$1300+ Gaming i5 Build Questions!!

[bababablazin]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Friday

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, netflix, internet surfing, video posting

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse, keyboard, speakers, and i just bought an element G case, a flashy thermaltake 750w modular evo blue psu, and a MSI P55-GD65 LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - $146 on sale some days ago.

element G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133086&cm_re=element_g-_-11-133-086-_-Product

psu bought from amazon.com
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153110&cm_re=thermaltake_750w_psu-_-17-153-110-_-Product

msi mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130239&cm_re=msi_gd65-_-13-130-239-_-Product



PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg or ebay

PARTS PREFERENCES:

hdd:
Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB $50

ram:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277
OR
CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C7 - Retail $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145285&cm_re=corsair_4gb_1600-_-20-145-285-_-Product

which ram do i get? the budget, or the cas latency 7? im only going to be gaming a lot...

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail $200

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7
compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long
life sleeve CPU Cooler - Retail $30
/\ i heard this will fit in an element G case, but the instructions say not to have a heatsink over 6.38 inches tall...


SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail $300

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM $105

combo deal $385 for gpu and win7


OVERCLOCKING: Yes SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes, in about a year.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050, but buying the 24" asus 1920x1080 soon (within a few weeks)
MONITOR QUESTION: if i buy the 1920x1080, will i be able to change resolution in-game to 1680x1050 and have greater fps and crisper visuals in a game like crysis warhead? thanks.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: i am unsure about ram choices, and would 9 cas latency affect gaming compared to the 7 cas latency. i also chose the 500gb instead of 1tb to save 40 bucks since i like memory space management, and don't want to have 100 big games on the computer.

This will be my first build attempt and I am rather scared and nervous. If anyone knows of informational, up-to-date, assembly videos, possibly using the element G case, please let me know.

I am unsure how to test if the case fans work properly by only connecting them to the psu... is it possible to just connect the fans to the psu and test to make sure case/fans/leds are good for building the rest into? I'd rather not need to rma it after the build is finished.

thanks for your time!

 

[MadAdmiral]

RAM: CAS Latency is the most important spec. There's some Ripjaws that are 1600 mhz CL 7 for $115 on Newegg that would be perfect, especially with overclocking.

PSU: Can you return that PSU? It's really expensive and not that great. You really should stick to Corsair, OCZ, Antec Earthwatts, FSP or SeaSonic to ensure you get a quality unit. I believe the Corsair 750W is only $100.

Monitor: You can change the resolution in game, just like all the other settings. The recommended resolution is just as high as you'd want to go normally. As far as games being "crisper", that's going the other way. The higher the resolution, the more crisp and clear the game looks. Of course, that sacrifices FPS. The 5850 should be good for all games on high settings at 1900x, with the main exception of Crysis.

Cooler: The CM Hyper is under 5 inches. It'll be fine.