New $1500 Gaming PC need a few opinions to help me finish things up

[BaconMan]

My gaming PC is getting a bit old so I figure it is time to build a new one. I can normally figure all of this out for my self but I've got a few questions on what you guys think is better.

Approximate Purchase Date: 1 to 3 weeks

Budget Range: Preferably around $1500 but I can up it if convinced.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming at home, internet usage, movie watching, gaming at friends house (its a pain to carry but oh well)

Parts Not Required: Keyboard (I've got a Microsoft sidewinder, should I upgrade?) Mouse, OS, generic odds and ends.

Preferred Website: Newegg is preferred but I can use any and multiple sites if needed.

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, I wish I could use Nvidia graphics but AMD seems better these days, looking for 27" monitor

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: At the start I'll only have one card but ill be putting in a second with in a month or two

Monitor Resolution: The best my card and monitor can run


Before I go on here is my current planned specifications for your perusal

Processor Intel Core i5-2500K @ $219

Motherboard Asus P8P67 Deluxe @ 224
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131701

RamG.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2x4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 @ $104
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231455

Graphics Radeon HD 6950 2 GB
Special note: I am going to unlock to a 6970, I also plan to buy a second card in a few months. My problem here is, is any one manufacturer better than the others?

SSD OCZ Vertex 3 120gb @ $269
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=20-227-706
Special Note: How would a intel 510 120gb compare to this?

HardDriveI have a spare 1tb hard drive I'll use unless anyone recommends an incredible deal

Optical Drive LITE-ON 24X DVD Write @ $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335

Case I cant decide between either a Antec 900 2 v3 or HAF 922. Im not attached to these cases if you have better selections.

Powersupply I need help here; what power supply do you suggest with all these parts and the fact that I will be overclocking at least moderately?

So that is essentially my current setup, sorry how long this has gotten. A few last questions though.

How do you think changing from an ATX board to a micro ATX for portability would affect me?

Do any of my choices seem uninformed? If you have a better option please tell me.

Thanks for all the help, this is obviously my first time posting here but I've always come to Tom's for my system building needs. Any suggestions on reformatting of this are also appreciated.

 

[Why_Me]

For your needs that mobo is over priced imo. I would look at these changes...


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197 $99.98 - $89.98 after mail-in rebate FREE SHIPPING
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049 $99.99 - $84.99 after mail-in rebate FREE SHIPPING
Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-750 750W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-P67X4B3&title=ASRock-P67-EXTREME4-B3-LGA1155-Intel-P67-B3-DDR3-Quad-SLI-Quad-CrossFireX-SATA3-USB3-0-A-GbE-ATX-Motherboard $154.99 Free Shipping
ASRock P67 EXTREME4 B3 LGA1155/ Intel P67 B3/ DDR3/ Quad SLI & Quad CrossFireX/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=I5-2500KBX&title=Intel-Core-i5-Processor-i5-2500K-3-3GHz-6MB-LGA1155-CPU-Retail $214.99 FREE SHIPPING
Intel Core i5 Processor i5-2500K 3.3GHz 6MB LGA1155 CPU, Retail - BX80623I52500K

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-Sleeve-RR-B10-212P-G1/dp/B002G1YPH0/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1308689647&sr=1-1 $33.28 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler, RR-B10-212P-G1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314&cm_sp=Cat_Memory-_-Daily_Deal-_-20-231-314 $64.99 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-3-5-Inch-Internal-HD103SJ/dp/B002MQC0P8/ref=sr_1_1?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1308689606&sr=1-1 $59.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Samsung Desktop Class Spinpoint F3 1 TB SATA 3.0 Gb-s 32 MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare-OEM Drives, HD103SJ

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=P67%20Extreme4 <------ half way down on this link you will see a black 3.0 USB panel w/SSD bracket that comes with that Asrock mobo.

 

[z_4]

Let's take a look at two builds. One with 6950 Crossfire(within 1500) and other with 6970 Crossfire( within 1700) . It's all your choice.

Case : ThermalTake V9

CPU: i5-2500k. Here's a review of it.

Motherboard : Gigabyte GA Z68X

Cooler : Xigmatek Gaia

Optical Drive : Asus DVD

HDD : Seagate Barracuda(1 TB)

Power Supply : Corsair Enthusiast Series TX750

RAM : Kingston Hyper (2X4 GB)

SSD : OCZ Agility 120 GB


Graphic Card :
2X Sapphire 6970 OR 2X HIS 6950

Here are thumbnails of the build :

2X 6970 :


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

2X 6950 :


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

If you don't like the above case you can go with your own choice as well.

 

[BaconMan]

I'm at work checking this out on my phone and wow. Thanks for the detailed replies, I look into them more when I get home. But seriously thanks, the help it's very much appreciated haha

 

[mjmjpfaff]

intel i5 2500k 220$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072&cm_re=i5_2500k-_-19-115-072-_-Product

Kingston HyperX 8gb 57$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104246&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1wh9gpk7lb1uu

GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3 178$ Shipped- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128493&cm_re=gigabyte_z68-_-13-128-493-_-Product

IN WIN BUC 85$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108395&cm_re=mid_tower_case-_-11-108-395-_-Product this case was rated very highly by jonny guru

Scythe Mugen 3 52$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185168&cm_re=scythe_mugen-_-35-185-168-_-Product new version of the scythe mugen 2

Lite-On Dvd Burner 19$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289&cm_re=liteon_dvd_burner-_-27-106-289-_-Product

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB HDD 60$- http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-3-5-Inch-Internal-HD103SJ/dp/B002MQC0P8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1308765462&sr=1-2

Corsair Force 3 120gb ssd (vertex 3) 180$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233181&cm_re=corsair_force_3-_-20-233-181-_-Product dont mind the bad reviews they have fixed the problem

Pc Power and Cooling 750w PSU 85$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703027&cm_re=750w_power_supply-_-17-703-027-_-Product

MSI R6950 Twin Frozr II x2= 560$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127588&cm_re=6950_2gb-_-14-127-588-_-Product you can also pick the regular 6950's and unlock them. but you will need a 850w psu. here is a good one at 105$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152043&cm_re=850w_power_supply-_-17-152-043-_-Product
here is the last reference design in stock and they are 10$ less each which means the build with the 850w psu and the 2 reference 6950's come in at the same price as the other build- http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7092103&CatId=2306

Total=1496$ shipped w/m.i.r.

 

[BaconMan]

Newegg's cart system isnt working tonight so I'm going to hold off any major in depth stuff till tomorrow. However I really like where you went with it Why_Me. Three questions though.
1. What do I lose/gain from the motherboard change?
2. What do I lose/gain from the ram change?
3. Wont I need a more powerful powersupply to Crossfire two unlocked 6950s(to 6970)?

 

[BaconMan]

To "z__4" and "mjmjpfaff" what makes your ram and ssd choices better than my current ones?

 

[Why_Me]

To "z__4" and "mjmjpfaff" what makes your ram and ssd choices better than my current ones?

The Kingston RAM isn't better. It's 1.65v and all the board manufactures recommend 1.5v or even lower for these 1155 boards. Stick with low voltage RAM.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

not better just cheaper. they probably give the same performance.

did you read my build thoroughly? you can put 2 reference 6950's in your build right now and unlock them to 6970's. it also has the new force 3 ssd which is really a vertex 3 dont mind the bad reviews they fixed the problem

there is also this psu if you dont trust raidmax- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011&cm_re=xfx_850w-_-17-207-011-_-Product

also there is a promo code for ram- DM15JN11US

 

[mjmjpfaff]

The Kingston RAM isn't better. It's 1.65v and all the board manufactures recommend 1.5v or even lower for these 1155 boards. Stick with low voltage RAM.

i just lowered the voltage on my ram through the bios is that ok?

 

[z_4]

1. Nothing much except it's cheaper. The chipset is Z68, which supports SSD caching. Gives you all the features you get from the Asus board. Due to the chipset you can use Integrated Graphics' Quick Sync capablity.

2. Cheaper. If you don't like the 1.65 volts Kingston one you can have this one Gskill RipjawX.Same price and 1.5 volts.

3. Here's a link which shows Peak power consumption of 2X 6970. the PSU should handle that. If you feel that you need more here's another Corsair TX850.

About your SSD( OCZ Vertex 3) it's definitely good. But you can get almost similar performance by going cheaper with OCZ Agility . Here's a link which shows their relative performance.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

this ssd is the same as the vertex 3 for a lot less 180$- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233181&cm_re=corsair_force_3-_-20-233-181-_-Product dont mind the bad reviews they have fixed the problem

 

[mjmjpfaff]

if you dont trust the raidmax psu i posted earlier in my duel reference 6950's for under 1500$ build here is a quality xfx for the same price- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011