Need help configuring a gaming PC

[Elader]

Hey all,

I am in the market for a new gaming PC (my old one is 6 years old!), and I have been going back and forth on whether to attempt to build one myself or to have one built through a web site. I am fairly experienced with hardware having replaced components in my computer many times over. I have done power supplies, video cards, fans, memory, hard drives, CD drives, sound cards, etc. I have never replaced a mother board, and I have never put in a CPU, so I am a bit concerned that I may be in over my head if I try to build one myself. What are your thoughts? With my experience level, do you think I would be able to get the job done?

Second, I have put together a system that I think would be fantastic. I wanted to post that configuration and have discussion on how it could be altered or improved. I also wanted to know if I created any incompatibilities. I shopped on NewEgg and this is what I came up with:

Memory: #399.98 total
2 x CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C7 G - Retail (12GB total)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145242

Motherboard: $278.99
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128362

Processor: $589.99
Intel Core i7-960 Bloomfield 3.2GHz LGA 1366 Quad-Core Processor Model AT80601002727AA - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115216

Case: $169.99
APEVIA X-JUPITER G-Type X-JUPITERG-BK Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144205

Power Supply: $189.99
APEVIA WARLOCK POWER ATX-WA1100W 1100W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817148037

DVD Burners: $89.98 total
2 x Pioneer CD/DVD Writer Black IDE Model DVR-A18M LabelFlash Support - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827129047

Hard Drive: $219.98 total
2 x Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EADS 1.5TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136351

CPU Fan: $25.89
Thermaltake CLP0533 70mm 1 Ball Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106138

CPU Heat Sink: #32.45
Intel BXSTS100P 25.5mm tall passive heat sink - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835203003

Media Card Reader: $12.99
SABRENT CRW-UINB 68-in-1 USB 2.0 Internal Card Reader w/ USB 2.0 Port supports SDHC/VISTA - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820300608

Case Lighting: $7.99
LOGISYS Computer LNSGN Green Liquid Neon Thunder Pattern LED Light - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16800888036

I know I want the i7 processor, and I want two hard drives running RAID 0. Everything else is up for discussion. I don't think I need a RAID controller, because the MB has it built in, correct?

Will the power supply I selected be enough for everything I want? Also, the case said it had some fans installed. Will those be enough to keep it cool?

I haven't selected video cards yet, and was hoping for some advice there. Should I be worried about getting a Directx 11 card? Is ATI currently better than Nvidia?

In addition, I may have things on here that I don't need. Does the CPU come with a heatsink and fan. etc? I would like to run two video cards in Xfire or SLI. Is it better to have 2 lower end cards in SLI mode or one overall better card?

Feel free to suggest changes where you think they would be beneficial or cost effective. I want to spend no more than $3000 total, but less is always better if there is a way to save some.

This is my first new PC in 6 years, so I am excited! I am looking forward to hearing what you guys think!

Thanks a ton!

Elader

[flanzig1]

On general purposes, dump the Apevia PSU and get a good quailty unit like the Corsair. Depending on the video card you select, you probably will only need power in the 550w to 750w range. As for Sli or Xfire, one good high end card will out perform 2 lower end cards
Unless you going to OC, stay with the CPU heatsink that comes with the CPU.
Unless, you are running a server or commercial software, you don't need 12gigs of ram. 4 to 6 is more than enough.

[glc]

I would recommend you save a LOT of money and get an i7-860 and an Asus P7P55D board - and if you want a ton of ram, get 2 dual channel 2x2 kits of DDR3-1333. You also should go for WD Black if you want speed - and forego RAID.