$1500 gaming rig, first time building

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Hopefully today

BUDGET RANGE: No more than $1500

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies, dvd burning (not a priority however), various programs

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg alone would be great to reduce shipping costs, but I would accept another site if it was significantly cheaper

PARTS PREFERENCES: don't care, I just want it to have the best performance possible without breaking my budget

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050 currently, I'll probably upgrade to 1920x1080 sometime within the next year


Here's what I came up with after many hours of wanting to kill myself


Case - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$107.49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129021

CPU - Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
$279.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115202

I was originally going to go for a Phenom II 940 or 955, but I'm already way past budget peformance

Motherboard - ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$289.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131365

Seems like a good overall mobo. Also has support for SLI and Crossfire.

Memory - CORSAIR XMS3 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1600C9DHX - Retail
$104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145200

Graphics Card - SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$379.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102768

I would have gotten a GTX 295, but I'm already pushing my budget pretty far.

PSU - PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Retail
$99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703009

Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM
$99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136284

Optical Drive - Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM
$31.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118030

CPU Cooler - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
$39.61
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
$8.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835100007
----
1455.43 shipped


I'm just wondering, is this near the best I can get for the money? I also don't want to just get a crappy cooler or whatever for cheap. It's nice to be well rounded so that everything works well. Let me know however if I'm spending way too much on unnecessary stuff

You need DDR3 Triple Channel memory for X58 mobo. Here are some I suggest you look at below.

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Model TR3X6G1600C8 G $124.99
($114.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145236

OCZ XMP Ready Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3X1600LV6GK $104.99 ($94.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227388

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231225

Also get this Power Cable Extension below, real handy when runing power cable from botom PSU with Case Cable management system.

1ST PC CORP. 12" 8-pin EPS extension cable Model CB-8M-8F $7.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6812706004

Yeah I worded that wrong. I meant that since I'm already paying around $1400-1500 I might as well just go for the i7. If my budget was more around $1000-1100 I would have went AMD. Not trying to get into an Intel vs AMD war or anything.

Anyways I revised this earlier, tell me what you guys think


Case - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$372.48 (in combo with CPU)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129021

CPU - 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/Prod [...] 6819115202

Motherboard - ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$362.98 (in combo with memory) (and $15.00 Mail-in Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131365

Memory - 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/Prod [...] 6820227365

Graphics Card - SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$379.99 - $30 for promo code (and $10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102768

PSU - CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
$139.99 (and $30.00 Mail-in Rebate Card)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139009

Hard Drive - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
$84.99 - $5 for promo code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152102

Optical Drive - Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM
$31.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118030

CPU Cooler - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
$39.61 (and $10.00 Mail-in Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
$8.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835100007

$1,392.98 shipped (1327.98 with rebates, although I hear that they barely ever send them back)

The only thing I can't really decide on is the graphics card. However the 4870x2 has a promo code to save $30, and its just seems like for right now it can play anything easily. Then later on I can get another one to Crossfire or whatever, instead of spending way too much on the GTX 295.

You CPU HSF Cooler is not one that is made for the Core i7 processor and you would have to order te extra mounting bracket for $9.98.

I would suggest either of these two below.

Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler $36.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185093

XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler $44.98 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233029

That build should not cause any issues at all, IMO thats a sweet rig!!!

Make sure you get a static-strap if you are building on carpet.....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6899261005

Um..IMO both cases are the same as far as cable management goes. You just need to take time routing, hiding all the cables. The only difference here is that the mobo tray has been moved up for more expansion space and you get a black interior. On top of that it looks like a mini 1200 in my opinion. I have the 902 and I love it, the 900 is not bad at all but the gray interior does not amuse me....And I am not into taking the whole case apart, buying paint, etc....

Don't get me wrong, I do mod's on all my cases... But as far as paint goes.... If it is available with an all black interior then I will shell out the extra 20 bucks and save myself the trouble... Now as far as the windows go this is what I do :

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/ [...] s850#blank

And other minor touches like sleeving, cathodes, etc.....Just to keep me busy when I have time to burn....