First build: Gaming/Entertainment system; $1,000-1,200 budget

Hello everyone, I decided to come back to the gaming world and instead of buying a PC I decided to give it a try and build my first system.


APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: as soon as possibleBUDGET RANGE: $1,000-1,200 (won't mind if it goes around $1,300) Any rebates if available but doesn't matter.
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Blu-Ray/DVD watching, Photoshop and other Adobe programs, Animation, Internet, e-mail.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Case, I have the COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.A

[b]PARTS PREFERENCES: I would like for the PC to be Intel based, HDD, I would like Western Digital.

OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080, if possible 24" ones.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I plan to have 2 monitors on these system (for multitasking) and I would like to know if its possible to have 2 HDD (one exclusively for music and videos storage) and the other one for the OS and gaming?

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This is what I have so far, feel free to make changes to fit my budget, since they exceed budget range:

Monitor: 2x ASUS VH242HL-P Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor w/height & swivel adjustment 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000 :1 Built in Speakers - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236066
Mainly choose this since they have the swivel option that I need for Dreamweaver when looking at code.

CPU and MOBO combo: Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail and Foxconn Inferno Katana LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.280660

External Drive: LG Black 8X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 5X DVD-RAM 6X BD-ROM 2MB Cache 8X Blu-ray Burner - Bulk Model WH08LS20K - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136175

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136283
Thinking of buying a 500gb one for music and videos alone

VGA: SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102858

As u can see this system goes beyond my budget and really need more suggestions on the rest of the parts since I have not decided yet.

Thank you

Why get a 860? An i5-750 is just as good for gaming, and much cheaper. A samsung spinpoint F3 HDD is faster and I believe cheaper as well.

Why on earth get two monitors and a 5770? Get a 5850, it's really needed for gaming, especially on dual monitors.

As often, your CPU is too powerful while your GPU is too weak. For gaming, it should be the opposite.

To get everything you want you may have to go to the $1,300.

Does that include OS and monitor?
If so take out $105 for OS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116754
And $220 for the monitor you selected
Balance for Box: $975

I can get you to $980 for a decent system:

CPU
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
Mobo
GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD3R LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Combo Deal - $400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.290293

Memory
Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT25664BA1339 – Retail $94
(See this review: http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,2462.html )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 5664BA1339

HSF
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler – Retail $25 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003
XIGMATEK ACK-I5361 Intel Core i7/Core i5 compatible Bracket Set – Retail $9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233038

Graphics Card
SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail - $180 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102858

PSU
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Retail - $50 AR Free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341016

Hard Drives
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148433

Optical Drives
LG Black 8X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 5X DVD-RAM 6X BD-ROM 2MB Cache 8X Blu-ray Burner - Bulk Model WH08LS20K - OEM - $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827129045
OKGEAR 18" SATA II Cable Model GC18AKM – Retail $2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6812123160

If you need to trim:
You could eliminate HSF and go with stock - saves $34
Get smaller graphics card
Get smaller PSU - the one selected should allow Crossfire - if sure you would never do this you can get a 500w version of the above - but only saves $15
HD - I gave you a 1 GB Seagate drive that is faster and gives your more space but is $10 more than your WD selection
Also I know you wanted a second drive - but will have to decided were to cut if you want it
Optical drive - will you really be burning many BluRay discs? If not go to a Blu-Ray reader only - maybe with DVD RW combo - and save about $50

One other thing to think about - you wanted 2 separate drives with OS and applications on one and music and videos. You can get at least some of the benefits of that by taking the one drive and making separate partitions so Windows will treat it just like 2 or more drives.

I used youir video card but agree you should try to get one with a little more power. However I disagree with the suggestion above to go to the i5-750 CPU since it lacks hyperthreading. Not a lot of games use it right now but I expect many more will start so it would be good to get now. However the THG recommendation in their review was also to go with the i5. I just think it is being a little short-sighted.

Good deal on this ram and HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

The ram is better than what is picked above

Nope.

Its Gskill, not a no name. No reason why it would not work.

Nope. Ati is best right now.

The 5850 is just fine or a 5770(less performance). They will work with the i7.
This PSU will crossfire either of those cards http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

No. You need dual channel ram which means 4gb or 8gb. I checked gskill website it says that ram I linked will work on that mobo.