Building my i7 Rig

[Mikepsyche]

I decided my Christmas build will definitely be an i7, can you guys check these parts out, make sure it'll be a dope gamin' machine?

CPU: i7 920 $300
Mobo: MSI Platinum $220
GPU: HD 4870 1GB $240-225
HDD: WD 7200RPM 640GB 32MB Cache $85
Case: NZXT Tempest $110-90
RAM: G.SKILL 3GB 1600 $130
PSU: Corsair 650W $110-80

Total: $1195 without rebates
$1130 with rebates

I know the MSI Platinum isn't the best x58 board, but it is solid. I do want to overclock my i7 920, but only to about 3.2GHZ. That should almost be possible on stock cooling. I read about the 920 + platinum being OC'ed to 3.7. On the stock heatsink.

The HD 4870 1GB should tear a decent amount of crap up, but I may go dual-gpu eventually. If I do, should I just change this to a GTX 260 Core 216 instead (and if I do just stay with one card, I think I'll stay with the 4870)?

I can get away with an NZXT Tempest right? I was gonna go for the Antec 1200, but I figured the Tempest just about as good and $70 cheaper.

A 650W PSU is enough to fuel this build right?

 

[philbar71]

i would cahange the 4870 to a gtx 260 core 216. but i dont think you can do sli on that board. i would get a sli supporting board for more upgrade options in the future.

 

[Mikepsyche]

Yeah, I do go GTX 260, I'll get the Foxconn Renaissance . That's the cheapest SLI board available, right? Still a solid board, I think.

 

[philbar71]

i know that the gigabyte one and asus as well as evga all support sli. i think the foxconn supports it

Newegg.com - Foxconn Renaissance LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
it's a nice looking board

 

[veedubfreak]

You'll have less driver issues with a 260 than the 4870. Also, i suggest looking into buying off ebay using the 25% cashback. Multiwavevideo (mwave.com) is a store you can buy everything off of a lot cheaper than newegg, and you'll still get all your warranties. evga x58 ftw also.

 

[Mikepsyche]

Thanks, Veedub, I was hoping you'd reply just for that reason. By the way, congrats on getting your x58 setup for ~$650.

Yeah, I was really hoping to use the %25 cashback on this. I couldn't find the 25% for i7 CPU, mobo, or RAM on live.com though. I looked on ebay as well, nothing. I must have been doing something wrong.

Anyhoo, I'll check out mwave.com. Thanks.

 

[veedubfreak]

go to search.live.com, search for something like cheap ps3