Building a new system soon, need help deciding.

[Queuesmic]

Hello everyone! I'm shopping around and looking at different options for my upcoming build!

What I currently have -

Asus P5Q-SE2 mobo
Q9550 @ 3.6ghz (1.35v)
OCZ 4gb DDR2-800
Corsair 750tx psu
EVGA gtx 470 sc edition
WD 1TB hdd

What I'm looking for is something that will run current and upcoming games at or very near max settings with no less than 50fps on the low end, 1920x1080 with a minimum of 4x AA / 16x AF.

I've been doing some research as I don't expect someone to do the work for me and this is what I have come up with so far... (I will be keeping my psu and gfx card and possibly the hard drive for this build unless someone feels a change is necessary.)

Mobo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131614&cm_re=asus_p6x58d-_-13-131-614-_-Product
CPU - http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0346210 ($199.99)
Ram - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224&Tpk=TR3X6G1600C8D

Budget is undetermined, depends on how happy I am with the build, but if I had to pick a number it would be in the 1000-1300 range.

I know nothing about SSD's but I do want one so any input there would be appreciated. The case - debating on the HAF 932 or Antec 1200 can't decide. Also wondering if I should get another 470 and SLI or just wait and SLI down the road... I am also interested in water cooling but that is another field that I have 0 experience in, otherwise what cooler would you suggest for an above average overclock, say 4ghz... Lastly I am curious about a sound card.

Thanks for reading and I will remain active up until the purchase date, I'm shooting toward the next 2-3 weeks.

P.S. Now... Should I just wait until next year? Or just buy now and be upset when new tech is released for cheaper, haha. It's inevitable.

 

[deadjon]

Wait till next year. Your system laughs at most games, your processor is still overpowered at 3.6ghz, and to be fair its faster than a stock i7 920/930.

Your GFX card is very quick, you have a 1tb HDD.

Wait for Bulldozer or sandy bridge. Maybe buy another 470 to put you on.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++EDIT+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pop your Q9550 on ebay and drop me a message xD

I want one cheap

 

[coldsleep]

I would wait until next year. Unless you're having problems with games that you're playing now (and I'd be surprised to hear that), there's no reason to scrap a reasonably good system before AMD & Intel's new lineups come out.

Consider revisiting the decision in April or May.

 

[vindictive]

bench of i7 950 vs i5 750 in games http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/100?vs=109&i=47.48.49.50]]http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/100?vs=109&i=47.48.49.50
Note: thats the 750 which only loses to it in 1 game (not $90 worth either).

I will suggest the i5 760 (better than 750 so it will beat the 950 in the above bench) with the Asus p7p55d-e Pro Usb 3.0 & Sata 3 mobo.. Its a p55 mobo that doesn't take away bandwidth from the graphics cards. This saves money on all parts + gives better performance.

CPU: i5 760 - $209 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...819115067&cm_re=i5_760-_-19-115-067-_-Product
Mobo: Asus p7p55d-e Pro - $180 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-131-621&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo (just got back in stock 10 mins ago)
Ram: Mushkin Enhanced Blackline DDR3 1600 Cas 7 - $80 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226103&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=
Only 4b of ram is needed for gaming but the i7 950 makes you get 3 sticks to run triple channel (not noticeably faster than dual).

So I saved you : $105 on mobo + $86 on CPU + $100 on ram (+ mine has lower timings) = $291 saved + better gaming performance.

Out of those 2.. Haf 932.
Cpu Cooler (plus it looks awesome) - Tuniq 120 Extreme Rev 1.0 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154011
#2 on top intel coolers on Frostytech http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

 

[Queuesmic]

Well, BFBC2 runs good for the most part, just low frames on the higher detailed levels and it doesn't run as "fluid" as some videos I've seen.


Edited my original post... I forgot to mention that the CPU will be purchased from Microcenter for $199.99 (the i5 760 is $30 less in this case), just put the newegg link for easy access.

I do like that cooler a lot though.

Does this change anything?

 

[coldsleep]

I would still wait. I think the performance improvement you'd see right now would be somewhat underwhelming.

Both AMD and Intel are releasing new processors within the next few months. I would wait to see what that looks like and how it affects the prices of everything on the market before buying, since you can afford to wait right now.

 

[vindictive]

Well, BFBC2 runs good for the most part, just low frames on the higher detailed levels and it doesn't run as "fluid" as some videos I've seen.


Edited my original post... I forgot to mention that the CPU will be purchased from Microcenter for $199.99 (the i5 760 is $30 less in this case), just put the newegg link for easy access.

I do like that cooler a lot though.

Does this change anything?

okay then that takes the savings to 235. (still getting a modular psu my way).
so its up to you. is it worth the extra $235 or not.
If I were you I'd get the i5 unless you do video editing or encoding.

 

[Queuesmic]

I have decided to wait since underwhelming is definately not what I am looking for. Thank you all for your time and replies and I will see you next year.

Perhaps I will get a TV on Black Friday instead ))