Advice on Purchase ASAP $2700 Ballpark

Originally I was going to build an alienware but I keep reading everyone here saying that I should save my money and custom build my own, I was a computer tech 10 years ago but a lot has changed since then lol

I was looking at the i7 950 originally

Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Retail

ASRock X58 Supercomputer LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

how about that?

would dual gpu even be considered?

Not sure if you want a SSD or another one of those vid cards for Crossfire. But here's the basic out line of the build. I prefer Nvidea cards myself, but for now this new ATI DX11 supported 5870 is the king of the hill. Nvidea doesn't come out with their DX11 supported cards until this mid December. But this case runs quite, and every component in this build has great reviews. Check out the links at the bottom.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119160 $139.99
COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
Get free shipping with promo code SPETFS, ends 9/30

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139009 $139.99 ($119.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate Card) Free Shipping*
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157163 $169.99
ASRock X58 Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.250777 Combo Discount: -$20.00 Combo Price: $399.98 $10.00 Mail-In Rebate Card Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $389.98 Free Shipping*
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8 G - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.248853 Combo Discount: -$4.00 Combo Price: $39.98
Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler - Retail
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150443 $379.99
XFX HD-587A-ZNF9 Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106332 $33.99 Free Shipping*
LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD/CD Writer LightScribe Support - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] 22-152-185 Combo Discount: -$10.00 Combo Price: $179.98 Free Shipping*
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - Retail
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM | Includes free Windows 7 upgrade coupon

Total: $1,473.89 *not including mail in rebates, shipping, and tax

http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,2422.html <--- benchmarks and review of that 5870 gpu

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/pr [...] ct_id=2810 <--- more pics, professional reviews, and specs of that case here

http://www.google.com/search?sourc [...] aqi=g-p3g7 <--- Scythe MUGEN 2 cpu cooler reviews

ASRock X58 Extreme Reviews

http://www.motherboards.org/review [...] 923_1.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 368-3.html

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/m [...] treme.html

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3593

Here's a review
It's really up to him but the H50 is very silent and with a better fan will outdo most high-end coolers.. At least the Thermal Take Ultra Extreme
And here's a good thermal compound

@Psycho - first time builder. Do you really think liquid coolers are a good idea? I guess thats why you use that name.


Regarding dual GPUs. What I was saying in my first post is you might want to spend half your budget on a quality upgradeable system with a build similar to what why_me posted then buy upgrades once you know what you want . That base system will let you play around and learn then you can trick it out with SSDs, liquid coolers, dual GPUs once you have used it a while and know what tweaks will really benefit you.

The only thing I might do differently is buy a more high end motherboard like an EVGA E758-TR-3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813188046
or an ASUS P6T Deluxe V2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131365
so you even have the option of 3 GPUs if you want it someday.


And I didnt see anyone explain about the CPU. The 920 can be overclocked to basically the same speed as a 950 can be overclocked so it really only makes sense for people who dont want to spend $30-$50 on a cpu cooler and maybe an hour learning to overclock.

OK, let's think about this... the OP wants to play a few games, watch some movies, and surf the net. And let's not forget the OP is new to o/c. So with that $170 Asrock I posted the OP can be at 3.6GHz with a few strokes of the keys. Does the OP really need that $300 board? We have to think...how is that $300 board going to benefit the OP for what he intends to do with this build. Same with the h/s/water cooling.

That word has a few meanings medo. Like someone that goes for a clock of 5.0GHz...that Psycho. And yes I hope you know all the meanings seeing how it's your forums moniker on here.

To me thats what suggesting liquid cooling to a first time builder seems.

Better to steer him to a safe, simple build he can learn from and trick out later once his confidence is established.

I said
"The only thing I might do differently is buy a more high end motherboard [examples...] so you even have the option of 3 GPUs if you want it someday."

Going up to the more expensive board is only to give him the option of going 3 GPUs someday if multi-monitor gaming becomes a passion. Its a tradeoff spending an extra $100 now so you dont spend another $270 later, have to reinstall everything and throw away a $170 motherboard. I think with his high end budget its an option worth considering.

If you are gaming on 6+ LCDs the extra GPU power may become important. Its an unknown right now that should not be dismissed out of hand when somone starts with that large a budget.

I would not call you inexperienced. That really could be an insult (like calling you a noob). Saying one of your ideas is crazy under those circumstances and having a bit of a joke is better.