Around $1500 GTX 580/i7 950 build

[Ntensity]

Approximate Purchase Date: Soon, this week possibly. Would it be better to wait?

Budget Range: $1500 a little more is ok.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, HD Movies, Schoolwork, Other random stuff

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, speakers, mouse, monitor (I want a new one but its going to have to wait)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Preferably amazon because of no tax and free shipping, but things that are out of stock on amazon I can go to newegg or maybe tiger direct.

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: Intel CPU and preferably top of the line video card like the gtx 580. Also I would REALLY like a mid tower so it can fit underneath my desk, but i want it to be kind of a big mid tower so it has good cooling and can fit a good cpu cooler and gtx 580

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in future.. probably not.

Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050 right now but in the future 1920x1050.

Additional Comments: I'm kinda undecided on the case and cpu cooler. I'm having a hard time choosing these two because for one i'd prefer a mid tower, but i want it to be big enough to fit a decent cpu cooler. And at the same time, i'd prefer the cpu cooler actually doesn't interfere with my motherboard or ram slots and the such.

Parts I have in mind (Any insight or suggestions on these would be helpful):

CPU COOLER: Cooler Master V6GT 220-Watt CPU Cooler RR-V6GT-22PK-R1
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-V6GT-220-Watt-RR-V6GT-22PK-R1/dp/B003XNG6LI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289881494&sr=8-1

or

Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 All in One High-performance CPU Cooler CWCH50-1
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Cooling-High-performance-Cooler-CWCH50-1/dp/B002QG2H7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1289883546&sr=1-1

or

Prolimatech CPU Cooler for Intel Socket 1156, 1366 and 775 Megahalems Rev. B (Silver)
http://www.amazon.com/Prolimatech-Cooler-Socket-Megahalems-Silver/dp/B002WB2LV6/ref=pd_cp_e_3

or

Cooler Master RR-B10-212P-G1 Hyper 212 Plus 775/1156/1366/AMD/AM2/AM3 Universal Direct Contact Heat-Pipe 120mm Fan CPU Cooler
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RR-B10-212P-G1-Universal-Heat-Pipe/dp/B002G1YPH0/ref=pd_cp_e_2

Like i said earlier, I want to make sure it can fit in the case i'm getting and preferably not interfere with my motherboard.

MOBO:
Gigabyte LGA1366 SATA3 ATI CrossFireX ATX Motherboard GA-X58A-UD3R
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-LGA1366-CrossFireX-Motherboard-GA-X58A-UD3R/dp/B0034CSTFY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1289883717&sr=1-1

Or maybe the Sabertooth from asus?

RAM:
Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D Dominator 6 GB 3 x 2 GB PC3-12800 1600MHz 240-Pin DDR3 Core i7 Memory Kit
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-TR3X6G1600C8D-Dominator-PC3-12800-1600MHz/dp/B001L4A76G/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1289883817&sr=1-1

PSU:
Corsair CMPSU-850TX 850-Watt TX Series 80 Plus Certified Power Supply compatible with Intel Core i7 and Core i5
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CMPSU-850TX-850-Watt-Certified-compatible/dp/B001M3G42W/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1289883840&sr=1-1

CPU:
Intel Core i7 950 3.06GHz 8M L3 Cache LGA1366 Desktop Processor
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-3-06GHz-LGA1366-Desktop-Processor/dp/B002A6G3V2/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1289883881&sr=1-1

GPU:
EVGA 015-P3-1583-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) Black Ops Edition 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130589

CASE:
????
I would like to keep it inexpensive for the most part. Probably right around 110 max for a case. Maybe HAF 922, CM II 690 advanced? Need a lot of advice on a good mid tower reasonably priced.

 

[gkay09]

^ CPU Cooler - If you wont overclock high, then the CM Hyper 212+ is a better value pick.

CASE - CM HAF 922 is a very good option if you want a Mid Tower with ample space for long cards and very good airflow...

RAM - If you are not buying the Dominators for the name and will not be overclocking high(Say above 4GHz), then get this RAM instead -
One of the best budget overclocking RAMs you can find...
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-CT3KIT25664BA1339-240-PIN-PC3-10600-3-Channel/dp/B001N9X4CS/ref=pd_cp_e_1

HDD
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-Cache-Desktop-HD103SJ/dp/B001U3S5S0/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1289885189&sr=1-1

And finally the GPU -
Are you sure you want to jump the ship on the GTX 580, without checking out the ATI's offerings? Even if not interested, but with its release, it would drive down the prices of these cards too...
Also for your resolution even a GTX 470 would suffice and also when you upgrade the monitor, you can add 1 more in SLI, which would be very powerful...

 

[Ntensity]

Thanks for your response. I forgot to add the HDD. That was actually the one I was going to pick as my storage drive because I have a vertex 2 120gb ssd already to put in as well. Thanks for your insight on the coolers and case.

And the GPU issue. I was actually probably going to go for the 6900 series because I am not really a fanboy of either company, but the whole delay thing has me worried. The current computer i'm using has a x1950gt with a amd athlon 64 x2 3800+.... It has served me well but it is getting pretty ancient and can't play Black Ops. What I normally do is buy a good computer every 4-5 years and just have it last. With the whole delay on the AMD cards, i'm not sure when we will even see them. They said the NDA is supposed to be lifted the 13th of December right? But I don't think that means it is going to be released right then. I don't know If i cant wait till 2011.

 

[gkay09]

^ Yes, NDA would lift on 13th and generally the cards pop up in retail when the NDA lifts, so you should be able to find the cards within few days...

Also why not Crossfire 2x HD 6870 if you generally dont upgrade often ? They would cost similar and would offer better performance...

 

[Ntensity]

Oh thats good to know. Also the reason for not going 6870x2 is because i've always heard the single gpu solution is usually better than dual gpu for some games because of scaling issues.

 

[gkay09]

^ To an extent that is true, but they offer more for the money IMO...
Also it depends on the type of games too,...Anyways just look out for the newer cards...

 

[Ntensity]

Best answer selected by Ntensity.

 

[Maziar]

This topic has been closed by Maziar