Mad Cow! Holiday Computer building (1 Viewer)

[jamil]

With the case I bought and was recommended (My link)... the reviews are saying how cool it stays. This leads to my question, are additional fans necessary? And how about the cpu cooler?

now that black friday and cyber monday has come and gone... looking to finish this up within a week or two.

What do you still need?For the CPU cooler, the Intel stock cooler is fine if you don't plan to overclock and don't care much about noise. If you want overclockability and/or quiet, I can recommend some good HSFs.

I'm going to be overclocking. Big ticket things I still need is the video card and to a lesser extent the ssd. Willing to spend up to 350 for the video card. Would like to keep it lower but if the performance is leaps and bounds better at that price and you think its worth it, I'll pull the trigger. I'll list what I've already purchased when I get home from work.

 

[Dragons]

B3 Stepping, Blu-ray Audio, USB 3.0, SATA III, HDMI BIOSTAR TH67+ Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $60 after rebateIntel Core i5-2500 3.3GHz LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor - $195Thoughts on that mobo?

?This is the same price as the Microcenter combo non-Black Friday deal after taxes. How does it compare?

It's an H67 Biostar motherboard, not a Z68 Gigabyte. That's a step down in both quality and the northbridge chip.

 

[Slapdash]

Just killed my laptop again, building a desktop this time I think.

After looking at some things I would probably like to stay around 800 at most. I think SSD is the way to go so I'm planning to get one of those. I'm a little confused on the cpu/mobo combo side of things. I would like to get something pretty expandable going forward. Use will mostly be for normal activities. Some gaming planned but probably won't be keeping up with the latest and greatest. Any thoughts on what would be a good starting point?ETA: no Microcenter within 3hrs.

 

[Dragons]

Seems to be a good PSU/RAM combo deal if anyone still needs both: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?SID=u0t3634338f9fp0dd0c0s701&AID=10440897&PID=1225267&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-cables-_-na-_-na&ItemList=Combo.761010

 

[Drifter]

"It is Cyber Business week over at NeweggBusiness and if you use promo code MIMKB2BACYB25 you can get $50 off your purchase of $250 or more (excludes hard drives, qty limited, while available funds last). Just click here to see our deals!"

Shouldn't have deleted as this might work for others.Newegg Business has a $50 off $250+ order coupon code:

MIMKB2BACYB25

You must have a Federal Tax ID to sign up for a Newegg Business Account.

The Google offers also works on this - so $70 off a http://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=3634744&sdop=1&sdfid=9&u2=http://www.neweggbusiness.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102954 seems like a pretty sweet deal.

Could also go $70 off a 6970 I suppose.

I'm "borrowing" a buddy's EIN number. Should I pull the trigger?

 

[Dragons]

"It is Cyber Business week over at NeweggBusiness and if you use promo code MIMKB2BACYB25 you can get $50 off your purchase of $250 or more (excludes hard drives, qty limited, while available funds last). Just click here to see our deals!"

Nevermind - you need a tax ID to sign up for Newegg Business.

I think you can use your social security #. They had an i5 combo deal earlier, so it may be worth doing to check other deals.

 

[Drifter]

"It is Cyber Business week over at NeweggBusiness and if you use promo code MIMKB2BACYB25 you can get $50 off your purchase of $250 or more (excludes hard drives, qty limited, while available funds last). Just click here to see our deals!"

Nevermind - you need a tax ID to sign up for Newegg Business.

I think you can use your social security #. They had an i5 combo deal earlier, so it may be worth doing to check other deals.

Federal Tax Identification Number or Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number assigned by IRS to identify a business entity. The goal of NeweggBusiness is to serve businesses and organizations, which is why we require your organization's EIN during account registration. The EIN also helps us limit the number of duplicate accounts. NeweggBusiness reserves the right to cancel any accounts with invalid EIN. For more information about Federal Tax ID (EIN), please click here

 

[Dragons]

"It is Cyber Business week over at NeweggBusiness and if you use promo code MIMKB2BACYB25 you can get $50 off your purchase of $250 or more (excludes hard drives, qty limited, while available funds last). Just click here to see our deals!"

Nevermind - you need a tax ID to sign up for Newegg Business.

I think you can use your social security #. They had an i5 combo deal earlier, so it may be worth doing to check other deals.

I don't see any real good deals though, even with the $50 off. All the video cards, for example, are the same price as on Newegg.com, but without the rebates. In the case of the XFX 6870, the rebate alone is $40.

 

[Dragons]

"It is Cyber Business week over at NeweggBusiness and if you use promo code MIMKB2BACYB25 you can get $50 off your purchase of $250 or more (excludes hard drives, qty limited, while available funds last). Just click here to see our deals!"

Nevermind - you need a tax ID to sign up for Newegg Business.

I think you can use your social security #. They had an i5 combo deal earlier, so it may be worth doing to check other deals.

Federal Tax Identification Number or Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number assigned by IRS to identify a business entity. The goal of NeweggBusiness is to serve businesses and organizations, which is why we require your organization's EIN during account registration. The EIN also helps us limit the number of duplicate accounts. NeweggBusiness reserves the right to cancel any accounts with invalid EIN. For more information about Federal Tax ID (EIN), please click here

Some business' (non-incorporated, I think), don't get assigned EINs. The business owner uses his social as an EIN on his tax return. I read that socials work at newegg business, but I haven't verified. I have an account there and use our corporate EIN.

 

[Dragons]

Code seems to have expired.

 

[jamil]

Corsair 650w PSU

Windows 7 64 bit

Cooler Master HAF 922

Intel i5 2500k

ASUS p8z68-v LX mobo

Corsair 8 gb (2x4)

Samsung DVDRW drive

I'm roughly at about 500 spent.

 

[Pick]

Yesterday the case and I think the power showed up. Stoked!

Can someone explain overclocking to me like I'm Pick?

 

[Drifter]

Yesterday the case and I think the power showed up. Stoked!Can someone explain overclocking to me like I'm Pick?

I would also like an updated guide to overclocking. I used to fiddle with it a bit back in the day but there wasn't much science to it (at least for me) at that point.

 

[jamil]

My link

thoughts?

 

[Drifter]

My link

thoughts?

On the card? Doesn't seem to be any deal associated with it.

 

[jamil]

My link

thoughts?

On the card? Doesn't seem to be any deal associated with it.

Yes but nevermind... It was covered in page 5.How about the 5970 at that price? Good deal right? I'll hang up and listen

 

[Chuck Norris]

Everyone seems to be recommending ATI AMD video cards in this thread. Is Nvidia behind them for the price/performance right now?

Edit: I'm clearly behind the curve since I didn't know that ATI is now defunct.

 

[Mad Cow]

Everyone seems to be recommending ATI AMD video cards in this thread. Is Nvidia behind them for the price/performance right now?

Edit: I'm clearly behind the curve since I didn't know that ATI is now defunct.

It really just depends on the price point, but yes, I think AMD has better value at the top end right now.

 

[Zasada]

Gigabyte 6950 $200AR.

If you're tired of waiting and this card is in your price range, it's time to pull the trigger.

Video card deals have been hard to come by this holiday season, and those that do come up sell out in minutes.

The 5970 referenced earlier is a performer, but it's huge (might not fit in your case) and is a power hog.

 

[Zasada]

Yesterday the case and I think the power showed up. Stoked!

Can someone explain overclocking to me like I'm Pick?

I would also like an updated guide to overclocking. I used to fiddle with it a bit back in the day but there wasn't much science to it (at least for me) at that point.

With the 2500K, it's pretty easy to overclock since all you adjust is the multiplier. Perhaps voltage if you really want to push it.You should be able to adapt this guide to your mobo (likely the Gigabyte) and be cooking in no time.

 

[jamil]

Gigabyte 6950 $200AR.

If you're tired of waiting and this card is in your price range, it's time to pull the trigger.

Video card deals have been hard to come by this holiday season, and those that do come up sell out in minutes.

The 5970 referenced earlier is a performer, but it's huge (might not fit in your case) and is a power hog.

Hsf recommendation?

 

[Zasada]

Hsf recommendation?

Spare no expense and get the best overclocking/cooling and noise performance: Thermalright Archon Less expensive but still good performance: Thermalright MUX-120

Best Value: COCAGE TRUE Spirit

Best of all worlds if you can actually find one: Thermalright Macho HR-02

The last link is to a review which gives you an idea of how many heatsinks perform.

I'm currently using a MUX-120 and think it's great. But if I were buying today I would either buy the Archon or the Macho.

The vendor I linked to (Jab-Tech) is great for HSFs. Good prices, and fast shipping. I always buy from them when I can, but they don't always have stock of what I want.

 

[Drifter]

Gigabyte 6950 $200AR.

If you're tired of waiting and this card is in your price range, it's time to pull the trigger.

Video card deals have been hard to come by this holiday season, and those that do come up sell out in minutes.

The 5970 referenced earlier is a performer, but it's huge (might not fit in your case) and is a power hog.

Shows $229, no rebate?What about this?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1284248&sku=G458-0561&SRCCODE=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=lw9MynSeamY-QLaCjThHA6Oy8_YoRWCGJg

 

[Drifter]

Monitor

Planar 27" 2 MS $240

 

[Drifter]

120 GGB SSD

$130 after rebate

 

[Dragons]

I thought I could have some patience, but I ran out. I used the $40 Google coupon to pickup a Gigabyte 6850 for $110 AC/AR.

 

[Zasada]

Gigabyte 6950 $200AR.

If you're tired of waiting and this card is in your price range, it's time to pull the trigger.

Video card deals have been hard to come by this holiday season, and those that do come up sell out in minutes.

The 5970 referenced earlier is a performer, but it's huge (might not fit in your case) and is a power hog.

Shows $229, no rebate?What about this?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1284248&sku=G458-0561&SRCCODE=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=lw9MynSeamY-QLaCjThHA6Oy8_YoRWCGJg

Sorry, I guess the rebate expired with the end of November.The 460 Ti is a good card, and that's a decent price. I won't buy from TD though, especially with a rebate. They have a bad history in that regard. That said, plenty of people do it now with no problem.

Have you considered going the 6850 2GB route and flashing the bios to a 6870? Mad Cow seems to have had luck with that.

 

[Zasada]

I thought I could have some patience, but I ran out. I used the $40 Google coupon to pickup a Gigabyte 6850 for $110 AC/AR.

Judging from the Black Friday "deals", you were only going to save $10, maybe $20 tops so that is worth finishing your rig earlier and getting some use out of it.What's the rest that you need?

 

[Dragons]

I thought I could have some patience, but I ran out. I used the $40 Google coupon to pickup a Gigabyte 6850 for $110 AC/AR.

Judging from the Black Friday "deals", you were only going to save $10, maybe $20 tops so that is worth finishing your rig earlier and getting some use out of it.What's the rest that you need?

That's it for me. I started assembling last night. Getting the vid card saves me from having to buy a hdmi to dvi adapter ($5 from monoprice) in the meantime.Thanks for all your (and MC's) help.

At the risk of finding out the great deal I missed out on in a few days, I'll stick around to offer any assistance I can to the rest.

 

[Drifter]

I thought I could have some patience, but I ran out. I used the $40 Google coupon to pickup a Gigabyte 6850 for $110 AC/AR.

Judging from the Black Friday "deals", you were only going to save $10, maybe $20 tops so that is worth finishing your rig earlier and getting some use out of it.What's the rest that you need?

Still holding out on monitor and video card.

 

[jamil]

Gigabyte 6950 $200AR.

If you're tired of waiting and this card is in your price range, it's time to pull the trigger.

Video card deals have been hard to come by this holiday season, and those that do come up sell out in minutes.

The 5970 referenced earlier is a performer, but it's huge (might not fit in your case) and is a power hog.

Hsf recommendation?

for $10 more (after the rebate) this is available?

 

[Drifter]

Gigabyte 6950 $200AR.

If you're tired of waiting and this card is in your price range, it's time to pull the trigger.

Video card deals have been hard to come by this holiday season, and those that do come up sell out in minutes.

The 5970 referenced earlier is a performer, but it's huge (might not fit in your case) and is a power hog.

Shows $229, no rebate?What about this?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1284248&sku=G458-0561&SRCCODE=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=lw9MynSeamY-QLaCjThHA6Oy8_YoRWCGJg

Sorry, I guess the rebate expired with the end of November.The 460 Ti is a good card, and that's a decent price. I won't buy from TD though, especially with a rebate. They have a bad history in that regard. That said, plenty of people do it now with no problem.

Have you considered going the 6850 2GB route and flashing the bios to a 6870? Mad Cow seems to have had luck with that.

Another $15 off the above with coupon code HQY49717I can also wait to see what happens to prices on 12/5 with the rumoured nexgen card release

 

[jamil]

Gigabyte 6950 $200AR.

If you're tired of waiting and this card is in your price range, it's time to pull the trigger.

Video card deals have been hard to come by this holiday season, and those that do come up sell out in minutes.

The 5970 referenced earlier is a performer, but it's huge (might not fit in your case) and is a power hog.

Shows $229, no rebate?What about this?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1284248&sku=G458-0561&SRCCODE=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=lw9MynSeamY-QLaCjThHA6Oy8_YoRWCGJg

Sorry, I guess the rebate expired with the end of November.The 460 Ti is a good card, and that's a decent price. I won't buy from TD though, especially with a rebate. They have a bad history in that regard. That said, plenty of people do it now with no problem.

Have you considered going the 6850 2GB route and flashing the bios to a 6870? Mad Cow seems to have had luck with that.

Another $15 off the above with coupon code HQY49717I can also wait to see what happens to prices on 12/5 with the rumoured nexgen card release

yea it looks like i'll wait till that date. i was reading up on it. whats a few more days

 

[Zasada]

I can also wait to see what happens to prices on 12/5 with the rumoured nexgen card release

yea it looks like i'll wait till that date. i was reading up on it. whats a few more days

I missed this -- do you have a link?Thanks

 

[Dragons]

I can also wait to see what happens to prices on 12/5 with the rumoured nexgen card release

I could have used this info a couple hours sooner.

 

[Drifter]

I can also wait to see what happens to prices on 12/5 with the rumoured nexgen card release

yea it looks like i'll wait till that date. i was reading up on it. whats a few more days

I missed this -- do you have a link?Thanks

Just chat I saw on the Slick Deals forums

 

[Zasada]

I can also wait to see what happens to prices on 12/5 with the rumoured nexgen card release

I could have used this info a couple hours sooner.

Don't fret. The savings will likely come at the higher end and even then not be huge. You potentially left $20 or so on the table, which hopefully isn't a big deal given your overall budget.The new-gen cards are always priced at a premium and not discounted so that wasn't going to be an option for you anyways.

 

[Pick]

Gigabyte 6950 $200AR.

If you're tired of waiting and this card is in your price range, it's time to pull the trigger.

Video card deals have been hard to come by this holiday season, and those that do come up sell out in minutes.

The 5970 referenced earlier is a performer, but it's huge (might not fit in your case) and is a power hog.

About $100 difference between the two. As long as the 6950 will run well for awhile and run all the latest games like SC2 and Diablo3 then I'm ok with it. I like it quiet. But if you guys feel like the 5970 is worth $100 more than I'm ok going with that.With the cooler thing is that just the main fan for the PC. With that I feel like I want to go top of the line as I feel like heat has been a big issue for me in the past and as I also said I like it quiet. So that's a no-brainer but is it ok with my case?

At this point I feel like I want to get this thing together so I guess it's time to just start finding the best value/quality out there for me and then just go for it and if I have to eat a bit of money that's ok.

Sorry, lots of questions here.

 

[Pick]

Review of what I got so far:

PSU Corsair 650

DVD-R Samsung

922 Cool Master Haf case (so component size shouldn't be a problem)

 

[Zasada]

About $100 difference between the two. As long as the 6950 will run well for awhile and run all the latest games like SC2 and Diablo3 then I'm ok with it. I like it quiet. But if you guys feel like the 5970 is worth $100 more than I'm ok going with that.

With the cooler thing is that just the main fan for the PC. With that I feel like I want to go top of the line as I feel like heat has been a big issue for me in the past and as I also said I like it quiet. So that's a no-brainer but is it ok with my case?

At this point I feel like I want to get this thing together so I guess it's time to just start finding the best value/quality out there for me and then just go for it and if I have to eat a bit of money that's ok.

Sorry, lots of questions here.

Read this thread and follow the instructions to see if you can get yourself an i5 2500K for $180. Even $200 is a decent price. I would wait until the 5th to pull the trigger on your vidcard.

Regarding mobo, this looks like a decent option. It has USB3, and SATA3. MicroATX is only a problem if you think you're going to need the expansion slots.

I'm surprised you didn't get RAM yet with all the deals that have passed through. Grab one of the 2x4GB deals running frequently.

For SSD, grab this or this. The former is faster and cheaper but the latter has a better reputation for reliability.

Try to hold out on a regular HDD for prices to come down (or just use an old one as an interim solution).

Regarding the HSF, if you worry about heat and noise, go with the Archon or Macho (the latter only if you can track one down, they're not really for sale yet).

 

[Dragons]

I can also wait to see what happens to prices on 12/5 with the rumoured nexgen card release

I could have used this info a couple hours sooner.

Don't fret. The savings will likely come at the higher end and even then not be huge. You potentially left $20 or so on the table, which hopefully isn't a big deal given your overall budget.The new-gen cards are always priced at a premium and not discounted so that wasn't going to be an option for you anyways.

True, and I'm not really upset. I was teasing more than anything. It's usually my luck that something goes on sale immediately after I buy it. I've gotten in on some very good deals from this thread, so even if I end up $30-$40 overpriced on the vid card, I'll still be a happy camper.

 

[Pick]

About $100 difference between the two. As long as the 6950 will run well for awhile and run all the latest games like SC2 and Diablo3 then I'm ok with it. I like it quiet. But if you guys feel like the 5970 is worth $100 more than I'm ok going with that.

With the cooler thing is that just the main fan for the PC. With that I feel like I want to go top of the line as I feel like heat has been a big issue for me in the past and as I also said I like it quiet. So that's a no-brainer but is it ok with my case?

At this point I feel like I want to get this thing together so I guess it's time to just start finding the best value/quality out there for me and then just go for it and if I have to eat a bit of money that's ok.

Sorry, lots of questions here.

Read this thread and follow the instructions to see if you can get yourself an i5 2500K for $180. Even $200 is a decent price. I would wait until the 5th to pull the trigger on your vidcard.

Regarding mobo, this looks like a decent option. It has USB3, and SATA3. MicroATX is only a problem if you think you're going to need the expansion slots.

I'm surprised you didn't get RAM yet with all the deals that have passed through. Grab one of the 2x4GB deals running frequently.

For SSD, grab this or this. The former is faster and cheaper but the latter has a better reputation for reliability.

Try to hold out on a regular HDD for prices to come down (or just use an old one as an interim solution).

Regarding the HSF, if you worry about heat and noise, go with the Archon or Macho (the latter only if you can track one down, they're not really for sale yet).

K, I will try to make some purchases today. Otherwise I will be taking care of it tonight and/or this weekend and then waiting til the 5th on the other stuff. I'm buying the RAM from Mad Cow that's why I didn't buy any with the deals. MC you got mail. Nevermind, you can't get messages. Message me your cell.Thanks, Guys. I'm stoked for this build.

 

[Mad Cow]

About $100 difference between the two. As long as the 6950 will run well for awhile and run all the latest games like SC2 and Diablo3 then I'm ok with it. I like it quiet. But if you guys feel like the 5970 is worth $100 more than I'm ok going with that.

With the cooler thing is that just the main fan for the PC. With that I feel like I want to go top of the line as I feel like heat has been a big issue for me in the past and as I also said I like it quiet. So that's a no-brainer but is it ok with my case?

At this point I feel like I want to get this thing together so I guess it's time to just start finding the best value/quality out there for me and then just go for it and if I have to eat a bit of money that's ok.

Sorry, lots of questions here.

Read this thread and follow the instructions to see if you can get yourself an i5 2500K for $180. Even $200 is a decent price. I would wait until the 5th to pull the trigger on your vidcard.

Regarding mobo, this looks like a decent option. It has USB3, and SATA3. MicroATX is only a problem if you think you're going to need the expansion slots.

I'm surprised you didn't get RAM yet with all the deals that have passed through. Grab one of the 2x4GB deals running frequently.

For SSD, grab this or this. The former is faster and cheaper but the latter has a better reputation for reliability.

Try to hold out on a regular HDD for prices to come down (or just use an old one as an interim solution).

Regarding the HSF, if you worry about heat and noise, go with the Archon or Macho (the latter only if you can track one down, they're not really for sale yet).

The 6950 is a great video card, Pick. I have one modded to a 6970 in my home rig. Get the 2GB version if at all possible.Were you wanting to grab some RAM from me, Pick? I have 2 Corsair Vengeance 2X4GB RAM sets sitting in my office right now.

 

[Mad Cow]

About $100 difference between the two. As long as the 6950 will run well for awhile and run all the latest games like SC2 and Diablo3 then I'm ok with it. I like it quiet. But if you guys feel like the 5970 is worth $100 more than I'm ok going with that.

With the cooler thing is that just the main fan for the PC. With that I feel like I want to go top of the line as I feel like heat has been a big issue for me in the past and as I also said I like it quiet. So that's a no-brainer but is it ok with my case?

At this point I feel like I want to get this thing together so I guess it's time to just start finding the best value/quality out there for me and then just go for it and if I have to eat a bit of money that's ok.

Sorry, lots of questions here.

Read this thread and follow the instructions to see if you can get yourself an i5 2500K for $180. Even $200 is a decent price. I would wait until the 5th to pull the trigger on your vidcard.

Regarding mobo, this looks like a decent option. It has USB3, and SATA3. MicroATX is only a problem if you think you're going to need the expansion slots.

I'm surprised you didn't get RAM yet with all the deals that have passed through. Grab one of the 2x4GB deals running frequently.

For SSD, grab this or this. The former is faster and cheaper but the latter has a better reputation for reliability.

Try to hold out on a regular HDD for prices to come down (or just use an old one as an interim solution).

Regarding the HSF, if you worry about heat and noise, go with the Archon or Macho (the latter only if you can track one down, they're not really for sale yet).

K, I will try to make some purchases today. Otherwise I will be taking care of it tonight and/or this weekend and then waiting til the 5th on the other stuff. I'm buying the RAM from Mad Cow that's why I didn't buy any with the deals. MC you got mail. Nevermind, you can't get messages. Message me your cell.Thanks, Guys. I'm stoked for this build.

Doh, is my box full? I better clear it. BTW aside from the 2 Corsair Vengeance sets, I have 3 2X4 G.Skill Ripjaws sets Yeah, I went overboard on the DDR3.

 

[Drifter]

Budget vid card 6870 for $140 AR

 

[Pick]

So what would be the difference between a 6970 and 6870? I just see bigger numbers. But then that other card in the 5000s is better?

 

[Pick]

About $100 difference between the two. As long as the 6950 will run well for awhile and run all the latest games like SC2 and Diablo3 then I'm ok with it. I like it quiet. But if you guys feel like the 5970 is worth $100 more than I'm ok going with that.

With the cooler thing is that just the main fan for the PC. With that I feel like I want to go top of the line as I feel like heat has been a big issue for me in the past and as I also said I like it quiet. So that's a no-brainer but is it ok with my case?

At this point I feel like I want to get this thing together so I guess it's time to just start finding the best value/quality out there for me and then just go for it and if I have to eat a bit of money that's ok.

Sorry, lots of questions here.

Read this thread and follow the instructions to see if you can get yourself an i5 2500K for $180. Even $200 is a decent price. I would wait until the 5th to pull the trigger on your vidcard.

Regarding mobo, this looks like a decent option. It has USB3, and SATA3. MicroATX is only a problem if you think you're going to need the expansion slots.

I'm surprised you didn't get RAM yet with all the deals that have passed through. Grab one of the 2x4GB deals running frequently.

For SSD, grab this or this. The former is faster and cheaper but the latter has a better reputation for reliability.

Try to hold out on a regular HDD for prices to come down (or just use an old one as an interim solution).

Regarding the HSF, if you worry about heat and noise, go with the Archon or Macho (the latter only if you can track one down, they're not really for sale yet).

K, I will try to make some purchases today. Otherwise I will be taking care of it tonight and/or this weekend and then waiting til the 5th on the other stuff. I'm buying the RAM from Mad Cow that's why I didn't buy any with the deals. MC you got mail. Nevermind, you can't get messages. Message me your cell.Thanks, Guys. I'm stoked for this build.

Doh, is my box full? I better clear it. BTW aside from the 2 Corsair Vengeance sets, I have 3 2X4 G.Skill Ripjaws sets Yeah, I went overboard on the DDR3.

You got text.

 

[Mad Cow]

So what would be the difference between a 6970 and 6870? I just see bigger numbers. But then that other card in the 5000s is better?

The 5970 is better, yes, because it is a dual-card solution all in one card. The 6970 is substantially better than the 6870, but I would say the sweet spot for performance is the 6950 2GB. If not that, then the 6950 1GB.

 

[Pick]

So what would be the difference between a 6970 and 6870? I just see bigger numbers. But then that other card in the 5000s is better?

The 5970 is better, yes, because it is a dual-card solution all in one card. The 6970 is substantially better than the 6870, but I would say the sweet spot for performance is the 6950 2GB. If not that, then the 6950 1GB.

So are the numbers more about the model and not so much some kind of symbol of performance?

 

[Pick]

OK, about to pull the trigger here fellas:

Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I52500

GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Crucial Technology 128GB m4 SSD 2.5" Solid State Internal Drive

Thermalright Archon Six Heatpipe Universal CPU Cooler - Sockets 775 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3

Are all these components going to work well together?