Mods to Toms $750 build

[ColdFyre2112]

Hey there folks... been lurking for a week or so and I'm getting ready to pull the trigger, but all the lil details are driving me batty.
My goal is to stay around $750 but I'm not gonna stress about $10 here or there. If it ends up $820, fine... $690, even better. I would just like for it to last me another 3-4 years like my current old system has.

I just ordered a GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB and want to modify Toms $750 system from 2 months ago to better fit with this card. It's not due in till Thursday. I got it separate from the rest of the order because it will work with my current system and I think my current card is dying. Since it's unopened, I do have the option to send it back if there is a good argument for the Radeon 4870. (ie: mobos are just more solid, xFire is overall "better" etc. After seeing the card charts, things seem to be about the same.

CPU Intel Core2 Duo E7500 Wolfdale 2.93GHz (changed from Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 @ 3.16 GHz to save a few bucks. Wise? Will I REALLY notice the difference in a gamer rig? (especially when Diablo 3 hits ))
CPU Cooler ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro (Any better suggestions for the E7500?)
Motherboard --Need Suggestion for the vid card/cpu combo please.-- Would like to have the ability to go 2x SLI. Would like to stick with the nVidia chipset. (Does it make a big difference if you don't? ie: non-nVidia chipset w/nvidia card. Nvidia's website would like to make me think so...)
RAM G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2 GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Graphics GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB
Hard Drive Samsung SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500 GB (Changed from Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB 32 MB cache.. Save $50 since I already have a terrabyte HD I'll use for storage)
Case Antec Three Hundred (might change this... I'm open to anything that works. I'm not too picky, just want usb's on the front)
Power CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V (Changed from Antec EarthWatts EA 380 380W ATX12V... I want the power to SLI eventually and don't want to have to get another PS. Besides, after the rebate, it's only $70... sounds like a great deal to me. Any thoughts on it? Good for what I need?
Optical LITE-ON 20X DVD±R SATA Model iHAS120-04

All that being said, I'd really appreciate any info and suggestions y'all may have.

And in closing, I apologies in advance if I've made any horrific looking errors or made any breeches in posting etiquette/protocol.

 

[gkay09]

Well just a info though...u could have got the Sapphire 4870 for jus $15 more and it performs better than the GTX+...and the mobos tat are available at cheap rates, dont support SLI easy...u shuld have sticked to Crossfire...Getting a gud SLI board will cost u more...

I said this just purely based on the cost factor and nt fanboism...
Rest of the config, the PSU is top quality...as is the RAM...But am sure it is little difficult to find gud SLI mobos at cheap rates and tat too u want to keep the cost down...
But u could look into the 750i nvidia chipsets, which I think are gud ofr SLI and don cost much...

 

[xthekidx]

Don't use an Nvidia chipset, they are flaky and unstable. The P45 chipset is much better and supports xfire. The 4870 is a better GPU than the 9800 GTX+, so I would recommend sending it back and getting this GPU and Mobo instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.173192
That mobo is xfire capable and one of the best ones out there under $150.

Either get the cheaper E7400, or step up to the E8400. The E7500 is overpriced. I would go with the E8400 for the extra cache size, only $25 more and definitely worth it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

This CPU cooler is better than the Freezer 7 Pro, although that one is pretty decent:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
Get this backplate for it, the rebate pays for the backplate and its still cheaper than the Freezer 7 pro, and performs better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

Your other selections look good to me.

 

[xthekidx]

If you are open to an AMD build, then you can save money here without sacrificing performance, you will actually see a performance gain if you are multitasking:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.165025
All those other components will work with these. I would be very temped by this build personally, the Phenom II x3 720 has shown some impressive benchmarks, and will overclock very well. The extra core will make it more resistant to aging in the next few years.

 

[tapher]

There's a consideration on the processor front I'd re-read about the relevance of cache size; I don't think the jump from 3 to 6 is worth $25 when you check the numbers if you're not gaming, but it's your call.

 

[evongugg]

The 680i nvidia chipset is no good. The 750i is good as far as I know.
The 780i is better than prior ones. The 790i needs DDR3 memory.
(There are AMD variants of the SLI motherboards ending in "a").

nVidia, fix the 680i chipset!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/nVidia680i/

For power supply, you would go with these:

Certified SLI-Ready Power Supplies
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html

If you go with ATI cards, then see this:

http://ati.amd.com/certifiedPSU

 

[Albertwacca]

It's a pity that you have order the 9800, because now is better deal the 4870 + a p45 Mobo. The 7400 is better choice than 7500 ( OC nearly same level, only drawback it has a lower multiplier). If you want to OC it, i have to recomend you to get ddr2 @ 1066 memory for the money you save with the 7400. The case and PSU are OK.

 

[ColdFyre2112]

thank you all for your input so far. When I get a chance, (I'm at work right now) I'm going to go through and make a revised list. For now, I think I'm leaning towards sending the 9800 back and going for the ATI 4870/p45 combo that thekid recommended.

 

[ColdFyre2112]

Okeedokie.. I've modified my shopping cart

Here's what I've come up with based on your suggestions and other folks who are wiser than I.

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale 2.8GHz

Cooler - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler (went with this one rather than the one with the bracket because I don't want to introduce any more 'screw-up factor' than necessary And like ya said, it's still a good cooler. Plus, it comes in a combo deal with the CPU.

PSU - CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Still amazed at this deal.

Ram - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 Went with the slighty faster ram and made sure it's the intel, not amd compatible version (I love the 'comments' section in newegg)

Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45

VidCard - SAPPHIRE 100259L Radeon HD 4870 512MB Went with the combo on this one... thx for the suggestion.

Case - Antec Three Hundred

HD - SAMSUNG HD642JJ 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache

Eliminating the optical drive... I have an extra available to me.

With combo prices, subtotal is 702.88 on newegg. So far so good?