Core i7 system, first time builder.

[Mirkheim]

Hi. This will be my first build. It's going to be used largely for Everquest 2, on a 22" monitor, preferably with the option to run a second game on a second monitor. Secondary uses will be Supcom, Eve, Photoshop, and possibly combinations of the above simultaneously, along with 7 or 8 other minor programs and browsers at a time.

Ideally this system will be good for a couple of years. Need a front card reader for getting photos from camera to computer.

Here's what I have so far, based mostly on other setups and advice on this forum:

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

Motherboard: ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365

Processor: Intel Core i7 940 Nehalem 2.93GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601940
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115201

CPU Cooler: XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

Thermal Paste: ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102768

RAM: 2 x mushkin 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 998679
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226030

HD: 2 x Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

Card Reader: SABRENT CRW-UINB 68-in-1 USB 2.0 Internal Card Reader w/ USB 2.0 Port supports SDHC/VISTA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820300608

DVD Drive: LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

Total Cost: $2,154.87


Any thoughts or comments or suggestions? I'd like to reiterate that this is my first build, and in addition, I'm in a small town with no good (or even mediocre) computer store, so I'd like to make sure I have everything I'll need ordered on the first try. So is there anything I'm missing? Cable ties, programs, screws, I dunno, anything. Thanks in advance for the help!

Oops. Theres a video card in there now

 

[sassan]

video card?

 

[Mirkheim]

Oops. There we go.

 

[xrdar]

That all looks really good, except I don't think you need to spend that much on a i7 when you can just overclock the i7 920 to the same speed as your 940 and even past that. You might want to consider getting two HD and raid 0 them for better performance with the money moved from the processor

 

[xrdar]

nvm about the HD you already had two I missed that

 

[xthekidx]

I think I would change the Case/PSU to this, the case is more attractive and the PSU is better for a cheaper price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.177160

Just get the i7 920, the 940 doesn't make any sense. The i7 overclocks very easily and very well, just OC the 920 and save $200.

Don't forget an OS, Windows Vista Home Premium 64Bit

 

[Mirkheim]

Ok, so I'll go with the Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

That drops the price to $1,873.87. I already had the OS included in the price.

I actually had a hard time deciding between the case you linked and the one I chose, but I ended up deciding on the cooler master for a couple reasons. Mainly, it's going to be sitting way back under a desk, on a hardwood floor, so the rollers included with the coolermaster would be really nice, and you won't see it for the attractiveness to matter. Also, I really like the cable management thing, and the extra size would be nice, I think, for my first build. So, unless there's a good performance reason not to, I think I'll stick with it. With that, would it still be a good idea to switch to the antec PSU you linked?

 

[FLGibsonJr]

I got the Cooler Master HAF932 and I am extremely pleased with the purchase, in fact got a 2nd one for another build because of how impressed I am with it.

Regards,

 

[Why_Me]

850w will not run two of those 4870 x2 cards. Try the gtx 285 route. 850w will run two of them np, and one of these cards runs almost neck and neck with that card you have in your build but at a much cheaper price also it leaves you the option to SLI later on if you so choose.

http://www.securemart.com/SMA2101442?mv_pc=294&mv_specials=&mv_stock=y $119.91
Cooler Master RC-932-KKN1-GP HAF 932 Chassis - 12 Bays - Black

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247 $94.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-920 $265.99
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125255 $339.99 ($309.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate)
GIGABYTE GV-N285-1GH-B GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

 

[Mirkheim]

Ok, thanks for the tips on price. So if you think that 1 GTX 285 would be about as good as the 4870 x2, would 2 GTX 285's be significantly better? And would putting 2 of them in require changing anything else in the setup I have?

 

[xthekidx]

2x GTX 285's will be better than 1 4870x2, but not better than 2 4870x2's.

 

[Why_Me]

Ok, thanks for the tips on price. So if you think that 1 GTX 285 would be about as good as the 4870 x2, would 2 GTX 285's be significantly better? And would putting 2 of them in require changing anything else in the setup I have?

In order to run two ATI 4870 x2's in Crossfire, you will need no less than a 1000w - 1200w psu. Your looking at around $225 minimum for a psu. With two gtx 285's in SLI you can do it easily with a 850w psu not to mention the gtx 285 doesn't put out near as much heat as the 4870 x2.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2009/01/16/nvidia-zotac-geforce-gtx-285-1gb/1 <=== here is a review of the gtx 285, notice the charts on there which also include the 4870 x2.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-275,2266.html <=== this review of the gtx 275 also includes the gtx 285 in it's charts. Take a look at the numbers.

 

[Mirkheim]

All right. I had no intention of going with 2 4870 x2's anyway. So, here's the new setup:

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119160

Motherboard: ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131365

Processor: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX8060192
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

CPU Cooler: XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233029

Thermal Paste: ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186020

Video Cards: 2 x GIGABYTE GV-N285-1GH-B GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125255

RAM: 2 x G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247

HD: 2 x Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136284

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139009

Card Reader: SABRENT CRW-UINB 68-in-1 USB 2.0 Internal Card Reader w/ USB 2.0 Port supports SDHC/VISTA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820300608

DVD Drive: LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136152

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488


Anything I should consider changing? Thanks

 

[Why_Me]

Nice build! ... but you forgot to add your thermal compound...don't ever leave home without it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

 

[Mirkheim]

And I think you misread something in my original post, Why_Me, I didn't have 2 4870 x2's listed. But thanks for the comparison links, makes the decision easier.