Power Supply for first time build

It might do it, but I would look at a 750w psu myself to push two of those cards.

Here's a build that's in your budget that I posted on here earlier today that you might want to look at.

This build down below gives you a decent mobo, decent case w/3.0 usb ports, after market h/s (thermal paste included, Windows 7, and a chance to add another one of those factory o/c gtx 560's later on for SLI.

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Enforcer-Interior-S... $79.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Storm Enforcer USB 3.0 Mid Tower ATX Case with Window and Black Interior (SGC-1000-KWN1)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $99.99 - $69.99 after mail-in rebate FREE SHIPPING
Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-750 750W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-68A3HB3&tit... $124.99 Free Shipping
GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 Socket 1155/ Intel Z68/ DDR3/ ATI CrossFireX & nVidia SLI/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... $454.98 $20.00 Mail-In Rebate Card Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $434.98 FREE SHIPPING
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002G1YPH0/ref=ox_sc_a... $29.51 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler, RR-B10-212P-G1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $40.99 FREE SHIPPING
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 996946

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-3-5-Inch-Intern... $59.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Samsung Desktop Class Spinpoint F3 1 TB SATA 3.0 Gb-s 32 MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare-OEM Drives, HD103SJ

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $19.99 FREE SHIPPING
ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $94.99 FREE SHIPPING
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM

Total: $1,005.42 - $955.42 after mail in rebates

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/102?vs=288 <----- AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE vs Intel Core i5 2500K

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/27/ms... <------ MSI N560GTX-Ti Twin Frozr II/OC Review / Benchmarks

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id... <----- CM Storm Enforcer w/pics, specs, and professional reviews

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... <---- That's the same mobo as up above with pics, specs, and reviews

That case comes with the option to add another 200mm fan to it.

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Computer-Cooling-R4... $14.31 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25
Cooler Master Computer Case Cooling R4-LUS-07AR-GP Red LED 200mm Case Fan

Its almost as if I am seeing double!


I will be making a VERY similar build to the one he posted... One differnce is I will be using G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 $75 for the ram giving me twice as much ram for only $35 more. Games are starting to need more and more ram... Unless you want to upgrade soon I would just get the 8gig kit instead of 4gig.

+1 for Why_Me's build.

if your just a die hard AMD fan then there is nothing wrong with your build. I would bump the PSU to a 750w to be on the safe side. though a that 650w will work. see the power draw of 6950 in 2-way CF
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/crossfire-sli-3-way...

I would however go with a 2GB version of the HD 6950 and try to unlock it to a 6970, then you will need a 750w PSU.

The i5-2500k is a far superior processor to the current AMD lineup. Bulldozer is an unknown at this time and no one is even sure these AM3+ boards will run it when it does come out... its all just theory.

So should I go intel over Amd for the cpu/mobo ? Also, I heard the 6950 can get really hot, would it be cool enough in the Antec 300?

That antec 300 is a decent single card case, but it's small for dual cards and a decent size h/s. That case was never made for large cpu h/s imo.

Also check that build out I posted up above. The mobo is also available at amazon...and I'm guessing your shopping there for the tax breaks...good idea also imo.

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Intel-DDR3-Motherboard-G... $128.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Gigabyte Intel Z68 ATX DDR3 2133 LGA 1155 Motherboard GA-Z68A-D3H-B3

I would definitely go with the Sandy Bridge Intel platform over the AMD at this point in time.

The CM Storm Enforcer is a way better case. I'd strongly suggest that you get it over the Antec 300.

As for the PSU, a 750W model from Corsair, XFX, Thermaltake, Seasonic will done the job.

K thanks for the help guys I think I'm gonna go with the i5 2500k. I antec a good brand for PSU's? Or should I go with Corsair?

The brands of psu to go for are (in no particular order): Seasonic, XFX, Corsiar, PC Power & Cooling, Enermax, Antec, and Silverstone.

I'd go with Corsair, though Antec's PSU's aren't bad, just a bit overrated.

This is my build so far :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SIMPXM/ref=ox_sc_a... CD drive $25

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DHGMK0/ref=ox_sc_a... Windows 7 home premium $190

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... PSU $70

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0039GVOAM/ref=ox_sc_a... Wireless Adapter $28

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... Gpu $175

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-Cache-Desktop-H... 1TB HDD $60

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... RAM $44

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... Mobo plus Cpu Combo $ 305

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-Sleeve-RR-B10... CPU Cooler $30

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... Case $55

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RQSGYO/ref=ox_sc_a... Speakers $22.54

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Desktop-MK320-K... Mouse and Keyboard $30

Total: $1035

Are factory overclocks reliable? If they are I might go with an overclocked version of the 6870:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-64bit-System-Buil... $99.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder DVD 1 Pack

Isn't that an OEM version? Ive been told not to get the OEM version because it attaches itself to your motherboard, requiring you to buy windows 7 again if your mobo dies or you buy a new mobo.