Building a computer, would like advice and opinions

[hilmart]

Approximate Purchase Date: Not really set. Would like to buy it before the 30th of March, but not necessary.

Budget Range: 200.000 kr. - 350.000 kr. ( $1580 - $2770 )

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, programming, rendering video, watching movies, playing music, surfing the web

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, speakers, headset, maybe HDD (might just re-use my current one)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Vaktin (It's an Icelandic website that gathers data from all of the Icelandic computer retailers. You can see the retailers' logo beneath the horizontal navigation menu and click them to go to their website.)

Country: Iceland

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU and nVidia GPU

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in the future, but no plans

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 and above

Additional Comments: My current computer was bought in August 2008 and can't handle some games I play.

My current computer:

OS: Windows 7 Professional
Motherboard: Gigabyte EP43-DS3L
CPU: Intel Core Duo 3.0GHz
GPU: ATI Radeon HD 4850 1GB
RAM: 2x2GB DDR2
HDD: 750GB SATA 3 7200 RPM
Power Supply: 400W
Monitor: 22 inch BenQ LCD

I have already put together 2 builds and I'd like to get opinions on them and such.
If you click here then you can see the 2 builds in Google Docs.
You may have noticed that they have no HDD, I might just use my old HDD.
I would prefer to spend as little as possible and I think I prefer build 1, but I'm no expert.

As for a monitor, I would really like your opinion on LED monitors and how what's a good size of one. I've been looking at the Philips 27" 273E3LSB LED, but I've heard that a 27" monitor with 1920x1080 resolution tends to stretch the image.

Thanks for taking your time in helping me (or reading this).

Also if you need any help with translations of some of these Icelandic sites, just ask me (or use Google Translate, however that tends to be rather terrible with Icelandic).

 

[sosofm]

Move the 2600k and H80 from your second in the first build. Buy a 23" - 24" full hd monitor.

 

[azeem40]

On that range, I recommend a 2560x1440 IPS Panel monitor.

 

[hilmart]

Move the 2600k and H80 from your second in the first build. Buy a 23" - 24" full hd monitor.

I switched out the 2600K with the 2600, but why the H80? What would I replace it with? The H60?

What graphics card do you recommend?

MSI GeForce N580GTX TWIN FROZR II/OC (N580GTX)
or
EVGA GeForce N590GTX Classified (N590GTX)

Also, what does the "N" behind the 580 and 590 mean?

 

[azeem40]

The Noctua D14 performs much better than either of those liquid coolers.

 

[hilmart]

The Noctua D14 performs much better than either of those liquid coolers.

I don't think that one is available in Iceland and I don't want to order it from another country, that's too expensive.

 

[azeem40]

Then get the Hyper 212 EVO. It too performs better than the H60 and H80.

 

[hilmart]

The only liquid cooling available in Iceland are 3 from Corsair, the H60, the H80 and the H100. Not a wide selection I know.

 

[sosofm]

Video card buy AMD 7970 is the best single GPU on the market , for now.

 

[hilmart]

Video card buy AMD 7970 is the best single GPU on the market , for now.

I've heard that nVidia's drivers and software is way better than AMD's drivers and Catalyst Control Center.
I've had and Ati card since 2008 and it's been pretty good, but I've been thinking to switch over to nVidia, especially since one of AMD's drivers messed up my screen and forced me to buy another DVI cable.
Which is better 7970 or 590 GTX?

 

[hilmart]

Also, what can you tell me about the BenQ GL2450 24'' LED FULL HD ?

 

[sosofm]

At the price of one 590 you can buy 2 x 7970. In some benchmarks only one 7970 is close to 590 , but i 7970 Crossfire is much better than 590 http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/HD_7970_CrossFire/3.html

 

[hilmart]

Actually, here in Iceland:
1 GTX 590 = 139.000 kr.
1 Ati 7970 = 99.000 kr.

 

[sosofm]

Don't buy 590 , buy 7970 or wait for the new Nvidia 600 series video cards.

 

[hilmart]

Don't buy 590 , buy 7970 or wait for the new Nvidia 600 series video cards.

I just saw a report about the GTX 680 and it will apparently be the best graphics card in the world. I might consider ordering it from the US, maybe I will save some money on it or hopefully the price won't be much higher than the 590.
I really like that it's got PCI-Express 3.0. The motherboard I'm getting has that.

Now I need a monitor and CPU cooling. Does anyone recommend LED monitors for gaming? Is there any risk of leakage with liquid cooling?

 

[sosofm]

CPU cooler buy Coolermaster EVO is cheap and good. If you want the best air cooling buy Noctua cpu cooler.

 

[hilmart]

I found out that I didn't search well enough the first 2 times.
I have found that the CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO and the Noctua NH-D14 are available to me.
I also noticed a CoolerMaster Hyper 212 PLUS and a CoolerMaster V8.
Which of these are the best?
Is liquid cooling not all that good or has it a long way to go before it catches up to air cooling? Which is more silent at full power, liquid or air?

 

[obsama1]

The EVO. Unless you're overclocking to near 5GHz, the Hyper 212 Evo suffices.

 

[hilmart]

Best answer selected by hilmart.