Gaming rig, suggestions?

[Slatch]

I've been doing a lot of research and have come up with what I think is a pretty good gaming machine. I'm estimating the current build to be at US$1300, but money is not a huge issue. Any ways this setup can be improved w/o having to spend a ton more? Or maybe some ways to save some money? I plan on OCing the computer, but I've never Oced before, so maybe some parts I have here are bad for it?

CPU: E8500 3.16 gHz 1333 FSB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036
Mobo: GA-X48-DS4 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336&Tpk=GA-X48-DS4
RAM: OCZ Reaper 2x2(4gb) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227298
Video: 2x Radeon 4850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102747
Cooling: Xigmatek HDT-S1283 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
Case: Antec 900 or NXZT Tempest http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=amtec%2b900
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047&Tpk=NXZT%2bTempest
PSU: Suggestions? How many watts?
OS: Vista SP1 64 bit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116483
Any reason to get Premium or a non system builders vista?

 

[akhilles]

Specs look great. You might wanna throw in the backplate/mounting kit for the cpu hsf.

Premium & up comes with Aero interface. Home basic doesn't. OEM is fine and can be used as retail. They're the same except for the way they're bought. Retail means no hardware purchases required.

 

[X3qtor]

If i were you i'd get E8400 instead of the E8500, and with the difference + a bit of more money i'd get 2x 4870. You won't get any extra fps from 8500 over 8400, but you will pay premium extra. You WILL get extra fps from getting 2x 4870 instead of 2x 4850. IF you are building a pure gaming rig, then your only concern should be to get more FPS.

Whenever you build a gaming rig think only about fps advantages. Forget quads, forget ddr3. Those are extra money for maybe 1-2 fps. And i'm talking lots of extra money. With those extra you could probably buy a gpu that will win you 10-15 more fps.

 

[Slatch]

Somone just suggested I wait and get the 4870x2 instead. Is that expected to outperform 2x 4870 CF, or be about the same? I could downgrade to a P45 board if I got the 4870x2, which would save some on the mobo, although upping the price some. I'll see how if prices change in the next few weeks before I buy the parts. Maybe I will go with the E8400 then. My only worry is that the E8500 has the higher multiplier, so overclocking the 8400 will not go as high.

akhilles thanks for the simple pointer and the OS details. I'll make sure to get the mounting kit.

Something else I forgot. Should I go raptor or RAID 0? I know RAID 0 has the much higher fail rate, but properly partitioned isn't it fairly safe? I don't need a lot of HD space, I never filled my last one which was 180GB.

 

[akhilles]

What X3qtor said. I've seen enough gaming builds that focus too much on the non-gaming factors like cases, hard disks, bling, cpu, ram, mobo, etc. The most important factor in such builds is the gpu.

It's what's inside that counts.

Regardless of what storage to go, make sure you have a plan B or you'll be forked. Use Windows backup daily on a schedule. I prefer Acronis True Image 10. 11 is buggy. The whole archive is a virtual drive that lets you copy & paste select files to your existing real drive.

 

[JJ86]

My only worry is that the E8500 has the higher multiplier, so overclocking the 8400 will not go as high.

that may be so, but plenty of people are getting 4ghz out of a 8400....