Help with a cheap SLI build..

[ns12123]

By cheap, I mean nothing more than $1000.

Processor:
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 - 194.99

Mobo:
ASrock Penryn 1600 SLI Nvidia nforce 650i
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157120 - 99.99

RAM:
OCZ Reaper 2 x 1 GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227239 - 85.99

Case:
Coolmaster Centurion 541
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119088 49.99

Power supply:
Coolmaster Extreme Power 650w - 89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171014

HDD:
Western Digital Raptor 150GB - 174.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136011

Total without video: 695.94

I plan on waiting for the new Nvidia cards to release before choosing a video card. I may not go SLI right away, but would love the option in the future.

Anything I can do to make this cheaper since I have to calculate the video card in later on? The cheaper the better. I am pretty stuck on the processor, though, so that's probably the only thing I wouldn't change, unless there's a competent, cheaper AMD alternative.

 

[WR2]

MSI P7N Diamond SLI 750i motherboard $150
Seagate 7200.11 500GB hard drive $100
OCZ Reaper 4GB DDR2 800 CL4 $85 after rebate
OCZ GameXStream 700W PSU $90 after rebate

What video cards are you planning on getting? You need to size the power supply for that load. The PSU you picked isnt very popular.
Less HDD and more Motherboard for your $$$. 4GB of DDR2 800 is probably a better option that 2GB of DDR2 1066.

 

[akhilles]

The Asrock rocks at stock. I think it's not a good overclocker. If you're not overclocker, that's a good budget board with Yorkie support. However, if you SLI, the board takes a performance hit at x8.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Penryn1600SLI-110dB&s=

Either 750i or 780i with ddr2 support. They do x16 SLI.

Go with WR2's suggestion. The Coolermaster ain't the best psu. If you have $1000 to throw around, def. get a better one.

 

[ns12123]

Thanks for the replies. I do plan on overclocking. As for the video cards, whatever Nvidia's best new card released in June will probably be my candidate for purchase.

 

[WR2]

The OCZ GameXStream 700W PSU is not the right choice for your "Nvidia's best new card" goal if you plan to SLI two of them.
You'll probably want something that has at least 4 PCI-e connectors (preferably two 6 pin and two 8 pin).

 

[shadowduck]

Forget SLI unless you do it right away. Unless you play on a 30" monitor or at a resolution of 1920x1200 or greater SLI is a waste of money.

Save your money "cheap" and "SLI" don't mix.