Plan my $1000-$1200 Gaming System (Ordering ASAP)

[mas0n]

I have been away from these boards for a while now so I don't see the 28 page one posts about mid range systems anymore. I don't know if they were just a flavor of the month or if there is a standing bang for the buck list somewhere that I can not locate.

I want to spend around $1200 for my wife's new PC. The only game she really plays is World of Warcraft.

I have no preference between AMD, Intel, ATI or Nv. This will be a total upgrade as we are donating her old PC for a tax write off. The only thing that I will be keeping is her OS software, monitor, keyboard and mouse.

I will not be overclocking and plan on only using a single video card.

I would like to keep the ordering to US based online stores.

A brief reason why you chose the part would be greatly appreciated.

I figure I will need:

CPU:
MOBO:
RAM:
Video Card:
HDD:
DVD RW:
Power Supply:
CASE:

 

[WR2]

AMD System:

From AnandTech website: AMD Mid Range System Recommendations

Intel System:

Intel Mid Range System Recommendations

The linked article does an excellent job explaining the choices.
Leave out the items you don't need - OS, monitor and keyboard and these recommendations are close to your budget. The one item that costs significantly more is the DDR2 RAM that's had a price spike since the article was written it's now $300. Other components are slightly cheaper over at someplace like NewEgg.com though so the price will still be close.
This G.Skill DDR2 800 is $260 after instant savings and is available now. Also you could use G.Skill DDR2 677 $230 after $30 instant savings.

 

[purdueguy]

Since you are not OC'ing, DDR2 800 is a waste of money. DDR2 667 will actually perform better. Here's my suggestion.

CPU: E6600 - $317
Mobo: Same as in Anandtech. Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 - $125
Memory: PQI Turbo 2x1GB - $175
Video Card: Sapphire X1900XT - $252
Case: Antec Sonata II with 450W PSU - $100
HDD: Seagate Barracuta 7200.10 Perpendicular Drive - $95
DVD Drive: Same from Anandtech. NEC 3550A - $35

Total: $1099

Now, this system is overkill but it will last a long time. You can get a eVGA 7600GT for $119 and a Intel Core2Duo E6300 for $180.

This would bring the system down to $829. And it's still a very nice system. Actually, this may be the way to go if you want to put a DX10 card in sometime next year.

 

[mas0n]

Thanks purdueguy!
Total came to $1,242.35 with shipping and tax.

 

[mas0n]

I recieved all the parts and all I can say is I currently hate Gigabyte! I just RMA's my second DOA S3 board. No display, no post, and intermittant power to the board. I even replaced the OEM power supply with a FSB Group 500W power supply.

Gigabyte GA-965P-S3

I just ordered a ASUS P5B-E non-deluxe from newegg after reading postive combos with the RAM i purchased from PQI.

I really hope that this rig will POST with a new motherboard.

 

[SPARTAN-117]

Here's my suggestion for a future cheap build:

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ $87
RAM: Kingston Value RAM 512mb kit 2x 512mb= 1gb total 2x $57.99= $115.98 total
MOBO: ASUS A8N5X $74.99
Video Card: BFG 7600 GT $143.99
HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE IDE 80gb $43.99
DVD RW: Lite-On 16x Dual layer drive w/lightscribe $38.99
Case: Thermaltake Tsunami $109.99
PSU: PC Power & Cooling 510w $199.99

Total Cost: $814.92

---------------

My System:

AMD 64 X2 3800+ OC'ed to 2.2 Ghz, BFG 7900 GTX 512 mb OC'ed, ASUS A8N-SLi Deluxe, 2 Gb Kingston Value RAM CAS Latency 2.5-3-3-6, Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 4, Westen Digital 74 Gb Ratop ADFD, 2x Western Digital 250 Gb Caviar SE, 3x Thermaltake Hardcano 14 HDD coolers, Thermaltake Blue Orb II CPU cooler, Zalman VF-Cu 900 Blue LED VGA cooler, Thermaltake Extreme Spirit Northbridge cooler, and a PC Power & Cooling 510w PSU.

 

[WR2]

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ $87
RAM: Kingston Value RAM 512mb kit 2x 512mb= 1gb total 2x $57.99= $115.98 total
MOBO: ASUS A8N5X $74.99
Video Card: BFG 7600 GT $143.99
HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE IDE 80gb $43.99
DVD RW: Lite-On 16x Dual layer drive w/lightscribe $38.99
Case: Thermaltake Tsunami $109.99
PSU: PC Power & Cooling 510w $199.99
Total Cost: $814.92

Subsitute Case & PSU Antec SONATA II Case & 450Watt PSU $80 after $20 rebate till 10/24
Total Cost: $584.94

 

[swint144]

Or get a cosmetic second on the Sonata II from Antec's web site: $52/$77 shipped, no MIR. I hate MIRs!

 

[enforcer22]

any true power psu 500watt (enermax is my prefference.) and up any dual core cpu anything not light on and a nice lian li case not really sure about your intention for the computer so anything other then that i have no opinion on.