First Timer for Gaming PC

[cyc213]

I am going to build a gaming pc (currently playing Battlefield Bad Company 2) with Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit . I had purchased most of the parts online last week (no tax from tigerdirect with 15% bing, currently back to 8.5% or 10%).

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Here are the parts I already purchased: (These parts are on the way to me and I will get all of them by next Monday, but I am still open to change if there is better suggestion. Budget will be around $2000 [after tax] without the monitor. Thanks.)

Intel Core i7-930 2.8Ghz 8M LGA1366 CPU

Asus P6TD Deluxe Intel X58 Socket LGA1366 Motherboard
(I wanted to get the P6X58D with the USB 3.0 but tigerdirect doesn't have it available unless the bundle with i7-960 for $300 more at $879.99)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5519&CatId=1587
Bundle price $579.99, [$492.99 after bing]

Corsair Core i7 Dominator 6GB PC12800 DDR3 RAM
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4307847&CatId=4331
$229.99 - $20 rebate, [$175.49 AR and bing]

XFX HD-585A-ZNDC Radeon HD 5850 XXX Edition Video Card - 1GB GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0, CrossFireX Ready, Dual DVI, Display Port, HDMI
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5562974&CatId=3669
$324.99, [$276.24 after bing]

Corsair HX750W
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=4668506&sku=C13-2510&srkey=corsair%20hx750w
$159.99 - $10 rebate, [$125.99 after bing]

Sony Optiarc 24X DVDRW SATA OEM
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=O451-1012%20OEM
$24.99, [$21.24 after bing]

Cooler Master Hyper N520 CPU Cooler
$39.99, [$33.99 after bing]
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4434989&CatId=493

Antec Nine Hundred SE Silver Mid Tower ATX Computer Case
(Fry's had the regular nine hundred on sale last week for $89.99 - $20 rebate but I missed it)
http://www.frys.com/product/6075488;jsessionid=8f6MWHumGFFu4i-21eqKbQ**.node3?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
$129.99 + tax = $142.66

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For the hard drive, I still can't decide what to get.

Option 1:
Two Samsung Spinpoint F3 750Gb or 1TB for Raid0 ($219.98 for two 1TB at Fry's)

Option 2:
Intel X25-M 160gb about $340 (retail package on ebay after bing and $50 paypal bill later reward)
and
Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200BMP $109.99 at Fry's
or
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200BMP $99.99 at Fry's

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I would like to try overclocking when I have time to do some research. Crossfire might be considered later (should I get a bigger PSU to prepare for later upgrade?).

For the screen, I am currently using a dell 21" lcd. Will it provide a better gaming experience with dual monitors or a bigger better screen is better?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[MadAdmiral]

You should really have come here first. You should cancel that order, if possible. There's a lot of better parts available with chaper prices at Newegg. Here's a much better build for less:

CPU: i7-930 $295
Mobo: Asus P6X58D Premium $310. USB 3/SATA III board.
RAM: Corsair XMS3 3x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $175. Faster, cheaper sticks.
GPU: HD 5870 $420. The XXX version is not worth it. It's only a factory overclocked 5850, which you can do yourself with 3 clicks of the mouse. Either get a 5850 or step up the 5870. There is no middle gournd here.
Case: HAF 922 $90
Optical: Cheap SATA DVD burner $23
HSF: Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus $35. Cheaper and better.

Total: $1,348.

Then on the HDDs, you should definitely go with either the Spinpoint F3 or a Seagate 7200.12 1 TB. They're faster than the WD.

The 750W PSU is fine for Crossfiring either the 5850 or 5870. Dual monitors vs. single monitor is mostly preference as to which has a better gaming experience, but a single monitor will run at more FPS.

 

[cyc213]

Sorry sorry. I forgot to mention about the 15% cashback for the parts I got from tigerdirect. I will update my post.

For the motherboard, P6XD $254.99 vs P6X58D $309.99+tax=$340.21 (Newegg charge tax for California residents), should I return the P6XD to get the P6X58D for $85 more? what if the difference is about $55, worth to change?

Cooler Master Hyper N520 $33.99 vs Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus $29.99 + tax = $32.91 at Frys. Should I return it?

 

[cyc213]

Thanks for the advise for the hd. I will go with the Spinpoint F3. What about the SSD? Is it worth to get? or just save the money to upgrade the GPU?

 

[MadAdmiral]

You don't have to buy the parts from Newegg, but you should at least look them up at where ever you're buying from. The parts I listed would likely save you money anywhere and/or perform better. As for returning parts, if you can return them or cancel the order with no penalties, I would certainly do it.

The reason I like the P6X58D Premium is that it has USB 3/SATA III support and is very future proof. I would certainly get it over the P6TD.

The 212 is easily one of the best HSF around. I haven't heard the N520 on any of the lists.

I personally think SSDs are a little overpriced right now. For a gaming build, I would first get a 5970 before putting an SSD in the build.

 

[cyc213]

This is my build after returning some parts.

Intel Core i7 930 Processor
Asus P6X58D motherboard
XFX Radeon HD 5850 1GB
Corsair HX750W
Corsair Core i7 Dominator 6GB PC12800 DDR3 RAM (
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200RPM SATA
Cooler Master Hyper N520 CPU Cooler
Antec Nine Hundred SE Silver Mid Tower
Sony AD-7240S-0B Optiarc DVDRW Drive

It was working smoothly for a month and it started to freeze up during game (bad company 2). Usually about 30 min playing, the screen will freeze (mouse, keyboard locked up).

Is this overheat problem? I remember seeing some posts about this before but couldn't find it now.