I7 Gamer Build

[shyheim]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Mid to late July

BUDGET RANGE: $1200 - 1500

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, streaming movies/tv to television, surfing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Mouse, keyboard, monitor, speakers, sound card

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.ca, tigerdirect

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel, since I'm going with the i7 quad core.

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

CROSSFIRE: Yes

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Will be running Windows 7 when it comes out.


HDD:
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

Cooler: Had some trouble finding one to fit the i7 board
Noctua NH-U12P 120mm SSO CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608002

GPU: Will be getting a second quickly if not at the same time
SAPPHIRE 100259L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102810

CPU: How hard would it be to push this to 3.2GHz?
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Case: Want something roomy enough for upgrades as well as good air flow...
Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

DVD: Stock

MOBO:
EVGA E758-A1 3-Way SLI (x16/x16/x8) LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039

RAM:
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

Paste: Should I bother?

PSU: Anything cheaper?
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

I would love for this to be a bit cheaper if possible, but I don't want to loose any quality. Any suggestions to different parts? Thanks!

 

[shyheim]

Suggestions needed... Could I go with a mid sized case, and since this is a gamers build, who would go with a dual core instead of the quad? Would going with two 4850's be a better value?

 

[n8dogg]

holy crap! push you i7 920 to 3.2? no way thats an insane oc d00d!! lol you'll go WAY past 3.2.

from the looks of it, your buying in canada if you shopping at newegg.ca, shop at NCIX.com, they price match anyone and it's cheaper than newegg.ca by a good bit (after you figure in shipping, taxes, boarder fee, crap like that)

your build looks good, for god sakes don't skimp on the power supply, the one you have would work fine but if your looking at 750W ones, take a look at PC P&C silencer 750. it can be had for around $105 when it goes on sale (which is alot)

The TRUE would be better than the U12P but they are pretty close. everything else looks good.

 

[shyheim]

NCIX.com will price match newegg.com with shipping and all that factored in?

 

[thephilly]

The machine in general and a XFIRE setup specifically is overkill for 1280x1024.

You can (and should) cut the fat or sacrifice in some places and invest in a good 22" or 24" monitor for $170-220. i.e. move down to dual 4850s or 4770s

Unless your set on the i7, other AMD builds that you can easily find on the forums will give you the room to get a nice monitor as well.

You will be much happier at a higher resolution.

If you're going to OC get thermal paste.

 

[shyheim]

I am completely willing to put the dual 4850's in instead of the 4870's. Also, I have the option of grabbing a 22 inch LCD monitor from my brother (a viewsonic), so I will eventually be having higher resolution. I would much rather stick it out with the i7 than run with AMD, but is there anywhere else I could cheapen (HDD, casing, etc.)?

 

[klezmer41]

Is it okay to buy the I7 from Newegg now? Everybody was recommending Antares Digital a few weeks ago.