New i7 build - comments please

WTH is wrong with the forums?

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Looking for comments on a new build I'm considering. Thanks in advance.
Case:
NZXT Alpha Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Open Window
Item #: N82E16811146041
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

PSU:
PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817703005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

*or*

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817139005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Motherboard:
MSI X58 Platinum LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813130216
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CPU:
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920
Item #: N82E16819115202
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM:
SUPER TALENT 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Item #: N82E16820609361
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

*or*

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Item #: N82E16820231223
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Graphics:
ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
Item #: N82E16814121272
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Optical:
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model iHAS220-08 - Retail
Item #: N82E16827106265
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


I'm really looking at the PCP&C PSU (it's much cheaper), but I wasn't sure if it has enough power. I plan to Crossfire later.

On the RAM, the Super Talent has better timings, but I've read that G.Skill is better quality. Both kits are the same price.

Also, any thoughts on Phenom II? Worth waiting for or not?

Yea I wonder the same thing. I recently started a thread with the same problem. :-/

sorry, the forums are sucking so i'm not reading/deciphering that

Bump!

Anyone?

maybe it's safer to go for a 1gb ram graphics card.

The build looks good. The PC Power & Cooling PSU will run crossfire 4850's. The Supertalent RAM is out of stock which might make the decision easier.  

With a little more info we could provide more meaningful advice.

What's the main purpose of this build and what resolution will you be running at?

Go with the cheaper psu. Both of those are outstanding psu's and really can't go wrong with either one.

My vote is the G skill ram. Quality > quanity(better timings for this case).

Other than this it looks like you've done your homework and this is a pretty quality build

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I'm going to use it for gaming, mostly. I don't do much in the way of video editing or anything like that. I do some video encoding for my iPod, but that's it.

I plan to purchase a 24" monitor, so res 1920x1200.

Since this is mostly a gaming computer and you will be running at 1920x1200, I would step the GPU up to the 4870 1GB model. That card works great at that resolution. I really like this one:

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $239.99 -$15.00 MIR

If you do go with the 4870, you might also want to bump up to a 750W PSU to give you a little headroom. I think the Corsair 650W would run crossfire 4870's, but it's cutting it a little close for my taste. Here's a couple options:

PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $124.99 -$25.00 MIR

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $119.99 -$20.00 MIR

I know this adds a bit to the build, but it's worth it IMO at that resolution. Your computer will also be ready to just pop in another 4870 without having to upgrade any other parts.

I did consider the 4870, but I'm really on a tight budget (I'm in college... yeah). I plan on adding another 4850 in the near future, which as I read does well at that res.

if you plan gaming on it, skimp on the ram and get a better video card, you can play anything with 3gb but you cant play everything with a 4850

But you can play everything with 2 4850s. Or so I read.

Ya, I think you'll be fine with two 4850's if you go that route.

Something you might want to also look into is the GTX 260 (216 core). Its about at par with the 4870 1gb, but a bit cheaper. I would do a little bit of homework and see what games benchmark better with what card. They are in general on the same level but ussualy the GTX 260 is a few dollars cheaper. Later on you can also install a second one and run these in sli and they do scale very nicely with the i7. Just something to think about though. Your setup is pretty good either way.

Sorry forgot to mention this:

if you ever are thinking about running two cards you might want to consider bumping your psu up to the 750w verison. Gives you a little bit of breating room. (I'm pulling this out of my A$$) If i remember correctly two 4850's require 600w's which is borderline for even a good 610w psu. I just remember reading this on a forum post from someone that was benchmarking their system and testing how low they could go with their psu. So i really don't have any good sources for this info, other than it scares me now.

I would (and have) look(ed) into the GTX 260, but the motherboard I picked out doesn't support SLI, only Crossfire.

Thanks for the opinion on the power supply. AMD recommends 550w for two 4850s. So... final word? PCP&C enough power? Or do I need the 650w (or even 750w) Corsair?

you can get a combo with the gtx260 core 216 and the gigabyte x58, which is 30 dollars off, then you would be able to do sli, and it would only be 50 more for that mobo.

Is the GTX 260 really that much better? How does it compare in SLI to 2 4850s in Crossfire?

And it may be only $50 more for the mobo, but the card is also more expensive. It adds up.

in sli 2 gtx 260 core 216s scale better than 2 4870s in most games, and im talking about the 1gb 4870s. They would basically kill 2 4850s in crossfire if they beat 2 4870s

Yes thats true but unless you are running a 30 inch monitor at insane resolutions its totally overkill, infact two 4850s is total overkill, and a hell of a lot cheaper

ussualy the GTX 260 is compaired agaisnt the 4870 1gb. Depending on the benchmark ussualy the GTX 260 is a bit better than the 4870 1gb. This is a heated debate though.

if your compairing the GTX 260 and the 4850, its like compairing a little brother to his elder.

If you compair 1 gtx 260 to 2x4850's, the 2x4850's should outpreform just 1 gtx 260.