I7 Build and need confirmation plz

[kidd101]

Hi, i'm Raj
I have been looking abround the forum to see what parts/hardwares are perfect for my needs. I'm doing engineering and will be using engineering programs, also i'll be playing COD4, ET, TF, Half-Life, GTA IV, L4D, etc.

This is what I have come up with so far:

THERMALTAKE Element S VK60001N2Z Mid Tower Case Black Retail - $119.99 (Free SnH BIG +)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010180

GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R Intel X58 Core i7 Extreme/Core i7 Socket 1366 PC3-16000 (DDR3-2000) ATX Motherboard Retail - $186.99 (before $15.00 MIR)

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Retail - $279.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail- $98.99 (before $25.00 MIR)
newegg...

OCZ Gold 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retai - $68.99 (before $30.00 MIR)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10009622&prodlist=celebros
OR
CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail - $100.00 (before $10.00 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145220
OR
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail - $89.99 (before 20 IMR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL051909&cm_mmc=EMC- IGNEFL051909-_-DesktopMemory-_-L0C-_-20227381
(I will need vista x64 and IDK if this is the right choice)

XFX HD-487A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail - $194.99 (before $25.00 MIR)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150352&Tpk=XFX%20HD-487A-ZDFC%20Radeon%20HD%204870%201GB%20256-bit%20GDDR5

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface Sound Card - Retail - $89.99 (before $25.00 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006&Tpk=XONAR%20DX

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM - $8.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

Subtotal: $1124.00 (3GB DDR3)
$1278.00 (6GB + x64 HP)

After MIR: $1004.00
$1178.00 (6GB + x64 HP)

My budget is $1200 +-100 and can you confirm this confige or suggest a better?

Thank you
Raj

 

[warezme]

I don't see a 1366 compatible CPU cooler??? or did I just miss it in there somewhere? I would go with as much memory as you can afford and personally my choice would have been a cuda capable nvidia card buth the ATI is cheaper I'm sure.

 

[radiowars]

ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface Sound Card - Retail - $89.99 (before $25.00 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] XONAR%20DX
Get rid of this.
Instead get a GTX 275. Much faster, and will handle GTA 4 with no problems. Get a cheaper or more expensive PSU. The one you have will not handle SLI in the future. Either get a Corsair 500W or a 750/850W.

Get this RAM- OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail - $89.99 (before 20 IMR)

Get this case. W/ 50$ MIR (insane) brings it down to 110$). Excellent case & plenty of fans.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119194&Tpk=CM%20sniper

Are you planning on getting a DVD drive or did you just not put it in your list for obvious sakes?

 

[smithereen]

Looking good. Get the OCZ platinum, and thow in a Dark Knight cooler, and you'll have a nice machine.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=dark+knight&x=0&y=0

Edit: I got one-upped by radiowars. I'd get a 4890 before I got a GTX275, but they've both come down far in price that either one makes more sense than the HD4870. He's also right about the PSU of course, and the case. Xonar's kick ass.

 

[kidd101]

I will take off Xonar from my list for now and will buy it at the end of the summer. @ radiowars, I'm considering your suggestion but I also bumped into this LINK What do you think of the case (refurbished item)?

I will go with OCZ Platinum 6GB but what about the timing? I don't know anything about timing and so on when it comes to ram. I will not be overclocking the processor for now, if i do decide to then 3.0ghz will be the max. Also i have never used vista x64 so what are its up and down? I have always been comfortable with 32bit xp and never tried anything new.

I will go with 4890 - To me ati offers better price performance ratio.
SAPPHIRE 100269SR Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail - $230.00 (before $20.00 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102830
OR
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD4890 OC 1GB DDR5 2DVI PCI-Express Video Card, Retail - $217.26
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=AT-4891GOC

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

What do you think of CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire? - $114.50 (before $10 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=CMPSU-750TX


I have a monitor, DVD x16, CD burner, 250GB, few case fans, Dynex Keyboard and MS mouse from my current computer.

Any other suggestion?
Thanks for the help so far.
Raj

 

[aford10]

When it comes to RAM, it's best not to mix different kinds. It will increase the chances of instability. It's not that it won't work, it's just asking for unneeded problems. There really is no benefit to more than 6GB of RAM anyway. You should stick with a single kit of 3 x 2GB kit. OCZ platinum is a good choice.

 

[gkay09]

Stick with Corsair 750TX if you are planning for HD4870 crossfire later or switch to the Corsair 550VX if you have not planned for crossfire...
You wont be needing 650W for that setup of yours...

 

[gkay09]

And why skimp on the mobo ? you can get the ASUS p6T or the Gigabyte UD4P...

 

[radiowars]

I will take off Xonar from my list for now and will buy it at the end of the summer. @ radiowars, I'm considering your suggestion but I also bumped into this LINK What do you think of the case (refurbished item)?

I will go with OCZ Platinum 6GB but what about the timing? I don't know anything about timing and so on when it comes to ram. I will not be overclocking the processor for now, if i do decide to then 3.0ghz will be the max. Also i have never used vista x64 so what are its up and down? I have always been comfortable with 32bit xp and never tried anything new.

I will go with 4890 - To me ati offers better price performance ratio.
SAPPHIRE 100269SR Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail - $230.00 (before $20.00 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102830
OR
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD4890 OC 1GB DDR5 2DVI PCI-Express Video Card, Retail - $217.26
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=AT-4891GOC

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

What do you think of CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire? - $114.50 (before $10 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=CMPSU-750TX


I have a monitor, DVD x16, CD burner, 250GB, few case fans, Dynex Keyboard and MS mouse from my current computer.

Any other suggestion?
Thanks for the help so far.
Raj

Yeah, the 4890 is just as powerful for ~ 30$ less. (I prefer Nvidia, but am open to ATI- both are great choices).
As for the Heatsink that's the best for the price. You can OC pretty high with that.

750W psu will allow for CF 4890s in the future, so invest in that.
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=AT-4891GOC
That's good- the 4890 OC. You probably won't have to OC it yourself, and that's pretty good for Price/ performance ratio. (Cheaper than the regular 4890.)

Lastly, use WIndows 7. It's free, it's pretty stable, uses a lot less hardware, and you can upgrade to the full version a year from now if you need to. Windows Vista is not worth it at this time. SPend 100$ in a year, rather than right now for a better OS.

Everything else looks pretty good.
Good luck.

 

[radiowars]

Oh, yes, go with the Asus p6t or Asus P6T deluxe V2. Both are worth the extra money.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365

 

[PC_Plum]

Oh, yes, go with the Asus p6t or Asus P6T deluxe V2. Both are worth the extra money.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365

How about rampage 2 extreme? Is it worth it? P6T cost £250 and R2E cost £290 does it worth the extra cost?

 

[aford10]

It's a great board. I wouldn't pay the extra for it though. The p6t delux is a great board with the bells and whistles.

 

[kidd101]

I was thinking of getting p6t v2, but i will only be using 6gb of ram and will add one more 4890 in the future. I read some reviews and the big difference between GA-EX58-UD3R and other high performence mobo (like v2) is ud3r doesn't support sli (which i will not be using) and only have 4 memory slots (DIMMs).

Should i still go with the p6t v2 since it has the "bells n whistles"?
Thanks for your help

 

[aford10]

If you don't think you'll use them, then no reason to pay the extra for them.