New Build, Gaming Machine

[forsakendmz]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Week or so

BUDGET RANGE: $1500 to $1800

SYSTEM USAGE: Gaming, gaming, gaming and OH! Gaming!

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, Speakers, Keyboard, Mouse

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg

PARTS PREFERENCES: None

OVERCLOCKING: Would like to but not a necessity

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Only if it offers a better gaming experience

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Time for a new gaming machine! I've been reading articles, reviews and posts and my brain is on overload so asking for some advice. No real preference on AMD vs Intel or Nvidia vs ATI, just whatever delivers the best bang for my buck for the gaming. Does NOT need to be future proof. I tend to just build new every 2 years or so. I have a NAS so really all that gets stored to the PC are a few apps and games (of course). No need for tons of HD space. I would like to use the below case, but I'm open to suggestions. Thanks everyone!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146054

 

[Niklas_13]

SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151188
$28.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188


COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E1681111919
$99.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681111919


Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136319 $149.98
($74.99 each) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video ... - Retail
Item #: N82E16814102768 369.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102768


PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E1681734101
$109.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011


OCZ Flex EX Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kits Desktop Memory Model OCZ3FXE1600C7LV6GK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227408
$114.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227408

ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131365
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
$289.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E1681911520
$279.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202


ZALMAN CNPS10X Extreme 120mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835118051
$74.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118051

Subtotal: $1,518.90
Tax: $125.31
If you have a micro center buy get the CPU there and save 80 bucks

 

[forsakendmz]

Thanks niklas_13. What about a Sound Card?

 

[hunter315]

You dont need one, all motherboards have onboard sound these days, that ASUS board actually comes with better than average sound. Unless you have a high end sound system or are doing audio work you dont need one.

 

[Niklas_13]

You dont need one, all motherboards have onboard sound these days, that ASUS board actually comes with better than average sound. Unless you have a high end sound system or are doing audio work you dont need one.

+1

my Klipsch 4.1 sound grate with my on board sound

 

[Yoosty]

+1 for Niklas_13.

But here is a Combo you should check out.
1. ASUS P6T: $249.99

2. Intel BX80601920: $279.99

3. OCZ Technology, Inc. OCZ3G1600LV6GK: $99.99

4. Intel Intel BunnyPeople: $19.99 (free gift)

Combo Discount: -$81.99
Combo Price: $567.97
$10.00 Mail-In Rebate
Free Shipping*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.216527

Another Mid-Tower Case you need to check out from CoolerMaster.
COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP $89.99 Free Shipping*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

Would also suggest either of these Corsair PSU's.
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W $119.99 ($99.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W $139.99 ($119.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

If you wish to go Modular, then Corsair has both of these in that wattage, but prices are higher.

Change the CPU HSF Cooler to this.
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V $44.98 Free Shipping*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

There are a few additional Items that you will need but I will get to those after the Graphic Card.

Now with the above suggestions, you now can get either SLI or Crossfire topline cards.
nVidia
EVGA 896-P3-1257-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition $189.99 ($159.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping* (running in SLI will be comparable to the GTX295).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130433

EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 $239.99 ($219.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
(rebadged GTX 260 that is Clock a bit higher and runs cooler).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130475

ATI
XFX HD-487A-ZHFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 $149.99 (running in a pair in Crossfire is faster then 4870x2 and cheaper in cost). Plus has Double Lifetime Warranty.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150394

XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 $199.99 (running in a pair in Crossfire is faster then 4870x2 and cheaper in cost). Plus has Double Lifetime Warranty.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150359

Items you will need.
Operating System
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
Includes free Windows 7 upgrade coupon
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677

Or download Windows 7 64-bit RC and use it until March 2010 and then buy the Retail edition of Win7 Pro which will come with both 32/64-bit.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/download.aspx


Thermal Compound and Thermal Cleaner.
Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Compound - Retail $9.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608008

Tuniq TR-1 High Performance Thermal Material Remover $6.99 ($1.99 after $5.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154006

You will need this 8-pin Power Extension Cable for most Cases that has Bottom Mounted PSU.
1ST PC CORP. 12" 8-pin EPS extension cable Model CB-8M-8F - Retail $8.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812706004


No changes to the DVD Burner and change the WD 640gb Black to only 1 HDD.
Subtotal of above parts (using highest price for PSU and Graphic Card(s) SLI and extra items comes to $1382.87 before Shipping costs and MIR's.

$1492.86 adding in Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit, unless you decide on Win7 RC 64-bit free download then revert back to price above this one.

So if you want to push your $1500 minimum limit, then I would suggest going for either of these two Full Tower cases and this Mid Tower case below.

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP $149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

Antec Twelve Hundred $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

COOLER MASTER Storm Sniper SGC-6000-KKN1-GP $179.99 Free Shipping*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119194

Hope this helps you out some.

 

[fullmetall]

+1 on Yoosty's advice.

 

[forsakendmz]

Great info, thanks everyone! I will admit I've never had a gaming rig without a sound card before. Are these on board devices same quality? I don't mind paying for one if it's going to increase the gaming experience.

Yoosty, I appreciate all the advice. The Budget is $1500 to $1800 so I can go over $1500. I am planning on running Windows 7 RC, thanks for bringing that up. Not sure if that changes the builds at all. For the Video Boards you recommended, what is going to be the best for gaming, or are they pretty equal performance wise?

 

[Yoosty]

Great info, thanks everyone! I will admit I've never had a gaming rig without a sound card before. Are these on board devices same quality? I don't mind paying for one if it's going to increase the gaming experience.

Yoosty, I appreciate all the advice. The Budget is $1500 to $1800 so I can go over $1500. I am planning on running Windows 7 RC, thanks for bringing that up. Not sure if that changes the builds at all. For the Video Boards you recommended, what is going to be the best for gaming, or are they pretty equal performance wise?

That is a tough question to answer on the Graphic card. Imho I would most likely get a pair of GTX 275 from Evga (since they have a 90 days Step-up program, plus lifetime warranty). If you go with those cards I would suggest the Corsair 850TX PSU.

Now the cases are another hard choice you will have to decide on. All the CoolerMaster cases that were suggest and the Antec 1200 are very good choices. If you do not mind that the interior is not painted balck, then I would suggest this case.

COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP $99.99 Free Shipping*
My reasons are it has lots of room inside (22.2" x 10" x 19.7") and very good airflow.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

With the case change the price would be now at $1462.86 and that still leaves you room for your sound card. Which I would suggest this one below, since it also was developed around Creative X-Fi Native and has better drivers.

AuzenTech AZT-FORTE X-Fi Forte 7.1 Low Profile PCI Express Sound Card - Retail $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829156010

Also you can get this at Auzentech site with the front docking port for $199.99
http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-fi_forte.php

But even just going with the sound card from NewEgg I suggested above, the price now without Shipping costs and MIR's come to $1602.85. So you could even add another 6gb(3x2gb) set of ram for another $100.

Hope this helps again.

 

[Niklas_13]

+1 on Yoosty's advice.

+2
Grate job helping the OP out

 

[forsakendmz]

Once again, thanks for the in depth info Yoosty! Looks like I procrastinated a bit too much though as that combo deal is no longer available. Would you suggest I use those same parts still?

 

[Niklas_13]

do you have a micro center or frys by ?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0302727 199.99 for the CPU there

mobo and ram combo http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.235419
I think this mobo is only xfire Can someone help there ?

what GPUs are you doing the 2 GTX 275s ?




GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard



Name: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
Goods category: Motherboards
Storehouses: Netanya
Shipping: Everywhere
Description

Description:




- oz PCB design with copper cooled quality for lower working temperature
- Supports the newest Intel ® Core™ i7 processors in socket LGA1366 with QPI 6.4 GT/s
- Revolution energy saving design with DES Advanced featuring hardware based Dynamic 4-Gear switching
- Supports 3 channel DDR3 2000+ memory
- 2 PCI-E 2.0 x16 graphics interface with CrossFireX and SLI support for ultimate graphics performance
- Unique hardware control IC to provide more precision voltage control
- 100% 50,000 hour lifespan Japanese solid capacitors design
- Patented DualBIOS with dual hardware BIOS protection
- Features high speed Gigabit Ethernet connection
- Home theater quality 8-channel High Definition Audio



Ok i looked it up you can SLI or Xfire with it with that combo and cpu thats less then 500 not bad

 

[stevensl2]

SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151188
$28.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188


COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E1681111919
$99.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681111919


Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136319 $149.98
($74.99 each) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video ... - Retail
Item #: N82E16814102768 369.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102768


PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E1681734101
$109.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011


OCZ Flex EX Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kits Desktop Memory Model OCZ3FXE1600C7LV6GK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227408
$114.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227408

ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131365
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
$289.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E1681911520
$279.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202


ZALMAN CNPS10X Extreme 120mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835118051
$74.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118051

Subtotal: $1,518.90
Tax: $125.31
If you have a micro center buy get the CPU there and save 80 bucks

I agree with this build. +1

 

[forsakendmz]

Thanks niklas_13! I did grab the CPU from a local Microcenter along with the Coolermaster HAF case, though you recomended the 922 I went with the bigger 932 and wow, this thing is HUGE. I should have little issues with installing in this one. My current case is an NZXT Rogue. Quite the difference!

As for the Video Cards and rest of the parts I haven't committed yet. Do you feel it's worth the additional cash to do dual 275s over the 4870s, or even the 4890s? Both are cheaper than than the 275s. I've never done SLI or Crossfire before so I really want to make sure I am positive on which boards will be best. Thanks!

 

[hunter315]

For now i would get 1 4890 and see if its enough, if not then you can get a second one. I just wouldnt want to go buy two and then find out that one would have been plenty.

 

[Niklas_13]

Well the GPU will be based off the rez of your monitor and if you like to max out the game details on very high settings with AA/AF

You Could start off with 1 card and if you dont get the FPS with the game settings you like you could just add a 2nd GPU.

You are not going to get 100% more FPS adding a 2nd card tho, you might get 10% to 15%

Some people are like ford or chevy = nvidia or ati

Some games will work better on differnt cards (maybe do some homework on the games you like to play)

Some games will let you use DX9 or DX10 (a friend of mine has a rig with 2 GTX 285 and in Age of Conan DX10 with all settings maxed he only gets like 15 FPS, Now on the other hand if he leaves the settings and goes to DX9 he gets 50 FPS

Check out some reviews http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-cards-charts-2009-high-quality/Fallout-3,1318.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/245454-33-crossfire-faqs

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261538-33-decide-4870x2

Its really up to you IMHO you can buy a 4890 for a 24" LCD and play every game and be happy or if you really need the very top end card and have the coin for it (More power to you)

Just keep in mind 20 to 30 FPS is playable and if you use vsync your not going to get any more FPS then your monitors refresh rate anyways

Gl hopes this helps

 

[forsakendmz]

Thanks again Niklas. I wound up getting a second GTX 260 and will try SLI with that. I may upgrade at a later date.
I do have a new question though... I held off on getting a Sound Card until I could figure out if I reall want one. And I'm glad I did as I was looking at a PCI Express card but now with both video cards in I doubt I could plug in there. Can I use the third PCI Express x8 port for this, or will I need to get a normal PCI sound card? If so, which would you guys go for? The Omega Striker seems to have the best Newegg reviews.

 

[hunter315]

Yeah you can plug any PCI-E card into any PCI-E slot, it will just be restricted to the bandwidth of that slot. The 8x slot should work fine for the sound card, unlike a video card it really has no use for all the bandwidth that a 16x slot provides.

 

[forsakendmz]

Great, thanks for info hunter315!

 

[Niklas_13]

Pics