1600$ Gaming PC first build: Need advice & opinions before I buy!

lumograph090

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: September 25th at the latest. (21st - 25th)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Photo Editing, Internet

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: speakers, mouse, keyboard, and monitor

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, amazon.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: I would prefer to use an Intel CPU (specifically the i7-930 2.80GHz 8 MB LGA1366) I have chosen a Gigabyte Mobo that is compatible with LGA 1366 Intel X58. I'll be running this PC with a 22' wide screen 1080p monitor.

OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920 x 1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I've already spent a lot of time reading some things, watching reviews on YouTube, etc. Basically I've made a choice on all the parts I would like to get, I just would like some reassurance from people who understand everything far more than I do. With that said, here is the current list of parts I plan on buying.

Tower: COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000 RC-1000-KSN1-GP Black/ Silver Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119138)

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006)

everyday use hard drive: Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136296)

OS boot drive: ntel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2MH080G2R5 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167023)

*I plan to install 1/2 of my most used games on this drive as well as my OS. which is why I'm choosing an 80gb drive.*

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423)

*Wouldn't mind some advice on a Mobo, I've read a lot of good things on Gigabyte Mobos, so I'll probably stick with this, but I'm open to advice / opinions.*

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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225&cm_re=i7-930-_-19-115-225-_-Product)

Heatsink: Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme Rev. C for Socket 1366/775/AM2/AM2+/AM3 (http://www.amazon.com/Thermalright-...1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1273536282&sr=8-2-fkmr0)

Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX6GX3M3C1600C7 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145286)

Graphics Card: EVGA 012-P3-1470-AR GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130550&cm_re=GTX_470-_-14-130-550-_-Product)

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754) (Would buying an OS as OEM be fine, or do I need to buy the retail version?)

My main use for this PC will be playing FF14, WoW, SC2, HoN, and D3 when it comes out. With that said, I imagine this PC is more than capable of running any and all of those games @ max settings on a 1200x1080 resolution.

I'm really just looking for confirmation that all of my choices are compatible. As well as some opinions, etc. Thanks!
 

sp12

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You can get a significantly nicer XFX black edition PSU for 9$ less, or a significantly nicer 850 watt for 7$ more.

IMO avoid the raptor and get a Samsung F3 1TB for 60$. 90%+ of the raptor's performance, and you have an SSD that's 100s of times faster than the raptor anyway.

To put things visually,

Samsung F3<Raptor<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<SSD in terms of performance.

You could get a Noctua D14 for the price of that CPU cooler.

This ram kit is nicer and cheaper. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335&cm_re=g.skill_pi-_-20-231-335-_-Product

That case is for watercooling and has pretty bad airflow. Get a HAF model.

Unless you plan on SLiing very shortly an i5-760+P55 mobo+4GB of rambuild would be faster and less expensive.
 

lumograph090

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Get a HAF model: Which one would you suggest?

Unless you plan on SLiing very shortly an i5-760+P55 mobo+4GB of rambuild would be faster and less expensive:

Would you be willing to elaborate a little more on this topic? Why would using an i5 be faster than the i7?

*edit*

Also, I was consider going with a ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard for the mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...yMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

&& perhaps COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler for my heatsink http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055
 

lumograph090

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I have no intentions of running SLI or overclocking. With that said, if I've got the money would it just be worth it either way to buy an i7-930? I mean, there isn't really any draw back is there?

If I go with the i5, I'd need a different Mobo / ram not? Since the i7 uses the 1366 socket set.
 

sp12

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If you have the money and aren't SLIing get an i7-870. Significantly faster than the 950, same price, keeps the better performance/lower wattage of the i5s.

If you're not overclocking a Hyper 212+ cooler for 25$ would be almost silent and offer great cooling.
 

lumograph090

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Alright, sounds good. I'll definitely check that out!

Also, the only reason I liked the other Full Tower Case was because it had removable vents over the fans that you could remove to easily clean dust off of, etc.

However, the HAF 932 looks really nice and has nothing but awesome positive reviews.
 

jones911

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I am choosing the HAF 932 case over the HAF 922 myself. I am doing this for the extra space (plan on installing two GTX 470's) and because the 932 has the 240mm side fan installed. I built a computer last year for my wife with the HAF 922 case and just installed a side fan to save some money. I am also considering going with the new ASUS Sabertooth x58 motherboard but I have not seen any reviews yet on the product. I personally would avoid the Gigabyte board and go with the ASUS board you mentioned or the ASUS P6X58D-E LGA x58. It is 20 dollars more than the Gigabyte UDR3 but seems to get a lot better reviews.