Building new PC, suggestions?

[Bodman456]

Hey all,
I'm building a new PC, and I have a initial spec list drawn up, but I would like to see what you guys think of it. Specs are:

CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K
Mobo: ASUS P8P67 Deluxe B3
GPU: x2 ASUS Radeon HD6970 2GB DirectCU II
RAM: Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C8 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 (7200RPM, 3TB)
PSU: Gigabyte Odin 720W
Case: Coolermaster HAF X
LCD: ASUS MS226H 21.5" LCD
Keyboard: Razer Black Widow Ultimate
Mouse: Saitek R.A.T.7
Other: NZXT LCD Fan Controller, ASUS DRW-24B3LT (24X, DVD-RW, LightScribe), Corsair Hydro Series H70 CPU Cooler
TOTAL: $3025.50

I will be using it for gaming, as well as FAH. Does it need any changes, or is it good as-is?

 

[Patonb]

Yhsa your psu is a liability... Gigabyte isn't a well known psu brand... /it also seems to only have 2 pci-e connectors... you'll need 4.

I wouldn't run the Hitachi drive as a main drive, its only a 5400rpm drive, so slow. Though its a great storage drive.
On that budget/level of build, look into getting a SSD harddrive. A 120Gig drive is ~$200cdn, so unsure of $Aus, but you wouldn't regret even a 90Gig drive.

Other than that, its good.

My personal opininion would be to get only 1 6970, as its a great card, and SB isn't 2 16x pci-es, its 16x 8x if i remember right.
With the savings, get a SSD drive for your OS and a couple games and your main programs. Get a 500Gig WD Black drive as a spot for all other installs. Then get even a 3rd drive one like the hitachi, say a WD Green, as a storage drive.

Now on the F@H, running big will get yha 50kppd if you get it to 4.8Ghz, and the new v7 will let loose the 6970... theyr getting 10k i think.

 

[kesume]

Excellent post Patonb full of knowledgable sound advice.

 

[Bodman456]

Yhsa your psu is a liability... Gigabyte isn't a well known psu brand... /it also seems to only have 2 pci-e connectors... you'll need 4.

I wouldn't run the Hitachi drive as a main drive, its only a 5400rpm drive, so slow. Though its a great storage drive.
On that budget/level of build, look into getting a SSD harddrive. A 120Gig drive is ~$200cdn, so unsure of $Aus, but you wouldn't regret even a 90Gig drive.

Other than that, its good.

My personal opininion would be to get only 1 6970, as its a great card, and SB isn't 2 16x pci-es, its 16x 8x if i remember right.
With the savings, get a SSD drive for your OS and a couple games and your main programs. Get a 500Gig WD Black drive as a spot for all other installs. Then get even a 3rd drive one like the hitachi, say a WD Green, as a storage drive.

Now on the F@H, running big will get yha 50kppd if you get it to 4.8Ghz, and the new v7 will let loose the 6970... theyr getting 10k i think.

The Hitachi drive is actually a 7200RPM, I was deliberatly looking for 7.2kRPM drives because my current build has a 5.4kRPM drive and it's sloooooooooooooooooow. I might swap out the 2nd 6970 and the Hitachi drive for 2 WD VelociRaptor 10kRPM drives, they are VEEEERY fast, plus 2 together in RAID = OMFG THAT'S FAAAAAAAAAST! Thanks for the advice on the PSU as well, I'll change it to something more well-known.

 

[kesume]

Hi,
Just purely for interest & info purpose, check out This link in the Gaming Section! Great rig.
<< WoW and triple monitor setup >> Thought it might interest you.

 

[Patonb]

Yhsa your psu is a liability... Gigabyte isn't a well known psu brand... /it also seems to only have 2 pci-e connectors... you'll need 4.

I wouldn't run the Hitachi drive as a main drive, its only a 5400rpm drive, so slow. Though its a great storage drive.
On that budget/level of build, look into getting a SSD harddrive. A 120Gig drive is ~$200cdn, so unsure of $Aus, but you wouldn't regret even a 90Gig drive.

Other than that, its good.

My personal opininion would be to get only 1 6970, as its a great card, and SB isn't 2 16x pci-es, its 16x 8x if i remember right.
With the savings, get a SSD drive for your OS and a couple games and your main programs. Get a 500Gig WD Black drive as a spot for all other installs. Then get even a 3rd drive one like the hitachi, say a WD Green, as a storage drive.

Now on the F@H, running big will get yha 50kppd if you get it to 4.8Ghz, and the new v7 will let loose the 6970... theyr getting 10k i think.

The Hitachi drive is actually a 7200RPM, I was deliberatly looking for 7.2kRPM drives because my current build has a 5.4kRPM drive and it's sloooooooooooooooooow. I might swap out the 2nd 6970 and the Hitachi drive for 2 WD VelociRaptor 10kRPM drives, they are VEEEERY fast, plus 2 together in RAID = OMFG THAT'S FAAAAAAAAAST! Thanks for the advice on the PSU as well, I'll change it to something more well-known.

Really look into the SSDs instead of the velos...

I hadnt seen the 7200 hitachi.... just seen the 3T drives infact.