$2000~ multimedia/gaming PC

[alexthephallus]

Approximate Purchase Date: One month from now.

Budget Range: 1700-2000~ after rebates. There is a little leeway.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Video & Photo editing, gaming.

Parts Not Required: CPU (2700k), RAM (Dominator 8gb)

Preferred Website for Parts: Newegg

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: I prefer Nvidia, Corsair, and WD

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Quiet, I'm planning to OC the 2700k to at least 4.5ghz.



My current build right now is:

CPU: Intel i7 2700k

Mobo: EVGA Z68 SLI 130-SB-E685-KR LGA 1155 Intel Z68 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Intel Motherboard - 169.99

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s - 129.99

Asus ML228H 21.5" Full HD LED BackLight LED Monitor Slim Design - 154.99

CPU Cooler: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM - 12.98

Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler - 84.99

PSU + Case: Corsair HX1050 1050w + 650d - 379.98

GPU: EVGA 580 (Classified): - 1080~ (it's out of stock atm, but I sort of remember how much it was.)

RAM: Corsair Dominator 8gb

That's around 2050~ before rebates. Any suggestions? I might go with an ATI card, if the scaling's better in Crossfire. I could bear waiting a month or two for the Keplers to come out though, and possibly prices to drop for the 580/7970/7950 though.

Also, any suggestions for a soundcard for a 5.1 surround sound system?

 

[mjmjpfaff]

7950's are more powerful, cheaper, andless power hungry than 580's.
you will need only a 750w psu to power 2 of those.

sound card- http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Xonar-Channels-Interface-Sound/dp/B002VAD716

a single 7950 will max out any game out there right now @ 1080p so you only need 1 card.

 

[alexthephallus]

7950's are more powerful, cheaper, andless power hungry than 580's.
you will need only a 750w psu to power 2 of those.

sound card- http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Xonar-Channels-Interface-Sound/dp/B002VAD716

a single 7950 will max out any game out there right now @ 1080p so you only need 1 card.

What's been up with the ATI drivers and what not though? And the Classified 580 has almost 3ghz difference in effective memory clock...

Also, what's the difference between the Double D Black XFX and regular Black edition 7950's?

EDIT: I also can't use PhysX with ATI cards, correct?

 

[mjmjpfaff]

its mostly with crossfire they are having trouble. but i mean you have to cut them some slack; they are releasing a whole new die size (22nm) so they will most likely have problems. not to mention they released their 22nm cards a month + earlier than nvidia.

the only difference between the 2 cards you listed is that the double d has a better cooler on it. (double fans)