$1200 Gaming PC - First time builder

[SageRamirez]

Approximate Purchase Date: March 18th-20th (sometime next weekend)

Budget Range: $1200

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, movies, internet

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Windows 7 Ultimate Edition, DVD Burner (LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer Black SATA Model iHAS-324-98B) Monitor (pair of 24" Acer Widescreens)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.ca

Country of Origin: Canada

Parts Preferences: AMD CPU and RADEON Video card

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Crossfire, yes

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments: I think I've got the parts selected for building my first computer, however I wanted to run it through people here and get any opinions on things to change, add, remove, etc before I commit to it and order the parts.

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V

Thermaltake Element G VL10001W2Z Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD204UI 2TB 5400 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890GX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard

SAPPHIRE 100314SR Radeon HD 6870 1GB x2 for Crossfire

Kingston 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500)

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX

 

[Proximon]

I have no major objections but I would handle it far differently at that budget.

First of all, and I have NOT priced things out for Canadians in the last few months, historically newegg.ca is not the place to shop.

http://www.ncix.com/
http://www.directcanada.com/
Are often better deals.

Next, at that price range you should consider waiting a week or two and getting an Intel build. A P67 board and i5-2500 will not set you back much more and will be a much stronger processor going forward.

Save a bit on the case... you like red?
CM 922 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

RAM is at an all time low, grab an 8GB kit, 2x4GB, and not 1066. At least 1333.

 

[SageRamirez]

Was going through DirectCanada and for just not much more then my budget ($100 or so over, which not thrilled about but these things happen) I was able to build a bit nicer computer then through NewEgg. Just wanna get a compatabilty check on the parts and opinions and such before I pull the trigger.

G.SKILL F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL Ripjaws 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1333 CL9-9-9-24 240PIN DIMM Memory

Gigabyte 890GPA-UD3H 890GX AM3 ATX DDR3 2PCI-E 2PCI SATA3 USB3.0 HDMI GBLAN CrossFireX Motherboard

AMD Phenom II X4 970 Black Edition Quad Core Processor 3.5GHZ 8MB Socket AM3 Retail Box

Sapphire Radeon HD 6870 900MHZ 1GB 4.2GHZ GDDR5 2XDVI 2XMINI DisplayPort HDMI PCI-E Video Card

2TB Av Green Power 3.5IN Sata

Cooler Master Haf 932 Full Tower EATX Case 6X5.25 1X3.5 5X3.5INT No PSU USB eSATA 1394 Audio - Black

OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135mm Fan 80PLUS Power Supply

To me and my limited experience, not to mention the bit I could find through google, it looks like there shouldn't be any issues, however I still would prefer to see what people here have to say.

 

[Proximon]

If you are determined to go with AMD, you would do better to go with a 955 and bump the multiplier up yourself. The only difference between the two CPUs is where the multiplier has been preset as default.

The throw in a good cooler like this one:
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14110AC6165&vpn=SCMG-2100&manufacture=SCYTHE

As to the compatibility check, all the parts should be fine.
The PSU is just enough for the crossfire, as it will supply 46 amps of 12V power and you'll use most of that. CF 6870s need 25 amps (max draw, not typical draw) and the rest of your system will need 15 or so max.