[Will]

So, this that what I'm currently thinking. I may have to drop $300-400 before it's all said and done but yeah this is pretty close for a first run. I'll be putting the 2 nVidia GTX 260 video cards I already own in this as well.

Thoughts? Advice? Secks?

1 https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9241/30d/images1.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll/13-128-423-02.jpg GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813128423
$209.99

1 https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9241/30d/images1.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll/20-167-017-02.jpg Intel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2M160G2XXX 2.5" 160GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Item #: N82E16820167017
$489.00

1 https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9241/30d/images1.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll/11-129-043-07.jpg Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811129043
$159.99

2 https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9241/30d/images1.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll/22-136-351-02.jpg Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EADS 1.5TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822136351
$219.98

1 https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9241/30d/images1.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll/19-115-202-04.jpg Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920
Item #: N82E16819115202
$288.99

1 https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9241/30d/images1.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll/20-145-220-03.jpg CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1333C9
Item #: N82E16820145220
$194.99

1 https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9241/30d/images1.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll/17-371-024-12.jpg Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power CPX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC "compatible with Core i7" Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817371024
$109.31

1 https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9241/30d/images1.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll/27-136-162-02.jpg LG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-ROM SATA Internal Combo LG Blu-ray Reader & 16X LightScribe DVD±R DVD Burner
Item #: N82E16827136162
$94.99

[Brennan]

you really want the bloomfield?

[Dwayne]

The lynnfields are a bit newer and nicer than the bloomfield, and the 1156 socket seems to be the way intel is moving forward, as per anandtech.

Secondly: shit dude, this thing is going to hover and produce a mystic blue light and gregorian chants when you fucking come near it

[panzer]

Looks like a fantastic PC, I can't really think of any way to improve what you've got there. The caviar Black has slightly better performance, but given the mechanical drive is (I'm assuming) just for storage, you don't need that. You might be able to get a larger-sized RAM kit, but it'll probably drive your price point up another $200-$300. Overall, that's pretty much all bleeding-edge gear, and it all looks to be compatible.

I guess my only question would be if you're going to use stock cooling on the CPU, or if you're going to get an aftermarket cooler.

[Speckz]

FYI, The HD comes up as $109 for me and not $219.

[Dwayne]

There's a 2 in front of it, indicated (poorly, and assumedly because that's just a copy paste job) that he's putting 2 in there (3tb total) :o

[Speckz]

Oh, and the 1200 is kind of loud because of all the fans. I used that case for a few builds.

[Speckz]

Dwayne, on Feb 03 2010 12:04 PM, said:

There's a 2 in front of it, indicated (poorly, and assumedly because that's just a copy paste job) that he's putting 2 in there (3tb total) :o

Do'h! I didn't see the two...

[Dwayne]

I haven't noticed the 900 being loud, and it has crazy fans too, but I have them all set to low. The CPU fan never kicks up a fuss, so I'm content with its loudness (personally). Vickie may disagree.

[panzer]

I've got the 900 with the fans set to medium. It's a little noisy but it's not bad, I could see the 1200 being a little loud for some... however I'd have to say this looks like a performance build, and I would gladly sacrifice better cooling vs. noise level to protect ~$1800 in components.

[Fox]

I love my 1200, the fans are noticeable but not so much that it distracts from watching a movie. I agree with everyone else about purchasing a Lynnfield over Bloomfield.

[panzer]

I know that Will wants USB3, SATA 3, AND SLI.

In order to do that, he needs to use the 1366 chipset, and not the 1156. The 1156 doesn't have enough throughput to handle all that without bottlenecks.

[Dwayne]

That's concerning, because the new i7's that will be coming out won't be 1366. So no upgrades in the future, will!

[panzer]

You sure about that? I think the gulftown is going to be a 1366.

The bandwidth limitation is a result of the interface between processor and north/southbridge. I think 1156 has 2.5 gb/s of bandwidth using DMI, vs the 1366 having 6.4 gb/s of bandwidth using QPI.

[Dwayne]

Okay, let me rephrase: all you're getting with Gulftown is more cores (for a vastly increased price). Current projections are 1000 to 1500 per chip. Seems rather insane, to me. On top of that, games won't even be able to take advantage of the 6 cores, so what is the benefit?

I am sure that Intel will eventually have better chipsets for 1156 sockets, with all those sweet features Will listed. I just feel like going this route, he's walking himself into an upgrade hole, as well as spending more money now. Unless he has no problem dropping a grand on a processor later.