I7 gaming build -- a little help?

[kaesin]

This is the build I'm going for so far. It's at $2,220.82 (including shipping) right now and I'm wondering if there's anywhere I can cut some corners to keep the quality but lose a little price.

Edit - Updated build so you don't have to scroll to the bottom.

Case - Antec Twelve Hundred
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

HDD - WD Caviar Black 640GB x3 (two in raid 0 and one storage)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Monitor - Acer 25.5" 2ms
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236047

Graphic Card - EVGA GeForce GTX 285
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130442

PSU - Corsair TX 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

RAM - OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381

Motherboard - Asus P6T Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131346

CPU - i7 920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

OS - Vista Home Premium 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

CPU Cooler - CoolerMaster V8
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055

120MM Fans for optional slots - Apevia 120MM blue
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811998121

DVI-HDMI cable
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812189056

 

[hofstra66]

You cant use a secure link to show the items, we cant see what is actually on the list. Just post the parts.

 

[kaesin]

Sorry... didn't realize that. Here goes.

Case - Antec Twelve Hundred
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

Motherboard - Asus P6T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359

Graphics Card - EVGA 01G-P3-1281-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130442

PSU - Corsair 850W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

CPU - i7 920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

RAM - CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224

Main HDD - VelociRaptor 300GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136322

Storage HDD - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

Drive 1 - SONY Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM IDE 20X DVD±R Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827131058

OS - vista home premium
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

CPU Cooler - CoolerMaster V8
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055

Thinking about this for the monitor?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009157

 

[hofstra66]

Get the western digital black 640gb hdd- its 70.00 shipped and is faster
you can get the velocirapitor if you like, personally i think it is a little over priced, i would go with two of the black 640's in raid 0. Also i would switch the V8 for the Noctua NH-U12P 1366 cooler, it comes with great thermal paste and two terrific fans. A little pricier but overall completely worth it IMO. Finally that memory you have is too much money for not enough performance. Get this G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ - Retail, according to some really knowledge people here on this forum it is the best bang for the buck. Drop that sony drive for a lite on or a hp drive bc they ship with Nero 7 software. Now you can take the money that you just saved and get this beauty - Acer P244Wbii Glossy Black 24" 2ms (GTG) HDMI 16:9 Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail its 250.00 shipped

 

[foolycooly]

looks good to me, but get the black version of that 640gb WD...it's cheaper and faster right now -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

I would go 24" on the monitor if you're going to get the 285....samsung is running a killer deal now on a high quality monitor. People bitch about putting the base on, but I don't think that's a reason to give it bad reviews. -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001309

 

[kaesin]

Updated to two http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 and switched to the Noctua CPU cooler. Also switched to the G.Skill RAM.

Now... I don't know what else I should add to this list of things to buy to for building. Do I need any thermal paste or anything like that? Or is that just going to come with the Noctua and such? Thanks guys.

Is there a way to link a wish list? Right now everything I have, I think, is free shipping. Except for the monitor that was taken... could always upgrade that though.

 

[hofstra66]

Let me tell you my friend, you are not going to be disapointed with that build. That thing will be a complete beast. Best of luck and enjoy your build.

 

[hofstra66]

oh and the thermal paste that comes with the noctua cooler is considered awesome, just as good as the top of the line stuff out there, also the two fans that come with the cooler are awesome. I think if you were trying to buy one of the those fans alone it would run you like $20 bucks a piece.

 

[kaesin]

Case - Antec Twelve Hundred
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

Motherboard - Asus P6T (or should I go with the P6T Deluxe?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359

Graphics Card - EVGA 01G-P3-1281-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130442

Monitor - Acer H213H bmid Black 21.5" 5ms HDMI Full HD 1080P Widescreen
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009157

HDD - Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s x2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

CPU - i7 920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

OS - Vista Home Premium 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

PSU - Corsair 850W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

Thermal Compound - Arctic Silver 5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

CPU Cooler - Noctua
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608007

RAM - G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225

So far this is what I have now -- updated. Anything I'm missing now? Are the stock fans that come with the Antec Twelve Hundred good or should I go ahead and order new fans to replace those?

Ending total is (with shipping) $1,897.31

 

[hofstra66]

The stock fans are great, as long as you dont mind the blue lights. I personally switched mine out for 7 scythe slipsteam fans. Personally i would spend the extra few bucks for the deluxe, but it isnt necessary. Also i am telling you that the artic silver 5 isnt necessary, as a matter of fact some tests even show the noctua paste to be superior bc it doesnt need curring time and can even handle heat at higher temps better.

 

[kaesin]

Alright. Arctic Silver 5 removed. I'll check into the fans. P6T Deluxe added.

New total is $1,953.69. If the P6T isn't a noticeable upgrade, I'll drop it.

What do you think of the monitor? Good enough or should I replace? Honestly... right now I usually just play WoW and I'm going to be playing D3 and other games as they come out. I'll probably go into shooters and more PC games that require decent comps to run. I haven't been doing so because this computer I'm on is severely outdated... if it were ever "in" date.

 

[hofstra66]

you dont need the fans, the stock ones are fine. It comes with 5 120mm blue led fans. The case can handle up to 7 fans. Personally i cant sleep with any light in the room at all and those blue leds were killing me so i switched mine out for non led fans. But if you are ok with the blue lights then you will be all set. You might want to consider getting two extra fans (one for the side pannel and one for the hhds) but it isnt necessary if you dont want to.

 

[kaesin]

Updated the message above about the monitor and whatnot, well, a quick question about it that is. Are all the fans 120MM? So I could just go for 2 more of those to toss in, correct? Guess I could just look at the case specs... heh.

 

[hofstra66]

the case comes stock with 5 120mm fans and one top 200m fan. However the case is capable to handle up to 7 120mm fans

 

[xthekidx]

Are you going to sli in the future with that video card? If not then the 650tx will work fine for you, otherwise keep the 850tx.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

This ram is much better, look at the timings. Its only $10 more which is completely worth it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381

 

[kaesin]

Alrighty. Added 2 of these ---

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811998121

Was going to go with a different color, but I didn't want the color scheme to be crap. I think I'll be able to live with it illuminating the room.

 

[kaesin]

Alright. Updated the RAM and the PSU. I don't plan on going SLI in the future... not made of money. Heh.

 

[kaesin]

Also... still have the question as to whether the monitor is up to par or if I should go with something else. It seemed a great buy for under $200.

On top of that... the case. Is the Antec Twelve Hundred a good pick for this build? Or is there another one that would better fit in this build?

 

[xthekidx]

Antec 1200 is great, but pricey, I like the CM 690 much better for the price. Its very roomy and has excellent cooling.

 

[kaesin]

Alright. Keep in mind most games I'll be playing are like D3, WoW, Fallout 3, etc. Would the GeForce GTX 285 be a good pick here? Should I downgrade to the GTX 260 or go with 2x Radeon 4870's?

 

[xthekidx]

Um well any one of those options would work fine I think, the GTX260 might not keep up with the curve in games to come, I have one and on my 19" monitor my frame rates drop to like 15-20 every once in a while with everything maxed out, which is annoying but my games are still very playable.

 

[kaesin]

I guess I'll stick with the GTX 285 or 295. Anyone know if EVGA is a good company to stick with? Or is there a more reputable company?

 

[xthekidx]

EVGA is as good as they come.

 

[kaesin]

Last question about the Graphics Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130447

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130442

Difference is core clock & memory clock. Also about $60.

 

[xthekidx]

I don't think its worth it paying for factory overclocked cards. The stock 285 will run your system just fine without problems. If you really want an overclocked card, EVGA has an overclocking utility that comes with their cards I believe, so I would just get the stock one.