I7 gaming build-first time build

[h225]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: As soon as possible, 3 years of alienware laptop mistake is killing me.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming

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

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: I7 920

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes

MONITOR RESOLUTION: (examples: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This is my first home PC build, I have some help but not from someone used to building gaming pc’s, thus the need for advice from you all. I don’t really care about the looks so no concern if the led lights don’t match  I am trying to remain on somewhat fo a budget <2000 but I am unfortunately easily convinced to extend that a bit.
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Case: Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043


Motherboard: ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

Processor: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS9900LED 120mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118046

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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

Hard Drives: Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM 4 of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320



As always the big question is on the cards:

I would like to run a cross fire configuration, I started looking at the 4870 but soon realized I was in the price range of the 4890 what the difference of these cards?

SAPPHIRE TOXIC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102815

XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

 

[Outlander_04]

we all know what standard monitor resolutions are

what we need to know is what the resolution of YOUR monitor will be , since its important to match that with the gfx card .

 

[h225]

Apologies, I forgot to fill that one in,

1920x1080 on the TV currently.

Will probably get a a dedicated monitor as well with that or better.

 

[Crashman]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: As soon as possible, 3 years of alienware laptop mistake is killing me.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming

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

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: I7 920

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes

MONITOR RESOLUTION: (examples: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This is my first home PC build, I have some help but not from someone used to building gaming pc’s, thus the need for advice from you all. I don’t really care about the looks so no concern if the led lights don’t match  I am trying to remain on somewhat fo a budget <2000 but I am unfortunately easily convinced to extend that a bit.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Case: Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043


Motherboard: ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

Processor: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS9900LED 120mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118046

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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

Hard Drives: Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM 4 of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320



As always the big question is on the cards:

I would like to run a cross fire configuration, I started looking at the 4870 but soon realized I was in the price range of the 4890 what the difference of these cards?

SAPPHIRE TOXIC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102815

XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

I can't see a good reason to buy the P6T Deluxe V2. If you really prefer Asus, I'd suggest the P6T standard. Otherwise, check out Tom's Hardware's most recent X58 motherboard comparison for some good deals.

 

[Outlander_04]

For 1080p panels the 4870 is Ok, but you will get higher detail settings from a 4890 or a gtx 275 . Both are easily in your budget so you may as well make the step up .

Very hardcore gamers might spend even more on gfx cards so they can max out quality settings that barely make a difference . My suggestion would be to use a single 4890 and see if it performs to your expectations . Theres no problem buying a second one later if you want more power

Im with crashman on parts . Its not worth paying for features on mb's you dont actually want to use . The performance generally doesnt increase , and you just get poor value for money .

The OC community isnt so fond of the zalman cooler [ but it looks amazing ] . Many more prefer the xigmatek 1283 . Have a look at the frostytech website for their top 5 coolers .

The only other suggestion is to invest in a second hard drive . Its in your budget so why not make back ups on an internal drive

 

[hunter315]

Get the OCZ platinums for slightly more, they have better timings
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381

And for less than teh cost of the zalman you can get the core contact freezer which performs better
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207004
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207005

 

[h225]

Thanks for the comments, I will check out the cooler site.

I am planing on 4 of the drives, I listed that in plain text so it kind of blends in with the orginal post. I woudl use a raid setup for backups.

Thanks for the heads up on the board, I kind of did a search and sorted by best reviews and that is what came up

 

[hunter315]

You can get 3 1TB caviar blacks for about the same, or 3 1TB samsung spinpoints for less, they should provide better performance in raid than 4 500GB caviar blacks.