Multitask/Gaming pc $1200ish

[mchljrdn]

Thanks for taking time to help. I appreciate any and all input

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: <=7 days BUDGET RANGE: US $1200ish

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Visual Studio/.net dev, Warcraft, Media, I seem to end up with multiple apps open frequently (Vent, Music Stream, and main app)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED Keyboard, mouse, monitor, cd/dvd player

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg

PARTS PREFERENCES: Not attached to a brand. I've had good luck with Gigabyte mobo and antec cases but I'm open to suggestions.
OVERCLOCKING: Yes assuming I find good instructions (I7920 to 3.33 or 3.66)
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe I like the idea but I'm not sure if it's really needed for the games I enjoy.

MONITOR RESOLUTION 1440x900, 1600x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I'm open for substitutions anywhere or a different direction altogether. I was thinking along the lines below. In the past, I liked to build with the thought of having one good upgrade in the system but I don't know if that is still a solid strategy. I'm interested in overclocking but not to extreme points (i.e. I prefer cases with plenty of ventilation and don't mind buying a different heat sink but that's about the extent) I’ll run windows 7.

CPU
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Case (I'd rather err on the side of too much airflow)
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
OR
Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

Graphics Card
(not sure here at all would choose one from the best of month. I prefer to go bang for the buck and upgrade)
Radeon HD 4850, GTX 260, or Radeon HD 4870

Power Supply
Will depend on the components but I prefer to have a larger power supply to leave room for expansion.

Memory
Either 3gb or 6gb
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225

MOBO
Would appreciate some input here.

MJ

 

[drunknmunkys]

Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz LGA 1366 Socket 8MB Cache CPU
http://antaresdigital.com/customer/product.php?productid=16135&cat=0&page=1
select D0 stepping (runs cooler)

OR

if you live near a Microcenter, pick one up there for ~246 /w tax (make sure to get a D0 stepping one)

Antec Nine Hundred
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

ASUS P6T SE LGA 1366 Intel X58
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131386

SAPPHIRE 100245HDMI Radeon HD 4850 I was going to go lower on the GPU, but for the price difference, there's no reason not to get a 4850 now
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824

WD 640GB Black x2 in RAID0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB 32MB for backup
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136317

Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154003

XIGMATEK Dark Knight
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

Total: 795$ (newegg) + 285$ (i7) = 1080$

 

[mchljrdn]

I appreciate the advice! I'm reading up on the components.

 

[mchljrdn]

Any thoughts on memory? Should I go with the DDR3 2000 or one of the older?

 

[gkay09]

Hi...Here is a config that you can look into...

CPU + Mobo
Intel Core i7 920 + GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.203722

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247

CASE - The Antec 900 would be good for you setup but its you call...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

PSU -
If you are not sure that you want to Crossfire, then get this PSU...
Corsair 650TX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
But if you want to have that option open, then get this one...
PCP&S 750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011

HDD -
WD Black 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

RAM - This GSkillz is little better than the one you had listed.
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247

Graphics card - For the 1600X1200, I would say the 4870 1GB would best suit because it would be able to handle even upcoming games @ that resolution with ease...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150394

Total - $1065

 

[mchljrdn]

Thanks a bunch! It's nice to have choices

 

[Why_Me]

This i7 build is set up so that you can add another gtx 275 later on for SLI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 $79.99
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006382 $109.99 ($79.99 after MIR) Free Shipping
PC Power and Cooling SILENCER 750W QUAD S75CF Power Supply Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-EX58U4P Combo Price: $492.99 Free Shipping
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P Core i7/ Intel X58/ DDR3/ CorssFireX & 3-Way SLI/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029 $39.99
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154003 $4.99
Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133268 $199.99 Free Shipping*
PNY VCGGTX275XPB GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.199034 Combo Discount: -$7.00 Combo Price: $162.98 $20.00 Mail-In Rebate
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK - Retail
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171 $24.99
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner - OEM

Total: $1,115.92 | $1,065.92 w/mail in rebates

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx?ITPID=mscomsc <--- Save yourself some money on an o/s until March 2010 and dl the 64 bit version of Windows RC 7

 

[mchljrdn]

Thanks for the input!

 

[mchljrdn]

Appreciate all the help so far. How much performance difference is there between Raid0 vs normal sata vs 10k disks? Anybody know a good article to read on the subject? Getting ready to order towards the end of the week so I'd love to see more builds or critiques of the builds here. Thanks again for all the input!