First build- $800 gaming w/ monitor

[Ilyafordictator]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: within the week
BUDGET RANGE: $800

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, multitasking, media storage, basic office applications
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, case, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg

PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD seems to be a better deal for price

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: When I need to upgrade

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920 X 1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: My case has no windows, so I have no need for lighting. I'm planning on using the video card until it is insufficient to run games, then adding a second for Crossfire. I will be running windows 64 bit on this build.

Monitor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236053
OR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009157

CPU/mobo combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.213790

Video Card/RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.210772

HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341019

Wireless Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127075 (Seems to be one of the few to work with 64 bit vista)


I would really appreciate any advice :]

 

[AMDThunder]

What is your current total? Sorry, didn't add it up

Personally, I love this monitor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009163
$20 more than the other Acer you listed, but has free shipping.

I bought a cheapo wireless card about 8 months ago before I even had Vista 64. Works just fine.

Personal preference, but I'd go woth this PSU if you have it in the budget:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
Rock solid, and I have no clue why you would need 4 rails like on the OCZ.

 

[Ilyafordictator]

Current total is 750 after MIR and shipping

I'd really prefer not to spend the extra 20$ on the corsair PSU if I don't have to.
I really know very little about PSU power distribution, though.

Would the OCZ unit I listed work, even with two 4870s?

 

[macabre215]

What is your current total? Sorry, didn't add it up

Personally, I love this monitor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009163
$20 more than the other Acer you listed, but has free shipping.

I bought a cheapo wireless card about 8 months ago before I even had Vista 64. Works just fine.

Personal preference, but I'd go woth this PSU if you have it in the budget:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
Rock solid, and I have no clue why you would need 4 rails like on the OCZ.

I concur, that OCZ psu is 56A on the 12v rails, which would actually make it 14A rails. That would be less stable than the single rail running at 52A. You have to look at the amps on the 12v rail when picking out a psu, not just the total wattage.

 

[macabre215]

Current total is 750 after MIR and shipping

I'd really prefer not to spend the extra 20$ on the corsair PSU if I don't have to.
I really know very little about PSU power distribution, though.

Would the OCZ unit I listed work, even with two 4870s?

I wouldn't chance it, like I said get something with a large single 12v rail. This is ever more important for a multiple card setup. You can use a psu with multiple 12v rails but it has to be a quality power supply, OCZ are average at best.

Go with http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10007112

 

[Ilyafordictator]

*sigh*

ok
I'm going to upgrade the power supply to the one which AMDthunder suggested, it's only 17$ more, anyways.

Any other suggestions?

 

[macabre215]

What's sad is this combo would be cheaper and have more flexibility in the future.

CPU/MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.205337

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148262

VIDEO CARD: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010487&prodlist=celebros

It should free up about 30 dollars, only problem is you are going from a quad-core to a tri-core. X4 940 will outperform the 720 in multi-threaded applications, but gaming will be identical if not better on the 720.

Edit: Sorry I used the wrong link for the CPU/MOBO combo, try it now.

 

[AMDThunder]

Same card at newegg only cheaper. Same with that PSU. He shouldn't need a 750, but if you jump to that one, same price with a $20 MIR instead of $10 at newegg AND has free shipping.

I don't disagree with the X3 720 to free up some cash, but only if it's needed.

 

[macabre215]

Same card at newegg only cheaper. Same with that PSU. He shouldn't need a 750, but if you jump to that one, same price with a $20 MIR instead of $10 at newegg AND has free shipping.

I don't disagree with the X3 720 to free up some cash, but only if it's needed.

It's not the same card that is on newegg, this is the OC version. The cheapest XFX 4870 on newegg is cheaper on ZZF with free shipping, but it is out of stock so I went with the next one up. If he wants to do crossfire 4870's then yes he will want that psu, you never want to run a unit over 60% load for extended amounts of time. That will put him at around 53% normal load and around 60% peak with two 4870's.

 

[AMDThunder]

Meh, the extra 25 on the core clock doesn't give me any warm and fuzzies. Price is pretty close either way. One thought though, if he's planning to crossfire late, might want to get something a little more vanilla so its easy to find later. Just a thought.

 

[macabre215]

Meh, the extra 25 on the core clock doesn't give me any warm and fuzzies. Price is pretty close either way. One thought though, if he's planning to crossfire late, might want to get something a little more vanilla so its easy to find later. Just a thought.

If it were me, I would also go for the lower clocked card since it's usually a waste of money otherwise. I hope we haven't confused you to much on making a decision.

 

[Ilyafordictator]

No no.

I'm not really sold on the three core option, though.

I mean, it's not saving that much money, and I think I'll see more benefits of the quad core in the future, seeing how I hope for this computer to last me 2-3 years.

I picked a motherboard that supports AM3 so that it would be upgradeable, so I think it's a fine choice.

How much would DDR3 really matter?
I'm not worried about getting the latest and greatest thing, so 1066 mhz ddr2 would probably suit me fine unless there is a substantial performance increase going to ddr3.