~$2000 X58 Gaming and 3D Modeling Build

[nmdehaan]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 1 week BUDGET RANGE: $1500-2500 After Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, light photoshop work, Folding@Home

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: i7-920, ATI 5870, dual monitors and a 1366 mobo with SATA 6GB/S and USB 3.0

OVERCLOCKING: Yes SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Definitely in the future, but not for this build (to stay in budget)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 or higher

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This is my first build ever! I would like to build a system that allows me to slowly replace components as they become obsolete. I would like to make small changes instead of a complete rebuild for the next 3 or 4 years. Future proofing is impossible, but future guessing is fun

Here is what I have so far. Please let me know if you notice any bottlenecks, incompatibilities, or money saving opportunities. Also, do I need to be concerned about everything fitting in my full tower case? I also found a deal on my case (newegg) that includes a 1200W power supply that is silver rated for only 50 dollars more than what I am paying for my current case/power supply combo. I know that I will probably never use the full 1200W but is the potential for expanding beyond 750 watts in the next 4 years great enough to justify the extra 50 dollars now? (obviously a personal opinion but I am interested in hearing yours.)

Processor
i7-920 288.99

Motherboard
ASUS P6X58D Premium 309.99

GPU
DIAMOND 5870PE51G Radeon HD 5870 389.99

Memory
Crucial 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 PC3 10600 179.99

Hard drives
Intel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2M080G2XXX 2.5" 80GB 219.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB SATA 6.0 119.99

Power Supply
CORSAIR CMPSU-850HX 850W 189.99

Optical Drive
SAMSUNG Black 22X w/ lightscribe 25.99

Case
Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower 159.99

Fans
APEVIA CF12SL-UBL 120mm Blue LED Case Fan (2) 14.94

CPU Cooler
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev B. Intel CPU Heatsink (frozencpu.com) 64.99

Thermal Compound
Artic Silver 5 3.5 g 9.99

Monitors
LG W2361VG-PF 23-inch LCD HD 1080p Monitor (2) (overstock) 320.04

Keyboard
LITE-ON SK-1688A/B Black 6.99

Total 2301.86

 

[babachoo]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 1 week BUDGET RANGE: $1500-2500 After Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, light photoshop work, Folding@Home

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: i7-920, ATI 5870, dual monitors and a 1366 mobo with SATA 6GB/S and USB 3.0

OVERCLOCKING: Yes SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Definitely in the future, but not for this build (to stay in budget)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 or higher

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This is my first build ever! I would like to build a system that allows me to slowly replace components as they become obsolete. I would like to make small changes instead of a complete rebuild for the next 3 or 4 years. Future proofing is impossible, but future guessing is fun

Here is what I have so far. Please let me know if you notice any bottlenecks, incompatibilities, or money saving opportunities. Also, do I need to be concerned about everything fitting in my full tower case? I also found a deal on my case (newegg) that includes a 1200W power supply that is silver rated for only 50 dollars more than what I am paying for my current case/power supply combo. I know that I will probably never use the full 1200W but is the potential for expanding beyond 750 watts in the next 4 years great enough to justify the extra 50 dollars now? (obviously a personal opinion but I am interested in hearing yours.)

Processor
i7-920 288.99

Motherboard
ASUS P6X58D Premium 309.99

GPU
DIAMOND 5870PE51G Radeon HD 5870 389.99

Memory
Crucial 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 PC3 10600 179.99

Hard drives
Intel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2M080G2XXX 2.5" 80GB 219.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB SATA 6.0 119.99

Power Supply
CORSAIR CMPSU-850HX 850W 189.99

Optical Drive
SAMSUNG Black 22X w/ lightscribe 25.99

Case
Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower 159.99

Fans
APEVIA CF12SL-UBL 120mm Blue LED Case Fan (2) 14.94

CPU Cooler
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev B. Intel CPU Heatsink (frozencpu.com) 64.99

Thermal Compound
Artic Silver 5 3.5 g 9.99

Monitors
LG W2361VG-PF 23-inch LCD HD 1080p Monitor (2) (overstock) 320.04

Keyboard
LITE-ON SK-1688A/B Black 6.99

Total 2301.86

#1 - Get the XFX 5870, for the unmatched warranty.

#2 - Save your money and don't buy a SSD until you can get a decent sized (500GB) drive for $200, it won't be long, maybe 8 months. Don't get a Caviar Black either. Go with Samsung Spinpoint F3 (1TB with 32MB cache outperforms pretty much all other non-SSD drives and is cheap ~$89 or so)

#3 - RAM - Consider getting the OCZ Gold low voltage PC12800 for around $150ish

#4 - Case - 1200 is a decent choice, but if you can find a HAF 922 for less than $100, go with that. It's pretty much full tower size and is an amazing case.

#5 - PSU - Save some money and get a non-modular 850TX instead. If you think you need modular for cable management, think again. My wiring job was widely hailed as the best many users have seen, and it was done with a HAF 922 and a 850TX, and it was my first attempt at cable management.

#6 - Cooler - Save yet more money by getting the $30 Cooler Master Hyper 212+. It outperforms many of the V12 designs and peltiers out there.

#7 - I might be hesitant buying anything refurbed, so look around for monitors and see if you can find a deal on a pair (even if it's from a different site) that are not refurbed and not a huge price increase. But that's just my personal opinion. I've never had the guts to get any refurbed PC components, so I can't report any experience either way. It just doesn't sit well with me.

#8 - For $30 or so, you could get a wireless keyboard/mouse combo like a Logitech Wireless Desktop. Yes, you really should also have a few rechargable batteries and charger to go with it, but those aren't too expensive ($15 or so). You might be surprised the difference it makes having a slightly better kb/mouse combo.

Take it with a grain of salt, but that's what I would change.