Gaming Build, Ready to Order, please review

[Mushman]

Okay..so after a couple weeks of posting on here and changing my build 98432 times, here is what I hope to be my final build (or close to it anyway). If you haven't seen any of my previous posts, my main goal is to be able to play WoW and maybe some other games (Diablo 3, etc.) on max settings/full fps.

Please comment on what you think of this build, if you think I should change something for better quality and/or value at a certain price, however, PLEASE do not post fully new builds as that has seemed to derail my previous posts because people then begin commenting off of those (unless you think it is a ridiculously better build than what I have for around the same price).

Cd-Rom: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335

Monitor: ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

PSU/Mobo Combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.410585
PSU: Antec TruePower New TP-750 750W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371025
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128443

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

Hard Drive/Case Combo:http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.416550&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395
Case:Antec Nine Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129058

Graphics Card: XFX HD-587X-ZNFV Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150490

CPU/Cooler Combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.374199
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674
Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019

Everything I know about computer parts is what I've learned from doing research over the past week on here and from suggested parts/advice from different people, so it's hard for me to judge/compare parts but I think I've put together a decent system. Before this week (and still don't know much), I had no idea what overclocking was, SLI/xfire was, etc...just to let you know where I stand.

Things I feel I may need to change about this build:
1) I feel like I should maybe go with a different MoBo so that I could potentially crossfire 5870's in the future if I wanted to? I don't think mine is really able to (or at least effectively, someone told me 16/4 isn't good for it or something) but I do not want to spend much more on the Mobo if possible.

2) Operating system, I want Windows 7 obviously...If I have to, I'll buy the $100 one, but as I'm trying to save as much money as I can (already over what I wanted to spend by $150-250), I know that you can get Windows 7 upgrades as a student. I recently graduated and my email address no longer qualifies, but I could probably get one of my friends still in a college to do it for me, and apparently there is some way you can work around the upgrade and make it a full version with no previous OS? I've also seen places where you can call up and explain this to them and they'll give you a full version for the same price? Anyone have any advice on that without making it any more confusing...I know there was a thread on this already but it is kind of outdated now and had a lot of conflicting info...if I can call up, say I am one of my friends who is still a student, give them their email address and order it for cheaper, I'll do it...if not, I'll probably just order the full version on here.

3) Would there be any reason to go with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID= versus the monitor I have in my build above? Seems like it's basically the same but slightly, slightly bigger and about $40-50 more after the mail in rebate.

4) Tax Question: I live in NJ, am I correct in reading that NJ is one of only 3 states (with Cali and Tenn. I believe) that charge tax on orders off newegg? If this is the case, I may get it sent to a friend's in PA which will save me about $100.

Thank you for taking the time to read my long post and comment on it and all of your help so far, I appreciate it a TON.

 

[Mushman]

bumping because it's fallen down kinda far and no one has responded...sad face haha I know it's father's day so there's prob not a ton of people on here right now...

Appreciate anyone that could take the time to look it all over and answer my questions..thanks again!

 

[coldsleep]

1) How about this Gigabyte UD4 for $120, or $105 after the MIR? It does 8x/8x CrossFire, which is much better than 16x/4x. Much better.

2) No idea, not qualified to advise on that.

3) I don't see any particular reason to go with the larger monitor, the rest of the specs seem the same.

4) I believe that is correct. If there is a physical facility owned by NewEgg in your state, they have to charge tax.

Your proposed setup is very similar to mine, I believe I mentioned that in an earlier post. In Dalaran, with all settings at Ultra, I get 25-30 fps. Everywhere else is better. 10-man raids, 50-60fps at Ultra. Haven't done any 25s since the build, but I'm expecting about 45-50fps after turning down shadows.

 

[tecmo34]

I would go with this CPU/Cooler combo for $10 more and get better performance... http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.374198 or drop the combo and just order the CM Hyper 212+ from Amazon or Microcenter for $30 and still save.

1) I would look at a 890GX motherboard to give you the option to Crossfire down the road. x16,x4 is not a recommended Crossfire setup

2) Can't help you there... You can see if someone is a Microsoft TechNet Subscriber and is willing to give you a liscense. It is against the "rules" but I've seen it done. I still just recommend buying the Home OEM version and be legal all the way around.

3) Stick with your monitor... I see no reason to change IMO.

 

[Mushman]

thanks for the advice so far...would appreciate some more opinions of the build overall and any of my questions...looking to purchase by tomorrow night! thanks!

 

[Mushman]

bump..looking to buy by tonight, any advice on the build and questions is appreciated!

 

[coldsleep]

I don't think there's any need to change anything after taking the advice above into account. About all you could do for more performance is go with a 5970 or buy another 5870 and CrossFire, and neither of those are going to save any money.