How does this build look?

[Bobby Corwen]

Approximate Purchase Date: In a week or two, I'd like to have all the parts by the end of the month.
Budget Range: $2000-3000
System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, internet, watching Blu-Rays.
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers, and monitor.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.ca
Country of Origin: Canada
Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, Nvidia GPU, Cooler Master case
Overclocking: Yes
SLI or Crossfire: Yes, but not right away.
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Additional Comments: I am interested in water cooling, but I still don't know enough to decide on what I need. So I am just going to go with air cooling for now and see how that works.


Case: Cooler Master HAF X $189.99
Motherboard:ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 $339.99
CPU:Intel i5 2500K $219.99, just until Ivy Bridge.
Heatsink: Noctua NH-D14 $99.99
GPU: EVGA GTX 580 $589.99, just one for now, but I'll probably get another one when needed.
PSU: Corsair AX850 $199.99, Is this compatible with the motherboard?
Memory: G.SKILL Sniper Series 2 x 4GB $113.49
SSD: Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe 120GB $249.99
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB $84.99
Optical: Sony Black Blu-Ray Burner $159.99
Fans: Cooler Master 200mm Red LED Case Fan $19.99, the HAF-X only comes with one top fan.
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium Full $229.99


So I'm willing to change anything on the list if there are better options available. If there are any other RAM suggestions, NH-D14 Ram Compatibility.

I want to run the cables through the back of the case so everything looks neat. I have read reviews of the HAF X and people mention that some of the cables were too short if they were run through the back, so I think I'll get some extensions. Should I get ATX or EPS extensions? Also is 850W enough for 2 GTX 580's? Would 1200W be enough for 3?

 

[FinneousPJ]

At your resolution you're not going to need two much less three 580s. I wouldn't buy the Noctua because it's so damn expensive but it is a solid performer I can't deny that... I believe 850W is the sweet spot for 580 SLi but as I said you're not going to need it unless you buy a bigger screen or go multimonitor. It looks pretty good overall.

 

[etk]

Why a full license as opposed to OEM?

 

[Why_Me]

Approximate Purchase Date: In a week or two, I'd like to have all the parts by the end of the month.
Budget Range: $2000-3000
System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, internet, watching Blu-Rays.
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers, and monitor.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.ca
Country of Origin: Canada
Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, Nvidia GPU, Cooler Master case
Overclocking: Yes
SLI or Crossfire: Yes, but not right away.
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Additional Comments: I am interested in water cooling, but I still don't know enough to decide on what I need. So I am just going to go with air cooling for now and see how that works.


Case: Cooler Master HAF X $189.99
Motherboard:ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 $339.99
CPU:Intel i5 2500K $219.99, just until Ivy Bridge.
Heatsink: Noctua NH-D14 $99.99
GPU: EVGA GTX 580 $589.99, just one for now, but I'll probably get another one when needed.
PSU: Corsair AX850 $199.99, Is this compatible with the motherboard?
Memory: G.SKILL Sniper Series 2 x 4GB $113.49
SSD: Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe 120GB $249.99
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB $84.99
Optical: Sony Black Blu-Ray Burner $159.99
Fans: Cooler Master 200mm Red LED Case Fan $19.99, the HAF-X only comes with one top fan.
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium Full $229.99


So I'm willing to change anything on the list if there are better options available. If there are any other RAM suggestions, NH-D14 Ram Compatibility.

I want to run the cables through the back of the case so everything looks neat. I have read reviews of the HAF X and people mention that some of the cables were too short if they were run through the back, so I think I'll get some extensions. Should I get ATX or EPS extensions? Also is 850W enough for 2 GTX 580's? Would 1200W be enough for 3?

Everything looks great except the psu. Look for something around 1000w so you have some headroom to work with if you decide to add another one of those cards later on.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=13220AC6971&vpn=OCZ-ZX1000W&manufacture=OCZ $177.72 MIR $147.72
OCZ ZX Series 1000W ATX12V 24PIN Active PFC 80 Plus Gold 83A Power Supply 140MM Fan Black 5 Yr Wrty

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11180AC4446&vpn=CMPSU-1050HX&manufacture=CORSAIR $198.12
Corsair Professional Series HX1050 1050W ATX 12V 87A 24PIN ATX 80PLUS Silver Modular Power Supply

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11510AC5843&vpn=ERV1020EWT&manufacture=ENERMAX $207.36
Enermax ERV1020EWT REVOLUTION85+ 1020W ATX12V 24PIN & PCI-E Power Supply

FREE SHIPPING

These two retailers (Direct Canada & Best Direct) are affiliated, both use the same shipping addy out of Richmond, BC, and both offer free ground shipping.

http://www.directcanada.com/contact/

http://www.bestdirect.ca/contact/

 

[Sky03]

Your ram is 1.65v

Pick something that's 1.5v

Also, as the other posted mentioned above, that mobo is mainly use for 3x gpu card. If you'll never use 3, drop down to an extreme4 and save money.

OEM windows is also anothet $100 savings.

 

[Why_Me]

Your ram is 1.65v

Pick something that's 1.5v

Also, as the other posted mentioned above, that mobo is mainly use for 3x gpu card. If you'll never use 3, drop down to an extreme4 and save money.

OEM windows is also anothet $100 savings.

+1 ...I missed that RAM the OP had.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

get the ocz zx 1000w psu that why_me listed. it was the best out of that bunch

cheaper blu ray burner- http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135252

same ram but 1.5v- http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

i would get a corsair ssd because the sanforce ssd's are not the most reliable and you should have corsairs great customer service to back you up- http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233191

and at least get a card with good cooling- http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127567

 

[Bobby Corwen]

Your ram is 1.65v

Pick something that's 1.5v

Also, as the other posted mentioned above, that mobo is mainly use for 3x gpu card. If you'll never use 3, drop down to an extreme4 and save money.

OEM windows is also anothet $100 savings.

get the ocz zx 1000w psu that why_me listed. it was the best out of that bunch

cheaper blu ray burner- http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135252

same ram but 1.5v- http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

i would get a corsair ssd because the sanforce ssd's are not the most reliable and you should have corsairs great customer service to back you up- http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233191

and at least get a card with good cooling- http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127567

Is 1.6V ram not compatible with that motherboard/cpu?

I think I'll go with OEM Windows 7. Are the only differences you don't get support from Microsoft and you can only install it on one computer? Can you still reinstall it if needed?

Are Sandforce SSD's faster but less reliable? That Mushkin has gotten good reviews.

I am thinking of hooking up my 50" TV to my new computer. Would one GTX 580 still be enough for gaming? (I'm not sure what the resolution would be.)

 

[Sky03]

1.5v is required for sandy bridge. (i'm not 100% sure but i read that technically it's something like 1.575 or something. But why risk right?)

Not sure about the mushkin, but the crucial m4 128gb is pretty popular. Yes it's not the fastest, but it's still an ssd and is therefore much faster than a mechanical drive. Along with good pricing and being one of the more reliable ssd in the market, it's a safe bet.

TVs nowawdays are mostly 1080p. Inches doesn't matter much. A 24" 1080p vs a 50" 1080p will be tax the gpu the same.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

Best answer selected by Bobby Corwen.