$2000 Future-Proofed Build - Hardware & Software

[b]Edit again with a bump:[/b] What heatsinks or brands of heatsinks do you guys recommend? My motherboard: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131729[/url] My CPU: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072[/url] [b]Edit:[/b] I've narrowed down the case to one of these: Corsair Obsidian Series 800D [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139001[/url] Cooler Master HAF X RC-942 [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225[/url] Thermaltake Armor+ VH6000BWS [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=11-133-056[/url] The Corsair seems really nice, but is significantly more expensive than the others and I'm not sure if its worth the increase. The other two I can't decide between either, though I'm leaning towards Cooler Master. My design goal is [I]highly upgradeable [/I]rather than bleeding edge. So in particular I'm looking to get a particularly bitchin' case and motherboard - stuff that could potentially last me many years without impeding my ability to improve performance by swapping out CPU/GPU/HDD/etc. This will be my first build in about 7 years, so I have no idea what brands to look at. Regarding the motherboard, good on-board sound would be a nice addition since I wouldn't mind skipping a sound card and putting that money towards a better CPU or GPU. I'm especially lost when it comes to mobos. With all of the new technology around I don't know what features I should be looking for.

It's not really gonna be future proof, shit gets released every 5 minutes. Give me a few minutes, I'll make a list. As for soundcard, do you have headphones/speakers that will benefit from it? [editline]19th July 2011[/editline] Do you need an OS? [editline]19th July 2011[/editline] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.688377[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.674899[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231274[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130621[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227726[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185[/url] $1330, 2500k, Z68 GD65, HAF 932/1000W PSU, Agility 3 120GB [sp]Did I miss anything?[/sp]

[QUOTE=Armotekma;31220027]As for soundcard, do you have headphones/speakers that will benefit from it?[/QUOTE] Not yet. That's why I don't why to include a sound card in the build. I can always add that on later if I need it. [QUOTE=Armotekma;31220027]Do you need an OS?[/QUOTE] Yes. But my budget isn't strict. I could go higher if I have to. I was just looking at that case. My only reservation is that a lot of people have specifically commented on having a lot of dust problems with it. I could always make my own dust filters, but less hacky solutions are preferable. Several people also commented on having driver problems with that motherboard. My last motherboard constantly hounded me with problems that I was never fully able to fix, so I want to try really hard to avoid that sort of situation. [editline]19th July 2011[/editline] And wow lots of people were having issues with that SSD.

HAF X has dust filters doesn't it?

That HAF X does look cool. I'll keep that one in mind. [editline]21st July 2011[/editline] OP updated.

I have an HAF 932, so I assume the HAF X is probably going to be a solid case. As for SSD, Crucial's supposed to make some pretty reliable ones, so I'd go for something like [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148448]this[/url].

Clarifying for emphasis: [b]INCREASING YOUR BUDGET WILL NOT FUTURE-PROOF YOUR BUILD[/b] [editline]22nd July 2011[/editline] Also, get the Obsidian 800D if you really want to make it upgradeable. Sexy and huge, just make sure you have the room.

My shit is heavily upgradeable, p8p67 and it's compatible with ivy bridge when it comes out, and i have a 1000w PSU so i can go with SLI. Did i mention the 6 hard drive bays and the four 5.25" bays, USB 3, eSata, the works, only complaint? Fans are way too fucking slow, if i can, i will replace my fans with better ones and buy a fan controller. fucking 6-8 fans running inside my actually cheap, but roomy and strong AZZA Hurrican 2000, fucking great case, also easy swap harddrives (not hotswappable like it says on the box) So, to save money, i recommend going for maximum upgradeability with slightly less than best parts to save cash, i'm running a GTX570 in my shit and it's a mere 90% the power of the 580 for just over half the cost.

I'd go with AMD. Intel is way too overpriced and with AMD you have the same performance for less money- and it's easier to overclock.

[QUOTE=halo_224;31263732]I'd go with AMD. Intel is way too overpriced and with AMD you have the same performance for less money- and it's easier to overclock.[/QUOTE] you're retarded

[QUOTE=halo_224;31263732]I'd go with AMD. Intel is way too overpriced and with AMD you have the same performance for less money- and it's easier to overclock.[/QUOTE] intel is actually worth the money

Get a HAF 932 or HAF X. Be warned... They weigh up to 100 pounds with everything on board, but all the little features such as back wiring, and cooling just saves the day alot. Also... If you've got it in your budget I would suggest getting a sound card, and if not that stick around ASUS mobos cause they've got some pretty nice built in stuff.

[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;31263901]Get a HAF 932 or HAF X. Be warned... They weigh up to 100 pounds with everything on board, but all the little features such as back wiring, and cooling just saves the day alot. Also... If you've got it in your budget I would suggest getting a sound card, and if not that stick around ASUS mobos cause they've got some pretty nice built in stuff.[/QUOTE] i think you're going overboard on that estimate, you'd have to put a lot of shit to get it to 100 lbs..

True, probably thinking about people use water cooling and extra fans. None-the-less... They are heavy. Hell it comes with little wheel mounts and a pusher piece.

[QUOTE=zombini;31263612]My shit is heavily upgradeable, p8p67 and it's compatible with ivy bridge when it comes out, and i have a 1000w PSU so i can go with SLI. Did i mention the 6 hard drive bays and the four 5.25" bays, USB 3, eSata, the works, only complaint? Fans are way too fucking slow, if i can, i will replace my fans with better ones and buy a fan controller. fucking 6-8 fans running inside my actually cheap, but roomy and strong AZZA Hurrican 2000, fucking great case, also easy swap harddrives (not hotswappable like it says on the box) So, to save money, i recommend going for maximum upgradeability with slightly less than best parts to save cash, i'm running a GTX570 in my shit and it's a mere 90% the power of the 580 for just over half the cost.[/QUOTE] That's basically my plan. I figure that choosing a great case and great motherboard is more than half the battle. I'm pretty much settled on the HAF X now. What the hell is the difference between these two motherboards (other than one being $20 cheaper)? [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131701[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-131-753[/url]

One has SSD caching. Not worth it if you don't have an SSD. Also Ivy Bridge isn't compatible with any current 1155 mobos, they said it was going to be a new chipset didn't they?

[QUOTE=SataniX;31285305]Also Ivy Bridge isn't compatible with any current 1155 mobos, they said it was going to be a new chipset didn't they?[/QUOTE] [URL="http://motherboardnews.com/2011/05/27/ivy-bridges-backwards-compatibility-explained/"]This article[/URL] claims that both motherboards I linked to will be compatible with Ivy Bridge. And I do plan on getting an SSD, so I suppose the Z68 is for me.

[QUOTE=SataniX;31285305]One has SSD caching. Not worth it if you don't have an SSD. Also Ivy Bridge isn't compatible with any current 1155 mobos, they said it was going to be a new chipset didn't they?[/QUOTE] no, ivy bridge is the next step in 1155

So why are new 77 chipsets coming out w/ Ivy bridge? [url]http://www.fudzilla.com/motherboard/item/22974-five-chipsets-for-ivy-bridge-a-70-series[/url] aah, I see [url]http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20110203150914_Intel_s_Next_Gen_Ivy_Bridge_to_Offer_20_30_Performance_Boost_Over_Sandy_Bridge_Report.html[/url]

Bump. Apparently it's a pain in the ass to install most third party heatsinks once you have your computer assembled, so I've decided to include one right off the bat. Having a hard time choosing though. Is it just me or is there not much information on Newegg about which motherboards each fan is compatible with?

Noctua NH-D14

Why not do a $1000 build now, and a $1000 build later? Much better way to deal with the future.

[QUOTE=Goz3rr;31536397]Noctua NH-D14[/QUOTE] I consider it to be the best Air Cooler. But depending on the system, it stays in the top 3. But it's close to silent. (meaning, with my GPU fans off, case fans off, no harddrives, nothing, only the CPU cooler, I can barely hear it.) And it cools awesome.

I personally don't think there is such thing as future-proofing. The four things you will inevitably swap out is CPU, memory, GPU, and the motherboard. Get those things when you need them and know what you will be using them for. Anything but those things you can invest quite a bit and expect to last for a long time; PSU, case, fans, hard drives, dvd/blu-ray drives, etc. A motherboard right now may be something that you can future-proof at the end of this year. PCI-E 3.0 is rolling around at about the same time as Intel's brand new CPU socket type. If you wait, you might snag an amazing motherboard that will actually last you a while.

I ordered all the parts. I'm not too worried about the motherboard. Most articles I've read say that the new Intel CPUs will be backwards compatible with the socket I chose.

By the time you're wanting to upgrade there will be a new socket anyway (2013-14?). Motherboards are probably the hardest thing to future proof, honestly future proofing itself is a flawed concept in technology and especially in computers.

Bought, built, uh... bposting on it right now! No problems encountered so far! Thanks for the help everyone!

Pics or it didn't happen.

[IMG]http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3374/dscf2717g.jpg[/IMG] Mouse+keyboard are temporary.

Awesome. Looks good. Post a speccy?