$2,000 well-rounded build

[r3mnant]

A while back I built an HTPC. In the process, I realized I rather enjoy having 46" comp monitor. So, I've decided to replace my desktop and move my HTPC upstairs. Anyway, I was very pleased with the help I received in building the HTPC, so I'm back for more.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: within the next 2 months

BUDGET RANGE: $2,000 Before Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: video/photo editing, HTPC (1080p), multitasking, music, surfing, gaming... well rounded

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: storage & OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe Later

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Need this to be as quiet as possible

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Here are some parts I like:

Intel Core i7-930
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423

Intel X25-M Mainstream SSD 2.5" 80GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167023

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250

LG WH10LS30K 10X Blu-ray Burner

Here are some parts I need help/suggestions with:

Mushkin Enhanced Redline 6GB (3 x 2GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226121

Radeon HD 5850 1GB ?? could use some help here for sure
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477

LIAN LI Black Aluminum PC-C33B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112228
The case will be hidden away in a cabinet... could I lay a better one on its side????

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
Will this fit??

R HX Series CMPSU-850HX 850W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011
Too noisy??

Long range keyboard/mouse ... my old bluetooth dell stuff doesn't seem to work very well.

I'm sure I forgot something, but I have faith in this forum.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Proximon]

As I went down the list.

Fancy RAM, not a bad price. Gains from low latency RAM are small, but you are not spending too much... cut this down if you need to though.

GPU - You did say quiet right? Well, you get into this zone quiet is really water cooling. But as a compromise probably here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125318
Down clock it slightly and set the fan on manual in the ATI overdrive.

Case - 2 80mm fans and one 140mm fan? Nope. Loud little whiney 80mm fans and poor cooling. If you are going to hide an i7-930 in a cabinet along with a 5850 you had better have VERY good ventilation in that cabinet.

You also need 120mm or larger fans exclusively. Then there is card length in the case.

No, you are better off re-thinking how this will be placed. It can look very nice, but you need internal space and good cooling.

How about this tower... mATX but you see all those external drive bays? Those could be converted....
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112099

For instance
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811992004
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9662/bus-212/Custom_Lian_Li_525_Bay_-_LCD_16_x_2_Display_Board_with_UART_Based_USB_Edition_I_Smartie_Module_PC_Case_-_Black_DE-LD011.html?tl=g34c141&id=wERRikX8

Motherboard to go in it
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131658

 

[r3mnant]

Ya, i'm really stuck on this case thing. I like HTPC cases because they are already "on their side." I'm totally fine with getting a different case as long as I can lay it on its side without doing any damage. As long as there aren't any fans on the side facing down, wouldn't it be alright? GPU... lol. As I said, I'm at a loss here. If I'm not doing any hardcore gaming (I'm old school CS and COD), do I really need that beefy of a GPU??

 

[Proximon]

You can get by with less GPU for sure. Perhaps a 5770 in this case.

The only issues laying a case on the side is A) Hard drives... not sure about modern ones but I think they like to be flat, as do B) Optical drives.

I knew this case existed but I was having trouble finding it earlier:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163158&cm_re=silverstone_grandia-_-11-163-158-_-Product

If this guy could be made to fit... perhaps externally mounted, it would solve problems:
http://www.corsair.com/products/h70/default.aspx

You would need the mATX MB of course

 

[Somebody_007]

I'd go with the gtx 460 the 1gb version is close to 5850 if not on par with. ANd can overclock beyond an overclocked 5850. If you don't need that much power I'd get the 0.7gb version. It's by far the best bang for buck on the market.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187115&cm_re=460gtx_1gb-_-14-187-115-_-Product

 

[Mr Pizza]

^ and then the heatsinks will turn red hot! Nah JK, I would go for the GTX460 too... and have you looked at the AMD 6 cores?

 

[r3mnant]

Man. My head is spinning. How about...

SILVERSTONE Grandia GD04B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163158&cm_re=silverstone_grandia-_-11-163-158-_-Product&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

Intel Core i7-930
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225

ASUS Rampage III Gene LGA 1366
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131658&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

PowerCooler Radeon HD 5750 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814131300

Mushkin Enhanced Redline 6GB (3 x 2GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226121

CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-850HX 850W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116036&cm_re=hvr_2250-_-15-116-036-_-Product&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

LG WH10LS30K 10X Blu-ray Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136181&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

Intel X25-M 80GB SSD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167023

Should I still be looking at a CPU cooler?

 

[Proximon]

The video card will probably run any game at that resolution, but you'll have to reduce the settings quite a bit in many newer games.

The HX850 becomes massive overkill in that build though. If you want quiet go with the Seasonic X-650