New Build ~ $2500 Budget

[RJones]

Hey Guys,

I'm looking to build a new rig to last me another 4 years. My old rig is a 4200+, 2gb ram, 7800GTX which I'm using at work.

The rig is to be used for a bit of gaming (30" LCD, 2560x1600 res). I play mainly CSS, but would like to play FSX at a fairly high res if possible. I also multitask quite a bit. I use dual monitors now (30" + 24" LCD).

My budget is approximately $2500 plus tax.

I'll be buying the parts from NCIX. I should add that I have the premium partner membership, but have listed regular prices below to follow NCIX's terms.

I'll of course be reusing my current monitor, as well as my 1tb Caviar black hdd and my Auzentech X-Meridian sound card.

I hope to overclock and watercool the system eventually, if I could get to 3.9 or 4ghz that'd be great.

I plan to build it within the next few weeks.

Here's what I've picked out so far:

Intel Core I7 920 D0 Stepping Quad Core Processor
EVGA X58 Classified EATX LGA1366 DDR3 4PCIE-16 1PCI SLI SATA2 eSATA Dual GBLAN 1394 Ecp Motherboard
Corsair XMS3 Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D 6GB DDR3 3X2GB DDR3-1600 CL 8-8-8-24 Core i7 Memory Kit
Kit Price: $899.99
NCIX.com - Buy NCIX Gaming Bundle Intel Core i7 920 EVGA Classified X58 SLI Motherboard 6GB Corsair Dominator RAM - Classified-920-6GB In Canada.

Corsair HX1000W PSU:
NCIX.com - Buy Corsair HX1000W CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX 20/24PIN ATX 80A 12V Afc Modular Power Supply W/ 140MM Fan - CMPSU-1000HX In Canada.
$248.99 after rebate.

Silverstone Temjin TJ07B Black E-ATX Aluminum Case 7X5.25 6X3.5INT No PS
NCIX.com - Buy Silverstone Temjin TJ07B Black E-ATX Aluminum Case 7X5.25 6X3.5INT No PS - TJ07B In Canada.
$398.68

LG CH08-LS10 Black BLU-RAY 8X Reader & 16X DVD Writer Combo Internal SATA Lightscribe
NCIX.com - Buy LG CH08-LS10 Black BLU-RAY 8X Reader & 16X DVD Writer Combo Internal SATA Lightscribe - CH08LS10.AVBR00B In Canada.
$158.46

LG GH22NS30 Black DVD+RW 22X8X16 DVD-RW 22X6X16 DL 16X/12X 2MB SATA OEM
NCIX.com - Buy LG GH22NS30 Black DVD+RW 22X8X16 DVD-RW 22X6X16 DL 16X/12X 2MB SATA OEM - GH22NS30 BLACK In Canada.
$33.00

Intel X25-M 80gb SSD
NCIX.com - Buy Intel X25-M 80GB 2.5IN SATA2 NCQ Solid State Disk Flash Drive SSD - SSDSA2MH080G1C5 In Canada.
$399.99

EVGA E-GEFORCE GTX 285 648MHZ 2048MB 2.322GHZ GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDCP HDTV Out Video Card
NCIX.com - Buy EVGA E-GEFORCE GTX 285 648MHZ 2048MB 2.322GHZ GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDCP HDTV Out Video Card - 02G-P3-1185-AR In Canada.
$469.99

Mouse and keyboard - Undecided. Maybe a Logitech G19 and a Steelseries Laser Black Mouse.

OS - I have Vista and Windows 7 already through Technet.

I guess my questions to you all are:
1. What is the better SSD out now. I've read the Intels are very good, so I listed the X25-M.
2. Thoughts on the GTX 285 vs GTX 295 for gaming at 2560x1600?
3. Any other suggesstions or changes I should make.

Thanks for your help!

[sswilson]

First suggestion would be to make sure you check the price match on the individual parts of the Bundle you've selected. Might save you quite a few bucks.

[RJones]

Are you sure. The cheapest I could find a 920 D0 was for $359, the 6gb ram goes for at the min $189, and if I went with the E760 mobo, the cheapest would be around $460, making the total approximately $1000. The kit above was $899.

[sswilson]

Nope, I'm not sure at all. Just wanted to make sure you checked it out (which you obviously have) because I've seen some bundles in the past that looked good on the surface, but didn't pan out after Price match.

[Mr. Gruntsworthy]

I've rather become attatched to the idea of getting the OCZ 120GB SSD, it's under 400 dollars and has enough breathing room for an OS... Yes, you could substitute this (quite easily) with a Caviar Black 640GB or two, but SSD's are the future... :P

[rjbarker]

For that Res nothing less than 2 x gtx285's.......or you'll be disappointed.

[3.0charlie]

For the res and FSX? Dual 285s may not be enough...

[martin_metal_88]

Mr. is true, Intel SSD are rocking out the house but they still have the life problem wich the new OCZ have in big part blow away. I'm not a big OCZ fan but their last Vertex series SSD are rocking the house and seem to be pretty durable. The last G.skill to. I know that SSD are fast but get a little one like 64 GB because I suggest to install only OS on and get a fast disk like WD 640 Black for soft ware + a good 1.0TB ( WD green 32m or WD black 32m or samsung F1 ) they are pretty affordable and this is the best and saffer way to keep everything you need and don't lose every thing if one disk decide to last. The rest seem's awsome IMO I think the case can be better because of the stupid plate they place between PSU and ATX screwhole.

Ask for more

[RJones]

Originally Posted by rjbarker

For that Res nothing less than 2 x gtx285's.......or you'll be disappointed.

Hopefully in the future :) I can't afford that right now.

EDIT: Would it be better to splurge and get the GTX 295 for the res I'm running.

Secondly, for the Vertex 120gb vs the X25-M 80gb, the prices is basically the same. What would you guys recommend. Both have great reviews.

[rjbarker]

For the res and FSX? Dual 285s may not be enough...

Agreed Charlie....personally if I were to game at that Res I'd definitely be going either Tri Sli 285's or Quad Sli 295's.....the Sli 285's is a "base minimum".....or not the Res back to 1920 x 1200.

Hopefully in the future :) I can't afford that right now.

Sure you can...ditch the SSD and get some cheap Caviar Blacks....now you can think about SLI