First Timer Asking Advice On Gaming Rig

[Guest]

Hello, Tom's Hardware Community. First time posting, but a long time reader of articles and reviews here. Please be gentle.


APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within two weeks
BUDGET RANGE: $2,000ish
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Gaming... and more Gaming

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, Amazon, Micro Center
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: N/A

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes

MONITOR RESOLUTION: N/A (Already have a 1920 X 1200)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Doesn't need to have a window, but definitely needs to be able to keep cool and quiet

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I've come up with a potential build myself and would be happy to take opinions and see what others think. I've posted a lot of stuff from Amazon and the reason for that is that I live in NJ and would have to pay taxes on any purchases from Newegg.

Intel Core i7-930 - $199.99 (Taxes: $13.99, Pick Up)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0331303

Coolermaster HAF-X - $197.99 (No Taxes, Free Shipping)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B003S68Q0Y/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1278170917&sr=8-1&condition=new

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R - $209.99 (No Taxes, Free Shipping)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0034CSTFY/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1278171004&sr=1-1&condition=new

Corsair CMPSU-850HX - $169.99 (No Taxes, Free Shipping)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0029F21LA/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1278171176&sr=8-1&condition=new

SAPPHIRE Toxic Radeon HD 5850 2GB - $369.99 (Taxes: $25.90, Shipping: $7.87)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102890&cm_re=5850-_-14-102-890-_-Product

SAPPHIRE Toxic Radeon HD 5850 2GB - $369.99 (Taxes: $25.90, Shipping: $7.87)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102890&cm_re=5850-_-14-102-890-_-Product

Samsung 1TB Spinpoint - $69.79 (No Taxes, Free Shipping)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001U3S5S0/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1278171471&sr=8-1&condition=new

Liteon 24X DVD Writer IHAS424-98 - $25.99 (Taxes: 1.82, Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335&Tpk=IHAS424-98

Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 998681 - $172.99 Before Rebate; $142.99 After Rebate (Taxes: 12.11, Shipping: $5.99)

XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V REV.W - $44.96 (No Taxes, Free Shipping)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00275V1PE?tag=invihand-20

Microsoft Wired Keyboard 500 - $12.09 (No Taxes, Free Shipping)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0007SXGJW/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1278172331&sr=1-3&condition=new

GIGABYTE GM-6800 - $14.99 (Taxes: $1.05, Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826146009&Tpk=GIGABYTE%20GM-M6800

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - $94.99 (Taxes: $6.65, Free Shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754&cm_re=Windows_7-_-32-116-754-_-Product


Total Cost Before Rebates: 2047.15
Total Cost After Rebates: 2017.15

Thanks for all the opinions ahead of time!

 

[cmcghee358]

For 2000, settling on a 5850 is disappointing. For you and me.

 

[Guest]

Even dual 2GB cards? XD

 

[cmcghee358]

Have you looked into tigerdirect.com or zipzoomfly.com to avoid sales tax?

 

[Guest]

The only real tax heavy items are the two graphics cards and unfortunately those two sites don't carry them.

 

[cmcghee358]

Those specific cards? You can buy from another manufacturer...

 

[cmcghee358]

Oh and 2 GB is wasted on a 5850 especially when Xfiring.

 

[cmcghee358]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6078264&CatId=3669

Get 2.

 

[Guest]

Oh, really? Didn't know that, good stuff. Anything else?

 

[cmcghee358]

That's about it everything else looks good. Enjoy your build

 

[Guest]

Is there a difference between XIGMATEK's Dark Knight and Thor's Hammer? I'm only wondering because they look the same but Thor's Hammer is 20 dollars more.

I'll be looking to OC the 930 to around 3.6 so I want to make sure everything is kept cool.