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$2000 gaming rig with xp

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - $2000 gaming rig with xp

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donald7777   02-15-2008 at 12:09:11 AM

Im sorry if this is a short discription. I have tried to post 3 times alreay and it always gives me a 500 server error. So this will be short and simple.
My friend has a $2000 new egg budget. He wants windows xp, doesn't matter if its pro or home. A mid tower case, no speakers, mouse, keyboard, or moniter. He would like this to be future proof. He plays games like crysis and COD4 all the time.
Please post would you people think is best.

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Dan_P   02-15-2008 at 12:15:56 AM
- 0 +

tell him, he mite want to go to web sites like

www.newegg.com
or
www.Tigerdirect.com

look up some idea's them post and find out what our thoughts are. this will make things alittle better. this is so we dont have to do all the work for you. got to get your feet wet at some point. also looking at you're number of post's i think you knew this.

Reply to Dan_P
grieve   02-15-2008 at 12:39:58 AM
- 0 +

Here is one I just made, it is amazing... $2156.83 total and is pretty much top of the line.
** You could drop a couple bucks by using the stock heatsink/fan
** You could drop a couple bucks by getting a normal 100gig HDD for the OS.

==================================

Motherboard –
ASUS P5N-T Deluxe LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131247
$259.99
(780i SLI is the newest SLI technology)
----------------
Processor –
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115017
$275.95
(this processor or E8400)
----------------
Power Supply –
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad (Black) EPS12V 750W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703009
$269.99
(expensive but solid CPU)
----------------
Heatsink –
Thermalright Ultra-120 CPU Cooling Heatsink - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835109125
$59.99
(questionably the #1 Air Heatsink)
----------------
Fan for Heatsink –
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185006
$24.99
----------------
Thermal paste –
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835100007
$5.99
(don't get it on your hands )
----------------
Ram 2 gig –
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145177
$92
(4 gigs total CL4 Ram, it is on the Qualified vendor list for this Mother board)
----------------
Ram 2 gig –
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145177
$92
(same as the above RAM, 2more GIGS)
----------------
Video Card –
EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130319
$259.99
(SLI 8800GT's super clocked... pretty kick as*)
----------------
Second Video Card –
EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130319
$259.99
(Same as the above video card)
----------------
Sound Card - The onboard 8-channel HD audio
$0
(no need for more, this is sufficient, unless you have some awesome speakers)
----------------
HDD for OS –
Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136033
$149.99
(The fastest for OS, none raid)
----------------
HDD for Storage –
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148288
$119.99
(This is one of the better HDD’s)
----------------
DVD –
ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827135156
$35.99
(same diff DVD/RW is DVD/RW...pick a SATA one)
----------------
OS –
Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2C - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116400
$139.99
(I would get Vista64 Ultimate, but that’s me)
----------------
Case –
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129021
$109.99
(Mega airflow, and room in here for that SLI)

***EDIT***
Fixed the links, changed the 500gig HDD


Message edited by grieve on 02-15-2008 at 05:36:13 PM
Reply to grieve
donald7777   02-15-2008 at 02:00:13 AM
- 0 +

ok thanks. I usually do my own work except its hard to look on my psp after my comp diecide to turn on in a lightning storm. hehe not much left. thankyou for your help.

Reply to donald7777
mlaporta   02-15-2008 at 02:04:48 AM
- 0 +

I would go this route:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
-
ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
-
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK
-
EVGA GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported
-
Antec 900 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
-
CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply
-
Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive

Seagate Barracuda ST3500320AS 500GB 7200.11 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
-
Samsung SH-S203B SATA

(Get the "Retail" version of the optical drive in order to get software with it. This will include the decoder you'll need to watch movies on it.)
-
Low to Moderate OC - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm
or
High OC - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle
-
OS - Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2C - OEM


Message edited by mlaporta on 02-15-2008 at 02:06:04 AM
Reply to mlaporta
mlaporta   02-15-2008 at 02:09:04 AM
- 0 +

Now here is one thing you can do your homework on... Do you plan to use 2 displays and will they be 30" or larger?

If the answer is no the items I selected are future-proof with even being able to go to a Q9550 in a year when the price drops and the E8400 will perform well over that time-frame and provide awesome performance.

Now if you want dual-displays over 30" each then you decide on Crossfire or SLI but from what you will hear neither is worth it.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by mlaporta on 02-15-2008 at 02:09:50 AM
Reply to mlaporta
mlaporta   02-15-2008 at 02:11:40 AM
- 0 +

I think with the build I provided if you shop smart like from buy.com and newegg or even ClubIT you may even have enough to get a:

SAMSUNG 245BW Black 24" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 400 cd/m2 1000:1 (DC 3000:1)

Reply to mlaporta
JackNaylorPE   02-15-2008 at 02:22:11 AM
- 0 +

I like Grieve's picks as all are pretty much latest and greatest except for the Hard Drives. Raptor was latest and greatest a year ago but that's old news.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/1 [...] page7.html

Western Digital provided the 15 test hard drives for our test systems. .... The WD5000AAKS is a Caviar SE16 drive with 16 MB cache, Serial ATA/300 and a 7,200 RPM spindle speed. Though it cannot compete with the latest hard drive generation (Samsung Spinpoint F1 or Seagate Barracuda 7200.11), it is a solid performer and a reliable workhorse. Thanks to its under $120 price tag, this model offers an exceptional price/performance value.

Well if I got em for free, I'd use em too.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/1 [...] age11.html

the new Spinpoint F1 ..... beat Hitachi, Seagate and Western Digital when it comes to performance. Hitachi and Seagate still offer better access times, which is why Samsung does not dominate the I/O benchmarks, but only the Barracuda 7200.11's access time is noticeably quicker. The maximum throughput of 118 MB/s is up to 18% faster than Seagate's 100 MB/s maximum, and the average and minimum throughput when reading and writing also dominate the benchmark results. When compared to WD's Caviar GP, the new Spinpoint F1 by Samsung offers roughly a third more throughput, which is very respectable.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/1 [...] te_battle/

Hitachi and Seagate battle head to head when it comes to winning the heart of the enthusiast who wants as much performance as possible. The Deskstar 7K1000 still does okay in the access time and I/O performance tests, but it loses ground when it comes to transfer rates. The Barracuda 7200.11 offers the best low-level benchmark results, jumping over 100 MB/s read or write transfer rates and accessing data in an average of 12.7 ms. With the exception of access time and I/O benchmarks, it also clearly beats Western Digital's 10,000 RPM Raptor, and sets the new standard for desktop hard drives.

Look at the Game benchmarks in these three articles and you'll see significant differences.


Message edited by JackNaylorPE on 02-15-2008 at 02:25:15 AM
Reply to JackNaylorPE
Bronze Home Brew badge Shadow703793   02-15-2008 at 03:25:54 AM
- 0 +

I would go with the system suggested by grieve. You could go with standard non overclocked 8800GT 512 and then OC it yourself and save some $, that you could spend on getting a better GPU cooler. Make sure you get XP x64 so that you can use all 4GB of RAM.


Message edited by Shadow703793 on 02-15-2008 at 03:26:43 AM
------------------------------ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3815217176_0a5be7955d_o.gif
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3553/3818083596_1a772f7162_o.gif
 Reply to Shadow703793
ScottL4784   02-15-2008 at 04:39:23 AM
- 0 +

The raptors are faster where it counts, especially for gaming. I would definitely consider a 150 gb raptor as your main drive.

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6GHz, EVGA 780i, EVGA 8800GTS 512, 2GB PC-8500 BALLISTIX, 2X RAPTOR 150GB (RAID 0),
500GB WD, ANTEC 900, COOLERMASTER REAL POWER 850, THERMALRIGHT 120 EXTREME,
22" SAMSUNG, 19" VIEWSONIC
 Reply to ScottL4784
Dan_P   02-15-2008 at 06:57:17 AM
- 0 +

well i guess i will join in on this

take a look at this case, for the price i think its one of the better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137
this is that it looks like when its lite up.
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/9706/computer2nx4.th.jpg
this is what it looks like from the side
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4663/computer13ik2.th.jpg
-side note- always check your local shop for tower/ case sometimes the shipping is overkill.
for the ram... i would use this and like it, works great after rebate even better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145034

the Abit ip35pro is a great thought. but if you are wanting to run SLI, its not going to happen its a crossfire mobo. so buying 2 geforce cards would kinda be useless. So you would have to pick up 2 crossfire rated cards and i know NOTHING about them.

psu- i like this one, it has a good amount of power for the price. also its rated pretty good and after rebate even better
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341002

for a second HD this was a good choice-
Seagate Barracuda ST3500320AS 500GB 7200.11 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

i would get a simple 250 gig for a main HD for your OS and other non removable programs you dont ever plan on removing. maybe this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148262

CPU- i like the q6600 quad, look at clubit.com for it. most of the time it is a better price
http://clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=CA1938452

those are some of my idea's





Message edited by Dan_P on 02-15-2008 at 07:03:21 AM
Reply to Dan_P
donald7777   02-15-2008 at 05:43:43 PM
- 0 +

mlaporta wrote :

Now here is one thing you can do your homework on... Do you plan to use 2 displays and will they be 30" or larger?

If the answer is no the items I selected are future-proof with even being able to go to a Q9550 in a year when the price drops and the E8400 will perform well over that time-frame and provide awesome performance.

Now if you want dual-displays over 30" each then you decide on Crossfire or SLI but from what you will hear neither is worth it.



No my friend doesn't have to room to run a display over 20 inches.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to donald7777
donald7777   02-15-2008 at 05:46:10 PM
- 0 +

OK thank you everyone I will send him all this info and let him decide Ill try and tell him that he sould go with grieve's system and tell him to look around for a case fro a local shop to try and save on shipping.

Reply to donald7777
grieve   02-15-2008 at 06:01:48 PM
- 0 +

donald7777 wrote :

No my friend doesn't have to room to run a display over 20 inches.



donald7777 he is using a monitor under 20 inches? That’s an important detail… SLI might not be a very good investment.

He can save a ton of cash with a normal motherboard, lower wattage power supply unit, and one Video card.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to grieve
donald7777   02-15-2008 at 06:36:46 PM
- 0 +

I use to run sli with a 17 incher games ran faster and better quality than my one single card.

Reply to donald7777
cah027   02-15-2008 at 06:39:11 PM
- 0 +

grieve wrote :

donald7777 he is using a monitor under 20 inches? That’s an important detail… SLI might not be a very good investment.

He can save a ton of cash with a normal motherboard, lower wattage power supply unit, and one Video card.




Good point.

You could put the money saved towards upgrades when the faster stuff comes out. or a case of Diet Coke and a bag of Cheetoes.... :)

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to cah027
mlaporta   02-15-2008 at 06:47:27 PM
- 0 +

Grieve's suggestion is kinda high-priced mate and as you said he has no plans for a display over 20" so why go with that SLI configuration???

Reply to mlaporta
mlaporta   02-15-2008 at 06:49:07 PM
- 0 +

That's why I recommended the config I listed for a single video that will last a long time and is only $1200-$1400.

Reply to mlaporta
donald7777   02-16-2008 at 12:59:17 AM
- 0 +

cah027 wrote :

Good point.

You could put the money saved towards upgrades when the faster stuff comes out. or a case of Diet Coke and a bag of Cheetoes.... :)



too bad my friend doesn't like cheetos or coke but I will pass your suggestion on to him. Thank you

Reply to donald7777
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