1200-1500$ Gaming, Media Editing, and Future Proof PC

[dswayze]

Hey guys, I've put together what I think is a solid buy for a 1200-1500$ Gaming / Media Editing PC. I'm interested in purchasing as soon as possible and I think I've narrowed down what I want. There are a few questions however that I still have.

CPU:
Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601930

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115225

The most affordable i7 out there it seems. This should be super overclockable as well as future ready and capable of handling anything over the next few years.

~289.99

Motherboard:

Now here is where I'm having thoughts between the two. I have two options:

ASUS P6X58D-E Motherboard - LGA 1366, Intel X58, SATA, SLI Ready, CrossFireX Ready, Triple Channel DDR3 support, RAID, Hyperthreading, USB 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6077060&sku=A455-2877

~230$

OR

Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R Motherboard - Socket 1366, ATX, Audio, PCI Express 2.0, USB 3.0, RAID, SLI, CrossFire
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=5648696&sku=G452-0016&srkey=ud3r

I'm going to be looking to overclock in the future, not as soon as I buy. Which do you think I should choose, and for what reason?

GPU:
EVGA 012-P3-1470-AR GeForce GTX 470 Video Card - 1280MB GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0, Dual DVI, HDMI, SLI, DirectX 11, Free Just Cause 2 Game Download
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6509589&sku=E145-0470%20JC

~309.99$ after rebates

I will purchase another card in the future and run these SLI when my gaming needs demand it.

PSU:
SeaSonic S12D 850 Silver 850W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151083

~120$

Seems like a solid power supply to run this system, have a long life, and be able to run 2 470s sli'd in the future.

RAM:
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225

~145$

HDD:
Western Digital WD1002FAEX Caviar Black Hard Drive - 1TB, 7200RPM, 64MB, SATA 6Gbs
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6076939&sku=TSD-1000FAEX

~89.99$

Case:
Cooler Master Storm Sniper ATX Mid-T Blk Case
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4434987&sku=C283-1200

~130$

Total Price: ~1335$

What do you guys think? Can you help me spot what I'm missing / any changes you would make?

 

[Mr Pizza]

Go with this

SPINPOINT F3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&cm_re=spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product

Get this PSU because that seasonic one is not SLI ready/certified.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011&Tpk=hx%20850

this motherboard
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=5648696&sku=G452-0016&srkey=ud3r&SRCCODE=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=X3Th4gZi_iQ-oWne5ejKmf2Hykx5AK6CWQ

and just to bluntly put it, intel 1366 is dying and will be replaced this year, i would wait or get AMD because it will be compatible with the new bulldozer platform.

 

[Silvune]

What are you going on about? It's not up to Nvidia whether a PSU can successfully SLI two Nvidia cards - that PSU is high quality, has enough power and connectors for two 470s. I see no good reason to change it.

I agree that the WD 1TB FEAX is probably not worth the extra cost over the Samsung Spinpoint F3. But maybe 2 seconds faster booting is worth $15 to some people.

I believe that it is highly likely that Nvidia will be releasing a 'GTX 475' based on the GF104 - same chip that is in the GTX 460. So you will have very good performance without the power, heat and noise issues that the GF100 based GTX 480, 470 & 465 have. I believe EVGA have a program where you can upgrade to a different Nvidia card for only the price difference. So you should definitely keep your eyes peeled for a 'GTX 475' and plan to replace your current 470 with that.

I would add the MSI X58A-GD65 to the list of motherboards to consider. Based mainly on MSI releasing so many quality mobos recently. The Gigabyte came out on top (based on value) in this comparison: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/x58-usb-3.0-sata-6-gbps,review-31887.html Altho the Asus P6X58D-E was the best OCer. Maybe that review will help you decide. Unfortunately it was published before the MSI board was released.

 

[Mr Pizza]

What are you going on about? It's not up to Nvidia whether a PSU can successfully SLI two Nvidia cards - that PSU is high quality, has enough power and connectors for two 470s. I see no good reason to change it.

I agree that the WD 1TB FEAX is probably not worth the extra cost over the Samsung Spinpoint F3. But maybe 2 seconds faster booting is worth $15 to some people.

I believe that it is highly likely that Nvidia will be releasing a 'GTX 475' based on the GF104 - same chip that is in the GTX 460. So you will have very good performance without the power, heat and noise issues that the GF100 based GTX 480, 470 & 465 have. I believe EVGA have a program where you can upgrade to a different Nvidia card for only the price difference. So you should definitely keep your eyes peeled for a 'GTX 475' and plan to replace your current 470 with that.

I would add the MSI X58A-GD65 to the list of motherboards to consider. Based mainly on MSI releasing so many quality mobos recently. The Gigabyte came out on top (based on value) in this comparison: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/x58-usb-3.0-sata-6-gbps,review-31887.html Altho the Asus P6X58D-E was the best OCer. Maybe that review will help you decide. Unfortunately it was published before the MSI board was released.

Seasonic is a great brand and everything, and yeah it COULD run it. But corsair has better customer support, and a much better warranty

 

[CPDawg]

I bought a UD3R and it was DOA. Went ASUS. Got the P6X58D premium though.

 

[Mr Pizza]

I bought a UD3R and it was DOA. Went ASUS. Got the P6X58D premium though.

Things happen bro

 

[dswayze]

Would you consider
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182188

A solid power supply? I'm trying to figure out how large of a power supply I'd need for when I put a second 470 in there in SLI.

 

[Silvune]

I can't check reviews for that PSU atm, but usually it is safe to assume that Rosewill be low quality and best avoided. Even without reading a review on that Rosewill I know that the Seasonic is by far the better PSU and the better buy.

For a system with two 470s a good 750W PSU would be my suggestion. You could probably get the XFX 750W PSU for a bit less than the Seasonic S12D.