$900-$1000 Gaming PC Please rate & comment

Well this will be my first PC build and I'm building it for gaming.

Here's the parts:

Motherboard:ASUS P6T SE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131386

Video Card: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4870 1GB(Xfire in future)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102801

Case: COOLER MASTER RC-690
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] R%20RC-690

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006

CPU: Intel Core i7 920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115202

RAM: OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227381

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319

CD-ROM Drive: SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151171

OS: Windows 7 RC

CPU Cooler: XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233029

Thermal Paste: Artic Silver 5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835100007

Well, let me know what you think.


EDIT: has been changed many times Ive decided to go with a i7 build look ^

Great build.

On the HSF, the sunbeams are very difficult to fit on the UD3P. I have the 120mm on a Asus board and I think its the best bang for the buck HSF ever. But if it won't fit on you're board, might want to consider something else. This site will have some quality alternatives:
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heat [...] ELHEATSINK
Either of the XIGMATEK s1283 would work very well for you.

Also, for $5-10 more, you can get a 4870 1gb card. Well worth the extra few bucks.

Be sure to check combos too, you might be able to substitute some parts with other quality parts to get a discount.

Not that the 4870 isn't a capable GPU, but what size monitor you running?

Monitor is a 19 inch wide screen native resolution is 1400x900

mhm...doubt that with a new socket out and another one due at the end of this year, his comp will be out of the game

Hmm id really like to stay with a intel quad 9550

Bump

agree with meatwad

UD3P is a bad compromise - the amd platform saves money for better components. don't be thinking spintel has your interests first on the agenda. google eu intel and see what you learn.

^...yeah, new quadcores like i7's and the new i5's coming out is what you want to get if you are building a pc right now.

Looks like a good build but what if I stayed with the q9550? Could you recommend a future proof socket 1366 mobo and good ram that will fit inside antec 300/900?
Id like to stay with the 4870 1gb and what's the differnce between a q9550 and lets say a i7 920? Im hoping This rig will last me a few years and all i would have to do is upgrade to another 4870 in crossfire in the future and then if needed upgrade to w/e new processor that 's out if quads are outdated then.

Maybe knowing which games exactly you plan on playing on it would help too...

OK, the 920 will perform about 12-15% better in Crysis. And yes the Socket 775 is EOL (End of Life) and there will be no newer processors released for it.

But it seems that Intel cant make up there mind on which i7 board to use. Hell, I might just stick with the 775 board with q9550 and be happy with it for a few years

?Can you reference what makes you think this?

If you mean 1366 vs the 1156, think of it this way. The i7 is the enthusiast platform and the i5 is the mainstream. So unlike the current system where both the x38/48 enthusiast and p45 mainstream share the same socket, each chipset has its own socket.
The mainstream systems won't cost as much to produce and carry a lower price tag. Its more about profits than upgradability for the consumer. If you have a mainstream system and want a better one, its no longer just upgrading the chip, but the mobo too.

Well, I feel like my build, or the i7 builds are MUCH MUCH better for the money and future proofing/upgrade-ability, if you stick with the q9550 build you posted, at least do yourself a favor and upgrade that hard drive to the WD Caviar Black from my build. It's very reliable and one of the fastest HDD's out there, especially for the price. Also, maybe think about getting the HD 4890 instead, as it does outperform the 4870 by a good bit, especially when OC'd, which should make you happier with your build over the next two years, and will last slightly longer in the gaming world. And maybe think about getting the Antec 900, or a case with a tad bit more airflow than the 300.

Build UPDATED check it out about $900

Or he could stick with one 4890 which will be a very capable card, and if he feels he needs to, pick up a HD 5000 series card when they drop at the end of the year.

So 4870 or 4890? I could go for another 4870 in the future if I upgrade to lets say a 20-24 inch monitor or just need more gpu power for future games

Hmm all i need help with now is should i get the Artic cooling freezer 7 pro

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186134

Or the Xigmatek Dark Knight

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] k%20Knight ----(might be to big for Antec 300?)


Looking to OC the Q9550 to atleast 3.8 GHz and was wondering which cpu cooler will be best

Dark Knight all the way. Reviews say it's close, but it does fit in the Antec 300.

I'm going to go with the Xiggy, has anyone had motherboard issues with this Cooler, as in not fitting right etc?

You would be shocked to know you can get a Phenom II w 4870 or 4890 and 4 gigs ddr3 @1333+ or higher, for the same money.

You would be shocked to know you can get current tek with an upgradable FUTURE for the same money or better. This end of life crawp has no future - you don't know - and you are deciding you don't want to know - that's ok - you can do that with your money. I just find it hard to watch you hurting yourself - should I support you in your misery? Sorry if that offends. You will find out eventually tho. Just remember this moment. sigh told you....

You would be shocked to know that AMD's socket AM3 is not only new - but will still be releasing new stuff through 2010 = making for an ongoing EZ upgrade path. I hope that's not offensive.

Also, gaming has no real use for a quad - but people want them anyway - however a tiny little Ph II 550 dual core w 8Megs Cache - same as the Ph II quad - (shocking isn't it?) runs stock at 3.1 ghz and oclox like an insane thing - and you won't be hard pressed for performance for quite a while in games - and then - later - anytime - you can upgrade to a "future-faster" quad - anytime you actually know that you actually need a quad for real world computing reasons - or you can do quad now - still same price or less w better performance. (yep, it's true).

- I would commend you on that decision - or even a quad now decision, altho it won't help you much. But wasting money on end-of-life, overpriced JUNK drives me nuts.

And the price is - I haven't figured it out - same and probably cheaper - shocking, I know - check out the Giga MA790XT-UD4P MOBO - stuff it with decent DDR3, A 4870/4890, and ANY Phenom II cpu that YOU like. It will xfire anytime you are ready.

Add that up - and you get a rocket with EVEN MORE OPTIONS, plus future upgradability. rather than overpriced EOL junk. (I suppose it's all offensive)

O man - what can I say. How about - I don't get paid for this - but you can pay yourself for doing exactly this. The rest of peripherals is minor stuff - it really doesn't matter.
And you can save on stupid extra fans and junk, cos Ph II rins "cold" already.
I recommend a 750w PSU cos you might need "future-power".

That's the best I can do for you - and, sorry to say, I expect you will find this simply insulting. - o well - it's your money.

People are simply shocked to discover this - do the math yourself - you do not have to believe me - I really don't care. It's your money and your game.

sigh
.

The Xigmatek DK fits on the UD3P without issue.

Updated I think this is the final list...

ok but is it possible to build a i7 under 900-$1000? I LOL'ed at the q9550 for you're daughters Fisher Price games ha ha