Time for a new rig

[Caffeine-Rx]

I'm not all that knowledgable about hardware and what does best with what. So, I ask eGO's collective brain: If you had $1000 to build a gaming pc with, what would you get?

 

[Rated_R]

Go to iBuypower.com through the Ad on the right ------------------------------------->>^^.
They make quality PC's alot cheaper than others. Try for a Core i7 if its in your budget, If not go for a Phenom II Processor.
Ive got a 4870X2 Video card currently the Best from ATI, and I love it.

 

[Caffeine-Rx]

I'm more looking to build my pc, more bang for the buck idea. I've browsed over all our sponsors many times.

 

[HaZal2d0uS]

Are you needing just a tower?
We kind of need to know what you're needing/what you have to work with...

Tower, Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse ... got a headset? (If not, invest in one!)

 

[Caffeine-Rx]

Sorry for not clarifying. I'm just looking at building the tower. I got everything else just need some ideas on:
Mobo (I have no clue what spec i should be looking at for these)
Processor (should I go quad-core?)
Videocard (doesn't need to be the absolute best, something to run tomorrows games)
Power supply (doesn't need to be extreme, enough to power everything on the worst day)
a case (do they come with fans? something with good airflow and whatever else is important)
soundcard (this can wait if $ is tight)

 

[That One Guy]

hmm, i've only ever built 2 my self, but i'd say go with this set up if your an intel fan.

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119138
*This motherboard will let you overclock your stuff*
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128364
*CPU is a C2D E8400 at 3.0Ghz*
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
*Saphire 4830 with HDMI output*
Vid Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102822
*Corsair 650W*
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

just my thoughts and everything has free shipping except for the vid card. Total is 642.95 + the shipping for the vid card which should be 10.00 max, and you can use the saved cash for a new monitor, unless you already have a beast.

 

[Caffeine-Rx]

Thankyou TOG, I will definately look over this info. I'm already impressed with it's price. Thanks again for the response.

 

[Stormrider^]

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131381
Video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150394
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003
Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471

Total is at 591$. You should definetely look at the AMD-side of the sun seeing as they have recently begun to offer processors that can seriously rock your socks off. Just get 2x2GB of DDR2 with that or if you want to look even further to the future replace the mobo with one with DDR3 support and buy DDR3-memory sticks but DDR2 will serve you well too and isn't too expensive. If that PSU is lacking replace it with a 520W Corsair which should be more than sufficient.
Look into that, you won't be disappointed.

 

[That One Guy]

Speaking of ddr3 ram, the mobo i posted can hold either 8 gigs of DDR3 or 16 gigs of DDR2, which IMO would make up for the extra $40 over the mobo dante suggested. and with newer mobo's i dont think you'll really need a sound card, unless you want super amazing sound, most newer ones support upto 8 channels, which is more then enough for 5.1 surround. again just my thoughts.

 

[Caffeine-Rx]

Thanks Dante and TOG. What's the difference between DDR2 vs DDR3?

 

[That One Guy]

I think the only real difference is slightly faster speeds, with less power consumption and less heat. personally I find it to still be a bit expensive, and prefer ddr2 which can if done right, be OC'ed close to the same speeds as ddr3. that would ofcourse bump up the heat and power consumption tho, so its slightly a toss up.

 

[Caffeine-Rx]

Ok this seems to be what I may be going with. This is my first full build so I welcome criticism and critique. :chair:

Case: Leaning towards this one because it is a full size case and digging the build of it. But I like this one as well, well built and a lot of good comments. But I am looking for one with a display for seeing my temps and what-not, don't have the slightest idea on how to hook those up sooo ...

Mobo: A lot of people told me to go with this simply because it's features. Read the reviews, seems good enough to me. Don't know a lot about boards.

CPU: A power horse of a processor, this should run quite nicely. Some thermal paste as well.

PSU: I have two choices the 850w or 650w, might just go with the larger of the two for future upgrade needs.

RAM: 4G of this should be enough I would think.

HD: I don't know a lot about hard drives but this should do fine, 1TB is more than enough. Besides all the specs look the same.

DVD/CD: Meh this should do fine.

Video Card: I'm still working on that, deciding betwen 4 or 5 cards.


What am I missing?:huh:


Total price (adding $150 for Graphics Card): $765-$800

 

[Rogue Sniper]

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F - $25.99

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $54.95

ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - $125.00

XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - $194.99

CORSAIR XMS3 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1600C9DHX - $104.99

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HDZ940XCGIBOX - $139.05


COMBO

Thermaltake Toughpower W0128RU 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Combo (Both): $184.98



All For $880.

This build should easily last you as well as be stable and future proof. TThis CPU is overclockable. I went with an AMD build because you can get most for your money if you're only gaming but want to achieve great FPS and still be able to other CPU intensive programs.

 

[Major Headsh(+)t{RD}]

Build one for under 1000$ its not hard cause all the items separately are not that much if you buy them on sale

 

[2 F 4 B P]

I have put together a non-crossfire build, which means the motherboard only has one PCI-e 2.0 slot. But it is still very powerful and inexpensive.
SAMSUNG Black DVD/CD burner combo
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 Case
Western Digital Caviar 640Gb HDD
Sapphire ATi Radeon HD 4890
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333
AMD Phenom II X2 3.1Ghz <--- Can be unlocked to be a Quad-core
GIGABYTE 770X AMD motherboard <--- Can unlock the other 2 cores
OCZ StealthXStream 700W PSU

This build for around $760
You can probably throw in another 100 bucks for a crossfire mobo such as this one, also from GIGABYTE.

Now that I think about it, this is the best budget build I've put together haha. I put extra effort into this

 

[Saeten]

I would get all the stuff TOG said just upgrade the video card to a GTX 285 FTW. the 285 ftw is foolproof and will run every game out now and all games coming out in the next year or 2

 

[Caffeine-Rx]

Thanks for all the help!

I want to thank everyone that did help me in the forums and ventrilo. So this is what I ended up going with. Everything, I hope, should arrive by Thursday.
:thumbup1:
So how much did I pay? $918 ... 200 over my expected budget but oh well, you make money to spend it.

COOLER MASTER HAF Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

COOLER MASTER 700W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor

ZALMAN CNPS 9500 AM2 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD Burner Black SATA

Plus all the extras like thermal paste and junk. Also got COD:waw and Terminator: Salvation from EVGA (Terminator is garbage I know, idc it's free). Oh and a newegg clothes hamper to put all the dirty undies from when I sh-dootie myself playing all these great games I could never play before.

What do you think? I like it. I was a little skeptical about some of the purchase but it can be fixed when I have more cash to burn.

Thanks to this video about my mobo, I'm no longer skeptical about it, check it out if you are. :w00t:[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHPAT_CVy5Y"]GIGABYTE ME[/ame]

 

[Ryken]

looks very good.

 

[That One Guy]

Personally not an AMD fan, but looks great, hope it blows you away.

 

[RustyPwns!]

Looks sick.... I actually posted a huge thing with thousand's of links to computers and stuff... but then I just saw your post. Well have fun xD