First Time Building: Does this Look OK?

[Admiral_TvS]

This is my first time building, so I am a little bit nervous about placing all my orders. I am building a gaming system to run at 1920x1080 and graphics settings set to highest (I mainly play rts games). I already have a good monitor, cpu, and psu (if it is compatible). Overclocking, although only slightly, is a distinct possibility. My budget is around $800-900.

After lots of research, here is what I have. Any advice is appreciated.

-CPU: i7 960 (already owned; got it for really cheap, otherwise I would have gone for i7 950)
-CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 ($28)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002G1YPH0/?tag=tec06d-20
-PSU: SeaSonic S12D 750 Silver 750W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Active PFC Power Supply (already owned)
-MOBO: ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard ($189.99)
ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s ...
-Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case ($120)
COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel A...
-GPU: GIGABYTE GV-N560OC-1GI GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card ($250)
GIGABYTE GV-N560OC-1GI GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) ...
-DDR: Corsair TR3X6G1600C9 XMS3 6 GB 3 X 2 GB PC3-12800 1600MHz 240-Pin DDR3 Tri-Channel Intel Core i7 Memory Kit ($72)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001K56XW8/?tag=tec06d-20
-HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($65)
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cac...
-Optical Drive: LG Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD Burner - Bulk – OEM ($17)
LG Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-...

28, 190, 120, 250, 70, 65, 17 = $740

 

[ShiBDiB]

Looks fine, assuming you have a windows disc and monitor/speakers/keyboard etc..

That graphics card will be plenty for an RTS, considering alot of RTS are cpu intensive.

 

[micropage7]

looks nice, i guess you got what you spent

 

[Admiral_TvS]

Looks fine, assuming you have a windows disc and monitor/speakers/keyboard etc..

That graphics card will be plenty for an RTS, considering alot of RTS are cpu intensive.

Yes I have got all this. By the way, at my school I can buy a Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade for only $20. However, I do not think that this is bootable onto a blank HDD. However, would it work if I plug in my old hard drive at the same time with the new one (to verify my old Vista) and then install the Windows 7 onto the new HDD?

 

[REDDLINE]

Looks like a really solid build, and it looks like it will handle any RTS games you have to throw at it.

Also nice choice on the Samsung Spinpoint F3's, i can tell you that they are amazing, and reliable.

Good luck man

 

[cdawall]

would swap to a different cooler that thing will be struggling with a i7 960 if you oc it at all

 

[Admiral_TvS]

would swap to a different cooler that thing will be struggling with a i7 960 if you oc it at all

What would you recommend instead?

 

[cdawall]

What would you recommend instead?

xiggy DK $25 AMIR

XIGMATEK Intel Core i7 compatible Dark Knight-S128...

 

[ShiBDiB]

Yes I have got all this. By the way, at my school I can buy a Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade for only $20. However, I do not think that this is bootable onto a blank HDD. However, would it work if I plug in my old hard drive at the same time with the new one (to verify my old Vista) and then install the Windows 7 onto the new HDD?

Upgrades to Windows 7 from the following operating systems are not supported: 

Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP, Windows Vista® RTM, Windows Vista Starter, Windows 7 M3, Windows 7 Beta, Windows 7 RC, or Windows 7 IDS

Windows NT® Server 4.0, Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server® 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2

Cross-architecture in-place upgrades (for example, x86 to x64) are not supported.

Basically sounds like as long as u dont have vista starter edition it should work, then just use that hd as ur OS drive.

 

[n-ster]

xiggy DK $25 AMIR

XIGMATEK Intel Core i7 compatible Dark Knight-S128...

I run my i7 920 D0 at 4GHz and I get 70~74C on IBT and whenever stress tested on my Hyper 212+ (I do use 2 fans though, both R4 LED)

Don't forget thermal paste, MX-2 or OCZ Freeze are great

 

[cdawall]

I run my i7 920 D0 at 4GHz and I get 70~74C on IBT and whenever stress tested on my Hyper 212+ (I do use 2 fans though, both R4 LED)

Don't forget thermal paste, MX-2 or OCZ Freeze are great

I had both one xiggy dk with an ultra kaze 3k and cm hyper 212+ with dual cm red fans (the ones off my cm v10) the xiggy with the kaze@2k gave me 1c lower idles and 5c lower load temps using a phenom 910 c2@3.7ghz also when using the cm on my 965be c2 it would not clock stable over 3600mhz with the xiggy I was able to pull off 3800mhz stable. Used noctua paste on both and both were aloud to break in for a month at least. For $5 less amir the xiggy is a beast.

 

[Admiral_TvS]

xiggy DK $25 AMIR

XIGMATEK Intel Core i7 compatible Dark Knight-S128...

Thanks. The only problem I have is that, speaking from personal experience, I don't trust mail in rebates and do not buy based on that. Hence, I can't buy that one...

 

[n-ster]

from what I recall from the reviews, both were getting the same temps...

The Xiggy DK is probably my 2nd favorite for bang/buck, along with the Scythe Mugen 2. But it has a 20$ MIR, and TBH I hate MIRs. IDK how much the Hyper 212+ costs in the US but I got mine at 25$.... It is at 23~24$ st Microcenter as well. But my argument is this, it will do fine on the i7 960, even OCed @ 4GHz. Which one he should buy is another question which depends mostly are cost and reviews and preference with MIRs. Also isn't an ultra kaze much better than the fans you used on the Hyper?

TBH, you can't go wrong with either of them. I know the Hyper comes with an extra fan bracket, so an extra fan is easily installed. idk about the Xiggy, I guess you'll have to confirm is it does or doesn't

EDIT: seeing the post above, The Hyper 212+ + extra fan or replace stock fan by 2 identical will do wonders. Another thing to consider is to upgrade the exhaust fan of the case

 

[freaksavior]

Thanks. The only problem I have is that, speaking from personal experience, I don't trust mail in rebates and do not buy based on that. Hence, I can't buy that one...

Kind of have a stick up your ass don't you?

Never had a mir go bad. Just do it right the first time.

 

[n-ster]

Kind of have a stick up your ass don't you?

Never had a mir go bad. Just do it right the first time.

wtf man? Some people don't trust MIRs, that's their decision, and TBH, it isn't a bad one. While I've only had one go bad (though after some arguing I got it), it is a hassle sometimes, and I've already seen my friends get ripped off (I did their MIR for them and the company claims that they never received it or didn't receive the UPC etc, while I did it personally like any of my 50+ MIRs I've done in my life). Not to mention A LEAST HALF of the MIRs I've done took 4+ months to get back to me... A FREAKING THIRD OF A YEAR OR MORE. You also lose a buck at least for the gas to the post office and or stamp

How I calculate MIRs is 2/3rds. say a 50$ thing with 30$ MIR, for me it's like I am paying 30$, not 20$. That compensates for all the trouble and wait, and risk

 

[freaksavior]

wtf man? Some people don't trust MIRs, that's their decision, and TBH, it isn't a bad one. While I've only had one go bad (though after some arguing I got it), it is a hassle sometimes, and I've already seen my friends get ripped off (I did their MIR for them and the company claims that they never received it or didn't receive the UPC etc, while I did it personally like any of my 50+ MIRs I've done in my life). Not to mention A LEAST HALF of the MIRs I've done took 4+ months to get back to me... A FREAKING THIRD OF A YEAR OR MORE. You also lose a buck at least for the gas to the post office and or stamp

How I calculate MIRs is 2/3rds. say a 50$ thing with 30$ MIR, for me it's like I am paying 30$, not 20$. That compensates for all the trouble and wait, and risk

Longest mine ever took was 3 months for a Samsung rebate back in 2006, shortest was about 2 weeks.

I don't let a mir decide my decision, if I want it, I buy it. I fill out the rebate, I expect it, usually forget about it because other things are important and then when it comes in, i'm thinking hells yeah case of beer! I know the way I said it totally sounded like me being a douche. You take a chance at everything in life. Your building your own pc, it's a chance it won't work. You go buy one, it's a chance it won't work out of the box, you buy an oem product, there is a chance it wont work. but if op doesn't want to deal with mir then meh, i wouldn't get the cooler he picked out.

 

[Admiral_TvS]

Longest mine ever took was 3 months for a Samsung rebate back in 2006, shortest was about 2 weeks.

I don't let a mir decide my decision, if I want it, I buy it. I fill out the rebate, I expect it, usually forget about it because other things are important and then when it comes in, i'm thinking hells yeah case of beer! I know the way I said it totally sounded like me being a douche. You take a chance at everything in life. Your building your own pc, it's a chance it won't work. You go buy one, it's a chance it won't work out of the box, you buy an oem product, there is a chance it wont work. but if op doesn't want to deal with mir then meh, i wouldn't get the cooler he picked out.

I thank you for your advice. However, I like to avoid unnecessary risks, and go with something less risky. Nothing personal.

 

[freaksavior]

I thank you for your advice. However, I like to avoid unnecessary risks, and go with something less risky. Nothing personal.

Oh I don't take it personal, and honestly I'm sorry what I said was rather rude.