First Computer Build - i7

[thevolumebutton]

This is my first build, so if I make some sort of horrid mistake, please be patient = ).

case: NZXT Tempest
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047

mobo: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P x58
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128374

graphics: EVGA GTX 260 (Core 216)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130434

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

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

RAM: G.Skill 3 X 2GB DDR3 1600 F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225

HDD: 2 250GB Seagate Barracudas in RAID 0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

Monitor: Acer H213H 21.5"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009157

I know I'm missing an optical drive. Blu-ray: yes/no? The other thing I'm missing is a better cooling solution, but will I need one? I'm planning on overclocking the processor just for the experience of doing it - chances are very good I won't go over 3.5 GHz. Should I invest in better cooling anyway?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Greg_77]

Don't try to get to 3.5 Ghz on a stock cooler, you could do serious damage to the CPU. At most, I would overclock it to 3.0 GHz on stock, and even that is pushing it. Get the Coolermaster V8 or the like. I have one and it works effectively. I would drop the hard drives and get a WD 640 gb black edition. It will cost you less, give you more storage, and possibly be faster. You could also RAID 0 two WD 640 gb black editions if you wanted. As for blue-ray drives, they aren't necessary, and most likely not useful unless you connect your computer to a HDTV or a much bigger monitor and play movies.

 

[theAnimal]

As said, get a single Caviar Black 640GB and skip the RAID.

Change the video card to HD4850x2, much better bang for the buck.

Change the PSU to TX650, 850 is overkill.

 

[thevolumebutton]

Thanks for the advice - switched the dual HDD configuration to a Caviar Black.

As said, get a single Caviar Black 640GB and skip the RAID.

Change the video card to HD4850x2, much better bang for the buck.

Change the PSU to TX650, 850 is overkill.

The reason I was a little excessive with the PSU is because I'm planning on going SLI or XFire eventually. Is 850 still excessive even with another graphics card?

 

[theAnimal]

Thanks for the advice - switched the dual HDD configuration to a Caviar Black.
The reason I was a little excessive with the PSU is because I'm planning on going SLI or XFire eventually. Is 850 still excessive even with another graphics card?

I suggested getting a 4850x2 (GTX285 performance for the same price as GTX260) and changing the PSU.

If you know you will get another card then 750 would be plenty, but unless you get 2 cards right away the 2nd almost never happens.

 

[Shadow703793]

Like mentioned earlier, get a good HSF if OCing. I recommend XIGMATEK S1283 + i7 kit or TRUE 120. Anyways, what do you plan to do with this build? Game? HD encoding? Photo editing?