First ever Gaming Rig

[wynnfreak]

Hey everybody,

This is my very first build. I am a Gamer (Call of Duty 4, CSS, Starcraft II) and do a lot of Video Editing and Rendering and want it to be fast. My budget is $1,100 without a keyboard, without a mouse, without a monitor. Things that I need, a good looking case, Windows 7 OS. I am not sure what to go with Intel or AMD. I have been reading around but am just confused. This is the first build that I created on newegg, with little knowledge on what I was picking.



COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

Intel Core i7-870 Lynnfield 2.93GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor BX80605I7870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115213

ASRock P55 PRO/USB3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157203

XFX HD-687A-ZNBC Radeon HD 6870 Black Edition 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150507

AllComponents 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model AC3/1333X64/6G-KIT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820159026

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

LITE-ON DVD/CD WRITER Black SATA Model iHAS524-T98A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106347

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

TOTAL: $1,066.88 With Shipping

Any help would be extremely appreciated, looking to order this thing within the next couple hours. Thanks (

 

[mianmars]

Dude wait for Intel new CPU's releasing 9th Jan, 2011. You will get much better performance processor and AMD is also releasing new GPU's in couple of weeks so wait till they arrive, its just few weeks.

Gud choices on HDD and Case while dreadful choice of Ram.

 

[Wamphryi]

Yes the RAM is not the correct way to go. Lynnfield is a Dual Channel set up not a Triple Channel so you want 4 GB RAM not 6.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Video Editing normally screams CUDA so, I'd have to think you'd be looking nVidia.

You don't have a PSU.

The MoBo says it's X-Fire ready but only has 1 16x slot and 1 4x slot

Dump the RAM and get a good set of DDR3-1600, low profile, CAS 7

 

[duk3]

If you can wait until sandy bridge(new intel CPUs) is released, I would.
However:
1. You need a PSU in your build
2. That ram isn't very good quality, also as you have a 1156 build you'll want to go with dual channel ram not triple channel

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145251 (x2 for 8gb ram if that will benefit your particular editing programs)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.564037
Alternatively, for a faster processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.564034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130550
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.546483.11-119-197

 

[wynnfreak]

May sound like a noob question but, why wouldn't I go with an i7 processor?

 

[suteck]

Nothing wrong with the i7's. But since there's a new chip coming out lots of people recommend waiting to get them. I think you should stick with the i7 but you should go with the i7 920 or 930. These chips have 4 cores and 8 threads and are better for video encoding and rendering due to the extra threads.
Here's a good combo:
# Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950
# ASUS P6X58D-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
# MSI N450GTS CYCLONE 1GD5/OC GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
# MSI N450GTS CYCLONE 1GD5/OC GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
# G.SKILL PI 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL6T-6GBPI
# COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
# COOLER MASTER GX Series RS650-ACAAE3-US 650W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
# Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
# LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24NS50
# COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
for only $1,153
It will give you all the processor you need and has the TWO fermi cards that will come in handy.

 

[duk3]

Newegg combos are generally not very good, the 7200.11 has a high failure rate I believe, CM GX series is not a great PSU, CM V8 is overpriced, and 2x 450 removes upgrade room for the future and also doesn't usually outperform the gtx470.
The i7-950 route is good, however with sandy/ivy bridge coming out, once you wants to upgrade in the future, you can get one of those and save money on a cheaper LGA1156 motherboard/ram that you purchase now opposed to the more expensive LGA1366. The i7 870 performs like the i7 950 as both have 4 cores 8 threads.

 

[wynnfreak]

I need an OS With that which puts me over my limit. I have also heard that Newegg combos are meh. Anybody else give some insight?

 

[duk3]

Here is my suggestion if you are doing mail in rebates for $1,104:

Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner - OEM
24x DVD Burner, good for every build unless blue ray is necessary
EVGA 012-P3-1470-AR GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
$20 mail in rebate
Fast video card for both gaming and graphics applications
Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply
$30 off w/ promo code EMCZNYN54, ends 12/8
Good power supply, can power 2x gtx470 SLI
2x CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1333C9A G
$10 mail in rebate
8gb ram, should be helpful in editing
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM and COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Case you liked(great case by the way) along with windows 7
Intel Core i7-870 Lynnfield 2.93GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor BX80605I7870 and ASUS P7P55D Deluxe LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
$30 mail in rebate
Fast processor for gaming and editing, motherboard supports SLI so you can add another gtx470 in the future

You could drop one of the 4gb ram kits, move down to a gtx460, or change processor to the i5 760 to save money.

 

[wynnfreak]

Thank you guys for all the responses so far, these are the two setups I am deciding on;


SETUP #1 (Intel) [Thank you duk3]
-Intel Core i7-870 Lynnfield Quad-Core Processor
-ASUS P7P55D Deluxe LGA Intel Motherboard
-Corsair 4gb DDR3 Memory (2x2GB)
-Cooler Master HAF 922 Mid Tower Case
-Antec TruePower 750w Power Supply
-EVGA GeForce GTX 470 Graphics Card
-Samsung Spinpoint 1TB Hard drive
-Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner
-Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium OS

Total Price w/Shipping = $1,140.63


SETUP #2 (AMD)
-AMD Phenom II X4 956 Quad-Core Processor
-MSI 870A-G54 AM3 AMD Motherboard
-Corsair 4GB DDR3 Memory (2x2GB)
-Lian Li Lancool PC-K62 Mid Tower Case
-OCZ Fatal1ty 550w Power Supply
-XFX Radeon HD 5870 Graphics Card
-Samsung Spinpoint 2TB Hard drive
-LG DVD Burner- Bulk Black
-Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium OS

Total Price w/Shipping = $1,042.35

My MAX limit is $1,200, including shipping and OS. Please let me know, first which you would choose and second what changes I can make that will increase performance but not put me over my limit thanks so much guys!