Help with first build, $700 i5-760 build

[0x5andlaughter]

Approximate Purchase Date: This weekend hopefully.

Budget Range: $700-$800 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming and CAD software

Parts Not Required: Operating system (Win 7 Professional)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country of Origin: US

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Here's what I have so far for my build:

Intel Core i5-760
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0341729
$169.99

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
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039
$19.99

NZXT M59 - 001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146058
$49.99
$44.99 after promo code
$34.99 after mail in rebate

Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 996770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226095
$99.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.569069
$149.98 Combo
$139.98 after mail in rebate
10% off the PSU with promo code

XFX HD-585X-ZAFC Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card w/ Eyefinity
ASRock H55M-LE LGA 1156 Intel H55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
$273.98 Combo
$233.98 after mail in rebate

Total:
$777.44 Before rebates
$763.44 after instant promo codes
$703.44 after mail in rebates

Is this a good build? Is everything compatible? Will the i5 bottleneck the 5850? Do you guys have any suggestions on how to cut costs a bit more?

Thanks!

 

[sadams04]

Not bad.... Consider a 6870 over the 5850 (may mess up your combo deal with MB). Also think about an SSD for a performance gain (OCZ Agility 2 for example).

$700 is tight for a gaming and CAD machine! Are you open to an AMD setup?

 

[banthracis]

If you're doing CAD work then you'll want a Nvida GPu for CUDA. Also, you'll see much better performance form an AMD hexacore.

Gaming will be slightly less, but considering your bottleneck will be GPU, not a big factor.

Also, no mention of whether monitor is part of the price.

There's no way you're fitting an SSD into that build for that budget.

 

[sadams04]

Since you mentioned MicroCenter and banthracis and I were hinting toward AMD...

AMD x6 1090T + MSI 870A-G54 MB => $270
http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/AMDbundlePROMO.html

8GB ADATA DDR3 1600 => $100
Same CAS9 timings as the Mushkin memory you originally chose and "one stop shop for parts purchase). There is better for more money, but this is acceptable (IMHO)...
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0351758

If you can swing it in your budget...
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0344221

 

[batuchka]

Err Fermi GTX 400 known for being neutered for CAD and most logical theory to date thus far has to be : Nvidia does not want Fermi non pro-class GPU to cannibalize Quadro sales @@

Even discussed in their forums here
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=187074

For Adobe i would go Nvidia though ^^

 

[0x5andlaughter]

@sadams04:

Thanks for the links! I didn't even notice the AMD combos. The board looks seems much better than the H55 I chose. It has SATA 6GBs!

When I said CAD, I meant engineering programs in general. Mostly MatLab, Solidworks, AutoCAD not so much, Mathematica, and Adobe CS5. There are probably others that I can't think of off the top of my head. Also, I'd like to be able to hook up to multiple monitors (one of them being a 1080p tv) for doing work.

Gaming resolution, I don't mind if I have to go lower than 1900x1200

My biggest concern is cooling. Where I am, it can get really warm and I'd like to have this rig last a 3 years before I get a new one. I've heard that Intel's been generally low power and low heat generation. I'm bit worried about this when it comes to the AMD processors. Should I get an aftermarket cooler for the 1090T, even if I don't overclock?

Also, how's the x6 1090T in terms of price to performance? Tom's Guides seems to suggest that i5-750 is a tier above the 1090T, but I have no idea what that could mean.

As for SSD, I've never complained about regular HDDs times. But I may consider it if I go AMD. Where would I see the most gains from using an SSD?


I'm happy with the build right now, but if I can get a better rig that will last me about 3 more years (I'm satisfied with just being able to play all the games out right now at 1680x1050 at mid to high settings). Mostly though, this computer just needs to be able to power at least two monitors, have about 30ish tabs open in FF/Chrome while running some computational fluid dynamics calculations, and playing music in the background.

I figure anything I build will be better and increase my productivity more than my Atom Netbook that I currently have.

Hope these details help!

edit:
@banthracis: I have a 1080p TV with a bunch of inputs and a couple of 19"inch (CRT ) monitors that I plan to reuse.