Need some helpful comments for this future gaming rig

[Thriller83]

I'm going to be using this as a gaming rig (for upcoming games such as Crysis and UTIII) and don't plan to rebuild/upgrade for years to come. I do plan on buying an extra 8800 GTX for SLI gaming, and an extra 2 gig later in the future, but for now this is my build.

I just need some helpful feedback. Are these wise choices? Also I've been told if I plan to go SLI that the monitor has to go and I need a bigger one, is this true and if so which one?

Thanks.

CPU
Monitor
Case
Vid Card
Mobo
HDD 3 of these babies in total.
RAM
DVD Burner
CD Burner
PSU
OS
FAN
Keyboard
Headset
Speakers

The total with shipping comes to $3,117.27

 

[jpeyton]

I won't comment on the case and keyboard (since those are personal preferences). Don't know much about the headset or speakers either, but Logitech is a good brand for both.

OS looks good, but if you're planning on upping the RAM to 4GB, you'll need the 64-bit version of Vista to recognize all 4GB (otherwise you're limited to ~3GB).

Don't need the extra fan, your Antec case comes fully loaded with Antec fans.

It doesn't make sense that you're loading your system with expensive components, but buying a CD Burner Combo Drive instead of a second DVD Burner. Just buy two of the Samsung DVD burners.

Skip the ToughPower PSU; get this one instead.

Overclocking an E6600 or E6400 would save you big dough over an E6700. Get a good CPU cooler like a Scythe Ninja or Tuniq Tower.

 

[Thriller83]

I don't plan to Oc my PC at all. Which is why I choose the e6700. As for the PSU, I've been told that if I plan to have two 8800 GTX at SLI then I need at least 850W or more.

I was under the impression that Vista Home Premium came with the 64 bit as well. Or at least mailed you a free disc for the 64 bit version. Did they change this or was it all BS?

 

[Hulk]

You can spend a lot less, have virtually no loss in performance and upgrade along the way and have a much faster system this time next year and the year after.

You $3000+ system will be slower than the average $1200 overclocked system like mine save for the graphics.

You're spending a lot of money for not much performance over what spending much less will get you and the system will still be a lot slower than what you will be able to get in a year.

I have the feeling you're thinking you'll just buy the best right now and not have to worry about it for a few years. That's true and not true. Yes, that's a powerful system. No, like I said it'll be outdated in 6 months to a year.

Okay, you can take or leave my advice. You wanted opinions so I'm giving mine.


Back down the PS to a Seasonic in the 600Watt range.

Video card is good.

Get an E6400 and even with a mild overclock you can achieve E6700 speeds. Really, going to 2666 is a joke. It'll do it on stock voltage no problem. Just run the E6400 at 333FSB.

Why PC6400 memory if you're running at 5300 speeds? You said you don't want to overclock?

Just get one Raptor and two larger drives like the 7200.10.

Spend a little more on some real speakers.

 

[Thriller83]

I appreciate the input, I really do. But I've only built one rig and that was four years ago (the one I'm currently using) so I don't consider myself an expert (a newb actually), OCing anything without any real knowledge would be unwise. Would it not?

So I've decided to built the best at the moment (since I have the money)...but I will be taking your other advises like getting one 10,000 RPM HD and a second 320GB 7200 RPM as storage as well as upgrading this rig when it needs to be.

As for the PSU. Again I will have TWO 8800 GTX and these babies use four PCIe 6 pin connectors in total. That PSU you guys recommended only has two. That and it's below nVidia's power recommendation for two 8800 GTX (which was somewhere between 750W and 1KW).

The memory... well the reason I choose that one was because it was the only SLI certified I could find.

Which brings me to my question (which is actually my first and wasn't answered). As I've said before this rig will have SLI 88000 GTX cards, so is the monitor I've picked perfect for this? I've been told no.

Again thanks for the help.