Need a build

Hello guys.

I'm building a PC and would require following parts.

Things that I need:
1. A high quality LGA-1366 socket Mobo that OC' good, and supports 1600MHz+ DDR3, with at least 2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots.
2. 2 x 64 or 60 GB SSD, I need to setup a Raid 0 array. (Read: 200MB/s, Write: 120MB/s ++)
3. Excellent Cooler. My target is to OC i7-920 to 4.00GHz
4. High quality mid-ATX case. I don't have much space in my apartment.
5. Thermal grease.


Things I have right now:
1. 4GB (2 x 2GB) 1600MHz DDR3 sticks.
2. Radeon HD 4890 1 GB
3. 128 GB 7,200 RPM
4. DVD Writer
5. i7 920 with stock cooler
6. mushkin PSU 580W (really really good PSU)
7. Logitech Mx-518 Mouse
8. Microsoft Comfort Keyboard
9. Windows 7 Professional Retail


Things I will upgrade in 3Q/4Q:
1. Core i7-970 (6 core processor)
2. Radeon HD 5870 or Radeon HD 5970


Notes:
I don't really need more RAM, Previously I had 8 GB ram and it was no use to me. I would use 160 GB HDD as backup for frags and other stuff. I'm sticking with 4890 and i7-920 for now, no need to upgrade until prices are bit low. eSATA port in Mobo would be helpful if it's supported in mobo, I have an external drive and I could make use of that.

I'm not a fan of water cooling. IMO it's a big hassle.

HD Space is not an issue. Currently I'm using 58.5 GB/149GB, with everything I need. I have 2 x 160 GB internal and 750 GB external HDDs standing by.

My max budged it $650 (shipped).

just remember that hard drive performance has nothing to do with the space, and you shouldn't include the 7200 RPM drives in your raid array on the SSDs.

Set up raid on the SSDs and use the 160 GB 7200 RPM for recording storage to avoid frame skipping.

As soon as I get home I'll post my own list.

The best thing you can do is pick out the bottleneck of your system and upgrade it like you're doing now.

Good luck.

damn harpy your PC is gonna be even better

Rather large mid ATX case that has really good airflow, I have it myself and a very good price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137&cm_re=CM_690-_-11-119-137-_-Product
CM 690 - 70 bucks

Xigmatek Intel Core i7 compatible THOR'S HAMMER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233032&cm_re=i7_cooler-_-35-233-032-_-Product
Thor's Hammer I7 cooler - 63 bucks

As far as the SSDs go, they're pretty expensive, but a good one with 60 GB space costs 200 bucks

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227461

Motherboard, I know little about LGA 1366 motherboards so I'll leave that to others.

Fattie wrote:

Rather large mid ATX case that has really good airflow, I have it myself and a very good price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137&cm_re=CM_690-_-11-119-137-_-Product
CM 690 - 70 bucks

Xigmatek Intel Core i7 compatible THOR'S HAMMER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233032&cm_re=i7_cooler-_-35-233-032-_-Product
Thor's Hammer I7 cooler - 63 bucks

As far as the SSDs go, they're pretty expensive, but a good one with 60 GB space costs 200 bucks

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227461

Motherboard, I know little about LGA 1366 motherboards so I'll leave that to others.

Agree on the case, I use a CM 690 as well and it's a great case.

Instead of that cooler, why not get the best on the market for the same price... The Megahalems:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835242001&Tpk=megahalems

As for a motherboard, I just helped a buddy build an i7 rig, we decided to atleast try and give him a little future proof mobo, so we got him the Asus P6X58D (includes a couple USB3 and Sata 6gb/s ports) and is extremeley overclockable.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=asus+x58+usb3&x=0&y=0

Steind wrote:

Fattie wrote:

Rather large mid ATX case that has really good airflow, I have it myself and a very good price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137&cm_re=CM_690-_-11-119-137-_-Product
CM 690 - 70 bucks

Xigmatek Intel Core i7 compatible THOR'S HAMMER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233032&cm_re=i7_cooler-_-35-233-032-_-Product
Thor's Hammer I7 cooler - 63 bucks

As far as the SSDs go, they're pretty expensive, but a good one with 60 GB space costs 200 bucks

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227461

Motherboard, I know little about LGA 1366 motherboards so I'll leave that to others.

Agree on the case, I use a CM 690 as well and it's a great case.

Instead of that cooler, why not get the best on the market for the same price... The Megahalems:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835242001&Tpk=megahalems

As for a motherboard, I just helped a buddy build an i7 rig, we decided to atleast try and give him a little future proof mobo, so we got him the Asus P6X58D (includes a couple USB3 and Sata 6gb/s ports) and is extremeley overclockable.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=asus+x58+usb3&x=0&y=0

Mac, Morph and myself all have that same general type of case. Works great and is very solid. https://2img.net/h/i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/gdubaya/CIMG3297.jpg Theres mine

Thanks for the replies guys.


This is what I have in my mind for SSD.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148348

Ofc it's extremely expensive, but it's the best one out there. This is SATA III, and will be out on 23rd of this month. Eventually I'll buy another one of them and set up in RAID 0. We are talking about 600+ MB/s read speeds in that configuration.

Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme
http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?item=86044
I read a lot of reviews about it, and this thing can keep i7 OC'ed to 4GHz+ under 70°C.

Thanks steind for bringing up ASUS P6X58D. I'll be going with that. This baby will be ready for Bloomfield, when it comes out in Q3 this year.

Do you guys think it's better to wait for New SSDs or buy the one that are already out there (SATA II) and have slower speeds but cost less.

I always had my eyes on these 2 SSDs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233087
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227395


For now I'll order Mobo and cooler and worry about SSD at the end of this month.

How spacious are the CM-690, would the above cooler fit in the case easily. What about setting up 2x5870 in crossfire, would that fit?

I can take some pictures of inside my case if you like harpy.

https://2img.net/h/oi48.tinypic.com/50qvm1.jpg
https://2img.net/h/oi46.tinypic.com/4jqcyu.jpg
https://2img.net/h/oi47.tinypic.com/effouc.jpg
https://2img.net/h/oi48.tinypic.com/68wo5v.jpg
https://2img.net/h/oi49.tinypic.com/14nz7gx.jpg

Alright, as you can see there is more than enough space for ANY heatsink/fan in there, with proper wire management that I'm too lazy to do you can fit two large video cards in crossfire in there as well. Hard drive bays are in a drawer format, and there are 5 bays. lots of space for optical drives, PSU is mounted at the bottom, leaving the majority of the case's space for larger motherboards and anything that goes on them.

Excellent air flow, I get 27C temps on my dual core overclocked with a stock fan.

If you have your mind set on ATI and the 5870's they are about 400 right now.. I say wait a bit til nvidia soon releases their new GPU's and the prices on ATI cards will fall.. so maybe you can even get ur hands on the 5970 for about the price of 5870's now

with that being said you might have to get a longer case..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139001&Tpk=corsair%20case

get that big daddy and ull be set for a long long time..