New i-7 build - evaluation and help needed

[metaxas]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: May 22, 2010
BUDGET RANGE: $1200-$1500

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, J2EE development


PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, amazon.com, and any other reliable online retailer
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:US
PARTS PREFERENCES: None

OVERCLOCKING: Not now, maybe later
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Not now, maybe much later
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Had asked the question this morning on another post. Got an excellent build suggestion from banthracis, i5-950. I've incorporated a number of suggestions from that post.
Have since decided that I still want the i7-930, which I have bought from microcenter for $200.
Having a lot of trouble deciding which graphics card to get. I had decided upon the 5770, but I am concerned about the win 7 64 bit drivers. Have looked at the gtx 260, but concerned about the size and heat. 5850, $300 seems a bigger risk than I want to take. Looking for good suggestions on that and an overall evaluation of current build.



LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM $19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

Logitech Deluxe 250 Black USB Wired Standard Keyboard - OEM $19.99

Rosewill 2-Port USB 3.0 PCI Express Card Model RC-505 $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815166026

G.SKILL PI Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7T-6GBPI $174.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335

ASUS P6X58D-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case AND
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive COMBO $119
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.400950

I7 930 from microcenter, $200

Cooler Master RR-B10-212P-G1 Hyper 212 Plus 775/1156/1366/AMD/AM2/AM3 Universal Direct Contact Heat-Pipe 120mm Fan CPU Cooler

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RR-B10-212P-G1-Universal-Heat-Pipe/dp/B002G1YPH0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1274454237&sr=8-1

Graphics card - sapphire 5770 (concerned drivers wont work)? Gtx 260 ? something better ?

Total: $1274 without graphics card

 

[tecmo34]

Solid build...

At your resolution, your best option for performance is going with a 5850 from XFX or Sapphire. The current drivers are good, heat won't be a concern in the HAF 922 and Win7 64-bit is the best OS out (IMO). Ther is no reason not to make the jump to the 5850 with your budget.

 

[Chuckles_]

Do you really need 2 extra USB 3.0 ports? There's already 2 USB 3.0 ports on the P6X58D-E. Could put that $40 toward the GPU.

 

[metaxas]

No I don't -- my bad I didn't realise USB ports were available on board. I have taken that one out. Thank you.

 

[metaxas]

Solid build...

At your resolution, your best option for performance is going with a 5850 from XFX or Sapphire. The current drivers are good, heat won't be a concern in the HAF 922 and Win7 64-bit is the best OS out (IMO). Ther is no reason not to make the jump to the 5850 with your budget.

Hmm - I have tentatively added this one:
SAPPHIRE TOXIC 100282TXSR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $349

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102881

Just seems a lot more pricey than a $169 5770 .

 

[waffleufugus]

microcenter did have the hyper 212 plus for 19.99. I'd check that out.

 

[metaxas]

Just reserved it... thx for the suggestion.

 

[Chuckles_]

At Newegg, there's a combo for the P6X58D-E and the Windows 7 that will save you another $20: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.395009

 

[metaxas]

Super, i've added it in -- thanks very much!

 

[tecmo34]

Hmm - I have tentatively added this one:
SAPPHIRE TOXIC 100282TXSR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $349

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102881

Just seems a lot more pricey than a $169 5770 .

Pricey... Sure but for the performance increase it is worth it. The 5770 will struggle at times at 1920x1080 resolution. You can cut cost by getting a non-factory overclocked version like this XFX version for $40 less.

 

[metaxas]

That one looks pretty good -- will give it some thought (Sapphire vs XFX), but the 5850 it is. Appreciate the inputs on this.

 

[tecmo34]

1) XFX is the better manufacturer and supplies the better warranty... IMO
2) You are paying an extra $40 for an overclocked card when you can easily adjust the XFX to those settings with little to no effort, while saving $40.

 

[metaxas]

How about this one -- very little to separate if from the xfx, except that they have not provided the core clock value, and there are more reviews on newegg. A minor gripe, but I didn't see too many reviews for the xfx on newegg (or amazon), it may just be a new release.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102885&cm_re=sapphire_5850-_-14-102-885-_-Product

Would you still recommend the xfx (being the better manufacturer / warranty) ?

 

[tecmo34]

I would get either or card... Both are great!!

You can look at it as do I get an ASUS or Gigabyte board?? You cannot go wrong with either of them as they are the two best makers... IMO.

 

[metaxas]

Awesome .. thats good to know - really appreciate the advice and input. I'll let it sit for a few hours and come to a decision. Again thanks very much for the help!

 

[metaxas]

Best answer selected by metaxas.

 

[metaxas]

Ok.. finally decided upon the Sapphire 5850

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102885&cm_re=sapphire_5850-_-14-102-885-_-Product

Thanks for all the help!