$3,500 budget - Go Crazy!!

[ajsellaroli]

Hey guys, hope you've all been well. I haven't been around much, because I"m getting ready to transfer up north to my new school (berkeley). The GREAT news!? I'm building a computer from scratch, and I have a budget of up to $3,500.

INTRO: I know that that much money can probably build me something extraordinary, so I thought I'd come ask you guys here first, as I've always gotten excellent advice from you guys . I received all the advice I used for my first two builds ever from this board . I'm reading some reviews on here, but really, I'm not sure which graphics card combo I should get.


APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Next Week

BUDGET RANGE: $3500 Before Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, multimedia, web/graphics design

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Operating System, Speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel, Radeon, Nvidia, xigmatek, corsair, western digital

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: It needs to kick ass, possibly have a second monitor if there is room in the budget while also having kickass parts.



Parts I am Leaning Towards:

EVGA x58 classified 4 way sli
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188059&Tpk=evga 4 way sli
$430

2 GTX 480's
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125319&cm_re=gtx_480-_-14-125-319-_-Product
$900

I7 980:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115223&cm_re=i7_980-_-19-115-223-_-Product
$1000 (not really sure I should get this processor...probably too much power, and not worth the price??)

Antec 1200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...29043&cm_re=antec_1200-_-11-129-043-_-Product
$175

Corsair Dominator 12 GB RAM 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m_re=corsair_dominator-_-20-145-311-_-Product
$419

Xigmatek Dark Knight
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...e=xigmatek_dark_knight-_-35-233-029-_-Product
$45
OR
Corsair H50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181010&Tpk=corsair h50
$75

Corsair HX 1000W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...39007&cm_re=corsair_hx-_-17-139-007-_-Product
$220

OCZ Vertex 2 60gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...550&cm_re=ocz_vertex_2-_-20-227-550-_-Product
$175

WD Caviar Black 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&cm_re=wd_caviar_black-_-22-136-337-_-Product
$100

 

[Jzcaesar]

One small note: the OCZ Agility 2/Vertex 2 SSDs are much much faster than the intel X25, so I would suggest going with those if you're trying to max out your build.

 

[mrhoshos96]

fill out the stickie in my sig

 

[Mark Heath]

The 6 cores would probably help, so I think the 980X is fine, especially when the budget's this big.

I think you need more power than that, but I'm not too sure. (480s suck a lot of power... I saw someone recommend 1200-1250W somewhere else on these forums, but like I said I dunno how much you should get.)

I'd switch your case to something else.. mb HAF X? Also, you're better off with some cheaper RAM, that's pretty expensive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335&cm_re=g.skill_6GB_DDR3-_-20-231-335-_-Product x2

Also get a nice watercooling setup.

 

[ajsellaroli]

fill out the stickie in my sig

It has been done.

 

[Mark Heath]

Err.. you listed Nvidia with Radeon?

 

[ajsellaroli]

Err.. you listed Nvidia with Radeon?

I like both ok! haha. No honestly, I'll take whichever one you guys tell me is the fastest now-adays. I've always purchased radeon on the past, but physx interests me too.... I don't know.

 

[ballinjoey2332]

i know you said you prefer western digital but this hard drive from samsung is cheaper and still very nice

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

 

[ballinjoey2332]

for cpu cooling the H50 would be best since you are going all out but if i was you i would maybe go with a cheaper mb and ram and get a nice water cooling system

 

[ajsellaroli]

for cpu cooling the H50 would be best since you are going all out but if i was you i would maybe go with a cheaper mb and ram and get a nice water cooling system

Any recommendations? For the cheaper mobo, ram, and water cooling?

 

[ajsellaroli]

Help me understand Raid 1+0 please.

with Raid 1+0, would I have two hard drives in raid 1, and then one hard drive in raid 0 with those two? So basically I'd have two hard drives reading/writing very fast, and then one hard drive just to back everything up that the othe two have. Possible?

 

[mrhoshos96]

if u realy want gtx 480's you will need a watercooling loop which can cost over $500 that's why i don't recommend getting them but if u live in a cold enviroment where the temps don't go up 20 degrees celcius you should be fine.

oh mark health 2 gtx 480's suck 702 watts on there own [flash=420,340]http://www.guru3d.com/flash/2010/480-sli/flash-power.swf[/flash]

also downgrade the cpu to the 970 6core

 

[Juanchioo]

change the western digital 1tb for a samsung spinpoin f3 1tb... its faster and cheaper

 

[mrhoshos96]

the h50 sucks a prolimatech megahalms with 2 s-flex fans is alot better

 

[ajsellaroli]

the h50 sucks a prolimatech megahalms with 2 s-flex fans is alot better

I believe that that is no longer in production. What about the Xigmatek Dark Knight?


I probably will get the Spinpoint F3, I forgot about those. I actually had one in my last rig and loved it.

Mrhosho: I did actually want two gtx 480's, maybe three. If you don't recommend them, what do you recommend that will offer similar power?

 

[mrhoshos96]

nothing can offer the power of 3 gtx 480's but the only issue is the heat and power consumption if u are laright with that then just get em

 

[ajsellaroli]

Did these guys watercool their GTX 480's? I don't think so, but its hard to tell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY8uppkjwL0

 

[Timop]

If you can wait, wait for the AX-1200 and Super Mega to go in stock.

i7 930 - $290
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225&cm_re=core_i7-_-19-115-225-_-Product
EVGA E760 -$390
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188048&cm_re=EBGA_E760-_-13-188-048-_-Product
3* EVGA GTX 480 -$1470
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130552
SILVERSTONE RAVEN RV02 - $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163154&Tpk=Raven%20Rv02
6GB (3*2GB) G-Skill Pi -$200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231352
4* Corsair Force 60GB SSD -$620
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233124
Silverstone ST1500 -$380
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371012
Samsung F3 1TB- $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&cm_re=Samsung_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product
Noctua NH-D14 $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

(You might probably want to also add 3 gelid Icy Visions in there...to prevent burns)

Total: $3670

 

[ajsellaroli]

If you can wait, wait for the AX-1200 and Super Mega to go in stock.

i7 930 - $290
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225&cm_re=core_i7-_-19-115-225-_-Product
EVGA E760 -$390
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188048&cm_re=EBGA_E760-_-13-188-048-_-Product
3* EVGA GTX 480 -$1470
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130552
SILVERSTONE RAVEN RV02 - $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163154&Tpk=Raven%20Rv02
6GB (3*2GB) G-Skill Pi -$200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231352
4* Corsair Force 60GB SSD -$620
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233124
Silverstone ST1500 -$380
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371012
Samsung F3 1TB- $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&cm_re=Samsung_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product
Noctua NH-D14 $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

(You might probably want to also add 3 gelid Icy Visions in there...to prevent burns)

Total: $3670

I like your component list, and I am taking most of your suggestions.

The only thing I have a question about is - WHY 4 60gb ssds??? why not just two in raid 0, and then storage? four 60 gb ssds seem like they would be a pain to manage. Install programs here - ok now here...out of space, ok now here.. lol.

Also, would the Antec Quattro 1200W PSU be able to handle Tri SLI'd GTX 480's?

 

[Mark Heath]

I've heard that using aircooling on 480s in SLI is GPU suicide so watercooling them seems the way to go.

If you're interested in RAID 10 (1+0) then it uses 4 drives. What you described earlier was RAID 5 I think. In regards to why 4 drives have been suggested.. I dunno. I would've thought 2 128GB drives in RAID 0 would be the preference here.

 

[Timop]

I like your component list, and I am taking most of your suggestions.

The only thing I have a question about is - WHY 4 60gb ssds??? why not just two in raid 0, and then storage? four 60 gb ssds seem like they would be a pain to manage. Install programs here - ok now here...out of space, ok now here.. lol.

Also, would the Antec Quattro 1200W PSU be able to handle Tri SLI'd GTX 480's?

Primarily because the cost is the same as 2*120GB and the more drives in a RAID0 array the faster the performance.

RAID 0 stripes the 4 SSDs and creates a single 240GB volume so the management problem you mentioned isn't an issue. Its works just like a 250GB hard-drive, except alot faster. Besides, the failure rate of SSDs are much lower than physical hard-drives, so I wouldn't worry about the data integrity in doing a large SSD RAID cluster.

The Quattro 1200W should do the job fine for Tri-SLI.

 

[Mark Heath]

Same cost? Then go for it

 

[ajsellaroli]

Best answer selected by ajsellaroli.