gaming pc roughly $1800-2000

[kyron]

I really don't know anything, so i just had a go at picking out parts i thought would be good. (not even 100% sure my will work).

But im just looking for feedback and advice to change.

I will provide links to all the parts i have selected. (prices in £ mostly)

Case: Antec 900
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=49XS&SearchType=1&SearchTerms=antec&PageMode=3&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0

-fully fitted with fans for cooling.

Motherboard: XFX 780i nforce
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4XJ5&CategorySelectedId=11143&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11143,405070000,4294957129,51000000,421210000,13

CPU: Intel core 2 duo E8400
http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=4YCZ&ret=compare&ql=4YCZ&NavigationKey=11147,420630000,4294958803,48650000&CategorySelectedId=11147

RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 2X2GB
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4S5L&CategorySelectedId=11150&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11150,4294952421,50830000,4294953914,405050000

Graphics: 2x Gigabyte GeForce 9800GTX
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=50LX&CategorySelectedId=11137&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11137,419280000

Memory: Seagate Barracuda 7200.1 500GB 7200RPM S300 32MB
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4QXH&CategorySelectedId=11154&PageMode=1&
NavigationKey=11154,372830000

Disk Drive: Optiarc (Sony/NEC) 20X DVD+/-RW/12X RAM SATA SILVER
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=50B2&CategorySelectedId=11155&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11155,4294953229,4294952825

PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower 700W cable management
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1264&ID=1507

Obne thing i'm worried about is that 700W might not be enough, but i am unsure.

Apart from that i look forward to any suggestions on what to change.

P.S. I will be running on a monitor with 1680x1050 native res

 

[stridervm]

I think it's better you buy 2 Radeon 4850's and crossfire them....... Part of me think it's going to be faster........ Not to mention cheaper as well. Depending on where you're buying your stuff.

Or better yet.... Wait for the Radeon 4870x2.

 

[onionring]

the 4850 cost like 200$ and then you don't even need a SLI mobo so you save on both the mobo and the vid cards. I think the 4850 are faster than the 9800 too...

 

[Il-Mari]

He's only running at 1680x1050 - correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that essentially mean he can run pretty much anything except Crysis at maxed settings with just a single HD 4870?

If so, wouldn't that be the optimal graphics solution?

 

[realyeti]

I dont know how that build hits that price, in newegg i can get it with a nice cpu fan (which i dont see on your build) and better graphics for 1300$~

IMHO, 2 4850 in crossfire can be found for 330$ and are better than any 9800gtx in SLI, not mentioning even cheaper... as the same as a p45 or x48 mobo! The 780i's are terrible for OC and are expensive for what they really worth, as nVIDIA really is all about!

Anyways i dont think you will overclock any hardware for the fact you wont buy a cpu fan, so at least change to non-nvidia mobos and ATI GPUs for the simple reason they are cheaper and relatively better!!

 

[evongugg]

Check your PSU here:

Certified SLI-Ready Power Supplies
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html

 

[galta]

Change your mobo for a good x38/48.
For video card, get a pair of 4870, or a 4870x2 if you can wait 2 weeks.
4Gb of RAM is ok, but get it from Corsair or OCZ instead of Kingston.
Finally, get some extra 100 watts on your psu, just to make sure you can CF later.

 

[bdollar]

I wouldn't crossfire or SLI if you don't have to. At that resolution you don't. Get one nice card (like the 4850, 4870 or even x2 when it comes out if you want to spend the $).

As far as the mobo you need to decide what you plan on the future. if you are planning higher res in the future. make sure your mobo will let you add another GPU and your power supply can handle the increased load.

 

[kyron]

What res would justify crossfiring?

As i am getting a new monitor,, 1680x1050 seemed to simply be good value for money, but if to justify having the pc more powerful i could get a higher res monitor, especially considering the parts i have selected probably fall under my budget, so i can afford to spend more on the monitor.

 

[bdollar]

My recommendation is to go physically check out monitors. Different people have different tastes. Compare the 1680X1050 with the 1920x1200 and see if it really makes that much of a difference for you. Because as you go up in resolution you go up in hardware and if it looks pretty much the same to you then being able to afford doesn't necessary justify the expense. Also you can check out the benchmarks of the newer cards out (like 4850,4870 etc) to see that even on 1920X1200 they do quite well.

If you want my personal opinion I would probably go with a high end single GPU but get a MOBO that supports crossfire. that way it is more future proof and can add another one GPU if/when newer games require it or a newer higher res monitor requires it.

That being said if you go check out monitors and decide to really pimp that out then crossfire right away will allow you to get the most out of it.