First Time Computer Build on My Own. Please Advise!

[ArchCenturion]

***UPDATED MY POST, PLEASE CHECK POSTING BELOW FOR CURRENT PROPOSED SETUP***


First time computer builder here. Looking for input and ideas.
I plan to use this as my primary gaming machine, my goal is to be able to run sc2 at max settings, and some other recent fps type games also at max. I would also like to run pro Engineer sometimes, maybe do some video editing. I would like to be able to have a few programs running simultaneously without noticeable performance decrease (ventrillo, firefox, windows media player, etc). Planning on Windows 7 for my OS.

My budget is pretty flexible, I'm thinking 2k at most but I really don't care.
My country is USA, (CA).
No brand preference, just want reliability and simplicity.
Building a complete machine from scratch. I do plan to use my old dvd/cd ROM drive. I have a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers already.
I have searched and read similar threads.
I plan to use default settings, not planning to overclock.
I want to run games at 1280x1024, at max video settings.
I want to build this machine asap.
I plan to buy all of my components on NewEgg.com, or possibly go to Fry's electronics in Costa Mesa.


Here is what I have come up with so far

On both the CPU and the Mobo I copied my roommate, so that we can easily troubleshoot our machines I wouldn't mind downgrading my CPU if it was a negligible performance decrease, but I am not going to change mobo choice.

CPU: i7 960 $569.99
RAM: OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK
(part of a cpu/ram combo deal i can switch if i decided to change cpu)

Mother Board: ASUS P6X58D-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
socket type: LGA 1366
$239.99
**Since I don't plan to overclock will I have any heat issues using the default fan that comes with the CPU?**

SSD : Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC128MAG-1G1 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
$369.00

Video CArds: ?? ** I am not sure if i want to try a crossfire setup (is it worth the hassle/ is there a significant performance increase?) or if I should just buy a single really good video card. Any suggestions in this area would be greatly appreciated.**


Power supply: ?? **not sure how much wattage I need I think it might be dependent on what I decide for video cards. (mobo has 24 pin i think)**

Case: ?? **any good recommendations, I hate my current case it has blue shiny lights on the front that wake me up and one of the fans locks up and stops working because it lost its lubrication or something. I don't care how big the case is, i just want it to be well ventilated, and I want all my components to fit in easily with no interference. Also no shiny exterior lights. **

If I've missed any crucial components please let me know.


** Indicates the actual questions I am hoping someone can help me with.

 

[Blain]

I plan to use this as my primary gaming machine, my goal is to be able to run sc2 at max settings, and some other recent fps type games also at max.
I would also like to run pro Engineer sometimes, maybe do some video editing.
Planning on Windows 7 for my OS.

I plan to use default settings, not planning to overclock.
I want to run games at 1280x1024, at max video settings.

CPU: i7 960 $569.99
RAM: OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK
(part of a cpu/ram combo deal i can switch if i decided to change cpu)
Mother Board: ASUS P6X58D-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
socket type: LGA 1366

**Since I don't plan to overclock will I have any heat issues using the default fan that comes with the CPU?**

Video CArds: ?? ** I am not sure if i want to try a crossfire setup (is it worth the hassle/ is there a significant performance increase?) or if I should just buy a single really good video card. Any suggestions in this area would be greatly appreciated.**


Power supply: ?? **not sure how much wattage I need I think it might be dependent on what I decide for video cards. (mobo has 24 pin i think)**

** Indicates the actual questions I am hoping someone can help me with.

* I would ditch the socket 1366 format and base the system around a Core i7-875k. That is $240 cheaper than the CPU you picked and gives you a really versatile processor.
* I'd go with a solid RAID version (doesn't matter if you use RAID at the moment), Gigabyte socket 1156 MB.
* I'd stay far away from that OCZ memory labeled "low voltage", which is actually rated at a higher voltage than the JDEC DDR3 standard.
😉 Without going into my lengthy diatribe on memory...
I would opt for the 4GB G.Skill kit F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL rated for 1.5v operation.
* Don't even think about Cross-Fire if your max settings are going to be 1280x1024. Any mid-level card with blast your eye candy at that resolution.
* Again, without going into my diatribe on power supplies, I'd buy more capacity than I technically "need".
Buy quality all the way...
Something like a SeaSonic M12II 620W or Corsair CMPSU-650HX 650W would serve you well for years to come.
* On cases, an Antec 900, CoolerMaster RC-692-KKN3 or Lian Li Lancool PC-K62 would all work well and allow for very good ventilation.

That's my 2¢, I'm sure others will have their opinions. 😛

BTW, You can easily re-oil your sticking fan and bring it back to life.

 

[jchu14]

At that resolution, you won't need very much horsepower to run games at max detail and money could be allocated better.

Did your roomate already buy the cpu/mobo? Having the same setup is nice for troubleshooting purpose, but a 1156 core i5/i7 or an AMD Thuban setup will be 90% of the speed (for your purpose) for half the cost. The difference between a midrange and premium motherboard really only shows up in extreme overclocking. At stock settings, you will never feel a difference.

I am not familiar with intel setups, but I am sure someone can point you in the right direction. But for AMD, you can get a 1090t and Asus 890GX motherboard for $406 or a 1055t and Gigabyte 890GX board for $310. Either one of those will be much better bang for your buck and still be overkill for your resolution.

-SSD : solid choice, but you can some other cheaper sandforce based drive like the Vertex2 or Gskill Phoenix and never feel a difference in real life usage.

-Video: Radeon 5850, 5870, and 470GTX are all good choices for that price range. But to be honest, a 5770 will give plenty of eye candy at good framerates at 1280x1024.

-PSU: Any solid power supply from Antec or Corsair will be fine. I like the corsair HX series for modular power supplies and Antec TruePower if you don't care about modular. Wattage will depend on what GPU you decide to go with. 400watt for 5770 and 500 for 5850/5870 will be enough if you don't plan on overclocking.

-Case: Hugely personal. I would suggest just browse newegg or case forum on ocn and just see if a case catch your eye. A case that's easy to work with is nice, but how often do you really take parts in and out of your computer? IMO it's better to pick a case that you like aesthetically. That said, I think the LanCool K62 have some very interesting and innovative features, but I would never buy it because the styling isn't my cup of tea.

I think you will get much more enjoyment out of your new build by reallocating some of the money from cpu/mobo and buy one or two nice 23" LCD. Games and movies will both be more immersive and you'll actually be more productive outside of gaming. New monitors will be a much better investment for your money than 10% framerate that you won't notice outside of benchmarks.

-no data storage drive?

 

[mfenn]

Wow, Blain and jchu stole all of my points. 😛

OP, I would like to reiterate that 1366 is probably not your best bet, and a 960 is definitely a waste of money.

Also, since you have a decent budget, you should look into ditching that old 1280x1024 screen and getting something nice.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Crossfire is nice. IF you plan on doing such, go with a 1366 platform; and also go with it if you want to compare performance, other than simply that, the 1156 is a good choice as-well. They turbo further than the 9xx series do.

IF you plan on crossfire a 750w would be a good choice for an ATI x-fire. IF you go with a dual 470 or 480 GTX look into a 750 or > PSU. Seasonic is coming out with a 750 850 & > X-Gold series PSUs. The ripple suppression and stable & clean power from these PSUs are second to none. Just read about the X-650 Gold Seasonic. I love mine. It's like a Ferrari :awe: - and you can act like a rich mother F-er and buy one, lol! "Darkness is!"

Stick close to low voltage Memory too, this is very important.

OEM License 64 bit Win7

What type of case are you looking for? Mid size, full size etc?

 

[Blain]

"Cross-Fire" for running 1280x1024 resolution? 😕

I would really try and work in the funds for a higher res monitor.

 

[ArchCenturion]

* I would ditch the socket 1366 format and base the system around a Core i7-875k. That is $240 cheaper than the CPU you picked and gives you a really versatile processor.
* I'd go with a solid RAID version (doesn't matter if you use RAID at the moment), Gigabyte socket 1156 MB.
* I'd stay far away from that OCZ memory labeled "low voltage", which is actually rated at a higher voltage than the JDEC DDR3 standard.
😉 Without going into my lengthy diatribe on memory...
I would opt for the 4GB G.Skill kit F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL rated for 1.5v operation.
* Don't even think about Cross-Fire if your max settings are going to be 1280x1024. Any mid-level card with blast your eye candy at that resolution.
* Again, without going into my diatribe on power supplies, I'd buy more capacity than I technically "need".
Buy quality all the way...
Something like a SeaSonic M12II 620W or Corsair CMPSU-650HX 650W would serve you well for years to come.
* On cases, an Antec 900, CoolerMaster RC-692-KKN3 or Lian Li Lancool PC-K62 would all work well and allow for very good ventilation.
That's my 2¢, I'm sure others will have their opinions. 😛
BTW, You can easily re-oil your sticking fan and bring it back to life.

I would like to keep my motherboard because my roommate already has one like it and for future troubleshooting purposes I feel being able to interchange our components might make life easier, but I went ahead and chose a different cpu, now I am looking at the

Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601930 which is only $289
Will this be adequate?

As far as ram is concerned I am now considering
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
from what I read people seem to recommend this ram.

At that resolution, you won't need very much horsepower to run games at max detail and money could be allocated better.
Did your roomate already buy the cpu/mobo? Having the same setup is nice for troubleshooting purpose, but a 1156 core i5/i7 or an AMD Thuban setup will be 90% of the speed (for your purpose) for half the cost. The difference between a midrange and premium motherboard really only shows up in extreme overclocking. At stock settings, you will never feel a difference.
I am not familiar with intel setups, but I am sure someone can point you in the right direction. But for AMD, you can get a 1090t and Asus 890GX motherboard for $406 or a 1055t and Gigabyte 890GX board for $310. Either one of those will be much better bang for your buck and still be overkill for your resolution.
-SSD : solid choice, but you can some other cheaper sandforce based drive like the Vertex2 or Gskill Phoenix and never feel a difference in real life usage.
-Video: Radeon 5850, 5870, and 470GTX are all good choices for that price range. But to be honest, a 5770 will give plenty of eye candy at good framerates at 1280x1024.
-PSU: Any solid power supply from Antec or Corsair will be fine. I like the corsair HX series for modular power supplies and Antec TruePower if you don't care about modular. Wattage will depend on what GPU you decide to go with. 400watt for 5770 and 500 for 5850/5870 will be enough if you don't plan on overclocking.
-Case: Hugely personal. I would suggest just browse newegg or case forum on ocn and just see if a case catch your eye. A case that's easy to work with is nice, but how often do you really take parts in and out of your computer? IMO it's better to pick a case that you like aesthetically. That said, I think the LanCool K62 have some very interesting and innovative features, but I would never buy it because the styling isn't my cup of tea.
I think you will get much more enjoyment out of your new build by reallocating some of the money from cpu/mobo and buy one or two nice 23" LCD. Games and movies will both be more immersive and you'll actually be more productive outside of gaming. New monitors will be a much better investment for your money than 10% framerate that you won't notice outside of benchmarks.
-no data storage drive?

Im not sure what you mean "no data storage drive" Im thinking the ssd will suffice. I dont plan on loading much media on my new machine, gonna keep it all on my crappy one.
I think i might go with the 850W corsair PSU.

So to recap I am now considering...

Mother Board: ASUS P6X58D-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
socket type: LGA 1366
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641
$239.99

CPU: Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601930
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225
$290
*****CONSIDERING DIFFERENT MEMORY SEE POSTING BELOW
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
$99 each

ssd: OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE120G 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227551
$329

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009
$129

GPU: ASUS EAH5870/2DIS/1GD5/V2 Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121374
$410

Case: I am thinking I will just stop by Fry's and pick one out that I think will work well, im mostly look for good ventilation because my room gets hot, and enough room to put a 2nd GPU when I decide to get one.

Monitors: I have a 19" LCD that i will continue to use for now.

Keyboard and Mouse: already have them

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
$99

Total $1700

Just for clarification, I am interested in having the option of setting up 2 monitors, possibly 23" x2 and then adding a 2nd video card although I dont want to do this initially because i do not have the room atm.

Please let me know again what you think of this updated setup, I appreciate the previous ideas and information you guys provided me.

 

[Sp12]

Two big issues that jump out at me immediately are:

You need a triple channel memory kit for an X58 platform.

That PSU is megaoverkill for a single-GPU setup. The 650 watt version is more appropriate.

And pursuant to that, you have a 19in monitor, that GPU is megaoverkill. It's also a worse price/performance part than the 5850. I would really consider trying to move to a Dell U2311H or similar.

Just an additional comment of mine. The i7 930 is not worth it for 290. For 100$ less you can have an i5-750 (which will also net you ~100$ from ram/mobo savings), or for 60$ more you can have a Xeon 5620.

I'm also not 100% on a very expensive SSD as 2X nm flash is in full production/shippping to partners. The SSD refreshes are forthcoming.

 

[ArchCenturion]

Two big issues that jump out at me immediately are:
You need a triple channel memory kit for an X58 platform.
That PSU is megaoverkill for a single-GPU setup. The 650 watt version is more appropriate.
And pursuant to that, you have a 19in monitor, that GPU is megaoverkill. It's also a worse price/performance part than the 5850. I would really consider trying to move to a Dell U2311H or similar.
Just an additional comment of mine. The i7 930 is not worth it for 290. For 100$ less you can have an i5-750 (which will also net you ~100$ from ram/mobo savings), or for 60$ more you can have a Xeon 5620, which would actually net you only 10$ more once you move to a triple channel 6GB ramkit.
I'm also not 100% on a very expensive SSD as 2X nm flash is in full production/shippping to partners. The SSD refreshes are forthcoming.

As for the ram.. would this work well?
Patriot Viper II Sector 7 Edition 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400) Desktop Memory Model PV736G1800ELK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220501
or
G.SKILL PI 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL6T-6GBPI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231352

also

Just for clarification, I am interested in having the option of setting up 2 monitors, possibly 23" x2 and then adding a 2nd video card although I don't want to do this initially because i do not have the room atm. Lets say hypothetically I do choose at some point in the near future to grab 2x 23++ " monitors. Would this GPU still be megaoverkill mode? Also i figured since the Mobo was ASUS and the GPU was ASUS that maybe I would have better luck with them lasting, and possibly easier installation out of the box, idk. The if I end up wanting a second GPU, of the same make and model as the first one and the GPU has a minimum 500W PSU required, would i actually need a PSU > 1kW to be able to run 2x GPU's?

TBH, I wold rather have something stronger than what i need and pay a bit more , than be cheap and end up with something that under performs and just pisses me off. My largest concern is just will I be able to make a working computer once I order all these parts.

 

[jchu14]

You sound pretty set on the mobo and 1366 platform. As long as you realize that it's not the best bang for your buck since a core i7 860 + a P55 mobo will be faster, cheaper, and more power efficient. The 930 will work fine with that motherboard.

Since you're planning on getting new monitors in the future, the 5870 is a good choice. Asus motherboard and Asus graphics card does not necessarily mean easier installation and better reliability. I would suggest getting the XFX version for $390. XFX has awesome customer support and double lifetime warranty instead of Asus's 3 year warranty. Double lifetime warranty means that when you sell the card in the future, the person you sell the card to will also have lifetime warranty. This actually makes a difference in desirability when you're upgrading and trying to sell the card.

850 watts is more than enough for a CF 5870 setup. A 750 watt unit will be enough unless you plan to overclock heavily. In this Anandtech review, a CF 5870 and overclocked i7 setup drew 664 watts in a synthetic power loading test (unrealistic loads). In a more realistic game load like WOW, the setup only drew 430 watts.

The Corsair TX line is good, but a bit overprice for what they are. The Antec TruePower New series is cheaper, performs better, and have partially modular cable. The TruePower 750watt is $100.

Another choice would be the Corsair HX 750 for $130 AR. It's just a better psu than the TX series. Fully modular cables and extremely good electrical performance. If you're worried that 750 is too close to 664watt, don't. Both the HX750 and 750TPN are underrated and can supply over 900 watts while remaining in ATX spec according to Hardware secrets review

That Patriot and GSkill RAM will work fine with your setup, though they are design(and thusly priced) for serious overclockers/benchers. You won't be able to really unleash them unless you spend some time tweaking the ram in bios. Also, I don't like RAM that have ramsinks that stick up that much above the ram since it may interfere with some large aftermarket heatsinks. I like this gskill kit that's a little cheaper and don't have huge ramsinks. The performance difference between 1800/1600/1333 ram is minuscule even in benchmarks. Read this Tom's HW article on memory scaling. All these ram perform so similarly that I think a better criteria is pick the ram with ramsink color and design that matches the rest of your components 😀. So if you like how the Patriot and GSkill rams look, go for it!

EDIT: If you like the gskill kit you listed, I would suggest getting this kit instead. Same heatsink, same speed, but with slightly worse timing for $45 less; The kit has ram timing of 7/8/7/24 instead of 6/8/6/20, but notice that it's speced at 1.5 volts instead 1.6 volts.
1.5V is the actual JEDEC standard for DDR3, and I bet if you cranked the memory voltage to 1.6v in the 7/8/7 kit, it would be able to run at 6/8/6.

Do you plan on using the stock hsf? An aftermarket HSF will be quieter and give you room to overclock in the future should you decide to do that. Something midrange like Xigmatek S1283V would be good.

 

[Blain]

EDIT: If you like the gskill kit you listed, I would suggest getting this kit instead. Same heatsink, same speed, but with slightly worse timing for $45 less; The kit has ram timing of 7/8/7/24 instead of 6/8/6/20, but notice that it's speced at 1.5 volts instead 1.6 volts.
1.5V is the actual JEDEC standard for DDR3, and I bet if you cranked the memory voltage to 1.6v in the 7/8/7 kit, it would be able to run at 6/8/6.

Scott, if you want to run a dual channel memory kit, this MB will run them in dual channel just fine.
If you're sticking with tripple channel, the kit Jeff linked above is what I would go with.
"Low Latency" offers no discernible real world performance benefit (only slight benefits running benchmarks).
I would focus far more on memory voltage than latency values.
As far as Newegg "reviews" go, I would take them with a grain of salt, since they aren't "reviews" in the sense that we're accustomed to relying on.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

The Sandforce controllers are a risk. My Vertex LE died after 2-3 months.

If you want to run two sticks of RAM, then go ahead, there is no requiring need for a triple channel kit.

If you have a Micro-center near-by, the i7 930 is 199$ + tax If you ask, maybe someone who has a Micro Center near-by would take a ride and pick one up for your for a small fee. I pass one up every work day.

 

[betasub]

You need a triple channel memory kit for an X58 platform.

"Need" isn't strictly true: "benefit from" might be closer.

The X58 can run memory in single, dual or triple channel modes. As Blain points out, a dual channel kit is fine for a 4GB system. The gains from running in triple channel mode are minimal for most users, so the main benefit is more DIMMs = support for higher total RAM and >8GB without needing expensive 4GB DIMMs.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I plan to use this as my primary gaming machine

Then you want an ATI 5870 HD or a GTX 480 regardless of the resolution.

I am running 2 5870s with a i7 920 on a 120Hz 22" 1680x1050 LCD monitor and you can't tell me "O, that's overkill"

That's the argument that to me is in the grey area when people suggest what's good for you when gaming. What is good for you might not be good for another person.

Suggesting a video card for gaming is hard in the first place because some games require more CPU strength than GPU power and vise-versa.

And seeing that you are considering dual GPU's and going to a larger resolution in the future, it makes a wise decision for the stronger card.

Q4 of this year we'll see 25nm SSD drives, and with the latest ONFI 2.2 specs or > You'll want to wait for this. I'd stick with reliability when it comes to the controller.

 

[mfenn]

Then you want an ATI 5870 HD or a GTX 480 regardless of the resolution.

I am running 2 5870s with a i7 920 on a 120Hz 22" 1680x1050 LCD monitor and you can't tell me "O, that's overkill"

That's the argument that to me is in the grey area when people suggest what's good for you when gaming. What is good for you might not be good for another person.

Suggesting a video card for gaming is hard in the first place because some games require more CPU strength than GPU power and vise-versa.

And seeing that you are considering dual GPU's and going to a larger resolution in the future, it makes a wise decision for the stronger card.

Q4 of this year we'll see 25nm SSD drives, and with the latest ONFI 2.2 specs or > You'll want to wait for this. I'd stick with reliability when it comes to the controller.

Say whaaa? Aren't the two bolded statements contradictory? What is good for you BTRY B, may be ridiculous overkill for another person.

The OP does not need even a single 5870 when his goal is to run SC2 at max at 1280x1024 (or even a higher resolution). I do agree that a 5870 or 5850 would be good if he intends to get a better screen. I'd like to see him put a screen into this build so that we can see what he's shooting for.

Regarding the Crossfire issue, many, many times people will say "Oh, I'll get CFX/SLI later," but later turns into never and they end up wasting a whole bunch of money on more kit that they need. Not to mention that , CFX/SLI are terrible long-term upgrade plans. In a year or two, you'll be able to just get a better single GPU.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Better to be on one end that stuck in the middle.

The thought is if one spends money on a mid range or a low end card that is the mainstream idea and it turns out to be in-sufficient the cost of buying a sufficient card would put the buyer into the hole more than the cost of the card he/she should of bought in the first place. If the user overshoots, they get 2 things out of it; great FPS, and a great resale market, & value.

If the user is not happy with the performance of a 5870 or a 480 then you atleast have saved on deciding if they were right in the first place.

If the user decides to sell the in-sufficient card to upgrade, it is less likely they will get 100% of their money back. I would rather pay the full price from a store than a second hand user to maintain the warranty and return policy.

 

[Sp12]

Better to be on one end that stuck in the middle.

The thought is if one spends money on a mid range or a low end card that is the mainstream idea and it turns out to be in-sufficient the cost of buying a sufficient card would put the buyer into the hole more than the cost of the card he/she should of bought in the first place. If the user overshoots, they get 2 things out of it; great FPS, and a great resale market, & value.

If the user is not happy with the performance of a 5870 or a 480 then you atleast have saved on deciding if they were right in the first place.

If the user decides to sell the in-sufficient card to upgrade, it is less likely they will get 100% of their money back. I would rather pay the full price from a store than a second hand user to maintain the warranty and return policy.

Alternatively, since he's spending so much for a crossfire capable platform on the 930+X58mobo+PSU he could just crossfire. I still see no reason at all for this build to be on the X58 platform unless he plans to crossfire. And I see no point to crossfire (or buy a 5870) until he has a better monitor. First step to making this build make sense: add a nicer monitor to your list.

And a 120hz 1680*1050 panel is almost as GPU-heavy as a 30in monitor, in which case a 5870 makes sense for you. For a 60hz 12XX panel, a 5870 is far too powerful for any modern game (and probably 1-2 year future).

The counter-thought is that you buy the GPU to match your resolution/needs, and don't end up wasting any money at all by buying a needlessly powerful card.

As for the returns, if you decide you hate the performance you have at your resolution, you can always return the card as long as it you decide you hate it within 30 (typically) days.

 

[mfenn]

Better to be on one end that stuck in the middle.

The thought is if one spends money on a mid range or a low end card that is the mainstream idea and it turns out to be in-sufficient the cost of buying a sufficient card would put the buyer into the hole more than the cost of the card he/she should of bought in the first place. If the user overshoots, they get 2 things out of it; great FPS, and a great resale market, & value.

If the user is not happy with the performance of a 5870 or a 480 then you atleast have saved on deciding if they were right in the first place.

If the user decides to sell the in-sufficient card to upgrade, it is less likely they will get 100% of their money back. I would rather pay the full price from a store than a second hand user to maintain the warranty and return policy.

BTRY B, I think you're a good guy, and I hear what you're saying, but please please read my post. I've already addressed the issue you're talking about.

Say whaaa? Aren't the two bolded statements contradictory? What is good for you BTRY B, may be ridiculous overkill for another person.

The OP does not need even a single 5870 when his goal is to run SC2 at max at 1280x1024 (or even a higher resolution). I do agree that a 5870 or 5850 would be good if he intends to get a better screen. I'd like to see him put a screen into this build so that we can see what he's shooting for.

Regarding the Crossfire issue, many, many times people will say "Oh, I'll get CFX/SLI later," but later turns into never and they end up wasting a whole bunch of money on more kit that they need. Not to mention that , CFX/SLI are terrible long-term upgrade plans. In a year or two, you'll be able to just get a better single GPU.

As it stands now, we would be irresponsible to recommend that the OP spend a bunch of money for a GPU when he's at such a low resolution. That's why we're all asking him to put a better screen into the build so that we can make an informed recommendation as to the GPU that would best suit his needs.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

True, I am not aware of what SC2 uses more. Heck, I don't' know what SC2 even means.

I meant no offense 🙂

 

[mfenn]

True, I am not aware of what SC2 uses more. Heck, I don't' know what SC2 even means.

I meant no offense 🙂

Hey man, we're always cool. 🙂

The OP probably means Starcraft 2. He could mean Supreme Commander 2, but that game is crap, so I think Starcraft 2 is more likely.

 

[ArchCenturion]

Hi, I appreciate everyone's responses. I have spent some time reading them all and I have been watching my roommate fail at getting his computer to work, so I have decided that he jumped the gun not waiting for me, and I am not going to try and get the same mobo as him, so this has allowed me to basically redo my build, incorporating many of jchu14's suggestions. I realize the more I read peoples posts, that I have no clue what I am doing, and I really appreciate and take to heart what you guys are saying.

I also decided to get new a monitor posted below, so I plan on having a 23" main monitor and using my 19" on the side.

Here is what I am now looking at but I still haven't decided on a motherboard. It will need to be socket 1156.

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115214
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor BX80605I7860

MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128412
GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231225
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150490
XFX HD-587X-ZNFV Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139010
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active ...

SSD : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227528
OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTX50G 2.5" 50GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

HD : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148397Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3160813AS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236079
ASUS VH232H Glossy Black 23" 5ms Widescreen Full HD 1080p LCD Monitor w/Speakers & HDMI

OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

Keyboard, speakers, Mouse: already have them


How is it looking now? From what I read, the P55 chipset is not built for cross fire, since I plan to get a 23" monitor, and use dual screens with my 19" will I still have a strong enough system to run current games at their highest resolution without sacrificing noticeable fps?



**BTW to clear up confusion, by SC2 , I do mean Starcraft 2, I have been looking forward to this for around 10 years!

 

[Sp12]

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?p=30896458#post30896458

Fry's has a good deal on the i7 930 and an X58 mobo, which is a viable option at that price.

As for a P55 mobo, the P55A-UD3 is one of my favorites.

 

[jchu14]

Glad to see a nice monitor in there.

Almost there in the build. Except now you'd want dual channel memory kits for a 1156/P55 setup. So one or two set of this Gskill 1600mhz 4gb kit. 4gb should be enough for gaming.

There is also vertex 2 with tweaked firmware that makes it 60gb instead of 50gb at no loss to performance. The price is about the same as the 50gb version. 60gb Vertex2 is current OOS at Newegg with ETA of 7/12, but they're also available at other retailers such as www.mwave.com and www.tigerdirect.com for about $170.

Not sure why you added that WD TV media player to the build. Is that just something separate that you wanted? It plays media files that's located on a usb drive, but it doesn't have any internal storage. If your new computer is located close to the tv, you can output directly from computer's video card to the tv.

I think you're gonna feel pretty space limited once you install a few games with only a 50/60gb ssd. Win7 can take up 10-15gb by itself. Though not necessarily a big deal right now, since you can always add another hard drive later when you run out of space. It's wise to wait for the 25nm refresh.

Monitor seems like a good one. 91% 5 star on newegg is impressive.

The P55 is indeed inferior to X58 when you crossfire with 3 cards. However, when it's only a 2 card crossfire, the P55 can be almost as good depending on the board implementation. The cheaper implementation would be making the slots x16/x4 while the better implementation would be x8/x8. Techpowerup did a scaling comparison for single 5870. A x4 slot is about 95% of the performance of the x16 slot, while the x8 slot is 98-99% of the performance of the x16 slot.

So in a nutshell, P55 is going to be worse than x58, but to say it's not designed for (dual card) crossfire is not true. If you think you're going to crossfire, it may pay to get the UD4P mobo instead, which has the x8/x8 implementation that will perform within a couple percentage point of an x58 setup. I don't know how much having the x4 slot will impact performance though, so I can't make a solid suggestion as to which one to go for.

Don't forget to try to find Newegg combo discounts whenever you can. I know that the windows 7 is a combo item to a lot of stuff which can save you $10. You should look around to see if other things are.

 

[mfenn]

How is it looking now? From what I read, the P55 chipset is not built for cross fire, since I plan to get a 23" monitor, and use dual screens with my 19" will I still have a strong enough system to run current games at their highest resolution without sacrificing noticeable fps?

I concur with jchu, but I want to elaborate on this point.

To clarify, using your 19" on the side will not affect your framerates at all. The game will run on your primary monitor while your secondary monitor will just display the Windows desktop as usual. The 5870 is a good card for 1080P and should let you run games at 1080P all max for 12-18 months (a long time by the standards of PC gaming).

 

[ArchCenturion]

Glad to see a nice monitor in there.

Not sure why you added that WD TV media player to the build. Is that just something separate that you wanted? It plays media files that's located on a usb drive, but it doesn't have any internal storage. If your new computer is located close to the tv, you can output directly from computer's video card to the tv.

I messed up and linked that WD TV media player, I have replaced it with an actual Hard Drive this time.