I7 gaming comp

[LaMorte85]

Building a new gaming comp, just need some suggestions on what I've already picked out. If you think I can do it cheaper and just as good let me know. I do not plan to over clock but I still want the option to do so. Thanks a lot here's what I've got so far in no particular order:

SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (bare drive) - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136296

PNY VCGGTX295XPB GeForce GTX 295 1792MB 896 (448 x 2)-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133257

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006

CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007

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

G.SKILL PI Black 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8T-6GBPI-B - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231238

ASUS P6T Deluxe/OC Palm LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131351

Intel Core i7 940 Nehalem 2.93GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601940 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115201

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055

Yes, I'm ordering it all from newegg.. unless it's cheaper somewhere else.
One question, is buying the OS like that a good idea? If the system crashes can you use the disc again? A little confused there.

Thanks a lot

 

[foolycooly]

Couple of suggestions...

First, I would go with the i7 920 if you plan on overclocking either way. It overclocks just as well if not better than the 940 and it offers a better value.

I would also try to get the gtx295 from EVGA of XFX because of their outstanding support and RMA services. With EVGA you have the option of adding their backplate which can reduce temps under full load in excess of 20c. The XFX version comes with a copy of far cry 2.

I would take a look at this RAM -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381

It's half the cost of that gskill set and has better timings.


You could also save some money by not going w/ the OC palm edition of the P6T deluxe...it's fairly useless IMO.


I assume by going w/ the 1000w PSU that you plan to run another gtx295 in quad-sli in the future? Otherwise a 750w PSU will do.

Generally speaking, the onboard sound on today's motherboards is adequate (and quite good IMO). However, if you're an audiophile you might like the difference w/ a new sound card...just something to think about.


I hope some of this helps, and let us know what you think.

 

[xthekidx]

The 1200 is a nice case but you can do better for the price:
http://www.buy.com/retail/usersearchresults.asp?querytype=home&qu=haf+932&qxt=home&display=col
The LEDs in the Haf will match the red LEDs of the V8

Are you going to SLI GTX 295's later? If not then you can go with a Corsair 750tx.

Give onboard sound a try before you buy a soundcard, onboard sound is pretty decent. Adding a sound card is very easy later on if you are unsatisfied with onboard sound.

Just get the P6T Deluxe V2, not the OC Palm, unless you really want that display.

The i7 940 is not at all worth the price. If you just barely bump the BCLK on the 920 to 150 from 133 then you get a faster processor for $200 less. You won't even have to change the voltages or anything on your CPU, Maybe on the ram.

You are paying more than $1/gb of storage on that Velociraptor. Just get 2 WD6401AALS in raid 0. Costs less, 10x the storage, and faster.

Not OC'ing the i7 is a waste...especially since you have an aftermarket cooler. If you won't OC, then you can ditch the cooler. But the i7 feels like it is purposely underclocked from the factory and wants to be pushed.

 

[gkay09]

Get tis memory...

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
$191.99
Free Shipping*
$9 off w/ promo code EMCLPLT54, while supplies last
2x Winner of Customer Choice Award - Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224

And like other have said, get the 920 rather than the 940
And get vista ultimate...

 

[foolycooly]

I disagree with ultimate and I disagree w/ the RAM. Corsair dominators are obviously outstanding memory but the way the platinum set is priced right now, it is definitely the better buy.

Ultimate is unnecessary for the large majority of users and is a lot more money.

 

[gkay09]

Yes u r correct abt certain things...but if u have the money to spend then y nto get the best out there...and am sure they are not waste of money...

 

[LaMorte85]

thanks for all of the suggestions, I did switch to the 920 and changed the ram. Changed the board to the recommended one as well. I will give the onboard sound a try. The Cooler Master on buy.com is sold out.
Is this a good deal? http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.163890
Also, would buying the vista SYSTEM BUILDERS be a good idea? Or should I buy the retail version?

 

[LaMorte85]

forgot to mention I need to find a good monitor that's cheap as well. I'm actually going to hook the desktop to my 40 inch samsung 1080p tv so i only need a monitor to configure it to the tv

 

[foolycooly]

I recommend this monitor:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001309

That case that you linked in that combo is incredibly expensive...I would shop around for the Coolermaster HAF if you can find it somewhere at a good price. I would also suggest the coolermaster 690...it's an oustanding case for its price.

Buying the system builder OS is just fine...it can only be used on your motherboard though.

 

[foolycooly]

ah, I misread what you said. If you plan on hooking the system up to your TV, then yeah the cheaper the better on the monitor if it's just going to be for configuring.

That samsung looks fine, but I think it's an older model. You might want to check out this Acer that has been highly rated and has free shipping right now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009127

 

[LaMorte85]

Do you guys have a better idea for the graphics card? Maybe something more bang for your buck?

 

[foolycooly]

You can consider the radeon 4870x2. Value-wise they are about the same, since the gtx295 is the more powerful card (not by much though).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102768

 

[foolycooly]

No, it's not worth the money IMO. The best 7200 HDD out there right now is the WD caviar black series. I would consider the 640gb version -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319&Tpk=wd%20caviar%20black%20640gb

 

[foolycooly]

No...if you can afford the velociraptor, then of course it's better than 7200 drives. I said that I don't think it's worth it. If you're looking to save some money, this is a good place to do it in. If you can afford it, go for the vraptor.

 

[LaMorte85]

Okay, thanks for the opinion. I am definitely considering it. I just don't know if the vraptor would show a big difference in performance for the price

 

[xthekidx]

The Velocirapter has read/write speeds of about 120mb/s, the 640 caviar black is about 100mb/s...so 20% increase about...going with raid 640s would be cheaper though and give you 5x the storage space and be faster than the vrapter.

 

[LaMorte85]

Okay I will go with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

 

[xthekidx]

I would be a good option. The GTX 295 seems to do better than the 4870x2 at the lower resolutions, but the 4870x2 can do better at large resolutions. However at $100 cheaper it should definitely be considered. For your TV, I doubt you would see a difference in performance between the two, the human eye can't really see anything over 40FPS anyways.

 

[LaMorte85]

okay, would this power supply be good for everything listed then? http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=17-139-006&SortField=0&SummaryType=1&Pagesize=10&SelectedRating=5&PurchaseMark=&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&Keywords=(keywords)&=0&=10&Page=3

 

[xthekidx]

Should be plenty.

 

[LaMorte85]

okay, one last question. Would buying this be a good idea for the i7? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055

 

[LaMorte85]

Just to recap, this is what I'm planning to get now with all of your suggestions.

SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q - OEM

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Acer X193W+BD Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK - Retail

ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM

COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

 

[Helloworld_98]

If you can afford it and don't mind the extra noise then go with a V10 cooler since I think they come with the 1366 bracket whereas V8's don't and it will cool better.(also has two fans instead of one)

 

[foolycooly]

the V8 DOES come with a 1366 bracket...where did you hear that it didn't?

 

[xthekidx]

The V10 is $140. Get watercooling if you are going to spend that much on a cooler.