UPDATED PARTS
------------------------------------
Hi,
After lurking around these forums absorbing all the good advice, plus doing other research, I'm almost ready to pull the trigger. I am still undecided about the GPU to get and would appreciate your thoughts.
I have dismantled and added to many computers in the past, including keeping my six-year-old laptop on life support (hence why it's time for a new machine), but this will be my first completely new build.
As you can see, I tend to hold onto my machines for a while, so I would like this to last 4+ years without too much upgrading.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Over the next 2-3 weeks as I see specials.
BUDGET RANGE: ~US$1500 including the parts I already have
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:
Gaming (mostly strategy such as Civ IV and Total War, but the odd FPS now that I'll actually be able to run them), surfing the internet, listening to music/watching movies.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED:
I already have a Samsung 2333SW ($169 from Dell) and just picked up a Intel Core i7 920 from Micro Center ($229).
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, but anyone else such as Fry's if they have things cheaper.
PARTS PREFERENCES: None in particular, beyond wanting an i7.
OVERCLOCKING: Yes, but probably only a bit (say to 3.33 GHz by tweaking the clock speed, maybe to 3.66 GHz).
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Probably not.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: After years of a hot, noisy laptop I would love to keep this machine cool and quiet.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASE: [strike]Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$110[/strike]
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$75
MOBO: [strike]ASUS P6T Deluxe LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$290[/strike]
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$186
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
$115
RAM: [strike]G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ - Retail
$85[/strike]
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK - Retail
$95
HD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
3 x $75 = $225
I am now thinking of using 2 for a RAID 0 setup and the third for storage. Any thoughts?
GRAPHICS: See post below
I am leaning towards a 4870 mainly based on price but I am certainly not opposed to something like a GTX 260. Which of the following would you recommend?
SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$190
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4870 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$245
(Keep in mind my desire to keep this unit cool, plus is the 2GB worth it?)
EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
$195
OPTICAL: SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F - OEM
$25
KEYBOARD: [strike]Logitech S 510 Silver/Black USB or PS/2 RF Wireless Slim Cordless Desktop - Retail
$48[/strike]
Microsoft 4GC-00002 Silver/Black Wireless Ergonomics Laser Desktop 4000 - OEM
$32 (finally back in stock at Newegg)
THERMAL: [strike]ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail
$8[/strike]
Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound - Retail
$5
HEATSINK: XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail
$40
[strike]Question - is this cooler better enough to warrant paying the extra?
COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
$70[/strike]
OTHER: Rosewill RTK-045 45 Piece Premium Computer Tool Kit - Retail
$20
Probably don't really need this but some of the tools I don't yet have, plus I am very prone to electric shocks so the wrist band can't hurt.
FANS: Scythe S-Flex SFF21G 120mm Case Fan - Retail
2 x $13 = $26
OS: I plan on using Windows 7 RC until the final version comes out.
NEW TOTAL: ~$1494 + tax if I spend about $250 on the graphics card.
My questions are these:
1) Which video card would you go with (I'm not trying to stir up an NVIDIA vs ATI debate here)?
[strike]2) Is it worth the extra to get that Coolmaster?[/strike]
[strike]3) Is that RAM decent enough? I am less comfortable OCing the RAM than the CPU, but is there something out there with better timings?[/strike]
[strike]4) Do I need any extra case fans? Something like this: Scythe S-Flex SFF21G 120mm Case Fan - Retail, $13[/strike]
5) Any other thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
------------------------------------
Hi,
After lurking around these forums absorbing all the good advice, plus doing other research, I'm almost ready to pull the trigger. I am still undecided about the GPU to get and would appreciate your thoughts.
I have dismantled and added to many computers in the past, including keeping my six-year-old laptop on life support (hence why it's time for a new machine), but this will be my first completely new build.
As you can see, I tend to hold onto my machines for a while, so I would like this to last 4+ years without too much upgrading.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Over the next 2-3 weeks as I see specials.
BUDGET RANGE: ~US$1500 including the parts I already have
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:
Gaming (mostly strategy such as Civ IV and Total War, but the odd FPS now that I'll actually be able to run them), surfing the internet, listening to music/watching movies.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED:
I already have a Samsung 2333SW ($169 from Dell) and just picked up a Intel Core i7 920 from Micro Center ($229).
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, but anyone else such as Fry's if they have things cheaper.
PARTS PREFERENCES: None in particular, beyond wanting an i7.
OVERCLOCKING: Yes, but probably only a bit (say to 3.33 GHz by tweaking the clock speed, maybe to 3.66 GHz).
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Probably not.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: After years of a hot, noisy laptop I would love to keep this machine cool and quiet.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASE: [strike]Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$110[/strike]
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$75
MOBO: [strike]ASUS P6T Deluxe LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$290[/strike]
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$186
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
$115
RAM: [strike]G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ - Retail
$85[/strike]
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK - Retail
$95
HD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
3 x $75 = $225
I am now thinking of using 2 for a RAID 0 setup and the third for storage. Any thoughts?
GRAPHICS: See post below
I am leaning towards a 4870 mainly based on price but I am certainly not opposed to something like a GTX 260. Which of the following would you recommend?
SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$190
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4870 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$245
(Keep in mind my desire to keep this unit cool, plus is the 2GB worth it?)
EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
$195
OPTICAL: SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F - OEM
$25
KEYBOARD: [strike]Logitech S 510 Silver/Black USB or PS/2 RF Wireless Slim Cordless Desktop - Retail
$48[/strike]
Microsoft 4GC-00002 Silver/Black Wireless Ergonomics Laser Desktop 4000 - OEM
$32 (finally back in stock at Newegg)
THERMAL: [strike]ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail
$8[/strike]
Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound - Retail
$5
HEATSINK: XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail
$40
[strike]Question - is this cooler better enough to warrant paying the extra?
COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
$70[/strike]
OTHER: Rosewill RTK-045 45 Piece Premium Computer Tool Kit - Retail
$20
Probably don't really need this but some of the tools I don't yet have, plus I am very prone to electric shocks so the wrist band can't hurt.
FANS: Scythe S-Flex SFF21G 120mm Case Fan - Retail
2 x $13 = $26
OS: I plan on using Windows 7 RC until the final version comes out.
NEW TOTAL: ~$1494 + tax if I spend about $250 on the graphics card.
My questions are these:
1) Which video card would you go with (I'm not trying to stir up an NVIDIA vs ATI debate here)?
[strike]2) Is it worth the extra to get that Coolmaster?[/strike]
[strike]3) Is that RAM decent enough? I am less comfortable OCing the RAM than the CPU, but is there something out there with better timings?[/strike]
[strike]4) Do I need any extra case fans? Something like this: Scythe S-Flex SFF21G 120mm Case Fan - Retail, $13[/strike]
5) Any other thoughts?
Thanks in advance.