New Home/gaming system in need of expert’s advices

Greetings everyone,

This is my first post on this forum so I hope I get it right.
I am in the process of replacing my computer and decided to try to pick up parts and assemble them myself. I have no formal previous training in such activity. All that the knowledge I have gained is by doing my own research (and thank heavens for this forum, it is gold mine of information).

Approximate Purchase Date: as soon as possible, once all components decided upon.

Budget Range: $2000 max Before Rebates


System Usage from Most to Least Important: mostly gaming, but also office work, watching movies, and listening to music.

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers (only using headset), headset (already owned).

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: http://www.edbpriser.dk and http://www.komplett.dk

Country of Origin: Denmark

Parts Preferences: Performance and reliability are more important than specific brand names.

Overclocking: Yes: I intend to start to learn to overclock on this machine.

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050. Currently I have a ViewSonic VX2235wm 22¨. I intend to upgrade it to a bigger one at a later stage.

Additional Comments: I aim to have a machine capable of running most if not all games. Though I understand the specs I have in mind will not allow me to run games at their highest settings, I still would hope to be able to play them at an enjoyeable level.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of parts:

I have come up with 2 slightly different systems, the second one being a little closer to my original budget:
System 1:
Intel Core™ i7 Quad Processor i7-950
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=585504

ASUS SABERTOOTH X58, Socket-1366
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] id=4293404

Noctua NH-D14
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=695231

Corsair HX 650W PSU
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=649608

Crucial DDR3 BallistiX 1600MHz 6GB CL8
http://www.komplett.dk/k/ki.aspx?sku=479403

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1 TB
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=501936
Note: likely to run 2 of those

MSI N460GTX-SE Cyclone 1GD5/OC/MD (1 GB)
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] id=4518193

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=482430

Sony Optiarc DVD±RW burner AD-7263S
http://www.komplett.dk/k/ki.aspx?sku=605829

Cooler Master HAF X
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] id=4665554

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=660396
Note: If I am not mistaking, I need the 64b version for a system with more than 4Gb RAM.


System 2:
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=514000

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula, Socket-AM3
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=814614

Noctua NH-D14
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=695231

Corsair HX 650W PSU
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=649608

Corsair Dominator DDR3 1600MHz 4GB CL8
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=642357

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1 TB
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=501936
Note: likely to run 2 of those

XFX Radeon HD 6870 1GB GDDR5
http://www.komplett.dk/k/ki.aspx?sku=619101

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=482430

Sony Optiarc DVD±RW burner AD-7263S
http://www.komplett.dk/k/ki.aspx?sku=605829

Cooler Master HAF X
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] id=4665554

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/De [...] pid=660396
Note: If I am not mistaking, I need the 64b version for a system with more than 4Gb RAM.

Regarding the power unit for both systems: I am not 100% sure I have chosen the right one. I used the corsair tool and took the high end of their results.

Thank you for taking the time with reading this, and I very much look forward in reading your comments.

Best regards,
A.

if you can wait 6 weeks, a sandy bridge or bulldozer build will be better than either build.

On both, I think the motherboard is overkill. The sound Blaster is no better than the on-board sound, no point there, and the Haf-X is *humongous*, but there is nothing wrong with it, per se.

Honestly I would STAY AWAY from Creative sound cards. Creative has a habit of having poor quality stuff these days. Go for an HT Omega or something else.