[echet]

I have a couple quick follow-up questions before I go off and research these parts.

First, just to be sure, are the components suggested a few posts ago all compatible with each other, or were they just suggested for being high-end products?

Second, for the SSD...would they be used for anything major other than the OS? I noticed they're quite expensive and I see that Windows 7 Ultimate requires 20GB of HD space (+15 GB for XP-mode). Would getting a smaller SSD than the 128GB model listed above, such as 64GB, have any downside other than general lack of storage space?

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No downside, just exactly that, lack of storage space (for C: anyway).

Absolutely everything is compatible.

[Troy]

No downside, just exactly that, lack of storage space (for C: anyway).

Absolutely everything is compatible.

[iammykyl]

for the SSD...would they be used for anything major other than the OS? I noticed they're quite expensive and I see that Windows 7 Ultimate requires 20GB of HD space (+15 GB for XP-mode). Would getting a smaller SSD than the 128GB model listed above, such as 64GB, have any downside other than general lack of storage space?

I do not have a SSD, coming soon, maybe, (I have 5 running computers and the Trouble and Strife has threatened to cut off some of my body parts if I buy any more hardware before selling some. From my research I would go for the 128GB as after you have also installed your games and programs you may start to run out of space.

This is a dedicated site for SSD where you will find real user info and some good How to. > http://thessdreview....zation-guide-2/


I'll give Troy some space here but will get back to you in a couple of days. will have to be quicker composing.

Edited by iammykyl, 18 April 2011 - 04:17 AM.

[echet]

I do not have a SSD, coming soon, maybe, (I have 5 running computers and the Trouble and Strife has threatened to cut off some of my body parts if I buy any more hardware before selling some. From my research I would go for the 128GB as after you have also installed your games and programs you may start to run out of space.

I thought of that just after I posted. I'd rather put out the money now to avoid complications later.

I'm seeing stuff about a recall on certain motherboards (or motherboard parts, specifically). Something to do with the SATA II 3.0Gb/s ports. Should I assume that all boards for sale now are the fixed/replaced, or is this something I should ask Newegg about before making a purchase?

[Troy]

You should not be able to purchase the faulty boards any longer. If you are concerned make sure to get sales to confirm with you.

The newly revised ones have code B3 on the end.

[iammykyl]

Have you made any decisions about hardware yet?

will you only install 2 video cards?

Suggestion for a case already optimised for gaming.
> http://www.newegg.co...0^11-129-100-TS

[echet]

Sorry, it's taken about 3 days to write this due to various interruptions, work and sleep being the least annoying of the bunch.


Thanks for that Troy. I was pretty sure of that but not positive. I'll just ask before ordering one.

I have decided on most of the hardware already, and actually ordered a couple things to take advantage of deals/discounts.

It turns out, that after many product comparisons, most of the hardware Troy listed in his 2nd post is what I'll get. I'm getting the Core i7-2600, Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit). I'm sticking with the higher capacity SSD and HDD to pre-empt storage issues down the road. The motherboad he suggested is actually cheaper than the most comparable one, and the PSU should be more than enough without being too much. Comparable video cards each had some quirk in their specs that made them slightly less than desirable. I am going to get different RAM though. I haven't yet decided on a case and the fans in that link are out of stock (possibly forever), so I need to find a new one of those, but I might just wait until I get the case and see what I need.


So basically, this is what I have:

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit 1-Pack - OEM
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16832116997

Intel Core i7-2600 Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115071

GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD7-B3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813128480

Western Digital Caviar Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136792

Corsair Performance 3 Series CSSD-P3128GB2-BRKT 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820233154

HIS H697FT2G2M Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814161360

CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817139010

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820231445

I have no use for a blueray drive at the moment so I'll pass on that. I'm not sure if I'm gonna sell my current computer as is or in pieces, so I may take my current DVD-/+RW and put it in the new one for now. Otherwise I have other DVD drives from older computers I can use.

I also can use Office 2003 from my previous purchase on this computer, so no need to buy a new one.

will you only install 2 video cards?

Suggestion for a case already optimised for gaming.
> http://www.newegg.co...5E11-129-100-TS

Honestly, I've never even heard of using two video cards before reading that. What would require multiple video cards? Multiple monitors are the only thing I can think of, but my current card (256MB NVIDIA GeForce 6800) handles having two monitors without problems, at least the way I have it set up where one is just an extension of the other. Surely the one above is powerful enough, and it has two DVI ports so it should perform the same.


As for cases, I'm kinda leaning toward the Antec Twelve Hundred, but I want to keep my eye open for something better. I like the fact that it includes air filters, and a ton of drive bays (even though they have to be grouped in threes which is a bit quirky). However I've seen unique features that I really like (mesh siding, reset button, tool-less/screwless side panel) on other models that either don't have enough external bays or have received bad reviews regarding functionality, sturdiness, cord length, etc.

One thing I really like about my Dell (probably the only thing) is that there is a button on the top of the case that acts as a release mechanism for the side panel. Push the button and the panel pops off. So I'm a bit spoiled on the "screw-less" aspect.

[Troy]

I have the Antec 1200. I do like it, it has great cooling, but to be honest it is a pain to work in.

Do take your time when checking out cases, read up all the info you can on website and reviews.

[iammykyl]

Some more cases to compare. I have the Antec P182, predecessor to the P192 (extended ATX). Mine has adjustable fans, very quite, plenty of room to work.

What would require multiple video cards? Multiple monitors are the only thing I can think of,

As with your card, you only need to have duel outputs or you can get away with an adaptor to split the signal, 2 cards are not needed.

The is just to give a general idea.

The main reason that most will run 2 cards is cost to performance. If you can only spend $260 on a high end card today, in 18 months time you could possible get the same card for $170 giving you performance better than the $500 card you could not afford to buy. > http://www.hardocp.c...e_followup/Some gamers will run 3 cards or even 4. The reason I asked you about 2 cards is that if you are only going to have 2 cards max, You could buy a card costing $100 less.

Just checking that you are aware that when installing the i7 2600 on a P67 Mobo, you have no access to the integrated graphics and only very limited access to overclocking.

Edited by iammykyl, 27 April 2011 - 05:25 AM.

[iammykyl]

Gday.

Been keeping my eye on the following subject since last year and now that this tech is to be released in May, thought I would draw your attention to it.

> http://www.anandtech...on-sandy-bridge

> http://vspc.wordpres...7-z68-chipsets/

> http://news.softpedi...gy-195862.shtml

Edited by iammykyl, 29 April 2011 - 05:20 AM.

[echet]

I have the Antec 1200. I do like it, it has great cooling, but to be honest it is a pain to work in.

Do take your time when checking out cases, read up all the info you can on website and reviews.

As an experienced system builder, can you give me any pointers of what kinds of hidden features to watch out for? Something that probably won't be listed in the product specs page, but could be vital to making a decision one way or another?

The is just to give a general idea.

The main reason that most will run 2 cards is cost to performance. If you can only spend $260 on a high end card today, in 18 months time you could possible get the same card for $170 giving you performance better than the $500 card you could not afford to buy. > http://www.hardocp.c...e_followup/Some gamers will run 3 cards or even 4. The reason I asked you about 2 cards is that if you are only going to have 2 cards max, You could buy a card costing $100 less.

Just checking that you are aware that when installing the i7 2600 on a P67 Mobo, you have no access to the integrated graphics and only very limited access to overclocking.

If I understand that right, if you have multiple cards you will be using their combined individual power. So having two cheaper cards will be more powerful than one expensive card? But wouldn't the cost of buying multiple cards outweigh the cost of one? Maybe I still don't get it.




I am aware of the lack of overclocking, but I've never been concerned with that before so I don't see it being an issue. However, what do you mean by "access to integrated graphics"?




PS: I just saw your new post. I'll take a look at the links and respond to that later.

[Troy]

I like Antec cases a lot, I use them a lot. One feature to pay careful attention to is the air filters. For example the 1200 has 3 removable air filters in front of the 3 intake fans. But to remove it for cleaning, you have to slide out a small cage. There are three small cages, one for each fan. (Each cage can hold three hard drives). The problem is the hard drives are mounted in the cages so when you pull it out you are pulling on the cables. Also if you built it right in the first place you would find all the cages are screwed in and cannot be removed until the screws are removed. It all turns into one big hassle and at the end of the day the computer either gets left very dusty or missing the screws - which means you have to be careful if you move it.

After all that my point is to make sure the air filters are easy to get at for cleaning.

One of my all-time favourite cases is the Antec 300. Purchase an extra 2x 120mm case fans for the front and it is awesome.

[echet]

I remember reading that about the air filters in the reviews. For the most part, the Antec cases seem to have the best reviews, without the horror stories of faulty parts and bursting into flames.

EDIT: How often should air filters be cleaned anyway?

iammykyl, I'm not that big of a tech junkie so most of what was in those links is over my head. What I got out of it is that there is this new technology that allows the graphics card to work in tandem with the motherboard's integrated graphics (similar to how two graphics cards work together from the previous link), and that this feature is available only on the Z68 motherboards coming out later this year. However, I still don't understand the when and why of the necessity of this feature.

Edited by echet, 30 April 2011 - 11:13 PM.

[iammykyl]

This article may make the tech clearer, also why it is desirable. > http://www.anandtech...ridge-platforms

Lucid will be available on H67 Motherboards, to be released soon. The Z68 will also soon arrive but could start off quite expensive.
> http://www.guru3d.co...-motherboards-/

[Troy]

Air filters should be cleaned as often as they get dirty.