Modified $1000 build questions

[lazerborg]

Hello,
I've been wanting to build a new gaming computer for a while now, and this is what I've come up with:
Tom's Hardware $1000 build:
$1,000 Enthusiast System Components
Motherboard Asus P7P55D-E LX
LGA 1156, Intel P55 chipset
$125
Processor Intel Core i5-750
2.66 GHz, Four Cores, 8 MB L3 Cache
$195
CPU Cooler
Cooler Master HyperTX 3
$30
Memory Crucial 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3-1333
Dual-Channel Desktop Memory Kit
$90
Graphics MSI GeForce GTX 470
1280 MB GDDR5-3348
$300
Hard Drives WD Caviar Black 640 GB
640 GB, 7200 RPM, 32 MB Cache SATA 3Gb/s $75
Optical Lite-On iHAS124 OEM
24x DVD+R, 8x DVD+RW, 48x CD ROM
$20
Case Antec Three Hundred
$60
Power Corsair CMPSU-650TX 650 W
ATX12V, EPS12V , 80 PLUS Certified
$90
Total Cost $985
with the following changes:
Change motherboard to a CF-capable board (for example, the ASUS P7P55D-E Pro, $180)
Change Video Cards to 2xATI 6850 ($200 each)
Add 4 GB Ram for 2x4GB (OCZ Reaper Edition or G.Skill Ripjaws, $120-155)
My questions are:
Will the Antec three hundred in this build be big enough to handle to extra video card and cooling?
Will the 650 W PS be able to handle the extra card+OCing?
Will I really see that big a difference with the CF setup compared to the stock GTX 470?
Is it worth the extra ~$35 to get 1600 RAM, as opposed to 1333?
Thanks for the help!

 

[mattius92]

Going crossfire with TWO HD6850s will really kick some butt. So I say yes on that.

The memory kinda sucked from the get-go your changes to 8GB of DDR-1600 RAM (I say G-SKILL) will really be good for the system. And yes DDR-1600 will certainly be a good investment.

The ANTEC Three-hundred should be able to handle all that, you will probably have to throw in like 2 more 120MM fans but it can be done. Card Wise, it can fit full-sized Video Cards, and as long as your MOBO is ATX, it can fit that too.

The 650 Watt PSU is a no-go. With TWO video card, a quad-core and all the fans and ram, I say you will need to go with no less then 750 continuous watts. If you want to play safe I will say go with 800.

Oh and get rid of the WD HDD, go SAMSUNG spinpoint F3