Would this proposed gaming rig be too lopsided?

[VirtualLarry]

GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128495
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0364087
$120 at MC (-$40 bundle discount)

core i3 2100
$100 at MC

2x Gigabyte GTX460 1GB OC (715Mhz)
(Already have)

Some SSD for SRT, probably 40 or 64GB.
Under $100

1TB Seagate SATA2 HD
(Already have)

Antec 300 case + 120mm red LED fans
(already have)

PSU? Something cheap but good. With enough juice for both GTX460 cards, as well as eventually upgrading to an overclocked 2500K too.

Would the i3 bottleneck the SLI GTX460 cards? I read somewhere earlier that the i3-2100 was equal in power to a Phenom II X4 955.

Resolution is 1920x1200. Purchase decision - mostly just hypothesizing at this point.

 

[Zap]

Would the i3 bottleneck the SLI GTX460 cards?

I don't think it would in most shooter games, but some games that require more CPU may take a hit, so depends on the games that are played.

 

[Morg.]

CPU looks a bit on the cheap side, that's a good choice I think .. however, if you're going to pay so much for the cpu/mobo, why not consider a cheaper alternative, like the phenom you're citing ?

Also SSD on a cheapo config .? I doubt it's worth it tbh.

 

[JEDIYoda]

PSU? Something cheap but good. With enough juice for both GTX460 cards, as well as eventually upgrading to an overclocked 2500K too....you should never skimp on your PSU!!
In fact some believe the PSU is one of your major purchases!!

 

[Zap]

CPU looks a bit on the cheap side, that's a good choice I think .. however, if you're going to pay so much for the cpu/mobo, why not consider a cheaper alternative, like the phenom you're citing ?

I think the Core i3 2100 usually beats any Phenom of any speed in most gaming benchmarks.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Sorry, forgot to mention, I was looking for PSU suggestions too.

Last time I build a dual-GPU rig for my BIL, I used a TruePower New 750. Which was nice, but a little bit too pricy for me.

I've used an EarthWatts 650W before, to power my Q6600 @ 3.6, and two GTX460 cards running F@H for a whole month 24/7, but I have no idea how close to the edge I was with that PSU. I don't know if that's a viable choice long-term.

Preferred budget for PSU is around $60, but could stretch to $100.

 

[dma0991]

Since you are using the Core i3 2100 as a temporary CPU, it would be better to actually upgrade it to IB when it comes out next year. SB and IB will use the same LGA1155 and it should be a drop in upgrade unless Intel wants their user to actually buy a new motherboard for IB.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Since you are using the Core i3 2100 as a temporary CPU, it would be better to actually upgrade it to IB when it comes out next year. SB and IB will use the same LGA1155 and it should be a drop in upgrade unless Intel wants their user to actually buy a new motherboard for IB.

I was thinking about that possibility too.

 

[mfenn]

Sorry, forgot to mention, I was looking for PSU suggestions too.

Last time I build a dual-GPU rig for my BIL, I used a TruePower New 750. Which was nice, but a little bit too pricy for me.

I've used an EarthWatts 650W before, to power my Q6600 @ 3.6, and two GTX460 cards running F@H for a whole month 24/7, but I have no idea how close to the edge I was with that PSU. I don't know if that's a viable choice long-term.

Preferred budget for PSU is around $60, but could stretch to $100.

Your Earthwatts 650W should be plenty of juice. Gaming will use less power on the GPUs that GPGPU will and an i3 2100 is nowhere near the power hog that an OC'ed Q6600 is.