New Build

[Ch4cotako]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Primarily for gaming but will be used occasionally for Lightwave/Photohop.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
No more than $1500

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
I know I want to go with an Intel, everything else I really have no preferene although I've never gone ATI I am considering the 5870.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
28" display

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
I have searched through many threads the past couple of weeks.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I was hoping to overclock a bit, it's really not a big deal I suppose.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1920 x 1200

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
The next few days


The following is what I've pieced together so far:

Intel Core i7-920
Antec 900
WD 150GB Velociraptor (OS drive)
WD 640GB Caviar Black

The rest I'm really not sure what to go with. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[latch]

Looks like you got the core of what you need. You pretty much just need to get a mobo that you like. If you don't plan on going SLI/Crossfire, then you might be able to save by getting an i7-860 and a mobo that doesn't have crossfire.

The 5870 is nice...to be honest, I'm waiting for non reference design to come out. There have been quite a few reviews of the Sapphire VaporX over the last couple days, and it appears to be running quieter and as much as 10C cooler - which is important to me, but maybe not so much for you.

As for power supply, if you aren't going dual gpu, a corsair 650w is popular:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

I'd dump the velociraptor and find $100 to get an 80gb ssd instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167016

 

[Ch4cotako]

I was thinking about this board:
EVGA 3758

and ram:
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB)

I'm really not sure if I'll need SLI/Crossfire or not, will a single 5870 be enough at a res of 1900x1200?

Yeah I swapped out the HD for a ssd

Thanks for the help.

 

[OptimumSlinky]

And all of that is less than $1500?? How? The rig I'm spec-ing has a the i7-860, Rad 5770, and only one HD, and with shipping that sucker came out to $1,450!

 

[Ch4cotako]

It all depends what I go with for video. If I did choose the 5870 then it would indeed go over the $1500 mark....I just don't know what to do

 

[latch]

There are plenty of benchmarks that show that a single 5870 rocks. Anand's review had a single one doing 169 fps at that resolution with max settings and no AA on Arkham Asylum or 61.2 on Farcray 2 with max settings and 4xAA.

 

[Ch4cotako]

I think I'm going to spend a bit more and get the 5870. That PSU you listed is nice but I was looking for one that was modular. Any other recommendations?

 

[BOLt]

I like RAID 0 on a nice SATA II drive over the Raptors, but you probably have your heart set on the latter choice if you've already selected it.