New Core I7 build. $2000-$2200

[Superwack]

Hi Everyone,

I'm planning on a new built in the next month or so and I would like everyone to review my choices and make any recommendation you think are necessary. $2200 is a lot, so I want to get it right
$2000-$2200 is for the computer and up to $500 for the watercooling loop.

My plans are for an awesome overclocking rig with great gaming.

I won't need a monitor, keyboard, or mouse.

My monitor is a 24" 1920x1200

I don't have a preference for a store, but Newegg is convenient and I have a MicroCenter nearby.


I will start off with the stock CPU cooler as I plan on upgrading to a watercooling system shortly afterI build this rig of which I have budgeted about $500.


Enzotech LUNA Rev.A CPU Waterblock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835708020

Black Ice GTX Xtreme 360 Radiator


Swiftech MCP655 12 VDC Pump
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835108082

Recommendations on a quiet high CFM fan for the Rad??

Now moving on to the build!

CPU
Core I7 920 D0 stepping


The motherboard is still up in the air... I had originally thought that the Asus Rampage II Extreme would be best but I've been quite intrigued by the EVGA Clasified

ASUS Rampage II Extreme
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131352
or
EVGA E760 CLASSIFIED
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188048


Memory
mushkin 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Memory Model 998691
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226050

Case
Corsair Obsidian Series 800D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139001

HDD
Planning in SSD in the future, but for now I plan on a single 1TB drive and will consider raid in the near future.
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

PSU
Not too sure, want something for SLi or Crossfire and a little extra wattage for even more fun
ENERMAX REVOLUTION85+ ERV1050EWT 1050W ATX 12V 80 PLUS SILVER Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194039
or
CORSAIR CMPSU-850HX 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011

Video Card DX11
Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB in Crossfire leaning towards Asus or HIS so I don't have to wait on the x2 or GTX300 series.
or
Radeon HD 5870 x2 when it come out or the GTX 300 when it comes out

Optical drive
Looking for a slot loading drive... any suggestions? There aren't that many to choose from from what I can tell. Just going for a nice clean look.

Operating system will be Windows 7

This my first build and I'm going BIG! so please go easy on me if some of my choices don't make too much sense.

I'm very excited

 

[computersss]

1st of all newegg isn't the place to get watercooling from best watercooling stores:
sidewindercomputers.com
petrastechshop.com
performance-pcs.com
Frozencpu.com

here comes my recommendations for pc parts:

i7 920 form microcenter:200$

SILVERSTONE TJ07-BW Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail this is by far one of the best cases on the market and you can put a 360 Rad easily at the bottom and it really looks great

ASRock X58 Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Don't get fooled by the 170$ price,this board works like charm and it is a beginner's dream especially in overclocking

XFX HD-587A-ZNF9 Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card ... - Retail

CORSAIR CMPSU-850HX 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

your choice of memory is great however i would get this even though it has a higher latency CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8 G - Retail

2x SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM this hardrive is new and faster than the 1tb black because it uses the 500GB platters,i would suggest you get 2 and run them in raid

this is a normal DVD-RW,i don't suggest getting a sloat loading drive

total cost:1432$

as for the watercooling i don't have much experience but i would give you my recommendations

the Enzotech isn't that good a nice Heatkiller would beat it,also i suggest getting feser 360 with low or medium fans instead of the black ice since it beats it and have the same price,also the mcp355 with the XSPC Reservoir will out perform the mcp655 pump

 

[bdcrlsn]

dangerden.com is also an excellent place for water cooling; Maximum PC magazine recommended them.

 

[obsidian86]

a case gonna cost bout 200 a good liquid cooling system bout 500-600 so how bout this for 800 http://www.xpressar.com/index.html

 

[Superwack]

Hi Computersss,

Thank you for your suggestions!

I agree, Newegg is not the place to get WC supplies. I did provide link so ppl could see what I was talking about. I do like all the places you suggested, thanks!

I think I have already fallen in love with the Corsair tower. It cost less than the silverstone and looks sharp. plus it has breathing vents where the 8th slot would be in case I want to do tri SLi or CF.

I'll look into the ASRock motherboard you mentioned. I've never really read much about ASRock, but I do understand that they have pretty good stuff. Have a second recommendation just in case?

Any particular reason for the XFX? Reliability? Warranty? Customer service? Just because?

I don't really know how to calculate how much wattage I would need from a PSU, but would the 850 watts of the Corsair PSU be sufficient if I decided to go tri CF or SLi? From what I understand PSU are most efficient in their mid range which is why I chose the 1050 watt Enermax.

I like the Mushkin memory too. Why do you recommend the Corsair XMS3 memory? is it because of price? I thought that lower latencies was more important for i7.

I totally goofed on the HDD. I remembered about the samsung Spinpoint F3s after I posted. Good call, I will use those for a raid setup.

No slot loading drive? Darn

Yeah, I remember reading about the HK 3.0 block a little while ago. Good Stuff.

I'm going to stick with the Black Ice GTX since it does better than the Feser with medium to high CFM fans since that is the setup I am going for. I'm going for performance over noise.

I think the mcp355 vs the mcp655 debate is a lot of talk about minuscule differences. I think I'll decide that one once I finalize the rest of WC loop and determine how restrictive it is and the optimal flow rates I'll need. I do agree the XSPC top w/ resivor is a very good choice.

Let me know what you think.

Kindly,

 

[True Creation]

I doubt the 850HX could do tri-cf or tri-sli but it can do sli and cf.

 

[blackhawk1928]

Based on your budget:
-I would get the EVGA classified
-The corsair 850watt PSU
-I would change your ram to ocz, corsair, or maybe micron if you have the money for it.

 

[computersss]

Hi Computersss,

Thank you for your suggestions!

I agree, Newegg is not the place to get WC supplies. I did provide link so ppl could see what I was talking about. I do like all the places you suggested, thanks!

I think I have already fallen in love with the Corsair tower. It cost less than the silverstone and looks sharp. plus it has breathing vents where the 8th slot would be in case I want to do tri SLi or CF.

I'll look into the ASRock motherboard you mentioned. I've never really read much about ASRock, but I do understand that they have pretty good stuff. Have a second recommendation just in case?

Any particular reason for the XFX? Reliability? Warranty? Customer service? Just because?

I don't really know how to calculate how much wattage I would need from a PSU, but would the 850 watts of the Corsair PSU be sufficient if I decided to go tri CF or SLi? From what I understand PSU are most efficient in their mid range which is why I chose the 1050 watt Enermax.

I like the Mushkin memory too. Why do you recommend the Corsair XMS3 memory? is it because of price? I thought that lower latencies was more important for i7.

I totally goofed on the HDD. I remembered about the samsung Spinpoint F3s after I posted. Good call, I will use those for a raid setup.

No slot loading drive? Darn

Yeah, I remember reading about the HK 3.0 block a little while ago. Good Stuff.

I'm going to stick with the Black Ice GTX since it does better than the Feser with medium to high CFM fans since that is the setup I am going for. I'm going for performance over noise.

I think the mcp355 vs the mcp655 debate is a lot of talk about minuscule differences. I think I'll decide that one once I finalize the rest of WC loop and determine how restrictive it is and the optimal flow rates I'll need. I do agree the XSPC top w/ resivor is a very good choice.

Let me know what you think.

Kindly,

the corsair case looks good however the TJ07 is my Favorite,my second recommendation on the motherboard would be the Evga classified 760,well my favorite for ATI cards have been Sapphire but people now talks about XFX's great customer service,anyway it is a good brand.For tri-CF i would suggest the corsair 1000HX as the 850HX won't be that sufficient especially when overclocking and i don't really recommend the enermax why get a medium quality psu when you can get a high quality one ?!!.the latency is an important thing and muskin and corsair are great brands and i am sure you will be happy with any of the 2 choices.As for the MCP355 and the MCP655 it isn't a debate because the MCP355 +XSPC reservoir with its small foot print and performance beats the MCP655

 

[Puffnstuff]

Well newegg does have a couple of good items cheaper than other shops. I got my enzotech evx-58 chipset block from them since they were the cheapest. Their pump prices are good as well but only if you want a d5/mcp655 or ddc since that's all they carry. I ended up getting an enzotech luna rev a from them as well but most of my stuff came from sidewinder and performance pcs. DD and petra's seemed to be out of stock on several items on my list. Too bad nobody had the aquastream xt usb advanced pump so I settled on a swiftech mcp655.