Around $1700-2000 gaming rig help!

[realyeti]

Hello. I haven't been in the ahrdware busyness for a year and I'm helping a friend out to build his first rig, so i was asking for some assistance in the matter.

Around $1700 - $2000

I'm thinking on working around the I7 920. will it need an aftermarket cooler eventhough he wont be doing any overclocking?

I'm thinking on an Asus 22'' monitor and try first with just one GTX 275 (my friend prefers nvidia).

I really need help on a bang-for-the-buck motherboard and RAM options.

The case is not of a big deal. I want to know if a Corsair 850w could handle 2x GTX 275 or a single GTX 295, or if it's way overkilling the system.

Counting on 500gb of HDD and a blue-ray readeable drive.

I would really appreciate any bang for the buck suggestions.

 

[batuchka]

Hmm so i take it rig is to game and do blu ray? If so 1.7-2k is a number anything but bang for buck i'm afraid

 

[gkay09]

@realyeti, you can get a powerful i7 rig under 1.5K with the monitor...
Could you give more info,
this would help...
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

 

[Why_Me]

i7 920 w/dual gtx 275's in SLI, 24" HDMI monitor and o/s

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.235877.11-119-137 Combo Discount: -$15.00 Combo Price: $164.98 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM | Includes free Windows 7 upgrade coupon
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006382 $111.99 Free Shipping
PC Power and Cooling SILENCER 750W QUAD S75CF Power Supply Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157163 $169.99
ASRock X58 Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-920 $269.99 Free Ground Shipping
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 $29.99
COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-GP 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-OCZ3P1600LV6GK-PC3-12800-1600MHz-Platinum/dp/B001NFZ5PQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251453032&sr=1-2 $113.99 Free Shipping
OCZ OCZ3P1600LV6GK DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz 6GB Platinum XTC Triple Channel Kits

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=GA-GTX275C $219.99 | $209.99 $10 off with code SUPERSTEAL10 Free Ground Shipping
GIGABYTE nVidia GeForce GTX275 OC 896MB DDR3 DVI/HDMI PCI-Express Video Card

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=GA-GTX275C $219.99 | $209.99 $10 off with code SUPERSTEAL10 Free Ground Shipping
GIGABYTE nVidia GeForce GTX275 OC 896MB DDR3 DVI/HDMI PCI-Express Video Card

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010082 $64.99 Free Shipping
WESTERN DIGITAL Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB SATA II 7200 RPM 32MB Buffer Hard Drive Bulk

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030 $29.99 Free Shipping*
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

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106325 $59.99 Free Shipping*
LITE-ON Black 4X BD-ROM 8X DVD-ROM 32X CD-ROM SATA Internal 4X Blu-ray Reader Model iHOS104-06 - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009167 $219.99 Free Shipping*
Acer H243Hbmid 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 40000:1 Max (ACM) Built-in Speakers - Retail

Total: $1,655.90

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-sli,2298.html <--- dual gtx 275's in SLI > gtx 295

 

[gkay09]

^ That's a very good build....
But I would highly advice not to go with 2x GTX 275s right now...
ATI would be coming up with their newer DirectX 11 cards by this October and Nvidia with theirs by this EOY...So for now just invest in a single card and then if the newer cards are any good, you can upgrade to them or add another GTX 275 later...
And about the PSU -
Corsair 750TX
$119.99
($109.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate Card )
Free Shipping*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

Or for the same price, a modular PSU would also be good...Though not as good as the Corsair/ PCP& C, but are not a crappy one by no means...and being modular is a very good plus...
$109.99
Free Shipping*
$10 off with promo code ANTECAUG, limited offer
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371022

 

[Yoosty]

Lets see what I can come up with for you.

You also need to check this 23" Monitor out.
SAMSUNG 2343BWX High Glossy Black 23" 5ms 16:9 Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 20000:1 (DC) w/ HDCP Support - Retail $209.99 ($189.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping* $10 off w/ promo code EMCLWNW26, ends 9/3

*note: If you live near Microcenter you can get the Core® i7 920 w/DO Stepping for $199.00 but you have it buy it at the store.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0302727&utm_source=mcol&utm_medium=leader_bnr&utm_campaign=hmpg_intel_i7920

Micro Center: 22 Locations Nationwide
http://www.microcenter.com/at_the_stores/index.html

Here is the dark horse of the x58 mobo's, that is basically the same as P6T, but lower in price as a Austek subsidary if NewEgg can keep it in stock.
ASRock X58 Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $169.99 (ETA:09/07/2009)

Ram
OCZ OCZ3P1600LV6GK DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz 6GB Platinum XTC Triple Channel Kits $113.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.

HDD
Corsair 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Power Supply $94.99 Free Shipping* $89.99 With Promo Code EMCLWNW36

Other Hardware you should look at.
CPU Cooler's
CoGage True Spirit Heatpipe CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Silent Fan for Intel LGA1366 $37.95
(It is similar to the ThermalRight and cools within 1 or 2 degrees' of it.)

If you do get the CoGage True Spirit, I would suggest this Mounting Bracket, instead of the Push-Pin one that come with it.
Thermalright LGA1366 Bolt-Thru-Kit Retail BOX Bolt-thru Board Mounting kit $9.95

If you want one of the Best CPU HSF Cooler for the Core i7 then I would suggest this one, but it is more expensive.
Thermalright Ultra120 eXtreme-1366 RT Premium Heatpipe Cooler for Intel LGA1366 $74.95

One of the latest Reviews on 1366 CPU HSF Coolers'.

Thermal Compound.
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail $7.98

Hope this helps you out some.