Cheap Gaming rig, need feedback

[knuppel]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: (Within a week or two.)

BUDGET RANGE: (600-900) Before Rebates (I've been told they never work)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (Gaming > * )

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: (keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, hard drive)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: (newegg.com, but willing to discover new sites)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: (USA, CT)

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type (So far it looks like amd is going to give me close to what I want for cheap, but if someone already has a cheap intel build in mind I am willing to take a look)

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe, this would require me to find a good HS
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Not to start off with, maybe in the future

MONITOR RESOLUTION: (1280x1024 currently, maybe a bit higher in the future)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: (looking for recommendations on RAM and MOBO, in ways of stability, overclocking ability, and features. I also want to eventually get Windows 7 64bit (currently using XP32). Looking for comments on heatsinks and how to figure out if they will fit in my currently selected case.


Parts I am fairly certain on:

CASE:
Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043
$159.99

PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
$109.99

CPU:
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674
$323.99 (cpu and mobo combo)

GPU:
260GTX from a friend.
$ 0.00



Parts I want more feedback on:

RAM:
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193
$85.99

MOBO:
GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.272110
$323.99 (cpu and mobo combo)


Final price including shipping for current parts: $688.46

 

[hunter315]

If you are going to be getting an nVidia card there is no point in getting a 790FX board, you are paying extra for features you cant use like 16x/16x crossfire. Drop down to a 785g board or a 770 board, or switch to an i5 setup
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.276276
that will give you the option of SLI down the line and only costs $6 more

Swap the case and PSU for this, it comes with a good 750 watt PSU, and the TP-750 blue is modular
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129063

 

[knuppel]

I am a bit worried about the fact that people were having trouble with the PSU during shipping because it comes preinstalled in the case and the reviews that said the cables are pretty short. Do you have any 785g/770 motherboards and 750 watt modular PSU's in mind?

 

[OvrClkr]

The Antec 1200 that includes the PSU is a great buy, i dont believe the reviews that state that the cables are too short... If you take your time with the cable-management and route the cables correctly they should reach fine.....

Here is an option if you decide to go SLI in the future.....

MSI NF980-G65 AM3 NVIDIA nForce 980a SLI HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130236

Personally i would go with the P55 if you are only going to use one GPU, if not then go AMD.

The 790GPT is also a great board....

GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128398

and a great PSU if you decide to purchase the case alone......

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=TX%20750

 

[knuppel]

ok, i have been convinced, I am switching to that PSU and case combo and I am going to create an I5 build. I'm assuming you both recommend the i5-750 for me, but what do you think about motherboards and RAM keeping in mind that I want a stable overclock?

 

[OvrClkr]

Do you have a budget or is it all-you-can-buy? =)

 

[knuppel]

Well I would like to keep it pretty cheap and close in price to AMD build. the amd build had a ~$200 mobo and ~$90 RAM. I would like a motherboard that has good stability and features for overclocking and RAM that could handle the overclocking. I understand if the RAM for an i5 build is more expensive because it is triple channel and higher speeds or something.

 

[OvrClkr]

Mobo :

ASUS P7P55D LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131404

or

ASRock P55 Deluxe LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157169

and

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

 

[knuppel]

if I buy two more gigs of that RAM does it become triple channel or is that not the way it works?

 

[OvrClkr]

LGA 1156 does not support triple channel, but that does not matter cause 4GB of DDR3 1600 is more than enough for gaming.

You can always add another 2 sticks for a total of 8GB if needed later on.

 

[knuppel]

I'm confused. It seems like the memory on the QVL list is triple channel. Is that RAM you linked me sure to work on that mobo? If so I will just go with it.

http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=RBA8CzWoopUlYRFZ&templete=2

 

[OvrClkr]

It works, it's on the list (PDF)... The mobo supports G.Skills 2200/1600/1333/1066 DDR3 ....

These also work fine on that board :

CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260