Balanced Gaming PC Build $1500, asking for criticism

[yoss]

I've been lurking about, and thought I'd solicit the help of any kind folks with more experience than I.

I am trying to build a well balanced gaming pc, which will also be used as an htpc. With this general use in mind, am I spending too much on something that won't matter, or spending too little on something that will be a bottleneck? Also, am I going to have issues fitting this stuff onto the micro-atx board I picked?


Purchased:
$310.00 - Radeon 5850 HD


Going to purchase:

CPU
$289.99 Intel Core i7-860
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115214

Motherboard:
$104.99 - GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128405

Boot HD :
$299.99 - Intel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2M080G2R5 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid state disk (SSD) - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167023

Storage HD :
$84.99 - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152185

Memory:
$104.99 - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231303

PSU:
$109.99 - 700W Cooler Master
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171037

Optical drive:
$44.99 - PLEXTOR 24X DVD/CD Writer Black SATA Model PX-880SA OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827249054

Case:
$89.99 - Antec Sonata Elite Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129057

Total: $1439.92

Standard questions:
1. Use: Gaming. HTPC.

2. Budget: $1500 +/- $200.

3. Country: USA. Prefer Newegg or similar.

4. Brands: No preference. Anything that is reliable.

5. Reused parts: Monitor, keyboard, mouse. If anyone can recommend a wireless mouse and keyboard that works for gaming for <$150, please let me know.

6. Similar threads: Been reading similar threads for the past few weeks.

7. Overclock? No.

8. Resolution: 1920x1200.

9. When? Now.

 

[Net]

back in 2007 i was deciding on getting the 4000+ 939 or the 3800+ X2.
From the reviews I read that the 4000+ was slightly faster and less expensive. So I went with the 4000+ on the 939.

I always regretted that decision, I wanted to upgrade later on but the cost was too much then it was worth. Now its 2009 and I'm getting ready for my big upgrade.

I would recommend going with the i7 920 so your not left out when the new processors come around.

 

[Blain]

Which Linux distro do you plan on running?

 

[yoss]

I would recommend going with the i7 920 so your not left out when the new processors come around.

Thanks for the advice. If I told you I tend to not upgrade, and just build a new computer every 3-4 years, would you still recommend this?

Which Linux distro do you plan on running?

Windows 7. Didn't bother mentioning its price because I already had it.

 

[VorpalBunny]

I'm with you yoss. I'm entering the market again after 7 years. My last "upgrade" was more of a repair/replace as my Radeon 9700 Pro blew out last year. Before that was a secondary hard drive.

I'm faced with the same dilemma. Cost wise, it would appear that the i7 860 is far more economical for someone who does not upgrade. The chip also draws less power and runs cooler.

Are there any other reasons for going to the i7 920? Overclocking isn't really something I do so that isn't a very compelling reason either.

 

[eggrolls]

Why not get the i5 750 instead? It's only $200. I don't think the 860's hyperthreading is going to help you much for gaming or HTPC.

 

[dmw16]

I just finished a very similar build. I went with the i860 as well, but didn't get an SSD and went for the 5870 instead. I am very happy with it.