I7 Gaming Build >1500 Budget..

[chronicbucks]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Before 6/30/2009

BUDGET RANGE: 1500

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, web design,

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg and anywhere that is cheap and reliable

OVERCLOCKING: Yes, would ideally like to clock i7 at 4 ghz

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I just want to keep my CPU cooled, as i plan on overclocking it

CPU
Intel I7 Core 920 D0 Stepping
http://www.ewiz.com/shopcart.php?additem=MB-EX58U4P

Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-EX58 UD4P
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-EX58U4P

GPU
EVGA 275 Superclocked Edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130478

Power Supply
Corsair 750 TX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

HDD
Western Digital Cavair Black 1 TB 7200 RPM
http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/ShoppingCart.aspx?Submit=view

RAM
OCZ Platinum (3 X 2GB) DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381

Monitor
Asus 21.5” HDMI Widescreen
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236053

Optical
Samsung SH-S223F DVR w/ Lightscribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

CPU Cooler
Scythe Mugen
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185093

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

Price: 1454.73
After Mail in Rebate: 1364.73

I have a few questions. I am positive i will be overclocking this machine, and i would like to really push things as high as i can while still running stable. In doing this as always, the main concern is going to be airflow and cooling of the build and the cpu. I am pretty firm on that MOBO, i have heard nothing but great things, and you cannot beat that price.

DO I NEED WATER COOLING TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO?? a few people have told me i would be better off going the watercooled route, investing in the Swiftech H20-220 Apex kit, for 250$. Other's have said with good airflow and CPU cooler i can achieve what i want without water cooling.

As for my case, right now I have the tempest in my sights, but this has been an ever changing thing, i have moved from the Antec 902 to the HAF 932 and now i'm on the tempest. I chose this in an attempt to cut costs to see if i could work in the Swiftech Water Cooling kit while still staying under the 1500. Any advice on cases would really rock, as if im not going the water cooling route, i will need some major airflow in order to overclock how i want too.

As for the CPU Cooler, i have done some reading and checked out the multiple studies posted. I was all set to go with the prolimatech, until i stumbled on this one

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/core-i7-coolers-roundup_18.html

the Scythe in this test showed amazing results, and the reviews on newegg are all pretty good, so maybe you guys can give me some advice here. if in fact i do need to go with cpu cooling as opposed to the water cooling.

So basically do i need watercooling to achieve what i want to do?? If i do...is there anything i could budget down in order to remain under my 1500 budget.

Also do you guys see anything that doesnt look right with this build?? I'm going to order the parts by monday, as i must have this pc built in the next two weeks.

Any help and advice is greatly appreciated!!!!!

 

[astrodudepsu]

4 GHz is really the breaking point on air. Personally anything above 3.8 GHz and I would watercool, for peace of mind. It's a solid build, but if I were you I would look long and hard about water cooling.

 

[astrodudepsu]

double post

 

[Why_Me]

You should be able to do 4.0 on air with that board and set up, but I'm telling you now toms did a review on that i7 920 and the best FPS for the gain and effort was anywhere from 3.4 -3.8 with 3.6GHz being the sweet spot.

Ok, first off you don't have any thermal compound in your build. Maybe you have some already...not sure. But if not get either: Arctic Cooling MX-2, Tuniq TX-2, OCZ Freeze or Arctic Silver 5.

Now airflow. How about getting a case with better airflow/ventilation than the that NZXT and more room to work with while still staying within your budget. Two ways of doing this....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197 $129.99
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
New Arrival

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

or....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.201930 Combo Discount: -$30.00 Combo Price: $239.98 $20.00 Mail-In Rebate
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail

Now seeing how your into over clocking...then over clock this vid card down below and use the combo deal on the HD and RAM....

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.199045 Combo Discount: -$7.00 Combo Price: $197.98 $20.00 Mail-In Rebate
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK - Retail
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM

These two links down below contain specs, pics, and most important a link to professional reviews of both of those cases (CM HAF's)

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=19&product_id=2919 <--- HAF 922

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=18&product_id=2810 <--- HAF 932

 

[chronicbucks]

Yo Why_Me, thank you, i knew you could come through and show me some extra ways to save some cash, i think I am going to go with the HAF 932...then if i do choose watercooling, i can still go with it.

wondering what the advantage is on that video card over the one i currently am looking at?

i am just looking to get the possible performance out of this pc, so if the peak performance comes at 3.6..than that is where i plan on running it

 

[Why_Me]

Yo Why_Me, thank you, i knew you could come through and show me some extra ways to save some cash, i think I am going to go with the HAF 932...then if i do choose watercooling, i can still go with it.

wondering what the advantage is on that video card over the one i currently am looking at?

i am just looking to get the possible performance out of this pc, so if the peak performance comes at 3.6..than that is where i plan on running it

There's no advantage on that vid card I posted other than it's cheaper along with free shipping. I just stuck that in there so you could use the HD/RAM combo discount so as to keep the cost down for budget purposes

btw I want to say you have one helluva nice build going there.

 

[chronicbucks]

awesome man, i appreciate that, i have been doing CRAZY research this last week, and cannot wait to get my first build underway. I also appreciate you telling me about the toms review. that is huge, as i know running at 3.6 i can do easily on air, and save the money and buy a watercooling system later on, once i get more ambitious + $$$.

will i even notice a difference between 3.8gz and 4? i dont think so

do you think the Scythe is enough to keep the temp down??

any keyboards/mouse you would recommend for gaming?

any issues fitting all of my gear, including CPU Cooler in the HAF 922?

 

[Why_Me]

awesome man, i appreciate that, i have been doing CRAZY research this last week, and cannot wait to get my first build underway. I also appreciate you telling me about the toms review. that is huge, as i know running at 3.6 i can do easily on air, and save the money and buy a watercooling system later on, once i get more ambitious + $$$.

will i even notice a difference between 3.8gz and 4? i dont think so

do you think the Scythe is enough to keep the temp down??

any keyboards/mouse you would recommend for gaming?

Iv'e read reviews on the Xigmatek DK and that Scythe Mugen and imo those two heat sinks are the best bargain out there right now for the $$. You can't go wrong with either one of those h/s.

As far as mouse, keyboard etc...I'm not the one to give an opinion. I game with a $15 Logitech keyboard and a $30 Logitech trac ball for right handers.. (old habits die hard ) Even my headset is ghetto. It's an el cheapo $20 AC 401.

I'm sure someone will see that post of yours though and have a good idea on keyboards and mice.

 

[chronicbucks]

Why_Me, since i am looking to game pretty hard, do you think the single EVGA Gtx 275 will allow me to game on full settings (Crysis, Far Cry 2, CoD 4, CoD5)

 

[Helloworld_98]

^ full settings for the last two but not Far Cry 2 or Crysis as they run on a badly optimized engine and only triple GTX 285's can conquer the 60fps mark on those games AFAIK.