New PC build: Input and Suggestions needed

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Mr. Platinum

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Hey everyone, I have started prepare a list of parts for the build I am doing. Now, I need some critique and suggestions for the list that I have.
A few points for you all to see:

Budget: 2000$
I am willing to overclock.
This will primarily be a gaming PC.

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Two V3 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case: $119.99

Video Card: XFX HD-697A-CNFC Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity x2: $749.98

PSU: PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II P: $249.99 .

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K: $328.99

SSD: Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $144.99

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C8: $149.99

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive: $89.99

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders: $99.99

CPU cooler: Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler: $89.99
 
Get the i7 2600k version of the cpu, the "k" version has unlocked multiplier while the one you listed is locked.

Maybe get an aftermarket cooler for your cpu if you plan on overclocking.

Get 2x4GB of ram instead of the 3x2GB.

If you can afford it, get a SSD hard drive for your OS/programs etc. and a normal 1TB/2TB drive for all your storage.

You don't really need a sound card, the onboard sound is good enough.
 
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K

I would go with this memory
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM
or the Corsair for a few dollars more.
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C8

I heard overclocking, how high would you like to go? I think the Thermaltake Frio heatsink should get you in the 4.6-4.8 GHz range, but nothing is guaranteed. If you want to shoot for 5GHz I'd go with the Noctua NH-D14 or the Corsair H70 (combo deal with 2600K).

Newegg.com - Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

You really don't need a 850 watt power supply. A good 650 - 750 watt unit would work fine and you'll still have some additional headroom.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-650HX 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
or this
Newegg.com - PC Power and Cooling Silencer 760W PPCS760 Max 760W, Peak 836W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Power Supply Compatible with Core i5 & i7

If you might go SLI or CrossfireX later I would look for a 900 - 1000 watt PS.

Newegg.com - PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II PPCMK2S950 950W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Active PFC Power Supply Compatible with Core i5 & i7

I would go with this SSD for Windows 7 if it fits in your budget.
Newegg.com - Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

and this drive for data
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

I would go with a GTX 580 or the ATI 6970

Newegg.com - Galaxy 58NLH5HS3PXZ GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
or this combo, ATI 6970 with Window 7 Home Premium
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!
 
Thanks Slay! I forgot to add some stuff in the OP that I had picked out. I had planned to go with 2 6970s and get an upgrade in a PSU. I had also picked out the same 1 TB hard drive xD.
As for overclocking, yeah I am not going to go to high for now, around 4.8GHz should do. Also, I don't know if I can get 8 GB of RAM. I think I might just have to stick with 6 for now.

As for the SSD: I had picked out a Kingston for 130$ so it is in budget.
 
Also, I don't know if I can get 8 GB of RAM. I think I might just have to stick with 6 for now.

As for the SSD: I had picked out a Kingston for 130$ so it is in budget.

The i7 2600K has a dual channel memory controller, not a triple channel memory controller. That means you should buy memory in sets of (2) sticks, not (3). You should buy a 4GB (2x2GB) or a 8GB (2x4GB). Buying a 6GB (3x2GB) kit for the 2600K is like throwing money out the window.

The Kingston drive is also a poor choice. The Crucial drive is faster, a lot faster for only a few dollars more. If you don't buy the Crucial you should go with a OCZ or Corsair SSD.
 
The i7 2600K has a dual channel memory controller, not a triple channel memory controller. That means you should buy memory in sets of (2) sticks, not (3). You should buy a 4GB (2x2GB) or a 8GB (2x4GB). Buying a 6GB (3x2GB) kit for the 2600K is like throwing money out the window.

The Kingston drive is also a poor choice. The Crucial drive is faster, a lot faster for only a few dollars more. If you don't buy the Crucial you should go with a OCZ or Corsair SSD.

Point taken for both. I can definitely go with the Crucial drive. However, I might have to rethink the RAM issue. I don't know if I can fit the 8GB in to my budget but we will see.
 
OCZ SSD has faster write speeds that Crucial...although that won't matter if you won't be doing lots of writing to disk...
 
Point taken for both. I can definitely go with the Crucial drive. However, I might have to rethink the RAM issue. I don't know if I can fit the 8GB in to my budget but we will see.

In that case you should just buy a 4GB (2x2GB) now and then you can buy a second identical kit when you save up $55 more.

Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-4GBXM

It's a little easier to get a good overclock when using 2 sticks of ram instead of 4, but if you've got the right equipment you should still do pretty good.

OCZ SSD has faster write speeds that Crucial...although that won't matter if you won't be doing lots of writing to disk...

The new OCZ drives (SATA III 6Gb/s) will be ever so slightly faster, when they become available. Today, for the money and speed, the Crucial is the drive I would buy.
 
The new OCZ drives (SATA III 6Gb/s) will be ever so slightly faster, when they become available. Today, for the money and speed, the Crucial is the drive I would buy.

I was talking about OCZ's SATA II drives (particularly their vertex 2)...their write speed is about 240mb/s while crucial's sata III drives have a 75mb/s write speed
 
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