Gaming rig, 1200-1800$

[Barbu]

Hey there ! I'm looking for some advices regarding my new gaming build. There is the template proposed in the "How to ask for new build advice":

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Largely depends of availability and prices
BUDGET RANGE: 1200-1800 $ Can

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming,Internet,movies, everything else

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, OS.
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg? NCIX? Depends mostly on shipping costs and rebates
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada

PARTS PREFERENCES: That works!
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1440x900

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I'm thinking about overclocking since I've head it's way less dangerous than before and also, I will switch to a HD monitor one of these days so I want a GPU that has HD-out. Don't want something that sounds like a 747 taking off.


And this is what I'm thinking about:

CPU: i7 930
MOBO: ?
GPU: 2x5770?, 1x5850?, GTX275?
HDD: 1T
RAM: Probably 8 GIGs
PSU: 650W? 850W? Corsair?
CASE: CM 690?
MOUSE: ?
KEYBOARD: ?

As you can see, I'm still undecided about much of what's going into it. Feel free to propose alternatives!

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You really don't need an i7 930 for a gaming system, but I'll post a build with it anyway. You would probably be better off saving your money and getting an i5 750 based system since you won't be able to tell the difference between the two in gaming.

Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.381171 $504.98 (CPU + motherboard combo)

G.SKILL PI Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7T-6GBPI
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335&Tpk=g.skill%20ddr3%201600%206gb%20cas%207 $189.99

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&cm_re=hyper_212%2b-_-35-103-065-_-Product $29.99

XFX HD-587X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150476&cm_re=5870-_-14-150-476-_-Product $409.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=samsung%20f3 $89.99

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137&cm_re=cooler_master_690-_-11-119-137-_-Product $79.99

Antec TruePower New TP-750 750W 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371025&cm_re=antec_750-_-17-371-025-_-Product $119.99

SAMSUNG 24X SATA DVD burner
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151216&Tpk=samsung%2024x%20sata $29.99

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754&cm_re=windows_7_home_64_oem-_-32-116-754-_-Product $108.99

Total - $1,563.90

 

[dfield]

You should strongly consider upgrading your monitor. If you are going to put in $1200+, then your computer will be extremely overpowered in terms of graphics. Consider dropping the i7-930 for a i5-750 and getting a new monitor instead.

 

[Barbu]

@shortstuff_mt: Well, I was looking for a CPU that could give me performance for the years to come so I went for the i7 930. Also, I edited my post, I forgot to say I don't need a OS.

@dfield: I will upgrade it in the near future, I'm looking for the computer first, but feel free to point me toward a nice monitor model if you want!

So, you're saying my i7 930 isn't really worth it? even if I'm buying it at a long-term approach? I though the i5-750 was a bit too underpowered to invest in it.

Also, should I see a major performance difference between 6GB and 8GB or RAM?

Sorry for all the questions!

 

[shortstuff_mt]

No, you will see absolutely no difference between 6GB and 8GB of RAM for gaming. In fact, 8GB is not a good idea for an LGA 1366 system since they have triple-channel RAM controllers.

There's nothing "underpowered" about the i5 750 when it comes to gaming. If you check the gaming benchmarks on any respected tech site you'll see that it performs nearly identically to the i3 930 when gaming. Here's one example:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2832/16

That one is using the 920 since the 930 hadn't been released yet, but it gives you a good idea of how they compare.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

ASUS P6X58D-E w/ i7-930 $520
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.378938

Antec 1200 w/ CP-850 $230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.359977

RAM - Low Profile (avoid modules w/ tall finned heat sinks) DDR3-1600 CAS 7 $200 orRAM from THG sample builds
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145286
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-core-i7,2582-4.html

HD - Check out the performance charts and pick whatever 500 GB per platter drive performs best under your usage patterns. The 2 TB WD Black and XT from Seagate are good choice but at smaller capacities, you are limited to the Seagate 7200.12 or the Spinpoint F3. The 7200.12 excels in gaming, multimedia and pictures whereas the F3 wins at music and movie maker. See the comparisons here (copy past link in manually, link won't work in forum):
(http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009-3.5-desktop-hard-drive-charts/compare,1006.html?prod[2371]=on&prod[2770]=on)

Look at the tests that reflect your usage and choose accordingly.

GFX Card:

$350 Asus ENGTX470/2DI/1280MD5 GTX 470 (Fermi) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121372
.....or
$320 ASUS EAH5850 DIRECTCU/2DIS/1GD5 HD 5850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121375

Any $25 optical Drive:

$50 for moderate to $100 for best air CPU cooling...
Pick from top 3 or 4 on these lists:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_Heatsinks
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm#INTELHEATSINK
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=432&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=23
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=492&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=4

pick a TIM from the top few here:
http://www.hwreviewlabs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64%3Amega-44-thermal-paste-round-up&catid=32%3Around-ups&Itemid=47&limitstart=3
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/thermal-interface-roundup_10.html#sect1
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=3

MS Windows OEM Pro $140 only cause anytime upgrade cost is silly.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758

Total about $1600

Alternate 1156 system (saves about $270)

$155 ASUS P7P55D-E LGA 1156 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131620
$200 Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215
$105 OCZ 2 x 2GB DDR3-1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227297

 

[IamAlwaysRight]

ASUS P6X58D-E w/ i7-930 $520
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.378938

Antec 1200 w/ CP-850 $230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.359977

RAM - Low Profile (avoid modules w/ tall finned heat sinks) DDR3-1600 CAS 7 $200 orRAM from THG sample builds
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145286
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-core-i7,2582-4.html

HD - Check out the performance charts and pick whatever 500 GB per platter drive performs best under your usage patterns. The 2 TB WD Black and XT from Seagate are good choice but at smaller capacities, you are limited to the Seagate 7200.12 or the Spinpoint F3. The 7200.12 excels in gaming, multimedia and pictures whereas the F3 wins at music and movie maker. See the comparisons here (copy past link in manually, link won't work in forum):
(http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009-3.5-desktop-hard-drive-charts/compare,1006.html?prod[2371]=on&prod[2770]=on)

Look at the tests that reflect your usage and choose accordingly.

GFX Card:

$350 Asus ENGTX470/2DI/1280MD5 GTX 470 (Fermi) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121372
.....or
$320 ASUS EAH5850 DIRECTCU/2DIS/1GD5 HD 5850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121375

Any $25 optical Drive:

$50 for moderate to $100 for best air CPU cooling...
Pick from top 3 or 4 on these lists:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_Heatsinks
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm#INTELHEATSINK
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=432&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=23
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=492&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=4

pick a TIM from the top few here:
http://www.hwreviewlabs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64%3Amega-44-thermal-paste-round-up&catid=32%3Around-ups&Itemid=47&limitstart=3
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/thermal-interface-roundup_10.html#sect1
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=3

MS Windows OEM Pro $140 only cause anytime upgrade cost is silly.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758

Total about $1600

Alternate 1156 system (saves about $270)

$155 ASUS P7P55D-E LGA 1156 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131620
$200 Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215
$105 OCZ 2 x 2GB DDR3-1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227297

Sorry for the noob question but I thought you couldn't buy from USA newegg if you were from Canada. Do we Canadians have to buy from newegg.ca?