Low-priced Gaming PC with LCD TV???

[Spotbrooklyn]

Hi all, I'm new to the forums, but this seems like the #1 place for advice on new computers. I'm trying to build a low budget system with OC potential, will last a good 2 years for me (minimum), and maybe even treat myself to a nice big screen for a TV. This is what I was thinking:

Case: Unknown
PSU: Hiper 580Watt/Sunbeam 550 Watt
CPU: Core2Duo e6300
Motherboard: MSI P965Platinum/Gigabyte DS3
Memory: Unsure still; thinking of CorsairXM2, OCZ, or Patriot (2x1GB sticks, DDR667 or better)
Sound Card: X-Fi XtremeMusic (currently owned)
DVD Burner: Pinoeer 16x DVD+/- R
Hard Drive: None/Seagate 320GB/Seagate 500GB
Keyboard: Currently Owned/Logitech G15 Keyboard
Mouse: Currently Owned/MX518/G5/G7
Video Card: XFX 7900GS or an Ati Equivalent (need help on this one, as I want to upgrade to the 8600 Ultra when it's released). Need a video card powerful enough to run dual monitors, or run WoW, CoD2, and BF2142 at high settings.
Monitor: Currently Owned Dell 1907FP

I'm trying to keep this build less than $1200, with shipping and handling. I gave a number of choices with each, but I'm still very unsure what I should get.

Also, I'm getting the urge for a nice widescreen LCD HDTV which I could maybe use on my computer as well, or soley on. I'm thinking something larger than 20.1", maybe 23 or 27" since all I can really afford to spend on one would be $400, $500, depending on how expensive the computer build is. So if it costs $1200, I got prolly $450 for the TV. $1100 => $550. Any suggestions and help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[PC_Side_Line]

Seagate 320GB and Seagate 500GB

Thats rite, get both of these, 2 hdd's instead of 1

make the 500 ur C drive and the 320 your D drive

place your paging file and temporary internet folder on the D drive plus install all your games and large programs on D too.

 

[Spotbrooklyn]

I already have one 320GB HDD in my computer, and can at best afford only one more. I'm trying to be very price conscious. THe multiple options for each component are what I'm possibly looking at, but hoping you could suggest one way or another.

 

[petevsdrm]

Motherboard: MSI P965Platinum/Gigabyte DS3

I don't think I have ever heard a negative review of the DS3. I don't own either board , but I would recommend that one based on what I have read.

Memory: Unsure still; thinking of CorsairXM2, OCZ, or Patriot (2x1GB sticks, DDR667 or better)

Once you pick your board, check to make sure what memory is listed as "supported". That said, I would go with the Corsair because it is well known as high quality enthusiast memory.

 

[Spotbrooklyn]

Alright, here's an update. I've gone ahead and priced everything, and I think this will work greatly until I decide to do another upgrade (maybe go for the 8600 Ultra). I want to OC the E6300 up to 6400 speeds, or better (and everyone keeps raving how with stock cooling you can get up to 3GHz so I'm tempted to try with some help from a friend) Just wondering, am I missing anything else to finish this build, and should I get a second burner (just for the hell of it). BTW, I already have a 320GB like the one I selected below. Feel free to critique the build.

Thermaltake Matrix VX VD3000BWA Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $85.99

GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $132.99 -$10.00 Instant Savings = $122.99

EVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO Video Card - Retail $159.99

Antec NeoPower NeoHE 550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply - Retail $109.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6300 - Retail $184.00

OCZ S.O.E 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2SOE8002GK- Retail $175.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive- OEM $89.99

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM Write Black IDE Model LH-20A1P-185 - OEM $32.99

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM $5.99

Subtotal: $967.92

That leaves me about $600-$450 for a nice, big LCD HDTV. I'm thinking between 26"-32". I'm having a hell of a time finidng a good buy with good reviews on them (all the great name-brand TVs are priced +$600). Any help finding one would be appreciated.

 

[petevsdrm]

Looks fast :lol:
enjoy

you may want to look at ATI's offerings at that price point for your video card, but I doubt you will be dissapointed if you choose to go with the 7900gs

 

[Spotbrooklyn]

I'm gonna go ahead and stick with 7900GS and do a future upgrade to the 8600Ultra maybe when it comes out. Also, I think I found a good TV to go with:

SAMSUNG Black/Silver 23" 16:9 8ms Wide HDTV Monitor with PC/DVD/TV Inputs Model LN-S2341W - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16889102055

Subtotal: $1,518.91
Shipping: $61.52
Grand Total: $1,580.43

Looks good to everyone?

 

[alcattle]

I have no clue on Monitors, any way you can buy local and save shipping? I always try to get monitor, case and PSU local but I am fortunate to have those choices.
Rest of the system looks strong. I was going to say, if you want to O/C get some 800 RAm and picked some good stuff, I think I got that also

 

[petevsdrm]

Yeah that tv looks pretty nice. Samsung makes good screens. I got an LCD tv for my display as well, and I have not regretted it for a moment.

 

[Spotbrooklyn]

Alright. This isn't good. Newegg is out of stock on the LCD HDTV I selected before I can buy it, so now I'm in a stuck position.

I can get a LCD HDTV and afford up to $600 (cheaper is better), or I can go get a new monitor and get a TV-tuner card with it. Only problem is, I wanna hook up my consoles to the TV as well, so the Monitor/Tuner solution won't work. I would like a 23" tv, or higher, but no greater than 32" (since I don't have room for anything larger than that). Shoudn't be a problem because of the budget.

I could really use some recommendations on a TV, since I was really set on getting a new TV. Oh yeah, newegg ran out of stock of the RAM I picked. Here's a reminder of what it was:

OCZ S.O.E 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2SOE8002GK- Retail $175.99

I'm looking for DDR2800 RAM with similar or better performance, for around the same price. I can go up to $200, but again, cheaper is better. I'm literally counting the pennies on this new build.

 

[Spotbrooklyn]

Alright. I decided to not get an HDTV (because when my father found out, he threatened to disown me for getting an HDTV before he did). So I decided on several changes and this is the purchase order I just sent in to Newegg:

1 CASE APE(ASP)|MX-PLEASURE-BK 500W R - Retail $119.99

1 MB GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 P965 775 - Retail $122.99

1 VGA EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR 8800GTS 320 - Retail $299.99

1 PSU TT|W0099RU VGA 250W RT - Retail $55.49

1 CPU INTEL|C2D E6300 1.86G 775 2M R - Retail $183.00

1 MEM 1Gx2|OCZ 240P OCZ2SOE8002GK R - Retail $175.99

1 HD 320G|ST 7K 16M SATA2 ST3320620AS - OEM $89.99

1 KB LOGITECH|MEDIA KEYBOARD ELITE - Retail $23.99

1 MOUSE LOGITECH|MX 518 USB RETAIL - Retail $39.99

1 DVD_BURN LITE-ON|LH-20A1P-185 BK % - OEM $32.99

1 CPU THERMPASTE|ARCTIC SILVER5 3.5G% - OEM $5.99

1 CPU FAN | ZALMAN CNPS 9500 LED - Retail $43.99

Subtotal $1,194.39
Tax $0.00
UPS 3 Days $39.85
Order Total $1,234.24

The plan with the PSU is that I'm going to switch my current PSU (Apevia 530watt) with the one included. Since I needed to keep the cost down, it helped to do this method as it would save me nearly $50 overall (New PSU with enough power for video card vs Current 530watt PSU + GPU PSU)