Almost ready to order - any changes recommended?

V

Venthos

Weaksauce
Joined
Nov 24, 2004
Messages
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I'm preparing to drop quite a decent amount of cash on a full system here. Moving up from an AMD 64 X2 4800+; w/2GB DDR 400; GeForce 8800 GTX.

$3k is about what I'm looking to spend here but I'm flexible since I tend to go "all out" every 3-4 years as opposed to steady upgrades.

-This machine will be primarily for gaming.
-I will not be overclocking.
-A Dell 2407WFP (1920x1200) 24" display will be used
-I will be using Vista Ultimate 64-bit

CASE: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black - $79.99
CPU: Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition 965 - $1,029.99
MB: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 Intel X58 ATX - $298.99
MEM: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1333 - $194.00
GFX: 2x eVGA GeForce GTX 280 SSC Edition - $799.98 ($399.99/ea)
PSU: OCZ EliteXStream OCZ1000EXS 1000W - $199.99
MAIN HD: Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB - $169.99
SECONDARY HD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB - $129.99
OPTICAL: SAMSUNG SH-S223Q - $28.99
SOUND: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty - $124.99

TOTAL: $3,056.90

Mail-In Rebates:
PSU: -$40.00
GFX: -$30.00 (x2)

TOTAL w/MAIL-IN REBATES: $2956.90

Mainly looking for individual parts I may be overlooking that will yield better performance yet is of similar pricing. Stuff like the PSU being sufficient, good choice of case, etc.

Will probably be buying this in a matter of days.
 
I'm extremely jealous.

Only thing I notice is that it is such a nice new build, in a decent case. Why not get a case to better suit that build? Also, why buy the Extreme edition if you do not plan on doing any overclocking? My only thoughts for now lol...
 
If you can hold off until enginurd, Danny or one of the other hardware experts can get a chance to look over your build.

One thing that I'll ask is, are you planning on upgrading your 24 inch monitor to 30 inches or better? If not than your system is a bit overkill. Especially the 2 nvidia GTX 280s.
 
memnoch_thedevil said:
Why not get a case to better suit that build? Also, why buy the Extreme edition if you do not plan on doing any overclocking?
Click to expand...

I've been hung up on what case/psu I should get for like a week now. haha. I think I've finally decided on what I posted above. My main problem is that I want a Mid-Tower, but most of the mid-towers I like will not comfortably fit some of the huge 1000w+ PSUs that I would be pairing up with it to support SLI as well as having the other features I want in a case.

-No excessive flash (tons of LEDs, elaborate windows)
-Regular ATX, not rATX
-Side-mounted HD bays for easy access/cable management
-Sufficient space for a PSU that will comfortably power the above rig

I'm open to suggestions on both PSU and Case, but it's been tough finding something that meets what I want and is still a Mid-Tower!

As for the why the extreme edition, it's because I'm not overclocking that I am getting it. I want the best stock processor performance I can get.

CpuMan said:
If you can hold off until enginurd, Danny or one of the other hardware experts can get a chance to look over your build.

One thing that I'll ask is, are you planning on upgrading your 24 inch monitor to 30 inches or better? If not than your system is a bit overkill. Especially the 2 nvidia GTX 280s.
Click to expand...

Maybe down the line, but I the cost of a 30" display would add another $1500 or so to my build cost and I'm pretty happy with my 24". Maybe in a year or two. I'm aiming for overkill to some degree, I want this system to last a while. Like I mentioned, I probably won't be performing any upgrades to this system for 3 years or so.
 
For only a 24" display. That is overkill. I have 22", 24", 28" monitors and I only running an 8800GT and a Q6600 cpu stock. I would go with this setup which is 50% cheaper and still deliver very good performance. Heh, with the left over money you can easily grab a 30" HP LP3065 lcd and still be under $3,000.00

Case – CoolerMaster RC-690 for $65.62 from Provantage.com
http://www.provantage.com/cooler-master-rc-690-kkn1-gp~7COOL023.htm

CPU/Mobo – Intel Core i7 920(2.66ghz) + Gigabyte GA-EX58-DS4 both for $525
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.147059

Heatsink – CoolerMaster V8 1366 for $58.91
http://www.valleyseek.com/product.action?itemID=129840

Ram – G.Skills 6GB DDR3 1333 PC3 10666 Triple Channel for $170 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231223

Video – 2x MSI – Geforce GTX 260 for $200 w/free shipping total $400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127361

PSU – BFG ES-800 for $110($40 MIR) w/free shipping GTX 260 SLI certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817702007

HDD (Main) – WD 6400AAKS 640gig for $75 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

HDD (Secondary) – Samsung Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ for $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152102

Optical - SAMSUNG Black 22X w/lightscribe for $29.00 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173

Sound – Use onboard Audio Sound which is good enough.

Total: $1,533.53

Don't worry about SLI for 1920 x 1200 res, when there will be newer cards coming out that will perform better. But, 2 x GTX 260 in SLI is plenty for 1920 x 1200. Heck, I will just be happy just upgrading my 8800GT to 1 x GTX 260 later on.


Pop in this HP LP3065 30" display. Total for PC and 30" display is $2,724.35 before shipping and rebates.
 
HardwareGuru just saved you a boat load of money if you take his advice.

And with that i7 920 you can overclock it to 3.2Ghz without it even breaking a sweat to get the same performance as a stock Extreme Edition 965.

Now if you still want to spend $3000, you can get the 30 inch monitor.
 
I'd stick with the 280s instead of 260s. I do not at all agree with SLI/Crossfire with /anything/ save for top end cards. The 260 is a great card for 1680x1050, or potentially an upgrade to SLI from a single card when getting a larger, higher resolution screen than you started with... but as the basis of an initial SLI setup? No.

The V8 really isn't a bad cooler.
 
silent-circuit said:
I'd stick with the 280s instead of 260s. I do not at all agree with SLI/Crossfire with /anything/ save for top end cards. The 260 is a great card for 1680x1050, or potentially an upgrade to SLI from a single card when getting a larger, higher resolution screen than you started with... but as the basis of an initial SLI setup? No.

The V8 really isn't a bad cooler.
Click to expand...

Is a single GTX 280 close to 2x GTX260s in performance? If it is, than he could get 1 GTX280, the 30 inch monitor, and the i7 920. Then add another 280 down the road if he wants more gpu power.
 
Performs pretty damn well, though looks alone is scary enough.

Comparing overclocked to stock processors is such a *$#@$; you won't be hitting EE overclocked clocks. And OP stated he won't be overclocking so an aftermarket sink isn't even needed. The 920 at 2.66 isn't a slacker though, and you save .. $700

1xGTX280 is > 2xGTX260 if the game is badly optimized for 2cards. If it is optimized then 2xGTX260s will run a GTX280 into the ground. God I hate the argument of "down the road", lemme repeat again, what road? The road where the next batch of cards will cream 2xGTX280s like it's always been and always will be?
 
CpuMan said:
Is a single GTX 280 close to 2x GTX260s in performance? If it is, than he could get 1 GTX280, the 30 inch monitor, and the i7 920. Then add another 280 down the road if he wants more gpu power.
Click to expand...

HardwareGuru's build with the 260s replaced with 280s is well under $2000. Even with a 30" the OP is within budget... but I'd stick with a 24", a 26", a 28", or a nice 1080p TV to use as a monitor. 30" monitors are still a pain in the ass to drive.
 
You should really overclock, get more worth out of your parts especially with such a nice build.
 
BIGGEST notice, please listen to at least the part in HG post where he suggests a 920 i7 the 960 EE is not worth the price difference at all.

also switch out those 2 gtx 280, that is overkill, one 4870x2 will do, actually one 280 will do, for a 24" ( actually one 4870x2 is overkill for a 24" but it's worth it.

If you don't really need 1TB which is most people's case get Western Digital SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM it's a spacious SPEEDY well priced HD.
 
^- Don't need 1TB? Where have you been? I'm inching towards my 4th TB now, which is considered as a pinch compared to what many here have.
 
lowteckh said:
God I hate the argument of "down the road", lemme repeat again, what road? The road where the next batch of cards will cream 2xGTX280s like it's always been and always will be?
Click to expand...

LOL, I agree, is this better, "Then add another 280 if he wants more gpu power".
 
2xGTX280 is a poor choice when 2xGTX260 can be had for... $400. The difference between 1 280 and 1 260 isn't a humongous stretch.
 
AWAAAHHHH, 260s are at $200. take the 260s in SLi GREAT bargain.

@ silent-circuit: please elaborate on why you don't Sli top of the top cards. Not a stab at you, i actually would like to know.
 
Usually the price of 1 upper end card = price of 2 lower end cards (they do have production costs) and even if the performance matches... there's the issue of scaling, optimization. Plus, 2 cards are more of a PITA to pawn off than 1 :)

@ etherone, naw not just us. Consider 1 HD movie is 4GB, a full 1080p movie is 8GB (Hellboy 2 - 720p, Batman Begins - 1080p, Ironman 720p - 4.4GB, Ironman 1080p - 7.95GB).
 
etherone said:
@ silent-circuit: please elaborate on why you don't Sli top of the top cards. Not a stab at you, i actually would like to know.
Click to expand...

It's a theoretical thing. For those like the OP looking for a "beast" that'll last and have the budget to match, SLI makes sense. A single 280 is plenty for most -- there are very few things a single 280 won't do that 260 SLI will (I'm basing this on [H] reviews and personal experience with the machines of others) but there's plenty -- mostly high resolutions and high AA -- that 280 SLI will do that 260 SLI will not.

SLI as an upgrade path is a terrible idea. SLI without top end cards is a terrible idea. The point of SLI is to have the fastest possible setup at the time you're building. If a lesser setup is sufficient for your goals and resolution... go with it. If you go SLI, go big.
 
HardwareGuru nailed it, and as others have stated 2 x GTX 280's on a 24" monitor are way overkill. Get the 2 GTX 260's and stick the rest of the funds in a killer 30" monitor and enjoy.
 
makes sense, and i totally agree on the upgrade path notion, but 2 260's for the price of one 280 is very tempting especially if OP doesn't go 30", but goes higher than 24"

I am lazy and forgetful at the moment, anyone remember how 2 260s compared to the 4870x2
 
You can find the comparative benchmarks on [H]'s review... y'know, hardocp.com
 
Since OP has only these specs:

AMD 64 X2 4800+; w/2GB DDR 400; GeForce 8800 GTX on a Socket 939 platform, he should be happy with this Intel Core 2 upgrade. Definitely a pretty good performance boost on the CPU, RAM and GPU already. Save your $2,100 for a Core i7 build later. Sell those parts you have now to make up some of the cost you spend on this build.

Case - CoolerMaster RC- 690 for $65.62
http://www.provantage.com/cooler-master-rc-690-kkn1-gp~7COOL023.htm

CPU/Mobo - Intel Core 2 E8400(3.0ghz) + Asus P5Q Pro($15 MIR) both for $275
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.147991

Ram - 4gig G.Skills DDR2 1000 for $45 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145

Video - BFG Geforce GTX 280 1gig for $350($35 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143142

HDD - WD 6400AAKS 640gig for $75 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

PSU - BFG LS-550 for $64.43 has 40A on the +12V. The BFG GTX 280 requires a PSU with 36A on the +12V.
http://www.provantage.com/bfg-technologies-bfgr550wlspsu~7BFGT02T.htm

Optical - SAMSUNG Black 22X Sata DVD Burner w/lightscribe for $29 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173

Total: $904.05
 
All of this, yet still $126 cheaper than 1 x Intel Core i7 965 cpu. Pretty damn good.
 
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