New 1000$ build i5-2500K - ASUS P8P67 PRO - Radeon HD6950 2GB

[Terpager]

I recently tried to play ArmA II, but my old Core 2 E6600 system from end 2006 couldn't keep up!
Main reason for update is ArmA II!
I live in Denmark, but I've used newegg.com to show you which parts I've selected, so don't concentrate too much on price.

Is this system solid or have I missed something?

Approximate Purchase Date: This week

Budget Range: ~1000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, school(MatLAB and others) , surfing the internet, watching movies.

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, DVD drive, harddrives, speakers and OS. I'll reuse my two old Barracuda 7200.11 SATA 3Gb/s 500-GB Hard Drive in RAID0.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: www.shg.dk is where I'll eventually buy, but I've used newegg.com for user-reviews

Country of Origin: Denmark

Parts Preferences: Intel over AMD, AMD over Nvida.

Overclocking: Most likely with choosen CPU

Crossfire: Future expansion

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Quiet PC within range

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Parts selected:
CPU:
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W
MOBO:
ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
RAM:
Kingston HyperX Blu 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 (PC3 12800) CL9
GPU:
GIGABYTE GV-R695D5-2GD-B Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
PSU:
SILVERSTONE ST85F-P 850W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Case:
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
CPU Cooler:
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
Monitor (Not included in budget):
LG W2363D Black 23" 3ms Full HD 120Hz

Main concerns:
Ram: Are the amount big enough?, are the latency fast enough?
CPU cooler installation: I've never player with Thermalpaste before! MOBO will be in upright position and this thing is huge! I'm afraid it'll break off!
Monitor: After alot of reviews reading, I've selected this screen. Is this screen a good gaming screen or are there better alternatives within price range?
GPU: Is this Gagabyte flashable to a 6970? Not sure I want to do it, but I like the option!

Future expansion:
4GB more RAM
Another Radeon 6950 card
SSD
Blu ray drive

In advance: Thanx

 

[mosox]

Looks nice, get some 1.5V RAM if you can.

You can unlock that card into a 6970. If you don't need that, you can get the cheaper non reference 1GB version (a bit cooler and quieter as well).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102921&cm_re=Sapphire_RADEON_HD_6950-_-14-102-921-_-Product
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/Details.aspx?q=hd+6950&sp=all&pid=4606853

You don't need a 120Hz monitor if you buy an amd video card, you can have 3D on a 60Hz monitor. I don't know how good it is, here's some reviews
http://www.testseek.com/computers/displays/monitors/lcd_monitors/lg_flatron_w2363d-p-91f55eec-7261-2b76-dfad-0672c1bcf873.html
Alternatives
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/Details.aspx?pid=4390802
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/Details.aspx?pid=4757379
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/Details.aspx?pid=4813730

Alternative for the PSU
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/Details.aspx?pid=656055

Fancier case
Cooler Master HAF 922
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/Details.aspx?pid=536215

 

[Terpager]

Ok I've change my mind!

I'll change the antec 300 to the Cooler Master CM690 II Advanced
It got more room inside for the HD Radeon 6950 card!, cable management and numerous others features!

About the sapphire HD 6950 with the non reference cooler: Anybody have experience with? Does it run cooler? Is it more quiet? What is the trade-off by choosing the 1GB vs. the 2GB version?

2GB:
Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 2GB
1GB:
Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 1GB

Anything I should know before I order?

/Thx

 

[WR2]

Your PSU choice gets a good review even though it's an older model: Silverstone Strider Plus 850W review
But the XFX Black Edition 850W PSU mosox linked is a much better PSU.

The RAM kit also got a good review Kingston HyperX blu KHX1600C9D3B1K2/4GX Review. This is important since it's not the usual 1.5v RAM we recommend for DDR3.

Did you plan to try to unlock your HD 6950 to a HD 6970? Both those Sapphire 6950s dont have that option.

 

[mosox]

Nice case. The 2GB is better only if you run your games on multiple monitors. On a single full HD monitor they're equal. If you get 1.6V or 1.65V RAM set manually the memory voltage in the BIOS to the one specified.

 

[Terpager]

I'm having trouble to decide!

A better cooling solution or the ability to flash the card (and maybe turning it into a brick) for a few extra fps (less than 10 according to both tomshardware.com and anandtech.com)

 

[mosox]

I think you can revert to the older BIOS if it goes wrong. On the other hand you can OC the 6950 to the 6970 level.

 

[Terpager]

Well the dealer's stock made the decision

Thank you for your time!

 

[Terpager]

Best answer selected by Terpager.