First time gaming build $900-$1200

[moralesaw]

Hello all, I am a first time builder and have done a fair amount of research and have picked out all of my components except the OS, I would like to get Windows 7 but am unclear of the differences between a normal version of windows 7 and the system builders version, thanks for any input.

Approximate Purchase Date: ASAP

Budget Range: $900-$1200

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies

Parts Not Required: All

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: New egg
Country of Origin: U.S.A.

Parts Preferences: AMD

Overclocking: Probably not now

SLI or Crossfire: Crossfire

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: For now I have based my build off the AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition CPU and an ASUS Crosshair 4 MOBO, I want something that has the flexibility to upgrade but I will most likely not overclock. My main concerns are compatibility and I want to make sure my power supply is adequate. If there is a way to save a couple bucks without compromising quality and flexibility of upgrading in the future I am open to ideas. I have only chosen the blu ray burner with the thoughts of watching blu ray quality, I don't really need one though. Here is what I have so far:

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX, $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula AM3 AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard, $215
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131644

SAPPHIRE 100314SR Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity, $230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102909

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ, $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6402AAEX 640GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive, $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136544

Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply, $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan, $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

SAMSUNG Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive Model SH-B123L LightScribe Support - OEM, $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151222

ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers, $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

OS: A windows 64 bit, need suggestions

Total of $1100.00 Thanks everyone.

 

[Why_Me]

Your psu is inadequate to push two of those vid cards and you have triple channel RAM for a board that uses dual channel.

Wait a few more weeks for the 1155 mobo's to start showing up on newegg.

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-SGC-2000-KKN1-GP-Storm-Scout/dp/B00243HHNY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1299034336&sr=1-1 $89.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Storm Scout ATX/MATX/ITX Mid Tower Case (Black)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371025 $99.99 FREE SHIPPING
Antec TruePower New TP-750 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

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 $229.99
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=P67%20Extreme4 $152.99 @ newegg
ASRock P67 Extreme4

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231427 $49.99 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBXL

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151222 $69.99 FREE SHIPPING
SAMSUNG Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive Model SH-B123L LightScribe Support - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125363 $244.99
GIGABYTE GV-N560OC-1GI GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.591429 Combo Price: $159.98 FREE SHIPPING
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236117 $189.99 - $179.99 after mail-in rebate card FREE SHIPPING
ASUS VH238H Black 23" Full HD HDMI LED Backlight LCD Monitor w/Speakers 250 cd/m2 ASCR 50,000,000:1

Total: $1,287.90 *not including shipping, rebates, etc...

***Benchmarks/Reviews of the 1155 2600K/250K Sandy Bridge cpu

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-2010/Gaming-Left-4-Dead,2432.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sandy-bridge-core-i7-2600k-core-i5-2500k,2833.html

http://www.guru3d.com/article/core-i5-2500k-and-core-i7-2600k-review/

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/the-sandy-bridge-review-intel-core-i5-2600k-i5-2500k-and-core-i3-2100-tested

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-990x-extreme-edition-gulftown,2874.html#t59566 <---- $330 2600K Sandy Bridge vs a $1,000 cpu