route given that it satisfies the above requirements. :smile:

So, need help in choosing a suitable motherboard, a cabinet and a psu. Need sufficient space and airflow in the cabinet (for 2 rather big gfx cards) and a sufficient overhead in the PSU for the planned upgrades. Must support the 3 or so fans that I plan to install.

The Intel Smart Response and the Lucid Virtu will mostly be unnecessary. Do you think the smart response option might be a viable alternative?

Another concern I had was whether I would need 2 PCIEx16 slots in my motherboard for the CrossfireX support or is it enough to have 1 PCIEx16 and 1 PCIEx8 (so that the crossfire setup would run at x8, x8)?

Would appreciate help as soon as possible (at least regarding the mobo as the aforementioned friend is leaving US within 7-10 days). I guess that about covers most of my requirements. Thanks for taking the time to go thru the rather long message.
 
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Piyush

Piyush

Lanaya
fill this:
*www.thinkdigit.com/forum/pc-components-configurations/128247-pc-build-questionnaire-template.html
 
OP
mOCHU

mOCHU

Broken In
1. What is the purpose of the computer? (Note: If you are planning to say multimedia, you will have to be more specific as all types of systems are capable of doing that)
A: I plan on using this desktop for gaming and watching HD movies
2. Are you open to alternate ideas/products giving similar better performance but offering more VFM/ sellers? If not- why?
A: Yes.
3. What is your MAX budget?
A: N/A. Cheapest available option that fulfills all requirements whatever the price might be.
4. Planning to overclock?
A: No
5. Which OS are you planning to use?
A: Windows 7
6. How much hard drive space is needed?
A: None other than the capacity of the SSD mentioned in the above post
7. What resolution will the screen run at & whats the size of the screen you want? If you already want have one and want to use it, mention its resolution and size.
A: Not decided yet. Planning on a 22-24” 16:9 screen. Atleast 1600x900. Most likely higher.
8. How would you rate your hardware knowledge from the count of 1-10? (1 being the lowest, 5 being you are somewhat in sync with the current performers and 10 being the highest)
A: 7.5
9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
A: Yes. 5 years ago. So predictably out of touch.
10. When are you planning to buy the system?
A: Within 7-14 days
11. Are you one of the types looking out for "future proof" configurations?
A: Planning on including another 6870 card in crossfire setup. And to include 2x4gb memory later.

12. Are there going to be any components that you don't want to include in this new rig? If yes, do mention.
A: N/A
13. Which city do you live in and are you open to buying from shops from other city/states?
A: Chennai. Can buy from other states. A couple of components can be procured by a friend returning from US (not something like the cabinet though).
14. Mention any other points if deemed necessary
A: I am looking to build a gaming rig myself and have zeroed in on or already procured the following components:
1. Processor - Intel Core i5-2400
2. Memory - G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
3. VideoCard - GIGABYTE GV-R687OC-1GD Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
4. SSD - Performance 3 Series P3-64 Solid-State Hard Drive
I have procured all of the components mentioned above except the processor itself and am open to suggestions to change the same. Need help choosing the motherboard, cabinet and psu. Other queries and more information present in the original post. Hope this helps Piyush.
 
OP
mOCHU

mOCHU

Broken In
Piyush said:
give us a brief idea about the budget
+/- 10k is acceptable
Click to expand...

Most of the components have been gotten already. No constraints as regards budget as long as it would meet the requirements.

But, let us say less than 180-200 USD (newegg prices) for the motherboard. And, less than 8K INR for the cabinet. PSU whichever works is fine whatever the price. But then again, these are the max budgets, lower is better.
 
thetechfreak

thetechfreak

Legend Never Ends
Sice you arent planning to overclock and locking for chapest option-

PSU- FSP Saga II 500w @Rs.2000
Cabinet- Cooler Master 310@Rs.1500
Mobo-Intel DH67BL @Rs.5200




NOTE: Cheap necessarily mean bad :wink:
 
Piyush

Piyush

Lanaya
thetechfreak said:
Sice you arent planning to overclock and locking for chapest option-

PSU- FSP Saga II 500w @Rs.2000
Cabinet- Cooler Master 310@Rs.1500
Mobo-Intel DH67BL @Rs.5200




NOTE: Cheap necessarily mean bad :wink:
Click to expand...

he said he would be cross firing later
FSP 500W will be blown off

mOCHU said:
Most of the components have been gotten already. No constraints as regards budget as long as it would meet the requirements.

But, let us say less than 180-200 USD (newegg prices) for the motherboard. And, less than 8K INR for the cabinet. PSU whichever works is fine whatever the price. But then again, these are the max budgets, lower is better.
Click to expand...

you mean you already purchased the rest of the parts?
 
OP
mOCHU

mOCHU

Broken In
Piyush said:
he said he would be cross firing later
FSP 500W will be blown off



you mean you already purchased the rest of the parts?
Click to expand...

Yes. The gfx card, ssd and the memory have already been purchased.
Mobo, processor, cabinet, psu remain.
Am kinda set on the i5-2400 processor too.

thetechfreak said:
Sice you arent planning to overclock and locking for chapest option-

PSU- FSP Saga II 500w @Rs.2000
Cabinet- Cooler Master 310@Rs.1500
Mobo-Intel DH67BL @Rs.5200




NOTE: Cheap necessarily mean bad :wink:
Click to expand...

The mobo would not support a crossfire setup. Also, the power supply wont cover the current wattage needs itself, leave alone a crossfire (since the 6870 card i have mentioned is overclocked and needs higher than normal wattage). The cabinet recommended would also support only 2 fan positions. I would need a minimum of 3 fans installed into the cabinet.
 
thetechfreak

thetechfreak

Legend Never Ends
OK here goes-
PSU:Corsair TX750v2

Cabinet:Haf 912

Mobo: I am still searching one to fit you're needs
 
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Piyush

Piyush

Lanaya
mOCHU said:
Yes. The gfx card, ssd and the memory have already been purchased.
Mobo, processor, cabinet, psu remain.
Am kinda set on the i5-2400 processor too.
Click to expand...

for MOBO look out for newly launched Z68 mobos by Gigabyte....will cost you around 10k

for cabinet get HAF 912 eyes closed

PSU should be Corsair TX 750W

and you have already chosen your processor
 
OP
mOCHU

mOCHU

Broken In
thetechfreak said:
OK here goes-
PSU:Corsair TX750v2

Cabinet:NZXT Tempest EVO

Mobo: I am still searching one to fit you're needs
Click to expand...

The PSU and cabinet would fit the bill perfectly i guess. Any idea where i can get them frm in india?
 
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OP
mOCHU

mOCHU

Broken In
Thanks. But the motherboard? Yes.. was looking at the new gigabyte and asrock z68 ones. Which is were I had the concern regarding whether I would need 2 PCIEx16 slots in my motherboard for the CrossfireX support or is it enough to have 1 PCIEx16 and 1 PCIEx8 (so that the crossfire setup would run at x8, x8)?
 
OP
mOCHU

mOCHU

Broken In
Hey. The HAF 912 looks awesome and would fit my needs. But the description says "Graphics card dimensions supported 280mm with drive caddy, 410mm without". The dimensions of my gfx care are H=38 mm, L=290 mm, W=126 mm. Now, as u can c there is a slight disparity in the one of the dimensions. Is it gonna be a problem?
 
Piyush

Piyush

Lanaya
no
nothing at all
you can set up bigger cards than 6870 too
my friend has one i'm totally satisfied with it
 
OP
mOCHU

mOCHU

Broken In
Thanks for the help. Down to the motherboards now. Went through the latest z68 motherboards. Last couple of options include
1. Gigabyte's GA-Z68X-UD3-B3 (145 USD)
2. ASRock's Z68 Extreme4 (190 USD)

ASRock Z68 Pro3 (120 USD !!) was an option but it does not support cross-fire setups. And most sites seem to indicate that an x8,x8 setup has only a 5-6% perf drop compared to a x16,x16 Xfire setup. So, which amongst the 2 mobos do u think I shud go wid? The Extreme4 provides a lot of OC functionalities which I am not sure if i would need (as I might or might not OC my memory and processor.. as i am not sure if it is worth ur while to do so).. What do u guys think?
 
Piyush

Piyush

Lanaya
Doing OCing is like a fever these days
its main motive is to take out more juice from your processor and nothing else
if you want to do OCing , then you should better get a k series processor i.e. 2500k

and if you dont want to do so, then go for above gigabyte mobo
 
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