New Build Help - $1200 *Updated*

[trailduster]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 7/13/09

BUDGET RANGE: $1200+tax/S&H

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (all types, fps, rts, mmo etc), Photoshop, Internet.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard & mouse, 1TB HDD for storage, 24" monitor, speakers.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: No real preference though I usually shop at Newegg.

OVERCLOCKING: Yes!

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes, at least the option to add a card in the future

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 24" @ 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: It looks like I've decided to get a single 260 for video, I will probably sell it to my roommate when the next gen comes out and pick something new up then. If all else fails I can grab another 260 at that time. I'm also starring at my keyboard and mouse wondering if I want to get a new set, I'm using a Logitech MX700 Duo thats 5 years old, if someone can suggest a different setup that would be appreciated (and not included in my system budget).

Thanks to the guys that answered my original post!

This is what I've got with so far:

Intel Core i7 920
Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000
EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V
COOLER MASTER HAF 932
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA

With all the combos and everything that puts me at $1190 for the build and $1296 shipped to my door.

 

[kufan64]

It looks like you're probably in the market for a Core i7 PC. Here's a link to my build: LINK
You can obviously ignore the things you don't need. I was going for a very upgradable, "future-proof" PC that could run just about any game at max settings at 1920x1200, and that's what I got. Overclocking's a breeze, it's SLI compatible. (not that you'll even consider it for a good long time unless you do some heavy overclocking from the get-go)

I've heard good and bad things about SSD's apparently they're faster than any HDD, but they've also apparently got problems reading and writing big files, and can get bogged down easily. For the time being, I think it is smarter to stick with HDD's until SSD technology has time to mature and evolve.

Let me know what you think.

 

[dvanholland]

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 - $280 ($200 if you live close to a microcenter)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P - $260 - $20 MIR = $240
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128374

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W ATX12V v2.2 Modular - $140 - $20 MIR = $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002

Memory: CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) - $160

Video Card: Two MSI N260GTX-T2D896-OCv4 GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit DDR3 -
2 x 120 ($40 MIR) =$240
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150329

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound: $9

Total (After Shipping and rebates) = $1,201.57

Other things to consider. Possibly an aftermarket Heatsink:
ZALMAN CNPS9900LED 120mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - $60

I would wait on the SSD drives for a while. You would be better off going with a RAID configuration of normal hard drives.

 

[trailduster]

Any particular reason to go with the N260GTX x2 vs the single N275GTX? Aside from the option to throw in an addition N275GTX in the future.

 

[dvanholland]

Toms Hardware compares the performance of 2 GTX 260s as a little higher than 1 GTX 285. Yes, you could get just one 275 now, but then why not get 1 GTX 285 and buy another one later.

 

[kufan64]

The performance gains of the 285 over the 275 are marginal at best especially when compared to the gains of the 275 over the 260. I did a bunch of homework before selecting my parts, and the 275 was the best bang for the buck on the Nvidia side. At least that's my opinion.

 

[trailduster]

Bump with new info...

 

[kufan64]

Build looks awful nice...

If you can budget for it, I still would recommend a GTX 275 instead of the 260. You'll see a noticable performance increase at 1920x1200.