Need Advice for i7 Gaming PC

[Serrian]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within a month

BUDGET RANGE: Preferably around $1250, but not rigidly.

INTENDED USAGE: Gaming, possible video editing, video watching, internet, programming

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor - Likely to be using 1920×1080 in the future, speakers

Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor

ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

Corsair TR3X6G1600C7 XMS3 6 GB PC3-12800 1600Mhz CL7 240-pin Triple Channel Core i7 DDR3

2x HITACHI - DESKSTAR 250GB 7200RPM 8MB BUFFER SATA-II 7-PIN 3.5INCH HARD DISK DRIVE (Total 500 GB)

ASUS SDRW-08D1S-U Optical Drive

GPU - Considering Sapphire Radeon 4850 X2 or just installing 2x 4850 over crossfire but I need advice on this part.

Power Supply - Please advise.

Case - Antec Sonata III
I'm buying from the US.

OVERCLOCKING: Most likely, will probably be using Crossfire either immediately or in the future

Ideally I'd like to make this build be a capable gaming machine for 5-6 years, though I don't know if that's possible in my budget.
Thank you all very much.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Case is going to be a tight fit for twin GFX. You have all hi end components and with a 5-6 year plan to keep the box, I'd go bigger.

Antec 1200 is $60 more but has great cooling and will last many years. Paired with the CP-850 PSU, the total is $250....but both will give you a solid platform for twin GFX and OC'ing. As an alternate, consider the HAF-932 / HX-850.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024


If that hits the budget too hard....look at this combo for $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129064

or this one for same price:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 ($80)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197 ($100)

Gonna want a Heat Sink if OC'ing

For performance and ease of installation, the Prolimatech Megahalems fits both criteria. Here's what I'm putting in new builds Mega w/ IC Diamond TIM and twin Scythe PWMfans (make sure ya MoBo can handle the fan wattage). ($95 for the HS, TIM. two PWM fans and a Y cable splitter))

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8807/cpu-pro-01/Prolimatech_Megahalems_Rev_B_Intel_CPU_Heatsink_LGA_775_1156_1366_AM2_AM2_AM3_Hot_Item.html
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7038/thr-41/Innovation_Cooling_Diamond_7_Carat_Thermal_Compound_-_15_Grams.html?id=BZWnrfIC
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10026/fan-639/Scythe_Slip_Stream_120mm_x_25mm_PWM_Fan_-_SY1225SL12LM-P.html?tl=g36c365s936
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8418/cab-150/FrozenCPU_PMW_Y_Splitter_Cable.html

If that's a budget breaker, look at the Xigmnatec S1283 or one of the others here:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_Heatsinks
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm#INTELHEATSINK
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=371&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=15

 

[Serrian]

Thank you so much, I'll probably take your advice on the Antec 900 + power supply.
I have a couple questions though - Would I need a heat sink if I did not plan to OC? How important is it?
Also do you have any idea what GPU would fit this system best? From what I've seen what I listed seems appropriate but I don't want to overkill it and waste money or bottleneck the other high end components...

 

[geofelt]

The Antec 902 is a better 900 for the same price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129058

Stock heatsink is OK if you will not be OC'ing. But... I would suggest an oem heat sink anyway. A tower type with a large 120mm fan will keep your cpu cooler and make less noise when under load. It is better to install one up front since it needs to be done outside of the case. I hate to uninstall a motherboard in a working PC later. If you OC, (and it is very easy to do with a i7-920), then a good cooler will let you go higher and easier. A decent one should cost <$50.

Parts look good, except possibly the hard drives. A single 1tb drive is cheaper, and will perform better in most cases. If you are planning on two drives for raid-0, then don't bother; it is not worth it for gaming.

 

[cangle]

Get the 5770 or 5850 for your gpu depending on your budget.

 

[Chuckles_]

The stock HSF on the 920/930 is barely adequate. It's not like the i5-750. These CPUs run hot. Even if you do not OC, I would personally spend the ~$30 on the Cooler Master Hype 212+. If you do want to OC, then I would not skimp on the HSF. Someone above mentioned the Megahalems. That's a good one, but I'd personally buy the Noctua NH-D14, which outside of a WC setup is untouched on a 4.0+GHz 930.