Please Evaluate New Build, 920 Multi-Purpose 1.5-1.7k budget

[Foopa]

Hello and thanks for taking the time to look over my build. I'm a 1st time builder with experience tinkering / upgrading / repairing. Here's the cut and paste:

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 2-3 weeks, Mid March 2010

BUDGET RANGE: 1.5-1.7k Before Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Movies (stream, store DVD collection), Dev (VS 08, .NET)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, Have an LG-W2252TQ and may use TV, LG 47LH90

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg, tigerdirect but any reputable place that is cheap

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel CPU, AMD GPU, open on all else

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe - depends on stability and performance of my build at stock

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe - planning to xfire in the future, may go with 2 new cards and use this one for an HTPC

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680X1050 monitor 1920X1080 TV

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:If I OC it would be mildly. I would rather never liquid cool. I would prefer a good looking quiet case (CM Cosmos 1000, Antec p182) but the HAF 922 seems to be everyone's top choice (and is @100$ cheaper). Future upgrades, SSD, XFIRE, monitor, added drives dependent on how streaming over home network works out. I think I can get the 200$ Microcenter 920 deal, but counting at newegg price for now.

Preliminary Parts List:

Case: $110 HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP

Motherboard: $160 ASRock X58 Extreme X58 Extreme

Power Supply: $140 CORSAIR 750W CMPSU-750TX

CPU: $290 Intel Core i7-920 BX80601920

Video Card: $300 ASUS EAH5850 EAH5850/2DIS/1GD5

Hard Drive: $90 Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ

RAM: $180 CORSAIR XMS3 CMX6GX3M3A1600C9

Optical: $29 SAMSUNG SH-S223L (has lightscribe)

CPU Cooler: $30 COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 RR-B10-212P-G1

Keyboard: $40 Saitek PZ30AU

Mouse: $40 Logitech MX518

OS: $140 Win 7 Pro 64-bit FQC-00765

Total: $1549 - before rebates and shopping around

A few specific questions off the bat-
1. With only a minor OC and the HAF 922 do I need a CPU cooler? Would I need it if I go Cosmo 1000 or P182?
2. Should I go with a modular PS, again is case choice a large factor for this?
3. I am open to keyboard suggestions, I want something with backlighting, I don't really like the look of the Saitek but I read bad reviews on razor and the g15/g19 are over the top for me.


Thanks in advance for your time and advice.

 

[snakej]

the I7 920 comes with a stock cooler, but if you want to get more out of your 920 than yes you do need a good cooler like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608016
regardless what case you chose, but i would go with the Lian Li K-62
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112239
and here get this cobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.343362

then LGA 1366, its not to be mainstream, thats why you have LGA 1156, so get a better mobo than the asrock, like a gigabyte, here nice combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.324969

question:
1. case have little to with this, as long as the heat-sink is not taller than the case, i dont see an issue.
2. nothing to do with the case, if the PSU is modular it will just make it easier to tuck cables away, making a better airflow, but its NOT " large factor".
this is a good psu for the price http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010&cm_re=corsair_power_supply-_-17-139-010-_-Product

 

[MadAdmiral]

Here's a build that would be much better:

CPU: i7-920 $289
Mobo: Asus P6X58D Premium $310
RAM: G.Skill Pi Series 3x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $180
HDD: Spinpoint F3 1 TB $90
GPU/PSU: HD 5870 and Antec Eartwatts 750W $463
Case: HAF 922 $90 after rebate
HSF/Optical: Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus and cheap SATA DVD burner $40

Total: $1,452 ($1,672 w/ extras). The board is a much higher quality, and you get a more powerful GPU.

1. Agree
2. A modular unit doesn't matter because the cables are already out of the way with the bottom mounted case. You don't need to have them removed anymore.

 

[Foopa]

Thanks for the replies and advice, I was worried about my MB pick but it was highly rated in one of the stickied posts.

I'll update my build with

Mobo: Asus P6X58D Premium $310
RAM: G.Skill Pi Series 3x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $180

Also I think wait until mid-april to see if the fermi's affect the 5850-70 prices and to see if the 920's drop.. if not I'll go with a 930.

A couple other questions,

1. A newegg review on ths G.Skill ram mentions that it comes up so high with the heat spreaders that it can get in the way of some CPU Coolers. Would anyone know if I'll have that problem going with a HAF 922 and Hyper 212 cooler along with that ram?

2. Am I right in thinking that the HAF doesn't come with side and bottom fans and I have to buy these separately? Anything wrong with these:
200mm fan
140mm fan

Thanks again

 

[Foopa]

Best answer selected by Foopa.