New Build and some Questions

[mrsandoo]

This build is mainly for gaming and light 3-D CAD

CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674
CPU Cooler
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029&Tpk=XIGMATEK%20Dark%20Knight-S1283V

Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128377&Tpk=GIGABYTE%20GA-MA790FXT-UD5P

CASE
NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047&Tpk=NZXT%20TEMPEST

PSU
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009&Tpk=CORSAIR%20CMPSU-850TX

RAM
Patriot 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (7-7-7-20)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220367

GPU
SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102768&Tpk=SAPPHIRE%20100251SR%20Radeon%20HD%204870%20X2%202GB%20512-bit

HDD
Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136283&Tpk=Western%20Digital%20Caviar%20Black%20WD7501AALS%20750GB

Monitor
SAMSUNG P2070 High glossy black 20" 2ms(GTG)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001329&Tpk=SAMSUNG%20P2070%20High%20glossy%20black%2020%22%202ms(GTG)

Total: $1440
Budget: $1600 including Monitor.

I. Should I stick with the current CPU/GPU or get a Quad Core Q9550/285 GTX? Or should I get a slightly cheaper GPU and incorporate an i7 core?
II. Where could I improve the system, pushing the total closer to my budget?
III. Any other improvements/criticism would be appreciated.

 

[fullmetall]

You could get a $1250 i7 core + a monitor = around $1500

I'll set one up

 

[rescawen]

drop the 790fx ddr3 and go for 790gx ddr2, no diffrence between ddr2 and ddr3. get 4gbs of ddr2 800 mhz ram. The samsung p2370 is the monitor u want. Drop the 955 to a 940 they OC to the same level. You will save about 200-250 bucks from that. Get a 4870 for now and wait for the Rv870 or the HD-5000.

 

[mrsandoo]

What do you guys think about replacing the CPU with a i7 920 and the motherboard with ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58, but throwing out the HD4870 X2 for a 280 GTX?

Do you think gaming would suffer? The end pricing is similar.

Basically Phenom II 955 and HD 4870 x2 vs i7 920 and 280 GTX.

 

[Helloworld_98]

switch the 280 for a 260 and go for it.

put the money you save towards one of the DX11 cards which come out in mid-Q4.

what I'm pitching to you is, why get a PC which can play current games amazingly but will be far outdated in 1 year when you can get a PC for a bit more which could play games for 2-3 years?

 

[techwizard08]

+1 @helloworld. At the budget, you might as well push for the iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii77777777777 (lol)

Though, if you shop around, there are some great sales on the 280 right now (within 10 dollars of the 275)

Do a little bargain hunting