New Build - Different setup - Can use some help

[jsclayco]

Hey all. Here is the deal, I am putting together a new build (see below), but am planning on trying to keep my old mid-tower case along with the optical drives. However, my cooling "system" is actually a 22" box fan that blows directly into the case (one side is removed). I have done this for years because when my old rig was new, it overheated and a 22" fan was cheaper than any other cooling system. I still need some help with component selection, along with advice on whether I should get a CPU cooler.

All prices from Newegg.

PSU-- CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V-- $120
CPU-- E8500 -- $200
Memory-- OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 -- $92
VC1 -- Radeon HD 4870x2 (not out yet I know, price is a guess) -- $500
Monitor -- Acer P243WAid Black-Silver 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor -- $390
HD -- Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3250310NS 250GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive -- $80

Mobo? Since I am getting a 4870x2, not sure if I need the dual PCIE2.0 x 16 support or not. So many options out there, hard to narrow it down.
CPU cooler? Do I need one for this CPU?

This setup is for gaming. Any advice on the parts is most appreciated, I love to get lots of opinions. I am not a big OCer, but not opposed to it.

 

[slayeron444]

if you are not going to overclock that CPU, I think stock fan/heatsink would be fine.

 

[SkippyMcGee]

Everyone's pointed me this direction in terms of a FHS...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

Only thing is... It's kinda of big if you case ain't that wide. Besides that it's great.

 

[slayeron444]

Everyone's pointed me this direction in terms of a FHS...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

Only thing is... It's kinda of big if you case ain't that wide. Besides that it's great.

I just installed one of these a couple weeks ago. Very easy to do. Make sure you get this too.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233020
and don't for get to put it on the bottom of your mobo b4 you mount your mobo like me.... haha.
I think it is a very good cooler, it is Tom's Hardware recomended CPU cooler.

 

[jsclayco]

OK, so I can grab that CPU cooler for cheap and easy install to my mobo. But any hints on the mobo? As I said, I don't know if I will go Xfire with a 4870x2 GFX. It does not seem the scaling is good for having a 4 GPU setup. I am totally torn. I don't want to pay $250 when I can get the same performance for $150 out of a mobo.

 

[slayeron444]

I would take a look at something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131296
It is a lot cheaper than a board with 2 PCI Express 16x slots

 

[mexpedip]

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

Open Box: ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard $199
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131284R

I would recommend the same heatsink as above. The memory you are getting is very good but tall so you have to make sure your heatsink does not interfere. I knw the one mentioned above does not get in the way of the mem slots.

 

[mexpedip]

I would take a look at something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131296
It is a lot cheaper than a board with 2 PCI Express 16x slots

that's a good board but don't forget the following specs:

PCI Express 2.0 x16 2 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots, support ATI CrossFireX technology, at x8 link
(black at max. x8 link)

When you xfire you are basically cutting the PCI Express speed in half.

 

[slayeron444]

that's a good board but don't forget the following specs:

PCI Express 2.0 x16 2 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots, support ATI CrossFireX technology, at x8 link
(black at max. x8 link)

When you xfire you are basically cutting the PCI Express speed in half.

Yea, he stated that he did not plan on xfiring, that is why I recomended that board. Otherwise I would have suggested the x48, cause thats what I got and I love it!

 

[szwaba67]

I don't know if you'll be able to mount the 22" box fan onto that HSF. You might need custom clips! LOL

 

[jsclayco]

Hmm, you have helped me get the mobo narrowed down now. That open box is at a great price and gives me an option to xfire in the future, but I might not even use the extra stuff on it. Is there any other differences (besides the 2 x16 slots) with those mobos I should know about? I read the specs for them, but I am curious about real-world performance.

Yeah, I have yet to find a way to mount my box fan, szwaba67. But I can tell you this much, I am definitely not someone who cares about the sound level of my machine.

Mexped, with the HD you linked, will I get the same speed from it? I don't see the read/write stats on it.