Critique My $1300 Gaming PC Builds and Help Me Make a Decision!

[isuckatlyfe]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE:
Within the next few months.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:
Mainly high and low end gaming, browsing the internet, youtube, forums, movies, pretty basic. No video editing or anything.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED:
Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:
www.newegg.com

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
United States

PARTS PREFERENCES:
I only want to use Intel CPU, Nvidia Graphics card, and a mid to full tower steel or aluminum case with a see through side panel.

OVERCLOCKING:
Maybe in the future

SLI OR CROSSFIRE:
Maybe in the future

MONITOR RESOLUTION:
Not needed

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
The case needs to have at least 3 120mm fans and have a see through window. Case also needs to be flashy/fancy looking. Preferably blue. I'd like a fan on top of the case due to paranoia. My budget is preferably under $1500. I also need to buy all the parts separately and build it myself. I like to get items that have good reviews.

Here's one of my builds from ecollegepc.com. I want a high end gaming pc that will last me a few years and that can be upgraded. So should I swap out or change anything?

2.66Ghz Intel Core i7-920 8MB Cache Quad-Core
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 92mm CPU Fan/Heatsink
ASUS P6T (Intel X58, 3xPCI-E, 8-Ch Audio, LAN, 8xSATA2, 6xDDR3, 1394)
6GB (2GBx3) OCZ PC3 12800 DDR3 1600Mhz Memory Lifetime Warranty
500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA300 (Hitachi)
22X LG SATA Dual Layer DVD+/-RW/CDRW w/Nero
1GB GeForce GTS 250 GDDR3 PCI-E Dual-DVI (Major Brand)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Raidmax Black Enzo (5 5.25, 5 3.5 bays) 4 Fans, Window, Front Audio/USB/1394
650watt Corsair CMPSU-650TX
Onboard LAN included
Onboard Sound included
Internal All in 1 Card Reader
Extra 120mm Case Fan
Standard 1 year parts and labor

$1,352.00


Here's my newegg build (I'll be building this one myself). Anything I should change or consider? Will this be a great gaming pc?

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #:Nine Hundred
Item #:N82E16811129021
$139.99 -$40.00 Instant

ASUS P6X58D Premium LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #6X58D Premium
Item #:N82E16813131614
$309.99

EVGA 01G-P3-N981-TR GeForce 9800 GT 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - Retail
Model #:01G-P3-N981-TR
Item #:N82E16814130440
$139.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
Model #:CMPSU-750TX
Item #:N82E16817139006
$139.99 -$20.00 Instant

Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Model #:BX80601920
Item #:N82E16819115202
$288.99

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D - Retail
Model #:TR3X6G1600C8D
Item #:N82E16820145224
$239.99 -$10.00 Instant

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Model #:WD5001AALS
Item #:N82E16822136320
$69.99

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Model #RW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS
Item #:N82E16827135204
$26.99


ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 92mm Fluid Dynamic CPU Cooler - Retail
Model #:Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2
Item #:N82E16835186134
$39.98

Subtotal: $1,325.90

Thank you to those who reply.
I'm so obsessive compulsive about buying pc's.

 

[abswindows7]

for gaming simply sawp the i7/p6t/6gb to an i5/p7p55d/4gb and upgrade your graphic card to a 5850 That's what I got and all you want to do with your computer is what I do Believe me, a gts 250 isn't good at all

 

[HansVonOhain]

I would point out that your graphics card is not the best. abswindows7 says the right way, go with a cheaper platform that performs just as well in games, the money saved could go into GPU, which is where gaming is at.

 

[isuckatlyfe]

for gaming simply sawp the i7/p6t/6gb to an i5/p7p55d/4gb and upgrade your graphic card to a 5850 That's what I got and all you want to do with your computer is what I do Believe me, a gts 250 isn't good at all

I would point out that your graphics card is not the best. abswindows7 says the right way, go with a cheaper platform that performs just as well in games, the money saved could go into GPU, which is where gaming is at.

So I should should forget the i7, get the i5, and use whats left to buy a great gpu? Sounds good to me. But what I'm concerned about is that if i do that, will i be able to upgrade the pc within the next couple of years? I'm really broke and won't be able to buy another pc for at least 2-4 years. It's been real hard coming up with what money I already have.

 

[lothdk]

So I should should forget the i7, get the i5, and use whats left to buy a great gpu? Sounds good to me. But what I'm concerned about is that if i do that, will i be able to upgrade the pc within the next couple of years? I'm really broke and won't be able to buy another pc for at least 2-4 years. It's been real hard coming up with what money I already have.

Besides having at least a dual core CPU the most important part of a gaming PC is the GPU, which you would have no problem upgrading as time goes by.

For a gaming PC I too would say an i5 750 is the way to go if you have the budget, for a little less an AMD Phenom II x4 955 would be almost as good.

At what resolution will you be playing games?

 

[zalittle]

There are a few changes that will improve your performance and not raise your prices.
This is my new build for same cost and better performance. Even though I decided not to go with the I7.

Intel Core i5-750 194.99
MSI P55-GD85 LGA 1156 229.99
SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 309.99
CORSAIR XMS3 4GB 1600 124.99
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 99.99
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus 29.99
SILVERSTONE ST75F-P 750W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular 129.99
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 104.99
LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner 26.99
COOLER MASTER CM690 II Advanced Black Steel body 99.99

Total cost at newegg.com before taxes and shipping. 1351.90

Also cooler master is coming out with a clear view side for that case this month.

 

[bhagat666]

ur absolutely wastin money if u buy an i7 for gaming go fr a phenom 955

 

[JackNaylorPE]

MONITOR RESOLUTION:
Not needed.

W/o knowing this, we can't recommend GFX subsystem

case PSU - Antec 900 w/ EA-650 $180 ... you just saved $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129064

RAM - $220 for CAS 8 ... ouch

For only $10-30 more could have CAS 6
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226121
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226050

CAS 7 at $177
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226104

Hard Drives - Check out the performance charts and pick whatever 500 GB per platter drive performs best under your usage patterns. The WD Black 2 TB is a good choice but at smaller capacities, you are limited to the Seagate 7200.12 or the Spinpoint F3. The 7200.12 excels in gaming, multimedia and pictures whereas the F3 wins at music and movie maker. See the comparisons here (copy past link in manually, link won't work in forum):

(http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009-3.5-desktop-hard-drive-charts/compare,1006.html?prod[2371]=on&prod[2770]=on)

HS - On a budget I'd go with the Xigmatek S1283....otherwise Prolimatech Megahalems and IC Diamond 7 karat for the TIM

Pick from the top 3 here:
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

pick a TIM from the top few 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

GFX - Again, can't steer ya here w/o knowing resolution. At HD resolutions (1920 x something) on DX11, $300 (5850) should cover most DX11 games released in the next year, $400 (5970) should get you up thru Xmas 2011 with only 1 or 2 games struggling.

Since we do have a couple of DX11 titles that don't really show any tangible benefit from DX11 (i.e. Dirt 2) while taking a "colossal performance hit" according to the THG review, if budget is an issue, another option is to spend $99 (GTS 250) which will keep you happy in DX10 gaming for 6 - 12 months at which time there should be more than a 2 or 3 games that benefit from Dx11 on the market. At that point you can either keep the 250 or sell it off to someone who wants to use it as a dedicated PhysX card.