$1500 Gaming System

[Vorge]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Before the end of March

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming-HTPC-Websurfing..Would like to get rid of the antique 13inch TV next to my monitor. So I'd like to play games/watch movies/Cable TV all on my monitor (if this is even possible?)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED:Need everything Speakers can be reused from old system would rather not though as they are 6yr old Altec Lansing ones that were pretty bad to begin with.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg/TigerDriect USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: My first computer I built about 6years ago is the one I currently use. It's on its last leg. I want something easily upgraded later on e.g.: AM3 AMD chipset if its going to be used for quite awhile x16 x16 PCIE MoBo so I can slap another GPU in it later down the road. Brands dont matter to me I just want it to run very well for a very long time. Currently I use Intel/ATI

OVERCLOCKING:Maybe- I dont mess with this much unless its easy and very stable SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes I plan on getting 1 very good GPU now and in a year or 2 when the matching one is cheap I'll slap another in it.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Best possible

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Would like it quiet but air cooled (water scares me as this is my 2nd build )


So far I've come up with (But I'm no pro)

Monitor = LG M237WD-PM 23" LCD Monitor with Built-in Digital TV Tuner - 1080p, 1920x1080, 20000:1 Dynamic, 5ms, 2x HDMI- http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4605334&CatId=4420

GPU = XFX HD-585A-ZNBC Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) 1GB Black Edition 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150454

CPU = AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

MoBo = MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130223

PSU = OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018

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

RAM = 2x for 8GB total...G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

HD = Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

CPU-Fan = ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019

Drives = Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

Will get Windows7 64bit Mouse/Keyboard , Thermal Paste. Does this set of items have everything I need? PSU/Mobo good enough that later down the line I can add a second ati 5850? Even further down the line do you think AMD will continue to use the AM3 chipset or is Intel the way to go? As it stands now I have all the items saved on newegg for about $1300 Monitor on TigerDirect about $240 which is about as high as I want to go. Any flaws or weaknesses in this build or any suggestions on any better parts? I'm aware I'll probably need a few case fans also.

 

[Silvune]

No, that PSU will not be able to take more than one 5850, as it only has enough connectors for one. 750W units tend to be the starting point for having enough connectors for more than one 5800 series card.
I really don't think that you will need more than 4GB of RAM for a long time, so I would suggest just getting the one set.
Everything else looks good to me.

 

[Vorge]

Awesome thanks for the advice

How about the monitor is it good/decent?

 

[Vorge]

Also do AMD and Intel MoBo's use the same RAM?

 

[Vorge]

After looking around more maybe

Ram = A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model AX3U1600GB2G9-AG - Retail - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409&cm_re=AM3_DDR3_Memory-_-20-211-409-_-Product

It looks to me Intel MoBo's ram runs at a lower voltage? AMD which I have listed so far runs higher. Is this a good brand?

Is there a huge difference in Intel i5 and i7 Processors over the AMD 965 I choose? Intel seem quite pricey.

 

[Vorge]

Ok now to look into a different PSU..

 

[Silvune]

Since Bloomfield Intel has specified that RAM should be at most 1.65V, which is a good thing really. I don't know what the voltage limit is on AMD systems, but obviously lower is better. Basically you can use almost any RAM in either system.
I don't know anything about A-Data, they're most likely decent.

I swear the selection/choice of RAM on Newegg has reduced dramatically this week, even last week there was a fantastic set of Corsair RAM, which is not there anymore. All in all I would go with that G.Skill you linked originally.
Don't know much about monitors, altho that one seems decent.

No, the difference between the i5 750 and AMD 965 is not significant in performance terms. The way I figure it you would have to spend $20 more on the CPU, $20 more at most for a mobo with dual x8 PCI-E slots, which at the moment isn't significant, but might be in the future. Lynnfield mobos tend not to have dual x16. Altho more of them seem to have USB 3/SATA 6Gbps which is the sort of thing you want if you want to future proof your system.

Apparently Silverstone do one of the best 750W PSUs at the moment, I don't know which one it is tho. Also Antec and Corsair are ones to look at.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Stable voltages are an absolute necessity in order to overclock. With twin GFX cards pulling the power necessary to drive them, a quality PSU is req'd. Two top Case / PSU options for twin GFX and overclocking:

HAF 932 w/ Corsair HX850 $340
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011

Antec 1200 w/ Antec CP-850 $244
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.335367

Cases are comparable, both PSU's get 10.0 performance ratings at jonnyguru.com but only the CP-850 makes the editor's choice list below

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_PSUs

HSF - I'd move up to something in the top 3-4 slots on any of these lists:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_Heatsinks
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm#INTELHEATSINK
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=371&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=15

And for the TIM, same deal with the top 3 or 4 here:

http://www.hwreviewlabs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64%3Amega-44-thermal-paste-round-up&catid=32%3Around-ups&Itemid=47&limitstart=3
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/thermal-interface-roundup_10.html#sect1
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=3