Critique My new i7 Gaming Rig

[strife025]

Pretty much went from just wanting to upgrade my video card to building a whole new system today... wasn't planning on doing that for 1-2 more years.

Linked it all up on Newegg for tracking and comparison ease, but won't be buying it all from there, especially with damn CA tax.

CPU: i7-930 ($199.99 + 8.25% = $216.49 Microcenter)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225
Mobo: Gigabyte UD3R ($209 +2% Cashback -8.25% Tax = $222.76 Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423
Memory: Corsair 6GB DDR3-1600 Triple Channel ($239 +10% CB no tax = $215.99 Tigerdirect)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224
GPU: XFX HD5870 1GB ($409.99 +10%CB no tax = $368.99 Tigerdirect) or Visiontek for $5 more? (leaning towards Visiontek now)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150476
SSD: Intel X-25M G2 ($224.99 +10%CB no tax = $202.49 Tigerdirect)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167023
2nd HD: Seagate 7200.12 500GB ($49.99 +10% CB = $44.99 Tigerdirect)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395
Heatsink: Noctua NH-D14 ($89.99 + 10% CB = $80.99 Tigerdirect)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018
DVD/CD Drive: Asus 24x DVD/RW ($24.99 + tax and 2% CB = $26.51)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
PSU: Antec 750W semi-modular ($109.99 + tax and 2% CB = $116.68)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371026
Case: Coolmaster HAF 932 ($139.99 + tax and 2% CB = $148.51)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

Total: $1,644.40 after tax and cash back. Hopefully minimal extra costs for shipping.

Any suggestions or cheaper comparable parts that don't dip in quality, or anything that could have issues together?

I know there is an issue with the size of the NH-D14 and my ram for instance, but I'm hoping since it's using only 3 slots that I won't have to remove the corsair ram heatsinks? I've heard that people running 6 sticks only had to take off the heatsink of the 6th stick. PSU and Case go together fine?

I'll be keeping my current main intact and using it as a 2ndary comp, and selling off my current 2ndary comp.

One I'll be selling is an e6400, 2 gigs of ddr2, 250gb seagate HD, 4850, Gigabyte mobo that was $100 (not sure on model off the top of my head) in an Antec 300. Probably for $300-$400 or so? So hopefully I'll net around $1300 total for this new build.

Thanks for the advice in advance.

 

[gkay09]

Some suggestions...

RAM -
G.SKILL PI Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335

CASE -
HAF 922 - This case is just few inches shorter than the 932 but the rest of the dimensions are same...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

PSU - Anytime I would pay a little more for a better PSU
SILVERSTONE ST75F-P 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256059
SILVERSTONE DA750 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256017

Another mobo option -
ASUS P6X58D-E LGA 1366
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641

GPU - Stick with Sapphire it has a better cooler...

 

[strife025]

Looks like my links were broken also since I pasted from another forum I posted on :x

Some suggestions...

RAM -
G.SKILL PI Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335

CASE -
HAF 922 - This case is just few inches shorter than the 932 but the rest of the dimensions are same...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

PSU - Anytime I would pay a little more for a better PSU
SILVERSTONE ST75F-P 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256059
SILVERSTONE DA750 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256017

Another mobo option -
ASUS P6X58D-E LGA 1366
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641

GPU - Stick with Sapphire it has a better cooler...

I'm assuming the Ram is because it's cheaper? The problem is that the ram isn't available on Tigerdirect and the Corsair one is. Since I don't pay tax from TD and you get 10% cashback vs 2% from Newegg, they come out to the same price.

Case -
You're right, for $40 cheaper that case is almost the same size. Interesting that it's actually 1" wider even. Only .5" shorter in length, but almost 2" shorter in height, which the height issue I guess isn't too major of an issue since width and length seem to be more important for heatsinks and video cards? Only difference is it has 2x 220 fans vs 3x 230 in the 932. Is the airflow still good in the 922?

PSU -
I thought Antec is a good brand and reviews seemed solid? It's pretty much the same price as those Silverstone ones. Any reason those are better really? The plus side is that the Silverstone ones are on Tigerdirect. They have the ST75F (no P) for $124.99 and the DA750 for $129.99. Meaning this is cheaper then Newegg since no tax and more cashback. So I'm assuming these are both solid. Any major plus between the ST75F or the DA750 for $5 more?

Mobo-
That is the exact Mobo I originally wanted but its out of stock on Newegg and not on Tigerdirect. I would get that one for sure if it was available... The reason I picked the UD3R over the normal P6T is because the normal P6T doesn't support USB 3.0.

GPU-
Thanks wasn't aware. My other 2 cards are both Sapphire. I just thought since Visiontek had a lifetime warranty vs 2 year warranty on the Sapphire I would go with them. Also the Sapphire is that new revision that is smaller but can't be overclocked.

 

[gkay09]

^ RAM - Yes that was the reason why I had suggested the GSKillz
The RAM that you have selected are very overclocker friendly...and also you are planning to overclock, so its fine...

CASE - I have yet to see any complaints about that case's performance...and the airflow shouldn't be an issue at all with that case...It is very well ventilated...

PSU - I dint say that Antec is bad, but for the price, the EA is not a good option...
The Antec TP Series or the above PSUs that I have linked perform better in terms of voltage regulations and cleaner power...IMO the extra money is worth it...
Check out these PSU -
Silverstone Decathlon DA700
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4435023&csid=ITD&body=MAIN#detailspecs
Non-Modular but a very good PSU -
Corsair 750TX
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3438609&CatId=2533

Mobo - Even I would pick the UD3R over the P6T...but this ASUS is actually slightly better in terms of features...
So I would suggest if you get that mobo, get it or else get the Gigabyte...

GPU -
Well if you want Lifetime warranty then XFX no doubt...A better cooler at the same price and also comes with Lifetime Limited warranty...
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5753618&csid=ITD&body=MAIN

 

[strife025]

^ RAM - Yes that was the reason why I had suggested the GSKillz
The RAM that you have selected are very overclocker friendly...and also you are planning to overclock, so its fine...

CASE - I have yet to see any complaints about that case's performance...and the airflow shouldn't be an issue at all with that case...It is very well ventilated...

PSU - I dint say that Antec is bad, but for the price, the EA is not a good option...
The Antec TP Series or the above PSUs that I have linked perform better in terms of voltage regulations and cleaner power...IMO the extra money is worth it...
Check out these PSU -
Silverstone Decathlon DA700
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4435023&csid=ITD&body=MAIN#detailspecs
Non-Modular but a very good PSU -
Corsair 750TX
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3438609&CatId=2533

Mobo - Even I would pick the UD3R over the P6T...but this ASUS is actually slightly better in terms of features...
So I would suggest if you get that mobo, get it or else get the Gigabyte...

GPU -
Well if you want Lifetime warranty then XFX no doubt...A better cooler at the same price and also comes with Lifetime Limited warranty...
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5753618&csid=ITD&body=MAIN

CASE - I'll read some reviews today although I really like the 932.

PSU - wait what about the other 2 Silvestones you already posted that were modular? I was choosing between those 2 :x Are both pretty much equal?

Mobo - Know anywhere that has it in stock V_V

GPU - Done, seems like a better deal for the same price. Editing my post for that one.

 

[strife025]

Alright pretty much decided. I already ordered the XFX video card.

Decided to switch the Heatsink and get the Hyper 212+ with a 2nd fan for $37 instead of $89 on the Noctua. This brought my total down to $1596 now.

Decided to stay with the HAF 932 since I'll have this case forever pretty much, and it looks a bit nicer. Already got savings by switching fans.

Just going to get the UD3R Mobo since I can't find the P6X58D at a good price in stock. So gonna go get my i7 from Microcenter this weekend and then order all of the rest incase I pick something else up from there.

I ordered the videocard first because I was going to test it on my current rig, but decided to just fully upgrade since I want an SSD and x64 Win 7, but don't want to reformat my current comp..

 

[gkay09]

^ That is a good choice of changing the heatsink...
It is cheaper with Free Shipping @amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002G1YPH0/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0C4GBMB917YJNNJ9HC3F&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

As for the case, its your choice...well even the 932 is a very good one too...

As for the mobo, the UD3R is also a good board, but dont expect extreme overclocking though...

PSU - get any of the PSUs that I have listed...and also it doesnt have to be modular as the HAF has enough spaces to hide the unused cables...but you might need a CPU power extension cable to route it behind the mobo as those might not be long enough as the case is a Full tower...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812123299&cm_re=8_pin-_-12-123-299-_-Product