This is my first thread on Toms Hardware, I've been reading it quite a lot in the past few weeks only recently discovering it. However, I am not new to the forum / blogging communities around the internet so I'll just stick to the sticky guide for my first time around!
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: early September of this year (2010) BUDGET RANGE: 1500 - 1600$ USD before rebates.
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Photo Editing, Internet
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: speakers, mouse, keyboard, and monitor
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, amazon.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: I would prefer to use an Intel CPU (specifically the i7-930 2.80GHz 8 MB LGA1366) I have chosen a Gigabyte Mobo that is compatible with LGA 1366 Intel X58. I'll be running this PC with a 22' wide screen 1080p monitor.
OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes. I want to run 2x Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready /w CrossFireX support. This video card says it offers CrossFireX support, but from what I have read or been told by others SLI is better than CrossFireX so I am wondering if its possible to run these cards in SLI format, or if CrossFireX isn't as bad as people say and really is not an issue.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920 x 1080
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I've already spent a lot of time reading some things, watching reviews on YouTube, etc. Basically I've made a choice on all the parts I would like to get, I just would like some reassurance from people who understand everything far more than I do. With that said, here is the current list of parts I plan on buying.
Tower: COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000 RC-1000-KSN1-GP Black/ Silver Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119138)
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006)
everyday use hard drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319)
OS boot drive: A-DATA 500 Series AS592S-32GM-C 2.5" 32GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211419)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423)
CPU: Intel Core i7 Processor i7-930 2.80GHz 8 MB LGA1366 CPU, Retail BX80601930 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038JE9MU/ref=pd_luc_mri?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER)
Heatsink: Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme Rev. C for Socket 1366/775/AM2/AM2+/AM3 (http://www.amazon.com/Thermalright-...1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1273536282&sr=8-2-fkmr0)
Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX6GX3M3C1600C7 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145286)
Graphics Cards x2: XFX HD-489X-ZSFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150438)
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754) (Would buying an OS as OEM be fine, or do I need to buy the retail version?)
I'll also probably buy Intel PWLA8391GT 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter 1 x RJ45 - OEM for my Network card, I figure I can just pick this up at Best Buy for example, isn't a huge issue. I also want to buy a new Modem since I'm just using the normal one that Comcast gives you when they set you up and it sucks. Going to go with Linksys WRT54GL IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless-G Broadband Router.
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: early September of this year (2010) BUDGET RANGE: 1500 - 1600$ USD before rebates.
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Photo Editing, Internet
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: speakers, mouse, keyboard, and monitor
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, amazon.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: I would prefer to use an Intel CPU (specifically the i7-930 2.80GHz 8 MB LGA1366) I have chosen a Gigabyte Mobo that is compatible with LGA 1366 Intel X58. I'll be running this PC with a 22' wide screen 1080p monitor.
OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes. I want to run 2x Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready /w CrossFireX support. This video card says it offers CrossFireX support, but from what I have read or been told by others SLI is better than CrossFireX so I am wondering if its possible to run these cards in SLI format, or if CrossFireX isn't as bad as people say and really is not an issue.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920 x 1080
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I've already spent a lot of time reading some things, watching reviews on YouTube, etc. Basically I've made a choice on all the parts I would like to get, I just would like some reassurance from people who understand everything far more than I do. With that said, here is the current list of parts I plan on buying.
Tower: COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000 RC-1000-KSN1-GP Black/ Silver Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119138)
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006)
everyday use hard drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319)
OS boot drive: A-DATA 500 Series AS592S-32GM-C 2.5" 32GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211419)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423)
CPU: Intel Core i7 Processor i7-930 2.80GHz 8 MB LGA1366 CPU, Retail BX80601930 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038JE9MU/ref=pd_luc_mri?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER)
Heatsink: Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme Rev. C for Socket 1366/775/AM2/AM2+/AM3 (http://www.amazon.com/Thermalright-...1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1273536282&sr=8-2-fkmr0)
Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX6GX3M3C1600C7 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145286)
Graphics Cards x2: XFX HD-489X-ZSFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150438)
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754) (Would buying an OS as OEM be fine, or do I need to buy the retail version?)
I'll also probably buy Intel PWLA8391GT 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter 1 x RJ45 - OEM for my Network card, I figure I can just pick this up at Best Buy for example, isn't a huge issue. I also want to buy a new Modem since I'm just using the normal one that Comcast gives you when they set you up and it sucks. Going to go with Linksys WRT54GL IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless-G Broadband Router.