Suggestions for a ~$2000 gaming build?

What do you think about this RAM?

G.SKILL Trident 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231254

I am not quite up on the whole QPI vs FSB thing yet so I don't know if there are concerns with making sure you can make full use of faster RAM.

Also, I am not sure how the CAS latency vs RAM speed is worked out these days, last time I built a PC DDR3 was not out yet (well, maybe 2 or 3 motherboards supported it.... it was cost prohibitive). How will a CAS 7 at 1600 going to operate vs a CAS of 9 at 2000 with DDR3?

Oh, and I think I am actually going to drop down to 1 of the 5870s to start and pick up the second at the next price drop. I don't think I'll be using more than 2 monitors for the first couple of months anyway.

Thanks again for bouncing ideas around with me.
 
xonto said:
What do you think about this RAM?

G.SKILL Trident 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231254

I am not quite up on the whole QPI vs FSB thing yet so I don't know if there are concerns with making sure you can make full use of faster RAM.

Also, I am not sure how the CAS latency vs RAM speed is worked out these days, last time I built a PC DDR3 was not out yet (well, maybe 2 or 3 motherboards supported it.... it was cost prohibitive). How will a CAS 7 at 1600 going to operate vs a CAS of 9 at 2000 with DDR3?

Oh, and I think I am actually going to drop down to 1 of the 5870s to start and pick up the second at the next price drop. I don't think I'll be using more than 2 monitors for the first couple of months anyway.

Thanks again for bouncing ideas around with me.
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Well, id personally go with the 1600mhz mushkin over the 2000mhz trident. For one mushkin is widely considered as the best or one of the best memory manufacturers, not to mention that 1600mhz is plenty if you plan on overclocking aswell. In everyday use, you will notice more speed from the lower latency mushkin than the higher latency gskill. If you were to go 2000mhz i would get a minimum of CAS 8.
 
Here is pretty much what I have decided on. Any Final thoughts/comments/suggestions before I take the plunge?

CASE: COOLER MASTER Storm Sniper SGC-6000-KXN1-GP Black Steel, ABS Plastic, Mesh bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

MOTHERBOARD: EVGA E758-A1 3-Way SLI (x16/x16/x8) LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail

VIDEO CARD: SAPPHIRE 100281SR Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video ... - Retail

RAM: mushkin Redline 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory Model 998707 - Retail

HARD DRIVE(S): X2 Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM (Raid 1 Configuration, two 100GB System Partitions, remaining space as a storage partition. I have an external 1.8TB raid 5 array already that I will attach to this machine for long-term storage :D)

POWER SUPPLY: CORSAIR CMPSU-850HX 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

HEATSINK: COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail (With some Arctic Silver 5 Thermal compound)

OPTICAL DRIVE: SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support - OEM

And I think that is about it!

Final cost comes to ~$1786 after shipping and all. Will probably pick up a duplicate GPU for crossfire a few months down the road. For now I will be using a 24" monitor in combination with my 46" LCD HDTV. The TV will be my main monitor most of the time (For gaming at least), but will use the 24" as my main if there is something else I want to use the big-screen for (Movies, TV, etc).

Thanks again.
 
You can ask 100 people this question and you will get 100 different answers.

With $2000...this is what I would do:D You could buy more performance for the money but this would be epic for me;)

Case: Corsair Obsidian for $280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139001&Tpk=corsair obsidian

PSU: CORSAIR 850HX for $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011

Motherboard: EVGA P55 FTW LGA 1156 for $230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188056

CPU: Intel Core i5-750 for $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

CPU Cooler: Prolimatech Megahalems for $65 (should work on this motherboard, do some research)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8..._AM3_Hot_Item.html?tl=g40c14s1037&id=7ZZAAAgu

CPU Cooler Fan: Scythe Slip Stream for $10
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6..._Fan_-_1600_RPM_SY1225SL12H.html?tl=g36c15s60

RAM: Mushkin 4GB DDR3 1600 for $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146777

Graphics: EVGA GTX 275 x 2 for $500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130475

Hard drives: Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB x 2 for $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

CD/DVD: Samsung DVD/CD for $32
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187

Case Fans: Scythe Kaze Maru 140mm x 3 for $60
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7...RPM_High_Speed_SY1425SL12H.html?tl=g36c15s775

Fan Controller: Aerocool Modern-V for $60
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7...roller_LCD_Display_-_Black.html?tl=g47c17s286


Final cost = $1912
 
Bodaggit23 said:
Why do you think this Asus board is better than the EVGA X58 vanilla?
Click to expand...
Better quality board overall, especially in power regulation. The EVGA board is 8 phase, the asus is 16+2 phase.

Edit: X58 is 8 Phase, not 12 phase

xonto said:
Here is pretty much what I have decided on. Any Final thoughts/comments/suggestions before I take the plunge?

CASE: COOLER MASTER Storm Sniper SGC-6000-KXN1-GP Black Steel, ABS Plastic, Mesh bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

MOTHERBOARD: EVGA E758-A1 3-Way SLI (x16/x16/x8) LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail

VIDEO CARD: SAPPHIRE 100281SR Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video ... - Retail

RAM: mushkin Redline 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory Model 998707 - Retail

HARD DRIVE(S): X2 Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM (Raid 1 Configuration, two 100GB System Partitions, remaining space as a storage partition. I have an external 1.8TB raid 5 array already that I will attach to this machine for long-term storage :D)

POWER SUPPLY: CORSAIR CMPSU-850HX 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

HEATSINK: COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail (With some Arctic Silver 5 Thermal compound)

OPTICAL DRIVE: SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support - OEM

And I think that is about it!

Final cost comes to ~$1786 after shipping and all. Will probably pick up a duplicate GPU for crossfire a few months down the road. For now I will be using a 24" monitor in combination with my 46" LCD HDTV. The TV will be my main monitor most of the time (For gaming at least), but will use the 24" as my main if there is something else I want to use the big-screen for (Movies, TV, etc).

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Id recommend the megahalems over the V8, the V8 isnt that great of a cooler, a megahalems can net you quite lower temps than the V8. Id also get a P6T deluxe over the evga personally. You could save some money going with the Zalman power supply i recommended aswell, its an excellent unit that would easily power two 5870's and has the lowest ripple i have seen on a power supply shy of a pc power and cooling turbo cool 1200w.

ScOuT said:
You can ask 100 people this question and you will get 100 different answers.

With $2000...this is what I would do:D You could buy more performance for the money but this would be epic for me;)

Case: Corsair Obsidian for $280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139001&Tpk=corsair%20obsidian

PSU: CORSAIR 850HX for $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011

Motherboard: EVGA P55 FTW LGA 1156 for $230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188056

CPU: Intel Core i5-750 for $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

CPU Cooler: Prolimatech Megahalems for $65 (should work on this motherboard, do some research)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8..._AM3_Hot_Item.html?tl=g40c14s1037&id=7ZZAAAgu

CPU Cooler Fan: Scythe Slip Stream for $10
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6..._Fan_-_1600_RPM_SY1225SL12H.html?tl=g36c15s60

RAM: Mushkin 4GB DDR3 1600 for $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146777

Graphics: EVGA GTX 275 x 2 for $500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130475

Hard drives: Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB x 2 for $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

CD/DVD: Samsung DVD/CD for $32
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187

Case Fans: Scythe Kaze Maru 140mm x 3 for $60
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7...RPM_High_Speed_SY1425SL12H.html?tl=g36c15s775

Fan Controller: Aerocool Modern-V for $60
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7...roller_LCD_Display_-_Black.html?tl=g47c17s286


Final cost = $1912
Click to expand...

Dunno if youve seen the benches but 5870 is roughly as powerful as two 275's. Also, why P55? That only has 16 pcie lanes total, so sli would be x8/x8 sli, not to mention that X58 is still more powerful and has triple channel memory:P
 
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The HAF case is great, I have it, keeps the system cool.

As far as motherboard goes, I suggest one of their new P55 boards, I have the P55 FTW and it's nothing but good.

Maybe get a version better than the P55?

All up to you.
 
I am a little worried about the Megahalems fitting correctly with the EVGA E758-A1 3-Way SLI (x16/x16/x8) LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard. Been looking at all the pictures and that Megahalems looks pretty wide, and that MB looks pretty close to the RAM, as well as there being another heatsink on the opposite side. Thoughts on that?

Also, I am thinking about going back to the HAF case after a little more research. The Sniper seems solid too, it's a toss up to me, but the HAF is making a comeback.
 
xonto said:
I am a little worried about the Megahalems fitting correctly with the EVGA E758-A1 3-Way SLI (x16/x16/x8) LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard. Been looking at all the pictures and that Megahalems looks pretty wide, and that MB looks pretty close to the RAM, as well as there being another heatsink on the opposite side. Thoughts on that?

Also, I am thinking about going back to the HAF case after a little more research. The Sniper seems solid too, it's a toss up to me, but the HAF is making a comeback.
Click to expand...
It will fit but only with 3 sticks of memory, and only single fan. If you want push pull you wouldnt want the evga X58 due to the heatsink.

The P6T Deluxe V2 also will block ram slots so you can only run 3 sticks but it would be able to run push->pull fans.


But i highly recommend the megahalems, the absolute best air cooler on the market.
 
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yeah, I believe that it is the best air cooler on the market, but I also can't make a build around the heatsink ;)

I am pretty sold on my motherboard, so I need to find the best cooler that I can that will work the best with that MB. I doubt I will fill all 6 slots in this build, but I still like having the option to do so if I ever wanted to.

I have been seriously considering water cooling... never done a build with it and I have wanted to for a while, but I have never been able to justify it. Think it might be a good option here, or should I just go for the best heatsink and fan I can find that will fit? Still better than stock, but not ideal.
 
xonto said:
yeah, I believe that it is the best air cooler on the market, but I also can't make a build around the heatsink ;)

I am pretty sold on my motherboard, so I need to find the best cooler that I can that will work the best with that MB. I doubt I will fill all 6 slots in this build, but I still like having the option to do so if I ever wanted to.

I have been seriously considering water cooling... never done a build with it and I have wanted to for a while, but I have never been able to justify it. Think it might be a good option here, or should I just go for the best heatsink and fan I can find that will fit? Still better than stock, but not ideal.
Click to expand...
With water you would want a different case than the HAF or Sniper, neither are really ideal for water.

Just wondering...any reason for that motherboard? The vanilla isnt really the best board for the price especially in the power delivery department. Dunno what it is with evga boards but they always skimp in that area, i should ask one of my friends at evga whats up with that. The Vanilla is 8 phase, whilst the P6T Deluxe V2 is 16+2.
 
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You know, I must have clicked through your link and then looked in a different tab last time I checked... went back and looked at the P6T Deluxe V2 and it is a different board than I though it was.

Reading up on it a bit now, looks like it has all the features that I care about at a glance...

Oh, and for water cooling, if I did go that route, do you have any suggestions for a water cooling kit and case?
 
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xonto said:
You know, I must have clicked through your link and then looked in a different tab last time I checked... went back and looked at the P6T Deluxe V2 and it is a different board than I though it was.

Reading up on it a bit now, looks like it has all the features that I care about at a glance...

Oh, and for water cooling, if I did go that route, do you have any suggestions for a water cooling kit and case?
Click to expand...
Case- Antec Twelve hundred, Or a Lian-li of some sort. Or if you really want a nice case, a Mountain Mods Pinnacle 24

Kit? You wouldnt want a kit, kits generally suck. Youd want to do soemthing like this:

Pump:
http://jab-tech.com/Swiftech-MCP-355-12v-DC-Pump-pr-3510.html
Pump Top+ Res:
http://jab-tech.com/XSPC-Acrylic-Reservoir-for-Laing-DDC-pr-4123.html
Tubing(10ft would give you enough extra incase you mess something up):
http://jab-tech.com/Tygon-R-3603-1-2-ID-3-4-OD-Chemical-Tubing-pr-3874.html
Fittings(4x):
http://jab-tech.com/Dangerden-FB-Fat-Boy-G-1-4-Fittings-1-2-Barb-pr-4181.html
Biocide(the 8" one):
http://jab-tech.com/Antimicrobial-Silver-Strip-pr-4530.html
$155.31 for that

Now, for rads you have alot of options depending on case:
2x120mm:
http://jab-tech.com/XSPC-RX240-Dual-120mm-high-performance-radiator-pr-4383.html
http://jab-tech.com/XSPC-RS240-BLACK-High-Performance-Copper-Fin-Radiator-pr-4203.html
http://jab-tech.com/Feser-X-Changer-Dual-120mm-Xtreme-Performance-Radiator-pr-4277.html
http://jab-tech.com/ThermoChill-PA120.2-pr-3263.html

3x120mm:
http://jab-tech.com/Feser-X-Changer-Triple-120mm-Xtreme-Performance-Radiator-pr-4278.html
http://jab-tech.com/Thermochill-PA120.3-pr-3264.html
http://jab-tech.com/XSPC-RS360-BLACK-High-Performance-Copper-Fin-Radiator-pr-4204.html
http://jab-tech.com/XSPC-RX360-Triple-120mm-high-performance-radiator-pr-4384.html

For either of them, in order of best to least:
XSPC RS
XSPC RX/Feser/Thermochill are all pretty equal with thermochill being the most popular of the three.

For fans, depending on rad you would want 2 or 3:
Silent, Decent airflow(What i have personally, already mounted on my rads just waiting on my tubing pump and res):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...2E16835103060,N82E16835103062,N82E16835103063
A bit louder but better airflow:
http://jab-tech.com/Scythe-KAZE-JYUNI-SLIP-STREAM-120mm-Case-Fan-SY1225SL12SH-1900rpm-pr-3945.html
Excellent Airflow but louder:
http://jab-tech.com/Scythe-ULTRA-KAZE-120-x-38-mm-Case-Fan-Medium-2000rpm-pr-3939.html
Best airflow, Loudest(Full speed almost like a vacuum cleaner):
http://jab-tech.com/Scythe-ULTRA-KAZE-120-x-38-mm-Case-Fan-High-pr-3940.html
 
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Xonto,

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I apologize in advance if I'm straying off topic, but I think the info I seek is relevant.

bomberboysk said:
With water you would want a different case than the HAF or Sniper, neither are really ideal for water.
Click to expand...

Why would you say that? The HAF 932 is designed for watercooling.

bomberboysk said:
The vanilla isnt really the best board for the price especially in the power delivery department. Dunno what it is with evga boards but they always skimp in that area, i should ask one of my friends at evga whats up with that. The Vanilla is 8 phase, whilst the P6T Deluxe V2 is 16+2.
Click to expand...

Did they skimp on the Classified boards as well? Why are the EVGA X58 boards such good overclockers?

StrangleHold said:
Good read
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/616
Click to expand...

Nice, thanks. :good:
 
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