Looking for Feedback on ~$1600 Gaming Computer Build

[BaZiman]

Hi Guys, I signed up to post this because this forum seemed particularly active and helpful compared to the other ones that came up on google

I'm building a nice new computer running windows 7 primarily for gaming and I found and will probably order everything off of newegg. If I'm trying to cap my price range at about 1,700 dollars with monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse, please let me know if there's anything you guys would suggest downgrading because the advantage is negligible for the price, anything I should really buy something better for that's worth it, or if there's anything that's incompatible.


Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Newegg.com - Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ,comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan

Motherboard: ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD
Newegg.com - ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor
Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX

On this; Would it be much more preferable to have a dual core for gaming?

RAM: Patriot Viper II Sector 7 Edition 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
Newegg.com - Patriot Viper II Sector 7 Edition 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model PV736G1600ELK

Is DDR3 worth it compared to DDR2?

VGA: MSI N480GTX-M2D15-B GeForce GTX 480 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI
Newegg.com - MSI N480GTX-M2D15-B GeForce GTX 480 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Since it's a fermi I'd also get VGA cooling unit, are there any in the same price/performance range where i wouldn't have to get cooling for?

I'm going to get a SSD for my OS and games and another HD for all my other files, here's the two I'm thinking of.

SSD: OCZ Agility Series OCZSSD2-1AGT120G 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC
Newegg.com - OCZ Agility Series OCZSSD2-1AGT120G 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

HD: Western Digital AV-GP WD10EVDS 1TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal AV Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Newegg.com - Western Digital AV-GP WD10EVDS 1TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal AV Hard Drive -Bare Drive


PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS
Newegg.com - OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7

DVD Drive/Burner: LG 22X DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model

Moniter: ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1
Newegg.com - ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers

Cheers!

 

[Slaymate]

The memory you have listed, a 6GB(3x2GB) kit is for a Intel i7 cpu with a triple channel memory controller. The AMD cpu has a dual channel memory controller so you want to buy memory that comes in sets of two (2). You should get a single 4GB(2x2GB) kit or double it up for 8GB.

For $1600 I would look for a Intel i7 setup.

 

[Gordylll]

Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X 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 24X DVD Writer
Lite-on combo drive 19.99

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Samsung spinpoint x2 500 gb 54.99/each

Newegg.com - ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen 16:9 Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 12000 : 1) Built in Speakers
2ms response 21.5" lcd 174.99

Newegg.com - ASUS Crosshair IV Formula AM3 AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
Asus crosshair IV ROG 219.99

Newegg.com - XFX HD-587X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
HD 5870 double lifetime warranty 379.99

Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
G-skill ripjaw DDR3 89.99

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
AMD quad core 955 (OC this to 965 speeds) 143.99

Newegg.com - XIGMATEK HDT-S963 92mm Rifle CPU Cooler I5 775 AMD compatible
CPU cooler 26.99

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!
Very nice case that color coordinates your components (board and RAM) + awesome power supply 209.98


Total with shipping to Ohio: 1515.04 (this does not include rebates or combos that you can include to knock money down)

I'm going to get a SSD for my OS and games and another HD for all my other files, here's the two I'm thinking of.

I am still not sold on SSD yet the price per GB is very high. 2x 7200 RPM drives in RAID 0 would be fine for what you want.


After all that Slaymate is correct if I had 1600.00 as a price range I would be in the I7 builds

 

[Blackmoore]

Ditch the SSD's. They are getting better, but your not going to see a huge increase in speed (at least not what you expect) and the money could be better invested elsewhere. Plus they are something that can be swapped out quickly and easily in the future for little money, with few, if any compatibility issues.

If you want, I would invest a little more money in the PSU and get a high wattage regardless of whether or not you think you need it. Its always better to have more, and not need it, then to find out you want to throw in another video card or a couple of HD's and find out you need to swap out that new PSU as well. Also get a SLI/Crossfire (whatever you choose) capable motherboard. Again, you may not think you need it, but you might as well get it now, and have the option in the future. Lastly spend a bit more on your case, at least around $100, you'd be surprised the difference it makes. There is nothing worse then trying to attach your motherboard only to find out 3 of the standoffs are stripped out, or a plastic clip breaks, or cables are too short or too flimsy. You'll find that the more expensive cases are generally better made, have a better layout and are easier to work with.

Ultimately though, I would recommend going with an i7 system as well.

 

[BaZiman]

So, essentially, the difference AMD's and i7's so stark that spending $100 dollars more for a processor with a clock speed .6 GHz below the the AMD i had my eyes on?

My logic was that since my first priority was gaming, getting a close to top of the line video card was more of a priority than the processor. How much should I value the two comparatively?

edit: Thanks for the helpful advice! Just realized I didn't indicate how much I appreciate your help before. I started looking into i7 builds, but i'll look up some performance comparisons to see what all the fuss is about too xD

 

[Sean W.]

if you overclock a AMD 965 to 4ghz and overclock lets say an i7 920 to 4ghz, the i7 will SMASH on the AMD...

its not the speed of the processor that counts, its the architecture and the technology in the processor that makes the difference, and i7's are just simply better and more advanced.

but you are right, the graphics card has a lot more to do with gamming then the processor.

if you make a plain as day list with everything you need besides the computer and its components IE operating system/keyboard/mouse/speakers/monitor and i will put together a build for you.

 

[BaZiman]

I found some performance comparisons and I'm sold on an i7.

I need a keyboard, mouse, monitor and speakers. I'll be able to buy an OS cheaply through my school.
I made an i7 build but it turned out more expensive than i wanted. If you could advise a build for me that would be great, thank you.