APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: End of March - Beginning of April
BUDGET RANGE: $1500 - $2000 (not a hard cap)
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (Gaming, Movies, 3D Studio Max)
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg
PARTS PREFERENCES: i7
OVERCLOCKING: No
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I haven't built a system since around 2005 so I am not fully up on the current hardware. I have no experience overclocking which is why I prefer not to with this build. At the moment I am not going to do crossfire but I may in the future. I'm primarily building this so I can play Bad Company 2 with most everything maxed...but I would like to be able to play future high quality games for a few years without having to upgrade.
Here is my tentative parts list after doing some research...
CPU: Intel Core i7-930 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 $294.99
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58 $268.99
Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) TR3X6G1600C9 $189.99
Video Card: SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 5870 1GB 256-bit $479.99
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s $99.99
PSU: Antec 850W Continuous Power 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC $109.31
Case: Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower $159.99
CD/DVD: Sony Optiarc Black 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Burner $24.99
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
Total: ~$1628.24
My main concerns/questions:
- I spent forever trying to decide on the motherboard and after reading reviews and looking at specifications I think I'm going to go with the GA-EX58-UD5. Any advice or suggestions with this choice and how it relates to my CPU and Memory choices would be appreciated.
- I was considering going with 12GB of RAM (2 kits of 6GB) but I've read that there can be issues with getting it to work and detect all sticks properly. Is it even worth it or should 6GB be sufficient? I've never messed with RAM timings or anything like that so I'd rather avoid having to do that.
- Originally planning on one 5870 but I know that the new Nvidia 400 series are coming out March 26th and if this drives ATI to lower their prices or increase the availability of the 5970 I was thinking of going with two 5870s, or preferably one 5970. Any suggestions?
- Any recommendations for quality gaming monitors LCD 22" to 24" widescreen.
Any feedback is appreciated!
BUDGET RANGE: $1500 - $2000 (not a hard cap)
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (Gaming, Movies, 3D Studio Max)
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg
PARTS PREFERENCES: i7
OVERCLOCKING: No
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I haven't built a system since around 2005 so I am not fully up on the current hardware. I have no experience overclocking which is why I prefer not to with this build. At the moment I am not going to do crossfire but I may in the future. I'm primarily building this so I can play Bad Company 2 with most everything maxed...but I would like to be able to play future high quality games for a few years without having to upgrade.
Here is my tentative parts list after doing some research...
CPU: Intel Core i7-930 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 $294.99
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58 $268.99
Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) TR3X6G1600C9 $189.99
Video Card: SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 5870 1GB 256-bit $479.99
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s $99.99
PSU: Antec 850W Continuous Power 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC $109.31
Case: Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower $159.99
CD/DVD: Sony Optiarc Black 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Burner $24.99
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
Total: ~$1628.24
My main concerns/questions:
- I spent forever trying to decide on the motherboard and after reading reviews and looking at specifications I think I'm going to go with the GA-EX58-UD5. Any advice or suggestions with this choice and how it relates to my CPU and Memory choices would be appreciated.
- I was considering going with 12GB of RAM (2 kits of 6GB) but I've read that there can be issues with getting it to work and detect all sticks properly. Is it even worth it or should 6GB be sufficient? I've never messed with RAM timings or anything like that so I'd rather avoid having to do that.
- Originally planning on one 5870 but I know that the new Nvidia 400 series are coming out March 26th and if this drives ATI to lower their prices or increase the availability of the 5970 I was thinking of going with two 5870s, or preferably one 5970. Any suggestions?
- Any recommendations for quality gaming monitors LCD 22" to 24" widescreen.
Any feedback is appreciated!