New gaming rig w/monitor

[georgewchubby]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: In a month or two

BUDGET RANGE: $ 2000-2200 (computer only)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, surfing, HD movies, school

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Mouse

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Anything within the EU. UK and Danish sites preferred.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Denmark

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920 x 1200

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I've been out of the world for two years, and I need myself a new computer. I like the Crysis games and would like to be able to play these at a reasonable setting (I realise that playing at the highest setting would require a very power machine), and I also want to be able to play Crysis 2 when it's released.

My plan is to get the i7-930 because I would then be able to upgrade to the new six-core processors at a later point. I don't mind getting the i7-860 instead if this would be smarter.

These are the parts which I'm thinking of getting:

Intel Core i7-930 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 Quad-Core Desktop Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225&cm_re=i7-930-_-19-115-225-_-Product

Mobo: No idea

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043&Tpk=antec%20twelve%20hundred

CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010&cm_re=corsair_750w-_-17-139-010-_-Product

Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST31000340NS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148278&cm_re=hard_drives_internal-_-22-148-278-_-Product

Ram: 6 GB whatever brand

LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner - Bulk LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136168

GPU: No idea

Cooling: No idea, but very good.

These items are not part of the $2200 budget

Monitor: No idea. 24 inch preferred, black "case"

Speakers: Logitech Z-5500


At a later time I want to get another 1TB drive or two, and also a SSD. Maybe also another GPU and definitely another monitor.

Thanks for any help given!

 

[georgewchubby]

So I've spent some time looking through other threads here and I've had a look at what I can get here in Denmark and this is my current plan.

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R
Intel Core i7 930
Antec Twelve Hundred
LG GH22NS50 Super Multi Black
Samsung 1000 GB SpinPoint F3
Scythe Mugen 2 CPU Cooler
Corsair 3x2GB DDR3 Dominator GT
Corsair CMPSU-750TXEU
XFX Radeon HD5870

How can I improve this?

 

[Demandred]

looks pretty good

Good choice of board and CPU - some say that the i7 920 is one of the best value for money chips in regards to OC ability so that couold be an option and save you a little in money.

Good HDD's but I also like the look of the WD HDD's (They are 7200rpm, 64MB cache and also 6GBS sata speeds which that motherboard you suggested supports). Short of going to a SSD or a 10,000 rpm raptor this could be a better option
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148506

depending on the budget you may like to consider a SSD for your OS and then a HDD for the rest.

Good card for the money

 

[4trees]

If you are open to the idea of overclocking you could get the i7 920 for less and overclock to the same speed as the 930's overclock potential, would save a little cash depending on availability. If not overclocking then disregard (however if not overclocking you could probably skip the Scythe mugen 2 in that case as well and go with stock cooling).

You should consider a solid state hard drive, with capacity of 60-100gb or so (spending $150-250). That would greatly improve boot up time and gaming.

You could also pick up some different (cheaper) ram instead of the dominator. The dominator was really popular when ram was cheap but now that its gone up in price you will find the performance difference might not be worth it. Most ram that is 1600mhz is going to be adequate assuming the latency is about the same 7-8 or so. Spending $170-200 is enough for 6gb ram imo. Ive got these and im very happy with them http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227501 but alternatives are out there.

You could also pick up another spinpoint f3 and run Raid 0 to improve performance as well.

Other than that what youve picked looks good, the psu, case, gpu, etc.

Nice build.


Unless you are open to spend $1000 for the upgrade to the 6 core Gulftown you won't find an upgrade path in the 1366 socket likely. So keep that in mind. Even though the x58 motherboards are touting "6 core ready" technology they arent saying the mainstream 6 core chips are likely to be on another socket type. Im assuming this but it seems to be the assumption from the articles ive read.

 

[georgewchubby]

looks pretty good

Good choice of board and CPU - some say that the i7 920 is one of the best value for money chips in regards to OC ability so that couold be an option and save you a little in money.

Good HDD's but I also like the look of the WD HDD's (They are 7200rpm, 64MB cache and also 6GBS sata speeds which that motherboard you suggested supports). Short of going to a SSD or a 10,000 rpm raptor this could be a better option
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148506

depending on the budget you may like to consider a SSD for your OS and then a HDD for the rest.

Good card for the money

With a $20 difference in price between the 920 and the 930, you can see why I'm going with the 930

The reason I'm going with the Samsung F3 is because of the 500gb platters. I'm still looking into exactly which drive I'll get but I definitely want the 500gb platters.

I'll be getting an SSD later, but right now I don't quite have the money.

If you are open to the idea of overclocking you could get the i7 920 for less and overclock to the same speed as the 930's overclock potential, would save a little cash depending on availability. If not overclocking then disregard (however if not overclocking you could probably skip the Scythe mugen 2 in that case as well and go with stock cooling).

You should consider a solid state hard drive, with capacity of 60-100gb or so (spending $150-250). That would greatly improve boot up time and gaming.

You could also pick up some different (cheaper) ram instead of the dominator. The dominator was really popular when ram was cheap but now that its gone up in price you will find the performance difference might not be worth it. Most ram that is 1600mhz is going to be adequate assuming the latency is about the same 7-8 or so. Spending $170-200 is enough for 6gb ram imo. Ive got these and im very happy with them http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227501 but alternatives are out there.

You could also pick up another spinpoint f3 and run Raid 0 to improve performance as well.

Other than that what youve picked looks good, the psu, case, gpu, etc.

Nice build.


Unless you are open to spend $1000 for the upgrade to the 6 core Gulftown you won't find an upgrade path in the 1366 socket likely. So keep that in mind. Even though the x58 motherboards are touting "6 core ready" technology they arent saying the mainstream 6 core chips are likely to be on another socket type. Im assuming this but it seems to be the assumption from the articles ive read.

Thanks for the info on the RAM, I'll look into that. From what I've been reading the Mushkin RAM is pretty good. They don't seem to sell it here, but I might be able to have a friend send some over from the US.

Will running Raid 0 make that much of a difference? I ask because I remember reading recently, that unless I'm doing some specific jobs (like number-crunching) I won't see any improvement.