New SLI/Crossfire build under 2000

[arson]

Hey guys, I am building a gaming machine for Warhammer online, Starcraft2, diablo3, TF2, CoD4 and Crysis. I have a 22in samsung monitor and I want max resolutions and games visually maxed if possible while keeping it under 2000.00.

I have been reading some articles here on the below 2000.00 build that tomshardware wrote and I have been taking notes on the responses to it.

First, my major concerns for my machine are two fold, heat and noise. I feel a machine that has too much of those will decrease the life-span of the pc. With that said I was wondering how the ATI 4850 would fair and what if I had 2x? What could I expect with the heat situation and what things could I do to cool my machine?

First the case, I am torn between two

COOLER MASTER RC-690

and the Antec 900

Which case can I get the best cooling from? I think the CM-690 has more room for fans than the Antec.

Second the GPU, I am torn between

and the ASUS EAH4850.

I hear both get extremely hot and I can't even imagine if I xfire or sli those what the temps would be in my case!

PSU
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

RAM
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

MOBO
GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336
OR
ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131219

CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

HD
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136260

Or should I get a completely different case such as
COOLER MASTER Stacker 830

I want to make the best possible machine that I can but it makes me a bit nervous to have two huge GPU's in my machine. Any ideas? Or will the heat not be too bad with adequate cooling and adjusting the GPU fans in an aftermarkey utility?

 

[ausch30]

I would suggest going with the RC-690. I have the Stacker 832 and it's a great case but your money can be better spent elsewhere.

If your that concerned about heat the just make sure you get video cards with a dual slot cooler like the ATI 4870. It will exhaust the heat out of the case so you don't have to worry so much about the cards heating your other components.

Also I would go with DDR2 800 rather than 1066 and the Gigabyte X48 board.

You say your torn between the GTS and the 4850 and you talk about getting 2 cards but both motherboards you listed are Crossfire only (ATI). If your planning on dual cards you should be looking at 2 4870's in Crossfire.

Efficient design and air flow are more important than the number of fans you have. Both cases are well designed but the 690 is slightly larger and IMHO better made so that's why I suggest that one.

One other thing you failed to mention is if your planning on overclocking and what CPU cooler you are planning on using.

 

[groo]

I'd get a single 4870 vs. 2x 4850 at your resolution.

 

[arson]

I was thinking about getting a thermalite cooler or Tuniq. Any suggestions here would be helpful. I am currently looking at Xigmatek http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

So I should get the gigabyte x48? And why the different ram?

Also, the 4870 is sold out at newegg at the moment. I can only purchase through newegg because I am taking advantage a preferred account. Any ideas if and when the 4870 will become more mainstream?

Thanks for the replies guys. As a sidenote I plan on building this around the beginning of August. So I have time to wait for prices to drop or more hardware to be released if any.

As for overclocking, I will if I can get decent temps.

What about Thermaltake Armor series for a case? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133154

 

[arson]

I have decided on the Gigabyte x48 motherboard

Case either the CM-690 or Thermaltake Armor Series

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB RAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

So far the total is 1300.00 without a gpu. If I go xfire with 4850 that will add 400.00. If newegg gets a 4870 I will just get 1 of those and save 100.00.

Lastly, would a ZALMAN VF900 – CU 2 Ball VGA aftermarket cooler help with the temps on the 4870 and would it be compatible?

 

[ausch30]

Armor's are nice cases and well built

As for why to get the DDR2 800 the E8400 runs at FSB1333 and in order to run 1:1 all you need is DDR2 667. If you plan to overclock then you can get the FSB to 1600 while running 1:1 with DDR2 800 before you have to worry about overclocking it. Most decent DDR2 800 overclocks well, in fact DDR2 1066 is really just DDR2 800 which you will have to go into the BIOS and overclock yourself (the manufacturer just tells you how much). Save the money and get some quality DDR2 800, the standard voltage for DDR2 is 1.8v so look for RAM rated at that voltage with good timings and if you need to push it a little more you'll be able to.

I'm sure the 4870 will be available by the time you plan on building and by that time the 1gb version might be out.

 

[Noya]

Under $2.000 I would go with something like:

$600 - 2 x 4870's (or wait for the 1gb version OR wait for 4870x2)
$200'ish - X-38/x-48 motherboard
$320 - Intel Q9450 (45nm, 12mb cache) Or save money and go for OEM Q6600 for less than $200
$36 - Ximegtek 120mm CPU cooler
$6 - ArcticSilver 5 CPU paste
$50-90 - 4gb RAM (not sure if 800 or 1066, depending on BUS)
$50-60 - 2 x DVDRW's
$180 - 2 x WD 640gb (one for OS/storage on for games/storage)
$99 - Vista 64 OEM
$100+ PSU with 750+watts and 60+ amps
Case = your choice.

 

[Noya]

Buy.com has the PSU for $99
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-750w-atx-12v-power-supply/q/loc/101/206178325.html

 

[ausch30]

Buy.com has the PSU for $99
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-750w-atx-12v-power-supply/q/loc/101/206178325.html

Nice find, Buy usually has some really good prices on power supplies.