Build a $1500 PC: The Parts

[steelslither]

If I were to buy an already made HP gaming pc, could it be upgraded in the future to run better games?

[ksstudios]

@steelslither Usually the video card can be upgraded, but no guarantees about the rest.

[nTELHD]

@steelslither LOL hp is horrid

[TheZoly13]

I want a PC like this for Xmas :D

[NitghVision]

I'm new to this building stuff, so I'm wondering, will the motherboard be compatible with low end processors and cards, or only high end ones? I there a minimum-maximum requirement, or can anything of lower quality run on it?

[ksstudios]

@NitghVision You can go with lower end models for the processor and video card. This board will support any PCI-Express video card, but you'll probably want to stick with one that will support DirectX 11 for the newer games. There are also a few great socket 1155 Sandy Bridge processors that will work great with this. Check out the core i5 2500.

[TheExprima]

$1500 isn't mid-range bro. $800 is mid-range.

[matthewzz1997]

@TheExprima I always thought that ~1000 was budget, around 1500 was midrange and 2000+ was high end

[THExVETERAN]

well if you would have gone with amd you would have saved a ship load of money.

[petervisser1001]

hi , i have a question , you have bought a i7 2600K , and memory of 1600 mhz .

but your processor is compitable with 1333 memory , wat about that ?

diddnt that gave some problems or bugs ?

Hope to hear from you soon couse im planning on building almost the same pc as this 1 :)

Bye

[ksstudios]

@petervisser1001 The Sabertooth board we used can handle memory at DDR3 1866/1800/1600/1333/1066. Any of these memory types will work, but the higher speed ones will allow more headroom for overclocking. DDR3 1600 seems to be the sweet spot. The i7 2600K can run with any of the above memory speeds just fine.

[petervisser1001]

@ksstudios oww , ok , so actually your planning on overclocking the CPU , and than the cpu will have advantege of the 1600 mhz , because its overclocked than ? , thats the idea behind all of this .

( sorry for bad english ) .

any way , im planning on getting the same motherboard , and memory , only instead of a i7 , i take a i5 2500k :) , but the principe is the same with installing , so i thank you for the handy video ! .

[ksstudios]

@petervisser1001 The main limitation when choosing memory will be the board. The board will list the speeds of memory it will support. The memory controller is in the CPU, but the board has to supply power to the memory slots and regulate the voltages, etc.

[petervisser1001]

@ksstudios owk , Its clear now to me :) .

i go for the same memory ! :D

Ty allot for helping me with clearing this out :)

[resdudeornardude]

Mid range?  This is a high end build.

[emerybryant]

@resdudeornardude i was kinda thinking the same thing

[roguehavikk]

@resdudeornardude truth here ^^^

[mrmrbeast4139]

is this for a gaming pc??

[justinjacobe]

@mrmrbeast4139 yah

[redeemer777]

I would would have went with the i5 2500k and 4GB ram instead of 8 GB that saving would have went to grabbing a GTX 580. That way you can upgrade your monitor to a 30 inch or get another for SLI down the road. Or with the saving get a ssd

[OfficiallyNano]

@ksstudios is a SSD necessary?

[ksstudios]

@OfficiallyNano Not at all, but if the fastest boot and program loading times are what you are after a SSD will do the trick.

[Mdemons12]

i would have got an i5 2500k and then got the H60 cpu cooler. Nice vid anyway.

[folke787]

I would have chosen a amd processor and a 1TB Hardrive from samsung

[MethshockFilms]

Nice mate, My ordered computer also has the GTX 570, and a i7-2600, Can't wait ;)

[heldDdpower]

you can build a good one for 600 dollar

[Cosmo313313]

All the parts are so much more expensive here in holland... When you build this computer you would pay more than 1500 euros, even when the dollar is cheaper!

[unifish95]

is it better to use the corsair h50 water cooler or a Cooler Master Hyper 212

[ksstudios]

@unifish95 Depends on how quiet you want the system. The fan on the H50 seems louder than the Hyper 212+ and the temps aren't that much better. In order to justify going with the H50, a second fan would have to be added and the noise level will go up drastically.

[unifish95]

@ksstudios so which is better? h50 or the hyper 212 heat wise.

[ksstudios]

@unifish95 The tests we have performed had almost identical idle temps. The H50 seems to beat the Hyper 212+ by a few degrees during a full CPU burn in. I would tend to recommend the Hyper 212 over the H50 for cost and ease of install.

[unifish95]

@ksstudios thanks just what I needed to hear. very helpful information. you got a new subscriber :)

[daswada9]

"mid-range" WTF this gameing PC can play all the games on max settings the only difference to super gaming PC is the resolution that the games are played thats it.

[mugen1237]

@daswada9 I know that's what I was thinking. lol! Mid-range is sub $1000...

[Aphradonis]

@Fardus1 I consider high-end $3000+.

[aaren117]

No SSD?

Scrap the 570 for a 560 and get an SSD. Only like a 7 fps drop anyway...

[inhex007]

Very clear video nice!!!

[FINGaming1]

I7 2600k has a bad price to perfomance relation and thats why you should buy 2500k and save 100euros.

[ksstudios]

@FINGaming1 The i5 2500K is a great CPU for the price, but the hyperthreading on the i7 2600K is worth it if you use multi-threaded apps like photo and video editing. Depends on what you will be using your PC for.

[vnneh]

@ksstudios useless for a gaming pc in otherwise :) couldve bought urself a ssd with the money u save with it, 30gb is enough for a o/s

[ksstudios]

@vnneh I'm holding out for a higher capacity SSD for the boot drive so I can actually install my apps on it as well. What good is having a fast booting system if the games and apps are installed on a slower secondary drive?

[vnneh]

@ksstudios add 40€ buy a 64gb ssd then for 100€, the 128gb & 256gb are 2expensive imo, altho i dunno where u live incase theyre more expensive for u :)

[Streetracingpunk72]

I can vouch for the Cooler Master Hyper 212+ CPU Cooler if anyone is interested. I have one hovering over my i7 in my PC, which was completed in Oct. '10. Even under extreme conditions I have NEVER seen over 40C and she idles around 25C. Very good heatsink. Good choice Ksstudios.

[ksstudios]

@Streetracingpunk72 I got this core i7 up to 4.5GHz on air with the Hyper 212+ and at full burn the CPU never passed 72 C on high case fan settings. Could go higher with voltage tweaks but not necessary. Who would've thought that a 1100MHz bump would be this easy!

[Streetracingpunk72]

@ksstudios You're giving me enough confidence to overclock my i7-860. I'm using the HAF 932 by Coolermaster. Think I could get the 860 from 2.8GHz to 3.5ish on air? By the way, it was your series on how to build a gaming PC that inspired me to build my own PC.

[ksstudios]

@Streetracingpunk72 That's awesome to hear that we helped you! It makes it all worth the effort.

[seacuracao]

lol, not really mid-range. it's a really good pc

[Kingerthely]

Does anyone know when the next Intel high end processors will come out?

[Steviebond2]

I'm loving the new opening and the new looks, can't wait for the next part :D

[NightWolfEditing]

I dont get why people use multiple video cards, because, the average person uses 1 monitor, (im not average, i got three) probably at a 1920x1080, and a HD 5770 (ATi card), can run three monitors at 1080p (eyefinity) with full details on MW2... Just dont get why...

[ksstudios]

@NightWolfEditing I don't see the need for multiple cards unless you are pushing super high resolutions.

[GenuineMW2]

@NightWolfEditing no it cant, a hd6850 at 1GHz CORE! cant even run 3 1080p maxed out mw2 displays.

maybe 2.

[Vortex1988]

@NightWolfEditing MW2 isn't exactly a demanding game. I'm running a couple of 6850s in crossfire on a single 1920x1200 monitor. The two 6850s together in crossfire perform a little bit better than a GTX 580, and it was a lot cheaper. That's why I got the two of them. I can max out Crysis now too.

[GamingDeluxeHD]

you guys rock :) good guide!

[Sambrero44]

i love the sabertooth

[tallandme13]

that is not a mid range computer...

[mn311601]

Great video. Just wondering, if this is considered mid range, what's high end?

[ksstudios]

@mn311601 High end would definitely be a socket 1366 board using triple channel memory and loaded with a six core processor and multiple video cards. At least in the media's point of view. Add a SSD instead of a hard drive and throw in a Blu-Ray drive for good measure.

[MiniExtreme]

thats a cool case

[PcandTech]

would like a review on the new raven

[ksstudios]

@PcandTech We have a text review up on our site with full build pics.

[Hugorost]

first bishes :D

[killhimordie]

looks cool :DD