Some specific questions regarding a new machine

[Thanearchon]

With my current machine getting a bit aged I'm in the process of planning a new one. It is intended primarily for gaming as well as to be the primary home computer in terms of web surfing, record keeping, and occasionally I watch Blu-ray's on it. I already have a 5.1 Logitech speaker system and have been using a 24" Dell monitor, but I'm seriously considering moving up to a 30" running at 2560 x 1600. I will buy that monitor later. No plans for multi-monitor surround. Budget is around $3500, but I could be talked into going higher (Note: I am not planning to build it myself, which adds to the cost. As I have aged I have lost interest in troubleshooting and don't have a lot of time. I'll figure out a design and have a boutique build it).

Here's what I've been thinking:

Case: Big open question. I have a CoolerMaster HAF for my current machine, and I like it. Open to other options.

Mobo: The ASUS Sabertooth X79

Processor: i7 3820 3.6 Ghz

Memory: Corsair or comparable 1600 Mhz 16 Gb

Power Supply: 1050 Corsair, Thermaltake etc

GPU: Dual GTX 670 in SLI

Hard Drives: 250 Gb Intel 520 system drive, 2 Tb 7200 rpm Sata 6Gpb storage drive

Optical: Probably the ASUS bluray player, DVD writer

Sound Card: Creative Labs Recon3D Fatal1ty Champion 5.1

Cooling: ???

System: Win 7 Home

_________________________________________________

So here are my questions:

1) I assume for gaming there is little argument to go with a 6 core processor.
2) Should I be saving money with a Z77 chipset?
3) What are the arguments for the 2 versus 4 Gb GTX 670's? Anyone want to argue I should be getting the 680's? Also, the eVGA factory overclocked cards - worth the extra dough?
4) I'm interested in a minimally overclocked and quieter system that still meets my performance requirements. I have water cooling now and as everyone always says - not any quieter. Air or water cooling for this machine, assuming I am aiming for a final processor speed in the low 4's, and do not plan to OC the GPU's?
5) Am I wasting money on a high end audio card despite the good speakers? If not, Aurux versus Creative?
6) Best all around hard drive for gaming? I was originally considering a second SSD as a dedicated Steam and gaming drive, but that would chew up the only other SATA 6 connection the mobo has, and would probably have no effect beyond loading times. Thoughts?
7) I'm planning 16 gig system ram, so was thinking Windows 7 Home. Why pay for Pro when Windows 8 is right around the corner? Are the OEM Windows 7's shipping with upgrade coupons? They did that with Vista --> 7 I remember.
8) How long do you think the "power on to applications ready to go" time will be for this? I'm thinking about making the switch from "computer always on" to "turn it off when I am done."

Thanks!

John
9) Anything else I haven't thought of here?

 

[obsama1]

Also, 1K watts is way too much. Stick to 750w.

 

[obsama1]

1. It's not even 6 cores. It's quad. Better of with an i7 3770K or i5 3570K.
2. Yes, you'd save some money.
3. At 2560x1600, games eat VRAM for breakfast. Better to get 4GB. After the 670 came out, people defected to buying 670's instead. EVGA has bad cooling on their cards. Best to get the MSI, GB, or ASUS cards.
4. A Noctua D14 will be awesome and at 4GHz, your CPU will run really cold.
5. The sound card is overkill. Best to get an ASUS Xonar DG.
6. Windows 8 upgrade will be $40, so it's not a big deal if you get Win7 now. Also, in my opinion, I'd rather stick to 7 than go to 8.
7. With an SSD, bootup times are instantaneous. Probably 10 seconds to bootup.

 

[Thanearchon]

Thanks, that's helpful. I've switched to the Asus Z77 with the 3770K, and will go with 4 Gb ram on the video cards. Also going with the Noctua. Regarding the PS - I read that the underload demand for the 670 can be as high as 315-320 watts *apiece.* I only need 100 watts for the rest of the system? The processor sips, but what about the drives?

Thanks,
John

 

[obsama1]

I've seen people get 670's with 550w and 600w PSU's and they work fine. The drives sip power. Only a few watts for each drive.