New Gaming & Personal Work computer build - Hardware & Software

So with some insight from a friend I got some progress on a computer build but I wanted to find out a few things about the build that I'm unsure about. When rig parts arrive I will pic them n the finished product and thanks to any and all who help along the way. *I am not including graphics card or OS in this price* 1.) Power supply (I'm not too sure on brand and wattage as I'm probably going to get a second 480gtx down the road (not soon but wanting to have the ability to upgrade to it when the time comes as my current system is a good 2 almost 3 years old after upgrading it) 2.) I'm trying to keep about 1,500-1700 price range. 3.) I've heard some comments about ram and the i7 that I'm not too sure on. "If you are using i7 920 you will have to overclock your rams to get 1333 or more, because they only go up to 1066 at default." Notes: I'm waiting on building the system for my win7 prof 64bit to arrive as well as the 480gtx to go on sell on newegg but insight is always welcome. :) Case $159.99 after instant savings: [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103022"]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103022[/URL] The case doesn't have a cover (thank goodness as my current case had a front cover and it was the first thing to get taken off and thrown away, as I don't care for blocking the airflow or trapping any dust. The case also has plenty of room vs my current mid-tower case along with plenty of airflow, easily accessible buttons....and yes lights. Mobo $289.99: [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365"]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365[/URL] My friend has the same mobo and he said it's worked just fine for him so I'm planning on going the same route. CPU $294.99: [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225"]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225[/URL] Step above the i7 920 and will look into OC it some when I get the system built or any comments provided I will take into consideration. For this build I'm going Intel & Nvidia as with my current system is setup with AMD. Just figured I'd give both a shot. CPU Cooler $79.99: [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181010"] [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055"]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055[/URL][/URL] I plan on OCn the CPU so I'm going to use this and it's only $5 more than what I was previously going to use. Ram $369.99: [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145235"]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145235[/URL] This is what I am planning on going with but refer to concern #3 as I'm still somewhat unsure on this. PSU $169.99: [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171049"]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171049[/URL] I know the brand CoolerMaster has been around so I know they should be decent but I'm concerned as to if it would be enough to later upgrade to SLI'd 480 gtx setup (down the road as an upgrade to keep the system going) Hard Drives x2 for this build but other setups/suggestions are more than welcome. I don't know how effective a RAID setup would be but if it'd be possible to have x3 HD but have x2 500gig HDs setup in a RAID format/make it so they have the same content on each for backup purposes it would be amazing. HD (OS HD) $104.99: [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227393&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3640869&SID=skim629X1198"]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227393&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3640869&SID=skim629X1198[/URL] SSD with nice cache, size & quality for price. Didn't include rebate with price and will see how long it takes to get that rebate. o.o I will be using the below product with the above stated SSD. SSD Drive Converter $19.99: [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994064"]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994064[/URL] Using it to convert the size to 3.5" from 2.5" with this to put the SSD into. HD (Storage/games/applications) $99.99: [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284"]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284[/URL] I plan on installing everything on this HD and storing everything here but would be up for getting two 500gig HDs if I knew it'd be possible to set two in some sort of a "clone" setup so that they had the same exact files on both for backup purposes while allowing the other two to be left out of it. ***Total price from Newegg item list is set at $1,584.91*** Any insight and comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. *Edit #1* Current Total price from Newegg item list is set at $1,589.91 *Edit #2* Changed Boot OS HD and price for parts above. *Edit #3* Changed CPU Cooler.

1. Bad case, This [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112253[/url] or this [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112224[/url] or this [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112159[/url] 2 If you want to boot quick get a small SSD drive 3. Do you already have the 480? if not go for a Radeon 5970 as it is the same price and MUCH better 4. And you HAVE to get [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341003[/url] PSU, great deal...

op's case made me giggle

Its more of a vaccum cleaner than a case

could've gave this build to my eleven y/o brother and he would've done better.

I appreciate those of you who would rather just be a dick than give any thought or insight but whatever, I should have expected as much from this community?

You are going to have serious trouble fitting all this in a 17k budget. And you used a slower harddrive for your OS

Get a better case, change the CPU down to a 920, drop half the RAM, get derlicious's PSU, get a faster OS drive, get rid of the HD cooler. And get a fucking 5870 or 5970.

Go with an HD 5870 or 5970, much better price to performance ratio, not to mention other features.

Fhamster, please read before you reply. $1,500-1,700 for the components listed. I excluded Graphics card and the OS (the OS which is purchased). Thanks for the talk there Mr Drover but talk is cheap, your post was better than the rest in the thread, I'm just curious if you favor one manufacturer over another like HIS over sapphire or what you recommend. As for the OS HD, I didn't set that in stone as I was hoping to get some SSD suggestions from someone here..... Time after time it's seen how this is not a forum community that is respectful or bothers to read what they're responding to. Just here to flame and troll. I'm moving on as I highly doubt someone can competently reply here. Thanks for the "comment" mr drover just lacking.

[QUOTE=renovatio;21180286]Fhamster, please read before you reply. $1,500-1,700 for the components listed. I excluded Graphics card and the OS (the OS which is purchased). Thanks for the talk there Mr Drover but talk is cheap, your post was better than the rest in the thread, I'm just curious if you favor one manufacturer over another like HIS over sapphire or what you recommend. As for the OS HD, I didn't set that in stone as I was hoping to get some SSD suggestions from someone here..... Time after time it's seen how this is not a forum community that is respectful or bothers to read what they're responding to. Just here to flame and troll. I'm moving on as I highly doubt someone can competently reply here. Thanks for the "comment" mr drover just lacking.[/QUOTE] I've always went with XFX cards. Also for boot drive: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227393[/url]

[QUOTE=renovatio;21180286]Fhamster, please read before you reply. $1,500-1,700 for the components listed. I excluded Graphics card and the OS (the OS which is purchased). [/QUOTE] No, you said your current list is 1500, and you are looking to keep it within a 1.5k - 1.7k budget

[QUOTE=Mr Drover;21180872]I've always went with XFX cards. Also for boot drive: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227393[/url][/QUOTE] Nice piece of hardware. I'll go with that piece of hardware though. TY. Edit: According to what I found through the OCZ forums it looks like Vista and Win7 don't need any preparation with the SSD formatting or partition beforehand.

Fhamster you said 17k on your post earlier. I think i gave some insight Renovatio. Go with a XFX or HIS Radeon 5970 with a Intel i7 920 or 930, get that PSU i recommended, get a SSD drive (the one that Mr.Drover recommended) get a full tower Lian-Li case and you'll be fine. Oh and maybe if you have some money left over get some water cooling and stuff... potentially you could get this sdd -> [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167025[/url] My brother has one and it's good... or if you want to sped a tad more and get the one i have -> [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227475[/url] but there isnt much point

[QUOTE=renovatio;21182362]Nice piece of hardware. I'll go with that piece of hardware though. TY. Edit: According to what I found through the OCZ forums it looks like Vista and Win7 don't need any preparation with the SSD formatting or partition beforehand.[/QUOTE] Yep get a OCZ Vertex 30, no preparation needed, and they've started shipping them with the latest firmware already applied so TRIM works out the box. I have one as my boot drive with windows 7 on, boot time is in the 20s and ive still got about 12GB of free space. Also that case is a joke. [editline]12:43PM[/editline] [QUOTE=derlicious;21184791]potentially you could get this sdd -> [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167025[/url] My brother has one and it's good... or if you want to sped a tad more and get the one i have -> [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227475[/url] but there isnt much point[/QUOTE] Dont get either of those SSDs, they both suck compared to a Vertex.

Yeh i know but they are cheap for what they are and they dont suck in themselves.

Now water cooling is something I've considered but I'll be honest that I know rather little about it but I'm not against it ... just have never researched it. My assumption is that it requires a bit different cpu n vid cards to go with the water cooling. Yeah I'm going with the OCZ. I edited the op with the adjustments.

Not a different CPU i believe just a different vid card... You can get a thing by coolermaster i believe which is a cpu water cooler which is small and as easy to setup as a cpu fan

most video cards will have custom waterblocks

[QUOTE=derlicious;21184791]Fhamster you said 17k on your post earlier. [/QUOTE] Yes, 17k 1700 power of inference

[QUOTE=derlicious;21191272]Not a different CPU i believe just a different vid card... You can get a thing by coolermaster i believe which is a cpu water cooler which is small and as easy to setup as a cpu fan[/QUOTE] I'm guessing you're referring to the CM Aquagate Max . It would seem it's a bit old, besides not being on sale through newegg. After looking into the product it did sound easy to install as well as quite effective though. [URL="http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?category_id=3569&product_id=3855"]http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?category_id=3569&product_id=3855[/URL] So far I haven't been successful on finding a CM liquid system with Intel LGA 1366 support but am going to keep looking when I have time. Cooler Master has no water cooling products on newegg? o.0 [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Store/BrandSubCategory.aspx?Brand=1333&SubCategory=575&name=Cooler-Master-Water-Cooling"]http://www.newegg.com/Store/BrandSubCategory.aspx?Brand=1333&SubCategory=575&name=Cooler-Master-Water-Cooling[/URL]

No not that one and i might be wrong with it being coolermaster but its called like H60 or something... That Aquagate looks nice though... ill see if i can find it.. i think im wrong about brand

[URL="http://www.corsair.com/products/h50/Default.aspx"]http://www.corsair.com/products/h50/Default.aspx[/URL] That what you're talking about?

Yes thanks that is what im talking about and it's good

I changed the build to include that, though now I'm off trying to find if they have a similar product that does vid card and cpu cooling or if I have to get two diff systems (so as not to go to a full watercooling system?)

don't high end air coolers score higher than the h50?

[QUOTE=cryticfarm;21196848]don't high end air coolers score higher than the h50?[/QUOTE] yes

I appreciate you coming into a thread to just throw down negative feedback without any suggestions or links or brands or a product name. If you're going to post, be helpful to some degree.

Amen. So are you going for a 480?? or a 5970?

Still haven't settled on either yet lol but I am debating it heavily. ATI is packing performance while nvidia is packing technology and competitive performance but is hindered in performance with all their technology for games they're trying to push. I'm sure if they hadn't done that, that they'd leave ati behind again but I'm also curious as to why nvidia didn't make a dual gpu card on the geforce100 tech seeing it's stats. Nvidia's cards currently take more power, put out more heat along with are noticeably noisier but also won't be able to purchase one until the 12th so I've got time to beat myself up over it.