Building my first gaming PC. Suggestions Welcome!

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Vazvalaloo

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Hey guys. After weeks of nothing but trouble with trying to get a solid gaming rig from brand named companies, I finally threw in the towel and decided to put my own machine together. Only thing is, I've never done this before LOL. While I'm not completely unfamiliar with hardware, I still don't know that much. I'm trying to keep the price below $1300, including the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Here's what I'm looking at right now:


CPU: Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

Motherboard: ASUS P6T SE LGA 1366 Intel X58
Newegg.com - ASUS P6T SE LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Graphics card: VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870 512MB
Newegg.com - VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

RAM: OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
Newegg.com - OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK - Desktop Memory

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Power Supplies

CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball
Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks

Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM
Newegg.com - Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - CD / DVD Burners

Monitor: ASUS VH202T Black 20"
Newegg.com - ASUS VH202T Black 20" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 18000:1 Built in Speakers - LCD Monitors

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Computer Case: Rosewill Wind Knight Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Newegg.com - Rosewill Wind Knight Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with pre-installed 2x 120mm Fan, Support up to 1x 140mm top fan, 2x 140mm side fan, 1x 140mm front fan, 1x 120mm rear fan - Computer Cases

Any input is welcome, especially regarding the motherboard, which I am still unsure of.
 
The video card is kind of weak to today's standard to be honest, what is your total budget that you can spend? Also i'd get a Full ATX Tower case if I were you, that is only if you going to change your video card tho...depending on how much your willing to pay
 
I am really trying to keep the price less than or equal to $1300.

I wasn't too sure which case to go with. On the one hand, I don't want a huge monstrosity, but I also want enough room to make sure i can house all the components. Ya know? I, too, am skeptical about the video card, but with the MOBO being so expensive (I still don't know if I want to go with the one I listed up there), I'm not too sure which video card would be better for the money. I don't plan on going SLI/Crossfire any time soon so....the lone video card will have to hold its own.
 
Hey thanks a lot, bro. I'll look into that graphics card, because I definitely want to hang onto this machine for a while without having to upgrade it, and directX 11 is must. I'm also probably going to downgrade the PSU to at least a 650W. No point in wasting money. Good looking out on the CPU cooler, too!
 
The 4870 is till a great grahics card....I would in noway call it weak.

For the price the 5770 is probly the best way to go.......but that 4870 is still a great graphics card and would do you well.
 
Ditch the Seagate HDD... They're known to just STOP working for no apparent reason. Happened to me already with a Seagate Barracuda 500g. Still have a 750g as a storage drive that I've backed up already.
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives -Bare Drive

As far as the 4870 concerns, It's not a weak card. I'm running 91fps with mine right now. -Slight OC.. It's an affordable option to the newer cards. Prices came down quite a bit. Just needs a fan tweak or it'll load @ 77*c.
 
For PSU, you can get this, slight downgrade from the corsair you had, and you save $35
Newegg.com - Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - Power Supplies

For $185 you could get a 4890, which is quite a powerful card. But it seems like you're not too keen on upgrading for a while, so maybe the DX11 is an issue for you and you'd be better to get the 5770. I personally would go with the 4890.
 
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