Gaming PC Build (recommendations please)

I was here a while back and didn't purchase, I figured I would hold out a little while and see what new tech came about.  Now with BF3 around the corner I'm ready to buy!

1. Your Budget: $2500 - $3000

2. Expectations: 1 possibly 2 monitor setup at 1600 x 1200 res for gaming.  1 to start 2 monitors later when the budget allows

3. Usage: Gaming first and foremost.  BF3 and maybe some other new games if they manage to draw me away from BF3.  Basic Internest browsing and Microsoft office products.

4. Special Needs: I want the PC to be upgradable for later expansion and to last 3-5 years before having to make a new purchase.

With that being said, I've been out of the tech crunch for a bit so I will probably speak in lamens terms a lot. 

5. I think having a good processor to start will allow me to upgrade around it so I won't have to worry about it down the road until I buy a new PC.

6. If you could show me a few builds and possibly explain the need or not for Liquid cooling that would be great.

7. OS:  What are the limitations between WIN7 (64) Home premium and Ultimate?

8. I will most likely purchase new Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse once I get the new PC to accommodate the higher resolution capabilities but some Monitor recommendations would be welcomed!

Thanks!

Ok so I'm clear, this pc I'm about to config, is for single 1600 x 1200 but in a few months or so it will need to max games at dual 1600 x 1200?

If then you got the right config need some changes tho:

a. change mobo to deluxe

b. asetek is not real lc, and will get beat by a70, go with a70.

c. fan upgrade is loud, its smaller 120mm fans and it does not change all the fans, the haf x has a front 230mm red led, that won't get changed, nor would you want to change a big fan like that with a smaller and louder one, then you have 200mm fans on side and top, they will get replaced with 120mm fans and at the end you will endup with red and green fans, in short don't get teh fan upgrade.

d. change your os to pro, you don't need ultimate but you can have a look at them here:

win7 comparison

one thing not listed there is ram limit, starter has 8GB total limit, prem has 16GB limit, pro and ultimate have 128GB limit.

Edited by DST4ME - 03 Oct 2011 at 8:14pm

I forgot to mention that for that res you are better off with sli 570 2.5GB, higher res then 1900 x 1200 normally needs more vram and once you go dual monitor it will come in handy, but its upto you.

Ask DS specifically for this fan to be added to the top, so you endup with 4 x 200mm fans:

haf 200mm non led fan

to beat teh a70/noctua you need to go to stage 4 lc, so ya the a70 is gonna be more then ok with the oc

Edited by DST4ME - 04 Oct 2011 at 12:31am

Looks good to me

VS ode 3, Your build has bigger better case, better mobo, better psu, more reliable ssd, faster hdd, more vram on gpu allowing for support and aa settings at higher res, superior cpu cooler, higher limit for memory, and better future gpu upgrade options.

Edited by DST4ME - 05 Oct 2011 at 2:31pm

My pleasure and good luck

Congrats Let the torture begin

ya local pickup will save a few days for sure

Don't worry it will be there soon enough

Soon its time to pray to the shipping gods

its probably gonna get shipped today or tomorrow

if they notify me in time today, I could run down and pick it up!  they're about 30 minutes away from me

not working today, I'm a shiftworker.  I'm on this week tues-friday then off for 8 days.  I'd prefer to have it in my hands for the weekend to get acquainted with it.  I normally work 5am ish to 6pm ish. with traffic from the city I'd never make it down there on time after work before they closed at 5.

always a shot, just hate to be that annoying bothersome dude...I'll shoot him an email

It never hurts to ask, if you do it right