Critique My i5 Gaming Build

[prolific]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next 1-2 weeks.

Budget Range: $1000-1400, not including combo deals / rebates. I'd be willing to go over a bit if the part is really that good / necessary (like I believe I'm a bit over $1400 at the moment, without taking into consideration any combos/rebates).

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (World of Warcraft, TF2, SCII), web browsing, media (music and movies).

Parts Not Required: Monitor, keyboard, mouse.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: Intel, other than that, no preference.

Overclocking: No.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in the future.

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Here's what my cart at Newegg looks like as of this morning:

Processor: i5-760 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115067
Motherboard: Asus P7P55D-E Pro - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131621
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193
Graphics Card: GeForce GTX 460 x2 SLi - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130566
Hard Drive: OCZ Vertex 2 SSD 120GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227551
Case: Antec P183 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129061&Tpk
Power Supply: Corsair HX Series 850W - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011
CPU Fans & Heatsink: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134&Tpk=N82E16835186134
Case Fans: Noctua 120mm (x2) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608004

With that list being posted, I'm still mulling over a few selection choices and have a few questions:

1.) This will be my first time using a SLI setup - are the two cards worth it or should I potentially just drop the same amount of cash on one, great card?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500166

I've talked with friends and have seen reviews that sometimes the SLI setup can be kind of a let down. In most games, there's no difference - I've heard that statement about WoW specifically. So 2x GTX 460 or 1x GTX 480?

2.) Is my PSU a little bit overkill at 850W? What are some better alternatives if so?

3.) I'm definitely striving for the best way to keep my case as cool as possible and as quiet as possible at the same time. Thoughts on the heatsink + case fans?

Thanks again for any and all input.

 

[dndhatcher]

1> If the 480 was a better card (its too hot, loud and power hungry) it would be easy to say get that instead. A 5870 would be a good option for the same price, would use less power and be expandable, but doesnt perform as well as twin 460s. Its a hard choice.

2> The P183 is one of few cases that can fit the Antec's CP series PSUs. Because of the odd size, the CP series is very inexpensive and powerful. A CP850 will handle anything you throw at it (it is rated for three 470s) and is only $120.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024

3> The Arctic Freezer Pro is only a 92mm cooler. You should look at a 120mm cooler like the Coolermaster Hyper 212 plus, Kingwin 1264 or Scythe Mugen 2 SCMG-2100. The larger fan will spin slower and make less noise.

 

[muckle]

- just want to make sure you noticed your proc and mobo are currently a combo deal

- you could potentially save on the case. There are mannny options, I've been looking at the Antec 300 illusion and the 902. prob go with the illusion

I like the cyclone 460. one for now, and will add another later

 

[prolific]

1> If the 480 was a better card (its too hot, loud and power hungry) it would be easy to say get that instead. A 5870 would be a good option for the same price, would use less power and be expandable, but doesnt perform as well as twin 460s. Its a hard choice.

2> The P183 is one of few cases that can fit the Antec's CP series PSUs. Because of the odd size, the CP series is very inexpensive and powerful. A CP850 will handle anything you throw at it (it is rated for three 470s) and is only $120.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024

3> The Arctic Freezer Pro is only a 92mm cooler. You should look at a 120mm cooler like the Coolermaster Hyper 212 plus, Kingwin 1264 or Scythe Mugen 2 SCMG-2100. The larger fan will spin slower and make less noise.

Thanks so much for the detailed responses man.

As far as the video card situation goes, I ran some benchmarking over at Anand Tech (460 SLI vs 480) and it seems like the 2 460's outperform the 480 in every category (or almost every). http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/181?vs=158 - I'll probably go with the SLI setup simply because it's cheaper than that $500+ GTX 480. Any other thoughts?

That PSU looks great and it's definitely reassuring knowing that it'll fit in the P183.

The only reason I even considered the Arctic Freezer Pro, besides the thousands of great reviews, is because I don't plan on overclocking my build at all. But, regardless, 120mm cooler can't hurt anything. I believe that newegg only has the Cooler Master Hyper and Kingwin models in stock; couldn't find the Scythe heatsink.

 

[dndhatcher]

You have to look it up as SCMG-2100. Neweggs search has some problems.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142

 

[prolific]

- just want to make sure you noticed your proc and mobo are currently a combo deal

- you could potentially save on the case. There are mannny options, I've been looking at the Antec 300 illusion and the 902. prob go with the illusion

Thanks for the combo heads-up man; currently have the i5+Mobo in a combo deal as well as my case+PSU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492316
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492249

 

[prolific]

You have to look it up as SCMG-2100. Neweggs search has some problems.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142

Ah, okay. Well, all three look like great choices man - I'll probably just end up going with the cheaper of the three; not sure if it's possible to go wrong anyhow.

Still open to any other critiques, comments, advice, thoughts, etc. Thanks in advance.

 

[sp12]

XFX black edition 850. It's less than either PSU listed, but retains the silver-efficiency+modularity of the HX.

 

[prolific]

XFX black edition 850. It's less than either PSU listed, but retains the silver-efficiency+modularity of the HX.

I'll look into man, appreciate the tip.

 

[prolific]

Looked into the XFX Black Edition:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207001&cm_re=xfx_black_edition_power_supply-_-17-207-001-_-Product

Definitely has the credentials, but the price isn't less than either of the ones listed above. Also the case I'm interested currently has a combo deal with an Antec PSU, works out a bit better.

 

[sp12]

Did you count the 15% off code+20$MIR? Makes it 107$.

 

[prolific]

Ugh, completely overlooked that - thanks for pointing that out man. Appreciate the link.

 

[prolific]

Still open to suggestions and critiques. I've got a week or so to mull over the little things before putting the purchase in.

 

[dndhatcher]

Combo deals change as often as every few days. Wait a week and you will be looking for combos again.

 

[prolific]

Noted for sure. I'll probably continue to pick at every little detail anyways - that's why I enjoy hearing others opinions.