New computer build

[verdexus_24]

Hey guys I picked up a I7 940 from work for 75bucks so I was thinking of building me a gaming rig. Items from my current computer that will go over is two intel 160gb SSD, two evga 260 graphic cards, 1000w corsair powersupply, coolmaster HAF 942 case and a corsair H50 cpu cooler. What would be a good choice for a motherboard and how much ram would be good? Don't want to spend more the 700 on board and ram. Don't know if I should go micro or full atx board and so this doesn't come up I DO NOT OVER CLOCK that not something I care about mainly for gaming.

 

[dark_lord69]

Well...
For $700 you could buy a pretty awesome motherboard and RAM to match.

FYI,
That's a lot to spend on a motherboard and RAM...

Anyways...
This motherboard is hardcore awesome-ness!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131642

This RAM is about as good as it gets! (You can buy RAM that clocks faster but not without overclocking and you said you don't do that) Buy 2 sets for 12GB!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227575

Total Price: $737
(I know it's $37 over you budget but hey, You've obviously got money to spare. I just built my computer and the whole thing is worth less than that.)

 

[Twoboxer]

Let's see . . . got a good deal on a 940, will not OC, willing to go SLI. Here's some suggestions:

Gigabyte ATX mobo ($210). Pefrectly servicable, recommended, and suitable for OCing as well. Since you have chosen your case (not a bad choice either) and are willing to SLI, there's no reason not to go with an ATX mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...87&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

GSkill 3x2GB DDR3 1600 CL8 memory, $150:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247

or, if you want to save $20 (and not notice the difference in speed in real world applications lol):

GSkill 3x2GB DDR3 1333 CL9 memory, $130:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231223

That's all you need, and answers the questions you asked.

[Edit: I missed that you already own the 260s. My Bad.]

However, I'd like to offer a suggestion if you are buying 2x260s at retail prices. Don't lol.

1xGigabyte GTX 460 (or buy 2 if you are gaming above 1920 screen resolution), 1GB, OC'd, ($230)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333

At stock, the performance of the 460 and 260 are roughly comparable:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-460-radeon-hd-5570-gaming,2697-7.html

One should suffice at 1920, buy the second if/when you need/want it. For a few bucks more you get DX11, much lower power consumption, and far less heat.

Have fun!

 

[jonpaul37]

If you are NOT overclocking and gaming is your main concern, do not spend too much on just the motherboard and RAM, Instead, focus on getting a better video card solution. My suggestion is as follows:

Motherboard/RAM combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.468290

Video Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127510


Total comes to $600.00 Flat, but the goal here is to add another GTX 460 as soon as you can, all you have to do is save $130.00 more or perhaps sell the two GTX 260's and you will have yourself one killer setup with SLI GTX 460's

 

[jonpaul37]

Twoboxer... beating me to the chase... Kudos man!

 

[Twoboxer]

LOL.

 

[jonpaul37]

I think that chart is wrong, the GTX 460 1GB version is similar to the GTX 285 in performance and beats it in alot of games... Not to mention DX11, tesselation, 3-monitor support in SLI mode, low temps, rediculous overclocking potential, etc...

These benchies will support my claims.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-460-review/1

 

[verdexus_24]

OK thanks for the input here's the mobo's I've looked at
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128422
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130289
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188065
This is the Ram I found
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145253

any of those good??? And with two of the gtx260's in SLI mode not that good for gaming?

 

[jonpaul37]

Two GTX 260's in SLI will be fine for gaming but two GTX 460's will be better.

no need in going overboard in spending $$$ on RAM or motherboard. The motherboard offers features over performance so the ASUSone you chose would be the best choice.

As far as RAM goes, you are just blowing $$$ spending $260.00, you will not see any real-world performance increase if you choose that RAM over what i suggested, only in RAM intensive programs/tasks would you see the benefit, but not in games.

 

[verdexus_24]

Cool I'm going with the asus board do I need more then 6 gigs of ram? I don't mind getting it if I don't have to worry about upgrading a year down the road.

 

[jonpaul37]

4GB is more than enough for gaming so 6GB is all you will need for some time. RAM is an essential part of a gaming rig but it is over rated and not as much as a contributing factor as a CPU or GPU or even an SSD is in some cases... Don't get me wrong, you don't want to get 3 GB of value RAM but 6GB of the G.Skill RAM i posted is more than enough. In my opinion, get the ASUS board, the G.Skill RAM and shoot for getting 2 x GTX 460's in SLI. That will be a killer setup that you will not have to worry about for some time... and then some...