Ok, I pieced this build together by just thinking about what i wanted to optimize. And, thinking about it, I realized that this is a pretty sick combo for 3k. Here's why :
Video :
Display : 52" JVC LCoS rear projection HDTV. $1400
Advantages : no ghosting, 10,000 : 1 contrast ratio, extreme high resolution, gigantic size, moderate price, long system life. As far as I know, the mirror chips do not appreciably wear and the focus of the system is a fixed function of the distance to the screen, so it should never become fuzzy.
Cons : MUST be driven at 1920x1080 with special settings to compensate for overscan via HDMI. Looks terrible if starting up a game that does not support a custom resolution of about 1900x1070 (correcting for overscan)
Costs$1400, not portable, lamps must be changed every 2-4 years for $300
From here :
http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?omid=124&utm_id=19&ref=pricescan&utm_source=PriceScan&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=JVCHD52FA97&sku=JVCHD52FA97
To drive this monster :
eVGA GeForce 8800GTS $376
The native res of the display is just 8% more pixels than 1600x1200.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130071
Audio :
Sennheiser 580 audiophile headphones $125
I know you are thinking WTF??!! but I live in a house with roomates who do not appreciate bass late at night. I already own some old logitech speakers that can pump a game soundtrack quite well. The headphones are for the best possible quality sound, with accurate frequency response.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD580-Stereo-Professional-Headphones/dp/B00005S8KM/sr=8-1/qid=1169951774/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-0705150-8853564?ie=UTF8&s=electronics
And to drive these headphones or speakers bought later :
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer $77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102006
Input : Logitech MX518 Optical Gaming-Grade Mouse $40
Same resolution and features as razor mice, but people say this one is better. Resolution changing on the fly allows for accurate sniping mid game.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104178
Logitech Black keyboard $15
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104178
System Core :
A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 667 $210
(has heat spreader)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820211061
Core 2 Duo E 6400 $222
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004
Gigabyte DS3 $131
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012
Hitachi Deskstar 7K500 (500gig, top performer on storagereview) $173
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?SCriteria=AA36230&CartID=done&nextloc=
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186134
WILL overclock CPU to approximately 3ghz
SAMSUNG Black 18X DVD+R(ect) drive $36.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151136
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 case $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068
Antec 650W power supply : $118
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817371001
OS : Win XP Professional Piracy Edition : $0
Total Price (including CONUS shipping) : $3013
Yes, there are more powerful rigs but this thing should pack a wallop, especially with the incredible display and sound. The CPU and video card are just 1 step down from the state of the art, the hard disk is a quick one (ok RAID 0 would be faster, but an option for later) : basically, it rocks. Can anyone really do better for under 3k? I mean, especially considering that about $2000 of the cost go to components that should last for years.
Not trying to troll anyone, but this really looks like an optimal point. Even spending more money than this doesn't really improve performance much. CPU and video card are already close to the fastest available, display and sound ARE the best available (the limit on the combination of X-fi + headphones + maybe a headphone amp is the game sound quality). Perhaps another $165 for a second Hitachi hard drive for a RAID 0 configuration would add the most to this system.
Thanks for the warning about the PSU : besides, a 650W antec ought to be good for at least until the warranty expires. Technically, the 80k MTBF it has is 9 years of continuous use.
Video :
Display : 52" JVC LCoS rear projection HDTV. $1400
Advantages : no ghosting, 10,000 : 1 contrast ratio, extreme high resolution, gigantic size, moderate price, long system life. As far as I know, the mirror chips do not appreciably wear and the focus of the system is a fixed function of the distance to the screen, so it should never become fuzzy.
Cons : MUST be driven at 1920x1080 with special settings to compensate for overscan via HDMI. Looks terrible if starting up a game that does not support a custom resolution of about 1900x1070 (correcting for overscan)
Costs$1400, not portable, lamps must be changed every 2-4 years for $300
From here :
http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?omid=124&utm_id=19&ref=pricescan&utm_source=PriceScan&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=JVCHD52FA97&sku=JVCHD52FA97
To drive this monster :
eVGA GeForce 8800GTS $376
The native res of the display is just 8% more pixels than 1600x1200.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130071
Audio :
Sennheiser 580 audiophile headphones $125
I know you are thinking WTF??!! but I live in a house with roomates who do not appreciate bass late at night. I already own some old logitech speakers that can pump a game soundtrack quite well. The headphones are for the best possible quality sound, with accurate frequency response.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD580-Stereo-Professional-Headphones/dp/B00005S8KM/sr=8-1/qid=1169951774/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-0705150-8853564?ie=UTF8&s=electronics
And to drive these headphones or speakers bought later :
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer $77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102006
Input : Logitech MX518 Optical Gaming-Grade Mouse $40
Same resolution and features as razor mice, but people say this one is better. Resolution changing on the fly allows for accurate sniping mid game.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104178
Logitech Black keyboard $15
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104178
System Core :
A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 667 $210
(has heat spreader)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820211061
Core 2 Duo E 6400 $222
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004
Gigabyte DS3 $131
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012
Hitachi Deskstar 7K500 (500gig, top performer on storagereview) $173
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?SCriteria=AA36230&CartID=done&nextloc=
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186134
WILL overclock CPU to approximately 3ghz
SAMSUNG Black 18X DVD+R(ect) drive $36.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151136
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 case $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068
Antec 650W power supply : $118
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817371001
OS : Win XP Professional Piracy Edition : $0
Total Price (including CONUS shipping) : $3013
Yes, there are more powerful rigs but this thing should pack a wallop, especially with the incredible display and sound. The CPU and video card are just 1 step down from the state of the art, the hard disk is a quick one (ok RAID 0 would be faster, but an option for later) : basically, it rocks. Can anyone really do better for under 3k? I mean, especially considering that about $2000 of the cost go to components that should last for years.
Not trying to troll anyone, but this really looks like an optimal point. Even spending more money than this doesn't really improve performance much. CPU and video card are already close to the fastest available, display and sound ARE the best available (the limit on the combination of X-fi + headphones + maybe a headphone amp is the game sound quality). Perhaps another $165 for a second Hitachi hard drive for a RAID 0 configuration would add the most to this system.
Thanks for the warning about the PSU : besides, a 650W antec ought to be good for at least until the warranty expires. Technically, the 80k MTBF it has is 9 years of continuous use.