25-35k basic gaming, development, HD movie-watching rig

D

Deathdart

Disciple
Please answer the following questions for others to help you out better. Delete whatever you feel is not required.
  1. Q: What is your budget?
    1. 25-35K
  2. Q: What is your existing hardware configuration (component name - component brand and model)
    1. monitor - viewsonic 19"
    2. cpu - very old P4
    3. mouse - logitech mx310
  3. Q: Which hardware will you be keeping (component name - component brand and model)
    1. monitor
    2. mouse
  4. Q: Which hardware component are you looking to buy (component name). If you have already decided on a configuration then please mention the (component brand and model) as well, this will help us in fine tuning your requirement.
    1. CPU - Intel 3.3 GHz LGA 1155 Core i5-2500K Processor





      Motherboard - Intel DH67CL B3 Motherboard



      RAM - Corsair DDR3 4 GB (1 x 4 GB) PC RAM (CMV4GX3M1A1333C9)

      HDD - Seagate Barracuda 1 TB HDD Internal Hard Drive (ST1000DM003)

      or HDD - WD 1 TB HDD Internal Hard Drive (WD10EUCX) (less cache)

      or HDD - WD Caviar Blue 500 GB HDD Internal Hard Drive (WD5000AAKX)



      PSU/UPS combo 1:

      PSU - Corsair CMPSU-600CXV2UK 600 Watts PSU

      or PSU - Corsair CMPSU-600GUK 600 Watts PSU

      UPS - APC 800VA



      PSU/UPS combo 2:

      PSU - Corsair CMPSU-430CXV2UK 430 Watts PSU

      UPS - Zebronics 600VA



      Cabinet - Cooler Master Elite 335 Mini Tower Cabinet

      DVD-Writer - LG 22x SATA DVD Writer
  5. Q: Is this going to be your final configuration or you would be adding/upgrading a component in near future. If yes then please mention when and which component
    1. Yes, will be upgrading in the next 6 months
    2. Graphics Card
    3. RAM
    4. HDD
  6. Q: Where will you buy this hardware? (Online/City/TE Dealer)
    1. Pune
    2. Open to online purchase but not second hand
  7. Q: Would you consider buying a second hand hardware from the TE market
    1. Yes
  8. Q: What is your intended use for this PC/hardware
    1. Causal Gaming
    2. Browsing
    3. Download rig, 24x7 operation
    4. Watching HD movies
    5. Development - Eclipse, Visual Studio 2010, Virtualization
  9. Q: Do you have any brand preference or dislike? Please name them and the reason for your preference/dislike.
    1. No
  10. Q: If you will be playing games then which type of games will you be playing?
    1. AoE 2
    2. Diablo 3
    3. NFS
    4. Split Second
    5. Anno
  11. Q: What is your preferred monitor resolution for gaming and normal usage
    1. Gaming - 1440x900
    2. Desktop - 1440x900
  12. Q: Are you looking to overclock?
    1. No
  13. Q: Which operating system do you intend to use with this configuration?
    1. Windows 7 64 bit
    2. Ubuntu 12.04 64bit
    3. Mac OSX 10.7 on virtual box

Please recommend appropriate PSU and UPS. Any other suggestions are also welcome.
 
Deathdart said:
Please answer the following questions for others to help you out better. Delete whatever you feel is not required.
  1. Q: What is your budget?
    1. 25-35K
  2. Q: What is your existing hardware configuration (component name - component brand and model)
    1. monitor - viewsonic 19"
    2. cpu - very old P4
    3. mouse - logitech mx310
  3. Q: Which hardware will you be keeping (component name - component brand and model)
    1. monitor
    2. mouse
  4. Q: Which hardware component are you looking to buy (component name). If you have already decided on a configuration then please mention the (component brand and model) as well, this will help us in fine tuning your requirement.
    1. CPU - Intel 3.3 GHz LGA 1155 Core i5-2500K Processor





      Motherboard - Intel DH67CL B3 Motherboard



      RAM - Corsair DDR3 4 GB (1 x 4 GB) PC RAM (CMV4GX3M1A1333C9)

      HDD - Seagate Barracuda 1 TB HDD Internal Hard Drive (ST1000DM003)

      or HDD - WD 1 TB HDD Internal Hard Drive (WD10EUCX) (less cache)

      or HDD - WD Caviar Blue 500 GB HDD Internal Hard Drive (WD5000AAKX)



      PSU/UPS combo 1:

      PSU - Corsair CMPSU-600CXV2UK 600 Watts PSU

      or PSU - Corsair CMPSU-600GUK 600 Watts PSU

      UPS - APC 800VA



      PSU/UPS combo 2:

      PSU - Corsair CMPSU-430CXV2UK 430 Watts PSU

      UPS - Zebronics 600VA



      Cabinet - Cooler Master Elite 335 Mini Tower Cabinet

      DVD-Writer - LG 22x SATA DVD Writer
  5. Q: Is this going to be your final configuration or you would be adding/upgrading a component in near future. If yes then please mention when and which component
    1. Yes, will be upgrading in the next 6 months
    2. Graphics Card
    3. RAM
    4. HDD
    Will you actually upgrade these components in next 6 months.
  6. Q: If you will be playing games then which type of games will you be playing?
    1. AoE 2
    2. Diablo 3
    3. NFS
    4. Split Second
    5. Anno
  7. Q: Are you looking to overclock?
    1. No
Click to expand...

Get this RIG as you are not going to over-clock --

Intel Core i5 2320 ~9500/-

Intel DH67-BL ~5400/-

G.Skill RIPJAWS 4GBx 1 ~1600/-

AMD HD 7750 ~6500/-

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB ~5500/- [acquire it from Delta Page]

LG / Samsung OEM DVD drive ~1000/-

Corsair CX V2 430W ~2400/-

NZXT Gamma ~2400/- [get this from Prime ABGB Bombay]

Logitech multimedia keyboard ~450/-

APC BR650VA-IN ~2600/-

If you plan to acquire a full-HD monitor down the line, I recommend you go for the AMD HD 6850 ~8500/- OR nVidia GTX 560 [non Ti] ~10500/- and to complement them go for the Seasonic S12II 430W ~3300/- [source this from Bombay as well].

Hope this helps, Cheers!!
 
Exactly as alpha suggested the i5 'K' series is for overclocking and you've stated that you aren't ocing then go for what alpha have suggested or if you want you can go for little better i5 2400-10.5k or i5 2500-11.5k,APC 650VA would be enough for the above rig so no need to go for 800VA,If you want get HD7770-8.5 for little more eye candy and seasonic S12ii 430W-2.9k for better built quality and warranty.
 
Jakob said:
If you want get HD7770-8.5 for little more eye candy and seasonic S12ii 430W-2.9k for better built quality and warranty.
Click to expand...

Already recommended OP the same SMPS and the HD 6850 OR GTX 560 if he is willing to invest in full HD monitors further down the line.
 
ALPHA17 said:
Get this RIG as you are not going to over-clock --

Intel Core i5 2320 ~9500/-

Intel DH67-BL ~5400/-

G.Skill RIPJAWS 4GBx 1 ~1600/-

AMD HD 7750 ~6500/-

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB ~5500/- [acquire it from Delta Page]

LG / Samsung OEM DVD drive ~1000/-

Corsair CX V2 430W ~2400/-

NZXT Gamma ~2400/- [get this from Prime ABGB Bombay]

Logitech multimedia keyboard ~450/-

APC BR650VA-IN ~2600/-

If you plan to acquire a full-HD monitor down the line, I recommend you go for the AMD HD 6850 ~8500/- OR nVidia GTX 560 [non Ti] ~10500/- and to complement them go for the Seasonic S12II 430W ~3300/- [source this from Bombay as well].

Hope this helps, Cheers!!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick response!

I will definitely consider the G.Skill RIPJAWS and NZXT Gamma alternatives. In fact, I think I'll go with the recommended RAM.

Good to see that a 430W PSU will suffice. I do use an APC 650VA with my old C2Q system, and I totally agree, it is a very good UPS. Are there any known issues with the Zebronics UPS? I considered it because it was recommended elsewhere and it is about half the price of the APC.

However, the recommended configuration (>37K) exceeds my budget (<35K). I'd prefer to stay around the 30K range. Will I actually upgrade in the next 6 months? Graphics card - probably, HDD, RAM - if required

For now I do have another system, that I intend to retain (C2Q 6600, 4GB RAM, WD Caviar Green 1TB, Radeon 4850HD, BenQ 24" 1080p monitor), which offers fair gaming performance (I'm not a big time gamer).

Finally, the processor - I will definitely consider the 2320. IMO, the only factor in favour of the 2500k is HD3000 graphics as compared with the HD2000 on the 2320 which, i think will matter if I'm not buying a graphics card... Alternatively, I could get a HD 5770 / HD 6450 / GT 520 + i5 2320 instead of the 2500k for roughly the same price (source: flipkart). What do you think?

I haven't researched the graphics cards yet. I'll post a follow-up response once I've done that.

Thanks again.

Deathdart said:
Thanks for the quick response!

I will definitely consider the G.Skill RIPJAWS and NZXT Gamma alternatives. In fact, I think I'll go with the recommended RAM.

Good to see that a 430W PSU will suffice. I do use an APC 650VA with my old C2Q system, and I totally agree, it is a very good UPS. Are there any known issues with the Zebronics UPS? I considered it because it was recommended elsewhere and it is about half the price of the APC.

However, the recommended configuration (>37K) exceeds my budget (<35K). I'd prefer to stay around the 30K range. Will I actually upgrade in the next 6 months? Graphics card - probably, HDD, RAM - if required

For now I do have another system, that I intend to retain (C2Q 6600, 4GB RAM, WD Caviar Green 1TB, Radeon 4850HD, BenQ 24" 1080p monitor), which offers fair gaming performance (I'm not a big time gamer).

Finally, the processor - I will definitely consider the 2320. IMO, the only factor in favour of the 2500k is HD3000 graphics as compared with the HD2000 on the 2320 which, i think will matter if I'm not buying a graphics card... Alternatively, I could get a HD 5770 / HD 6450 / GT 520 + i5 2320 instead of the 2500k for roughly the same price (source: flipkart). What do you think?

I haven't researched the graphics cards yet. I'll post a follow-up response once I've done that.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Correction: Alternatively, I could get a HD 5570 / HD 6450 / GT 520 + i5 2320 instead of the 2500k for roughly the same price

Alright, I've done some reading and discovered that these cards are as bad as or marginally better than the HD3000. Also, 6750 (DDR3) seems to have performance comparable to the recommended 7750 and is available online for 1K less. I'm now considering the recommended configuration with either 6750 or 6670 to stay within my budget.

I'll post an update once I get a quote from my local hardware guy.

Thanks for the recommendation Alpha17. It's really helping me build a better system...
bye22.gif
 
Well looks like op already has Benq Full hd monitor,op you should go for i5 2320+HD5770 or HD7750 for good enough gaming experience.
ALPHA17 said:
Already recommended OP the same SMPS and the HD 6850 OR GTX 560 if he is willing to invest in full HD monitors further down the line.
Click to expand...
 
Jakob said:
Well looks like op already has Benq Full hd monitor,op you should go for i5 2320+HD5770 or HD7750 for good enough gaming experience.
Click to expand...

He already has a Core 2Quad based gaming RIG, he mentions

For now I do have another system, that I intend to retain (C2Q 6600, 4GB RAM, WD Caviar Green 1TB, Radeon 4850HD, BenQ 24" 1080p monitor), which offers fair gaming performance (I'm not a big time gamer).
Click to expand...

so he is covered there.
 
Deathdart said:
Thanks for the quick response!

You are welcome.
Are there any known issues with the Zebronics UPS? I considered it because it was recommended elsewhere and it is about half the price of the APC.

I do not have a great experience with Zebronics UPS systems, I had a friend who had a 800VA dual-battery type Zebronics UPS and it could not hold the load of a Tagan 600W SMPS much less a Corsair TX 750W for which it was bought.

However, the recommended configuration (>37K) exceeds my budget (<35K). I'd prefer to stay around the 30K range. Will I actually upgrade in the next 6 months? Graphics card - probably, HDD, RAM - if required

Go for this -->

Intel Core i5 2320 ~9500/-

Intel DH67-BL ~5400/-

G.Skill RIPJAWS 4GB x1 ~1600/-

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB ~5500/-

LG / Samsung OEM DVD Drive ~1000/-

Corsair CX V2 430W ~2400/-

NZXT Source Elite 210 ~2100/- [a step below the Gamma but should do fine for your purposes]

AMD HD 7750 ~6500/- [primarily due to the TDP being improved and performance being pretty decent for a super-budget gaming card]

Finally, the processor - I will definitely consider the 2320. IMO, the only factor in favour of the 2500k is HD3000 graphics as compared with the HD2000 on the 2320 which, i think will matter if I'm not buying a graphics card. Alternatively, I could get a HD 5770 / HD 6450 / GT 520 + i5 2320 instead of the 2500k for roughly the same price (source: flipkart). What do you think?

The point is you plan to add a discrete graphics card, so it is not prudent that you invest in a -k marked processor and not over-clock it, also as you have pointed out yourself that you can get a card of the calibre of a GTX 250 / AMD HD 7750, makes the HD 3000 / HD 2000 requirements rather redundant. You might need to press them in extreme contingencies [like the discrete solution failing], but for that purpose even the Intel HD 2000 is alacritous enough.
I'm now considering the recommended configuration with either 6750 or 6670 to stay within my budget.

I would say invest a little more and aim for the HD 7750 for future requirements and keeping the GCN architectures GPGPU capability in mind it will be a more pragmatic choice and can assist your CPU in more intense tasks [like movie encoding et al]
Click to expand...

Hope this helps, Cheers!!
 
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