Please critique my first build

[Keith483]

Approximate Purchase Date: 1 week


Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) $1500 before rebates


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, casual internet surfing


Parts Not Required: I need pretty much everything


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg


Overclocking: No


SLI or Crossfire: No


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments: I am very new at this. I have built or even modified a PC. I am currently using a Gateway laptop, so I am starting from scratch. I appreciate any help you guys can provide for me.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W - $294.99

GIGABYTE GV-N580D5-15I-B GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - $524.99

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $199.99

CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 - $119.99

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - 49.99 - What does "Bare Drive" mean? Do I need to buy anything else along with this?

ASUS 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 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM - $19.99

RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-730SS 730W ATX12V V2.2/ EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Modular LED Power Supply - $59.99 - Enough power? More power than I need?

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler - $29.99 - Do I even need this?

ZXT Apollo Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $69.99 - Good case? Will everything fit?

GIGABYTE GN-WP01GS IEEE 802.11b/g PCI Wireless Adapter Up to 54Mbps Wireless Data Rates 64/128 bit WEP, WPA, 802.1x, AES - $16.99

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM - $99.99

Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 / Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical - OEM COMBO - $23.98

SAMSUNG B2330 Glossy Black 23" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 70000:1(1000:1) - $189.99

Logitech S-220 17 Watts 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System - OEM - $27.99

Rosewill Audio Pro RHM-6308 USB Connector Circumaural Gaming Headset - $34.99

TOTAL: $1773.84

I am currently about $270 over my budget of $1500. If anyone sees where I can save some money here, please let me know.

As I said, I appreciate ANY input. Thanks!!!

 

[ScrewySqrl]

easiest cutback: i5-750 and an 1156 motherboard instead of i7 and 1366.

Also, 580 is REALLY EXPENSIVE. Consider a 470 or 6870 instead. A pair of 460s in SLI or 6850s in crossfire pretty much beats a 580, for a lot less money ($360-400 vs $525)

 

[gkay09]

^ +1
And not to forget, Intel is going to launch newer CPUs by Jan 5th 2011, and both Nvidia and AMD will have newer cards by this month, so if possible, waiting would really be a very good idea...

As for rest of the build,
CASE - IMO this would be a very good option if you are looking for slightly fancy case with Side window
NZXT M59
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146058
Or this with very good airflow
Antec 300 Illusion
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

PSU - Never skimp on PSU quality, get any of these -
Corsair 650TX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
Antec EA 650
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

HDD - Samsung F3 500GB would be better... And bare drive means it wont come with box or cables or anything,...but most of the mobos will come with atleast with 2 SATA cables so it fine...

CPU Cooler - If no overclocking, then the stock cooler would suffice

 

[Keith483]

Thank you both for the input. I ended up taking your suggestion and going with MSI P55-GD65 LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard, SAPPHIRE 100314SR Radeon HD 6870 and Intel Core i5-750.

Total came out to $1,397.23 w/ shipping

Thanks again.

 

[Keith483]

My final order came out like this:

N82E16819115215
CPU INTEL|CORE I5 750 2.66G R

N82E16820145315
MEM 4Gx2|CORSAIR CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 R

N82E16826193055
HDST ROSEWILL | RHM-6308 R

N82E16814102909
VGA SAPPHIRE|100314SR HD6870 R

N82E16813130239
MB MSI P55-GD65 1156 RT

N82E16835103065
CPU COOLER CM| RR-B10-212P-G1 RT

N82E16817371022
PSU ANTEC|TP-750 BLUE 750W RT

N82E16822136073
HD 500G|WD 7K 16M SATA2 WD5000AAKS

N82E16827135204
DVD BRN ASUS | DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS%

N82E16836121014
SPEAKER LOGITECH | S-220 2.1 %

N82E16823334002
KEYBOARD GIGABYTE | GK-K6800 R

N82E16811146058
CASE NZXT| M59 - 001BK RT

N82E16824001386
MNTR SMSNG|LCD 23" 5MS B2330 RT

N82E16832116754
WIN HOME PREM 7 64-BIT ENG 1PK DSP

N82E16826146009
MOUSE GIGABYTE | GM-M6800 R

N82E16839121008
WL ADAPTER GIGABYTE|GN-WP01GS PCI R


TOTAL = $1397.23

 

[ScrewySqrl]

good luck

 

[Keith483]

Best answer selected by keith483.