Yet another new user, and new Clevo owner - Build advice

So, I just picked up a stripped D900F from Ebay/Eurocom. and I'm trying to populate it with awesomeness. This is a SEMI budget build, trying to keep things sub-$2500. (HA! Budget.) Gaming AND Workstation (3D Design, but rarely) is the idea here, and I went with the Clevo instead of a much nicer desktop because I have to travel so often for work.

D900F - Shell/Mobo/Screen/Keyboard/etc - $1450 shipped express

Ram - This thing has three ram slots, right? Triple channel support? I found an excellent deal on a 8gb (2x4gb) kit from OCZ/Newegg ($199 for TWO 4gb sticks? Wowza), but, can I just slot in another 4gb OCZ later to obtain triple channel support? Will it boot with just the two sticks?

Processor - As you might have guessed, I picked up an i7-930 for about $260. No need to go all out now, but it's great to have the option in the future.

Wifi card - Here is where I'm baffled. Obviously I want superior performance, but, really, I don't need speeds outside the range of every internet I will ever own, and I don't even need N support, since I have my custom firmware WRT54G and don't see myself getting over 10Mb/s internet in the next... ever. Should I penny-pinch and grab a $12 Intel Wifi 5100? Or spend the $40-50 to grab the 6300?

Video card - The classic question that I could find a million answers to, so you can probably ignore it. Going through the throws of 5870M vs 285M. Can't afford the 480M until next year, so I just want something in the mean time. I might be able to pick up the 285M for $250... Are there any similar deals for the 5870? If I can get it for sub-$200, I'd do it.

Thanks, everyone.

 

does it already come with motherboard? where can I get something like this?

 

Check out Ebay, and look up D900F System Builder Edition. If you go for it, make sure you use the 'Make an Offer' system. They auto-accepted $1350, but rejected $1300. I'd suggest trying $1325, then $1335, then going for the $1350, since you only get three tries. Ships from Ottawa, Ontario.

Also, curses upon the post count before you can PM.

 

I would recommend getting a 285 over a 5870, but that's just my opinion.

 

I think I'm going to go with the 5870, since I missed out on the $250 285m. $300ish now, then I'll grab a 480m in Dec when I have some money, and resell the 5870.

 

A D900F without a GPU for $1400 seems unfair to me. I have never heard of barebone notebooks without GPU included.

Since D900F usually come with NVidia GPU's, I would get the ATI card to make the build more unique.

 

yes that seems quite unfair... i mean like that type of barebones for an m860tu or m570tu (though without screen) is like under 300

then again you gotta get it somewhere. get some good parts in it for cheap and you could even profit a little reselling it.

 

I am saving vs buying from a vendor, because I'm in Canada.

The end setup will be like this:

D900F - 1920x1200 screen, shell, mobo, screws, guide
RAM - 3x Corsair 1333mhz SODIMM 2gb sticks, trip. channel kit
CPU - I7-930
Video - 5870m
Wifi - Intel Centrino 6300
Thermal - AS5
HDD1 - 1x 60gb OCZ Vertex 2 Extended - Sandforce based SSD
HDD2 - 1x 500gb WD Scorpio Black 7200rpm HDD
ODD - standard DVD-RW

My build is coming in at $2300 CAD shipped, doing the assembly myself. A very similar setup from Xoticpc, including shipping, taxes, and customs, about $2900 CAD. From Eurocom, $3500ish. Plus I get better RAM, and better HDDs.