Building Gaming/School PC, First time build, like to stay below $2000

[mdscheidt1321]

Ok so this is going to be my first build and I would like it to be good for gaming and movie viewing etc. I would like to stay below $2000 dollar range, but I like shiny objects so that can be difficult, so I am looking for some advice on if I'm just being a little ridiculous with some of my choices or not.

Here's what I have selected so far:

Motherboard:
ASUS P6X58D Premium LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Processor:
Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz LGA 1366

Memory:
CORSAIR DOMINATOR-GT 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000

Video:
This has been one of my most confusing decisions. I play WoW and FPS games and the plethora of cards out there is blowing my mind; then the decision of one card for more $$ or two cards in crossfire or SLI makes me want to hit my head against the wall. Please help.
Right now new egg has a deal for 2x HIS 5830's and a Rosewill 750w psu for $557

Power:
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V (if i didn't go with the above deal, I would probably get this psu)

Storage:
Going to recycle my SATA 500gb harddrives from old computer

Optical:
SAMSUNG Black Blu-ray Combo Drive

I guess the main issues I'm wrestling will are the video card(s) and the motherboard. Is usb 3.0 on the board worth it or should I just get a card when there is more support?

Thanks for any help.

[mdscheidt1321]

Also going with Corsair 800d case (i know its expensive, but i figure the case is the one component that will with stand the test of time)

[orbrit]

You can build a top notch gaming PC for a lot less.
I don't think you need the X58 chipset ot the i7-930 for a school PC unless you have some seriously processor intensive apps that can use the hyperthreading. Also the 1156 chipset is a lot more reliable and stable than the X58, as experts here (glc) will tell you.

You'd be better off spending the money there on an SSD for system drive and if you want to keep the old SATA drive, use it for archive storage (music etc.)
Don't bottle neck your extreme performance system with a slow hard drive!

I'd go for the 1156 Chipset, i5-750 or i7-860 with ATI HD5870.

ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-621-_-Product

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-215-_-Product

or (depending on hyperthreading needs)

Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-214-_-Product

Corsair P128 CMFSSD-128GBG2D 2.5" 128GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820233087

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-4GBRM - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231278

DIAMOND 5870PE51G Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-084-_-Product

SAMSUNG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Combo Drive - Bulk Model SH-B083L/BSBP LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151199

Corsair Obsidian Series 800D CC800DW Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811139001

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006


The SSD really isn't going to be necessary but hey, it's your money! I think the price on these will come down significantly in the next year.
You could put together an awesome system for less than this even - go more economical on the case, use a regular WD Caviar black SATA drive instead of SSD.
Where not to cut corners is the video card. The consensus is a single card is better than the equivalent performance dual cards in Crossfire (e.g. 5870 vs Crossfired 5770s). I don't think anybody really needs dual 5870s unless they make a living playing games or something! (Is that actually possible?)

Personally I'd rather save up for a super nice display with low input lag, fast response times etc.

[David M]

For that budget I would get a 5970 and get the 860 with the more reliable Intel chipset. Both the 930 and the 860 CPU's are similar in speed and price. The difference with the 930 is having two full 16x lanes if you decide to buy a second graphics card. The problem with that is having a second card makes for a less reliable system. Its better to have one kick ass card than to have two slower cards in Crossfire or SLI.

A SSD won't make your games run faster, they will only load your games faster. Whats a few seconds difference during a frag fest?

I can vouch for the Corsair 750 TX. I just built a new system today and am using that power supply. Its quietness is pure bliss. Corsair says 21dB at idle and I believe it. Unfortunately the modular version, the HX is a little noisier so I passed on that one.

I also recommend the Zalman CNPS 10x. Its also amazingly quiet. Fortunately I did not buy RAM with huge heatsinks because they will not fit under this HSF without doing a little modding with the Dremel. My RAM just barely fit. Overclocking your RAM no longer does much of anything for you anyways. You might as well get Plain Jane 1600 RAM that's going to be reliable as hell.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-051-_-Product

I agree with orbit that if you are spending this much on a gaming computer and have anything less than a 1920 x 1200 monitor or have a lousy sound system then you are pretty much wasting your money. Its like putting Volkswagen tires on a 911 Turbo.

[mdscheidt1321]

Ok thank you, I never even looked at the 1156 socket cpu's. That brings my price down considerably. I guess I don't know if I do much that would benefit from the hyperthreading. I would say the most intense things I do would be statistics work (i'm a biostatician) and GIS.

Is the 5970 really worth it? I've been out of the PC loop for a while and it seem a little outrageous for a $700 video card. Also they seem are difficult to find instock (I think i just answered my own question about if they are worth it...)

Thanks for all the help and bringing my shiny object obsession down to earth.

[David M]

If you are a hardcore gamer and the price does not seem too much then it is probably worth it. I am going to buy one when they become available in mid April? This is according to one vendor who I talked to who said she is expecting a shipment then.

When a bunch of them flood the market I am hoping to see them back in the low $600 range.

[glc]

I think a single 5870 would keep you very happy for a long time. Preferred brands are Asus, Diamond, and HIS. Make the following choices:

CPU: i5-750 or i7-860
Motherboard: P7P55D-E LX or P7P55D-E Pro (if you will never use a 2nd video card the LX is a real bargain, if you want true Crossfire you need the Pro)