Is my Gaming Build Aight?

[rebelx]

I had a previous thread but it didn't receive any love and I've updated my system a bit so I figured it'd be alright to post once more with updated specs. All parts listed above have been purchased and are brand new. Links are for informational purposes, not actually links to the prices I paid (usually after rebate).

The machine is primarily for gaming (FPS, HoN/DoTA 2, maybe some driving games (but I doubt it without a wheel)), but it will be used for internet browsing, movie watching, and keeping a bunch of Chrome tabs open when I'm doing research. There may be rare instances when I'm taking JPEGS and converting them into searchable PDF documents.

I wanted to stay in a budget of $650, BUT, I am not adverse to bumping it to $700 if the performance of a more expensive video card is significant enough to merit a jump.

So far, I am at: $452.

Processor: Intel i7-2600k $188
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-D3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX $16
SSD: Samsung 830, 128GB SSD $140
Optical Drive: N/A
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 650D $50
Aftermarket cooler: CM 212 $23 (technically $0, I had a $25 gift card)
Video Card: ??
Case: HAF 912 $25
RAM: Corsair 8GB (4gbx2) CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 $25
Fan: Cooler Master 120mm Case Fan $6.39; will also need a non-LED 200mm fan for the top exhaust as well.
Thermal Paste: Antec something-or-another $1
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate $0

QUERY: On the motherboard's specs it lists the following in regards to expansion/dual video card setups:

1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16)
* For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install it in the PCIEX16 slot.
1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4)
* The PCIEX4 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX1_1, PCIEX1_2 and PCI1/2/3 slots. All PCIe x1 and PCI slots will become unavailable when a PCIe x4 expansion card is installed.
2 x PCI Express x1 slots
(All PCI Express slots conform to PCI Express 2.0 standard.)
3 x PCI slots
Multi-Graphics Technology
Support for AMD CrossFireX ™ technology
* The PCIEX16 slot operates at up to x4 mode when AMD CrossFireX™ is enabled

Does that mean if I CF then I might not be getting the full value of the graphics cards that I use? Not sure how the x16 and x4 relate to each other in terms of performance.

 

[gary1]

I don't know where you're getting your prices.. 2600k is definitely not 188$, SSD is 140$, mobo is not $160, HAF 912 is NOT $25, and the RAM is not 25..

Are these the real prices, or did you mess up?

 

[rebelx]

I don't know where you're getting your prices.. 2600k is definitely not 188$, SSD is 140$, mobo is not $160, HAF 912 is NOT $25, and the RAM is not 25..

Are these the real prices, or did you mess up?

Prices:

I7 = Microcenter had it for $199.99. I went to Fry's then I price matched there and got 10% back as the difference, yielding a price of $188.
SSD = On sale on Amazon at $140
Mobo = Bought an i5-2500k from Microcenter, giving me a $50 discount on a z68 mobo. This one was priced at $80, and it had a $15 rebate, yielding a final price of $16 (opted to have an expedited rebate so I paid the $1 penalty). I then sold the i5 at cost.
HAF 912: On sale from Amazon for $39.99 after rebates, had $15 amazon promotional credit, yielding a price of $25.
RAM: RAM was $49 from newegg and there was a promo code which took off $7.35, then there was a rebate for 20, yielding a price after tax of about $25.

I'm guessing that your surprise in my prices at least means that I got the cost effectiveness of the build pretty well . Now it's just to make sure that that I hit the video card at a sweet spot and if anyone could take care of that pesky CrossFire question I had above.

 

[obsama1]

Statiscs show that when a card runs a x4 mode, it's only a 3-5% perforance decrease.

 

[rebelx]

Statiscs show that when a card runs a x4 mode, it's only a 3-5% perforance decrease.

Thank you! I can deal with a loss of 5%. That's not bad, right? Is it just my mobo that has this "problem," or is that how they all do?