First Time Builder - $2000-ish - Advice Please?

[tlitten]

Greetings,

I'm new to all this, but have been reading around on this site and got my hardware ideas from here.

My main objective is to have a reliable, high-end gaming system that - if possible - can be upgraded in a couple years to be able to continue to handle the newest games with ease.

On with the build -



APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: End of October (after Windows 7 releases) BUDGET RANGE: $1,800 - $2,200

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Will predomintently be used for gaming, but will also be our "everyday" computer

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Optical Drive, Hard Drives? (I have 2 older WD Raptors [1 - 75 GB and 1 - 150 GB] that I may use, looking for thoughts on this)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, unless someone thinks otherwise

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel/Gigabyte, unless someone thinks otherwise

OVERCLOCKING: Yes | SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe (eventually, yes)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: I've got an old Samsung SyncMaster 1100DF that's still running strong, would like to keep it unless that's not a good idea. Max resolution appears to be 2048 x 1536.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Don't care how quiet it is, just want it to run cool and strong.


Parts -

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

MoBo - GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.muotitek.com/ga-ex58-ud4p.html (Newegg appears to either not carry this anymore, or it is out of stock at the moment)

Memory - OCZ Platinum 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381 (Is 12 overkill?)

PSU - CORSAIR CMPSU-850HX 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011 (Will this PSU be sufficient should I want to run Crossfire down the road?)

Case - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

Thermal Paste - Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

CPU Cooler & Fan - Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185093 (Thoughts?)
Scythe SY124010L Fans
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185039

GPU - GIGABYTE GV-R587D5-1GD-B Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125299&cm_re=5870-_-14-125-299-_-Product (Should I wait for the "Hemlock" card that AMD is currently preparing for release?)

---------------------

$ 1,564

I don't think I've forgotten anything, but again; I'm new at this. Please let me know if I've missed anything. I've got some dollars built in for anything else I might need, or forgotten.

I've got those 2 WD Raptor's, and they're in perfect working order, but I'm not sure about the RAID configurations and all that jazz. Are these sufficient? I know it's not a lot of space, but I had just the 75 GB drive in my old system and I never maxed it out.

What are your thoughts on audio processing? Is the onboard chipset sufficient, or should I spend a little extra and get something nice? I do like my audio.

Well, I think that's it. Please feel free to rip it apart.

Thanks!

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197 $99.99 Free Shipping*
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Dimensions: 22.2" x 10" x 19.7"

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

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.250777 Combo Discount: -$20.00 Combo Price: $399.98 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/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.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.coolermaster-usa.com/landing/haf922/ <--- Cooler Master 922 HAF

ASRock X58 Extreme Reviews

http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/motherboards/1923_1.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cheap-x58-motherboard,2368-3.html

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mainboards/display/asrock-x58-extreme.html

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

 

[Twoboxer]

You've got near top of the line parts across the board. Should you need/want o save money, it is certainly possible without sacrificing any noticeable real-world performance. ($300 or so in memory and mobo, eg.)

12 GB of CL7 1600 is overkill in several ways lol. 6GB of 1333 CL8 would be OK. Yours will benchmark better, but you won't notice better gaming.

850W is plenty for future crossfire, and that specific Corsair is top of the line.

The raptors will work. However, you could improve overall system performance noticably by going for an Intel X25-M or OCZ Vertex SSD as your OS and primary gaming drive.

Article here: http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3531&p=31

Excerpt:

"While I wouldn’t recommend any of the JMicron based drives, with the Vertex I do believe we have a true value alternative to the X25-M. The Intel drive is still the best, but it comes at a high cost. The Vertex can give you a similar experience, definitely one superior to even the fastest hard drives, but at a lower price. And I’ll spare you the obligatory reference to the current state of the global economy. The Samsung SLC drives have come down in price but they don't seem to age as gracefully as the Intel or OCZ Vertex drives. If you want price/performance, the Vertex appears to be the best option and if you want all-out performance, snag the Intel drive. "

The cooler is fine.

The 5870 is the right top-of-the-line card to buy today. The 5850 would be more than excellent if you can wait two weeks or so.

On-board audio satsifies most of us quite well. Try it, you can always add an audio card later. I doubt you will unless you have some very specific audiophile requirements.

 

[tlitten]

Thanks for the quick responses guys, I appreciate it. I took a little advice from both of you and changed a few things around.

If you don't mind taking a look and telling me what you think I'd again appreciate it. The new build comes in just south of $2,000 so I'm pretty happy all-in-all.


Parts -

CPU - Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115202

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

Memory - OCZ XMP Ready Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3X1600LV6GK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227388

PSU - OCZ GameXStream OCZ850GXSSLI ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 850Watts Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB, CE, CSA, UL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341003 (I did some research on this PSU and the reviews were pretty favorable, and at a great price. Any other thoughts?)

Case - COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

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

CPU Cooler & Fan - Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185093
Scythe SY124010L Fans
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185039

GPU - I've decided to delay my system build until the new "Hemlock" (5870 x2) GPU's are out on the market. One of my main concerns is whether or not I'll have to get "creative" in my case to make this monster fit. Thoughts?

SSD - Intel X25-M SSDSA2MH080G1 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid state disk (SSD) - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167005

OS - Windows 7 Ultimate

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$1,972.54


Thanks again for all the advice, and let me know what you think of the new (improved?) build.

Oh, and I've already applied the combo deals in my shopping cart. I just didn't want to mess with finding the links and posting them that way. I figured it was easier this way for ya'll to see what I'm playing around with...

 

[Twoboxer]

I think you're going to be really pleased with this system.

Were it mine, I'd buy the single 5870 and avoid even single card 2-gpu issues. In the extremely unlikey event you need *more* graphics power in a year or so, I'd add a second, cheaper 5870 at that time.

 

[Evockzi]

All of those builds look pretty good, but If I could throw in 1 Recommendation:

Go for:

Coolermaster V8 CPU Heatsink/Cooler

 

[Why_Me]

All of those builds look pretty good, but If I could throw in 1 Recommendation:

Go for:

Coolermaster V8 CPU Heatsink/Cooler

No offense, but the CM V8 is an over priced, over weight piece of rubbish. I can think of three cpu coolers right now that weigh less, have of what that hunk of metal weighs, cost less and do just as good if not better job at keeping the cpu cool.