Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > Please help me trim down this $1000 build!

Please help me trim down this $1000 build!

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Please help me trim down this $1000 build!

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!

News

Tiny Cell Beats Intel Quad-core At Video

Ask the community Add a reply

Bottom Search this thread

I'm considering purchasing a new build ($1000 budget) and here is what I have thus far:

CASE: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
MOBO: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
VIDEO CARD: SAPPHIRE 100243-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
PSU: Antec earthwatts EA500 500W ATX12V v2.0 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail
HD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
OPTICAL: LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS120-04 - OEM

Total price is w/o shipping or Windows Vista on Newegg is $984.92. I'd like to slim this down as much as possible without sacrificing much on performance (would like to keep a 1GB HD 4870 and E8500 if possible). I'm also not sure about my choice of motherboard and case. Any advice would be appreciated...thanks!

Add a reply

How much does each component cost? That way we don't point to things that actually cost more.

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
Reply to dagger

Sorry...but here's the wishlist from Newegg copy and pasted:

Update

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #:CAC-T05-UW
Item #:N82E16811119068
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$54.99 -$5.00 Instant $49.99

Update

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #5Q Pro
Item #:N82E16813131299
Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock
Mail-in Rebate
$139.99 $139.99

Update

SAPPHIRE 100243-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #:100243-1GL
Item #:N82E16814102795
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$309.99 -$10.00 Instant $299.99

Update

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W ATX12V v2.0 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Model #:EA500
Item #:N82E16817371007
Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock
$89.99 $89.99

Update

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail
Model #:BX80570E8500
Item #:N82E16819115036
Return Policyrocessors (CPUs) Return Policy
In Stock
$189.99 $189.99

Update

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail
Model #:F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK
Item #:N82E16820231166
Return Policy:Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy
In Stock
$144.99 -$35.00 Instant $109.99

Update

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #:WD6400AAKS
Item #:N82E16822136218
Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock
$79.99 $79.99

Update

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS120-04 - OEM
Model #:iHAS120-04
Item #:N82E16827106263
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$24.99 $24.99
Subtotal: $984.92

Reply to asdftt123

Case looks good. There are cheaper ones, but not without giving up significant cooling performance.

The following are all cheaper, and delivers either same or better performance.

Consider either of those p45 boards instead. $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128345
They perform the same for less, just no cf. But you won't want cf on p45 anyway, due to x8 bottlenecking.
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/ [...] index.html

Consider 9800gx2 for single card. $279.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130338
The brand is EVGA, which comes with lifetime warranty plus Step Up program, if you're into that.
Performance is slightly higher than gtx280.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] =3341&p=13
http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] =3341&p=14
http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] =3341&p=15
http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] =3341&p=16
http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] =3341&p=17
http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] =3341&p=18
http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] =3341&p=19

For psu, consider 610w unit: $79.99 after rebates
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703005
The Antec Earthwatts unit is decent, but PC Power and Cooling unit, rated at 610w continuous (instead of peak for typical psus), is superior in every way.

Q6600. $184.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115018
Q6600 overclocks like a champ. Quad cores have more staying power. The future is in multithreading.

This 1066mhz kit, $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820161277
Same timing, at lower native voltage, for cheaper.

Or 800mhz kit at optimal 1:1 ratio. $49.99 after rebates.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146692
Tighter timings increase performance to offset that which is lost to lower bus speed, especially if it's running at 1:1 ratio and the 1066mhz kit isn't.

Hdd looks good. Good $/gb ratio.

DVD burner. $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106266
Same performance, same price, same brand, but updated model with LightScribe.

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
Reply to dagger

Case - Antec 300 - Slightly Better Case.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129042
w/Coupon: SAVECAMP0908A = $40 w/ Free Shipping.

Get the Antec True Power Trio 650w = $100-$40 Combo = $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371001
(Save $40 w/Antec 300 Case)

The Total w/ Shipping for the PSU will be $111.50

That will likely save you about $40 and you will get a slightly better case and a slightly better PSU.

------------------------------ If its good in theory but not in practice,
its not good theory.
Reply to zenmaster

Grab the E8500 from Frys - Save $40
http://shop3.frys.com/product/5594710

------------------------------ If its good in theory but not in practice,
its not good theory.
Reply to zenmaster

Use this Code w/ the GPU you selected and save $20: VGA92720
DDR2-1000 RAM (More than Fast Enough to Push the System to the Limit)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227280

$48AR = Save $62
====================
Total Savings = 62+20+40+40= $160 Saved w/slightly upgrade parts.

Message edited by zenmaster on 09-30-2008 at 03:50:39 AM

------------------------------ If its good in theory but not in practice,
its not good theory.
Reply to zenmaster

Ask the community Add a reply

Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > Please help me trim down this $1000 build!

Go to:

Help |
Forum rules

There are 1220 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Page generated in 0.260 seconds

Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel

Become a fan

Please help me trim down this $1000 build!

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Please help me trim down this $1000 build!

Please mind