Need advice

[ryu4000]

hey guys i have a budget of 2,000 to spend i been looking at close to getting the top hardware thats out right now.I have right now a antec 900 with 8800gt, e6750 oc to 3.4ghz, 4gig of ram,500gb hdd, 24inch screen so i be playing my games at 1920x1200 res looking for a core i7 build so i need some recommend specs to last for a while

 

[ryu4000]

i live in the usa

 

[aevm]

That PC is still pretty good. OK, maybe not in Crysis at 1920x1200, but I think you can still sell it for a good price.

Let's start with the obvious things.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

Not much choice here. You need DirectX 10 and access to lots of RAM so it has to be Vista 64-bit. Your other options are Vista Basic/Business/Ultimate but they make less sense for a gaming box.

Case: Antec 900, Antec 1200, CoolerMaster RC-690, CoolerMaster HAF 932, NZXT Tempest, etc. Personal choice here. I'll assume NZXT Tempest because it's a great deal at $90 with 6 fans. I also like that it has air filters.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047&Tpk=NZXT tempest
If you decide to reuse your Antec 900, that's good too.

CPU: i7 i920 $295
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Since you picked an i7, now you need an x58 MB and DDR3. You want something good and have a good budget, so we'll go with 6 GB rather than 3 GB.

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 $155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231230
# Timing: 7-7-7-18
# Voltage: 1.5V – 1.6V

ASUS P6T Deluxe LGA 1366 Intel X58 $300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131346

Add a SH-S223Q burner for $30.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173&Tpk=SH-S223Q

So far it's about $1000 including shipping costs.

Now you have to decide what to do about PSU/GPU(s) and hard disks and CPU cooling. Total budget left for these $1000.

Some options for PSU and GPU(s):

GTX 280 SLI (two cards for now) with a 1200W PSU add the option to add a third GTX 280 later.

GTX 280 SLI (two cards, no plans to add a third) and a Corsair 1000HX

GTX 295 (and no plans to add a second, benchmarks show it's not worth it) plus an Antec TPQ-850 850W PSU or a PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W

HD 4870 X2 + HD 4870 1GB + Corsair 1000HX

HD 4870 X2 + Silencer 750W (no plans to add more cards)

The last two options would allow you to save $50 to $100 with a cheaper X58 MB that supports Crossfire but not SLI. Gigabyte makes some of those.


About the HDD: I like the WD6401AALS. You could also consider a Velociraptor, but IMO that money is better spent on graphics cards.


Cooling: if you want to overclock get a Noctua NH-U12P 1366. If not, don't buy any aftermarket CPU cooler.

 

[aevm]

Funny, you're in the USA but your post ended up at Tom's UK. The UK version doesn't allow editing, yuck...

Link for the Noctua cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608007
Again, if you're not into overclocking, don't buy it or any other cooler. This is worth $70 only if you want some really high CPU clocks.

Silencer 750W: $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011&Tpk=S75CF

 

[ryu4000]

ok here check it out

gpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130365 2 gtx280

psu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159067 coolmax 1200watt


ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231230 g.skills


mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131346 asus

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202 i7920

cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608007 Noctua NH-U12P


arctic silver http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

using my antec 900 everything will be able to fit right
all for 1,750.57

how easy is it to putting this cooler on and doing the thermal paste i never done it before i know how to move a mother board around

 

[aevm]

Corsair 1000HX: $250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007&Tpk=1000HX

These links show you recommended PSUs for various combinations of graphics cards:
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html
http://game.amd.com/us-en/crossfirex_components.aspx?p=3

About the video cards: I was looking at the GTX 295 reviews recently, paying special attention to 1920x1200. In the games they benchmarked, it was like this:

GTX 295 or HD 4870 X2, single card, always getting over 60 fps. I don't really care what's above 60 fps because the typical LCD can't show more than 60 fps. (Exception Crysis where the GTX 295 didn't work, but that's OK, drivers will be fixed.)

GTX 280 Triple SLI, GTX 280 dual SLI, HD 4870 X2 CrossfireX - all very good solutions, but more expensive than a single GTX 295 or a single HD 4870 X2 and again bottlenecked by the 60 fps. The power consumption was also rather ridiculous.

Your best choice IMO is to get a single (but very good) card rather than a more complicated arrangement.

 

[ryu4000]

psu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007 im not going 3way just 2 way

and this is my sound card i already have http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271003 HT OMEGA CLARO Plus+ 7.1

 

[aevm]

I hadn't seen your previous post when I submitted the one above.

So, I take it you want the GTX 280 Triple-SLI, by adding a third card later. If not, then you're better off getting a single GTX 295 and a PC Power & Cooling 750W.

I prefer the MX-2 to the AS5 because it doesn't conduct electricity.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

That cooler comes with VERY detailed instructions. No worries there, just read them carefully when you get it.

 

[ryu4000]

ok then a 295 it is instead http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143167 would i still need the 1000watt one for just a single 295

 

[aevm]

No, the PC Power & Cooling S75CF is enough. It's only $80 after rebate too
The recommendation is 650W or greater, btw.

 

[ryu4000]

thanks man i make sure to come here if i have a problem doing this stuff so it all comes up to a little over 1400 so not too bad this going all fit in a antec 900 or should i just go for a full tower case cause i was thinking of going with this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160&Tpk=Cooler%20Master%20HAF%20932 cause everything should fit in this one without problems right?cause the coolmaster has a way to hide all your cable mess

 

[aevm]

Right. That CoolerMaster case is very good. Besides, seriously, try to sell that old PC of yours. It's still way better than the average PC.