~$1000 Build. Need feedback from experienced people please.

[Swixi]

I'm building a system that falls around $1000. I'm asking for some experienced system builders to comment on my system and tell me what's good and not. I'm looking to be doing multiple things like producing music (I already have an ASIO device), programming, playing games, and watching movies. As far as games, I play FPS's, RTS's, and RPG's, and would like to be able to max everything out.

I already have the monitor that I got a while ago, but I threw it on the list so you can see. The native resolution is 1440x900; I hope it's not, but is the GTX 260 overkill (I also want to be equipped for games in the future)?

This is a link to a wish list from Newegg, so hopefully it works.

Computer. (The list should be labeled, "Christmas.")

Thanks in advance!

 

[Proximon]

Either get a "core 216" version of the GTX 260, or get a 4870. The plain GTX 260s are not good deals.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102796

The G.Skill you chose is not good because of the voltage.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231194


http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/257075-31-what-parts-choose
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/257547-31-personal-list-parts

 

[Swixi]

Thanks for the quick feedback. I will probably get the Core 216, but then again maybe the 4870. I've been back and forth for a while.

Will that first link of G.Skill memory perform better even though its DDR2 800 instead of the DDR2 1000 on my list? Memory is one of the parts I don't know too much about. And my Mobo is 1066/1366 standard, so does it clock the RAM to that, or does the RAM bottleneck other components?

Edit: I just saw the timings on the memory you linked too. I'm assuming that's significantly better, especially at a lower voltage?

 

[brendano257]

Looks good for the most part, but that 19" monitor is a RIP OFF. You can get a 22" Acer for $149.99, Samsung tends to be very over priced.

Other than that.....+1 for the 650TX and the Antec 900 is currently out of stock because of the -80 instant on it.

 

[Swixi]

Looks good for the most part, but that 19" monitor is a RIP OFF. You can get a 22" Acer for $149.99, Samsung tends to be very over priced.

Other than that.....+1 for the 650TX and the Antec 900 is currently out of stock because of the -80 instant on it.

Thanks for the feedback man.

And yeah, I wouldn't have gotten the Samsung, but I found it for a deal at $129.99, so I picked it up. And I ordered a few parts off the list already, one being the Antec 900, which I ordered literally an hour before it went out of stock yesterday.

 

[Proximon]

Will that first link of G.Skill memory perform better even though its DDR2 800 instead of the DDR2 1000 on my list? Memory is one of the parts I don't know too much about. And my Mobo is 1066/1366 standard, so does it clock the RAM to that, or does the RAM bottleneck other components?

Edit: I just saw the timings on the memory you linked too. I'm assuming that's significantly better, especially at a lower voltage?

Running your memory over 2x the FSB does not produce large gains. Hence running your RAM at 667Mhz on a 333FSB is really all that's needed. This is less true with the new i7 CPUs, where various speeds of DDR3 seem to make some difference.

Now, if you wanted to overclock your E8400 to 3.6Ghz, that would require a FSB bump to 400Mhz... hence the 800Mhz RAM could be very handy. If you pushed the E8400 a bit harder, then you would really want the second RAM I linked.

So yes, you'll get a bit of a boost from the timings on the RAM I linked, plus the voltage will make it more compatible and stable, especially with any overclocking.

 

[Swixi]

Running your memory over 2x the FSB does not produce large gains. Hence running your RAM at 667Mhz on a 333FSB is really all that's needed. This is less true with the new i7 CPUs, where various speeds of DDR3 seem to make some difference.

Now, if you wanted to overclock your E8400 to 3.6Ghz, that would require a FSB bump to 400Mhz... hence the 800Mhz RAM could be very handy. If you pushed the E8400 a bit harder, then you would really want the second RAM I linked.

So yes, you'll get a bit of a boost from the timings on the RAM I linked, plus the voltage will make it more compatible and stable, especially with any overclocking.

Alright cool, I always love finding someone who knows what they're talking about. And I just read your two articles which were very informative.

So, if I switch to the first linked memory (and I'm only going to be overclocking the e8400 to around 3.4-3.6GHz), do you think the system is pretty good?

 

[roadrunner197069]

You could build a i7 rig if you picked your parts right.

 

[Swixi]

You could build a i7 rig if you picked your parts right.

You think I could for 1k or less?

Well, anyways, I already ordered my motherboard, so I guess I have to wait until next Christmas for the i7.

 

[roadrunner197069]

bummer

 

[Proximon]

Seems to be good. If you decide to go with a 4870, switch the board to the UD3P, so that you have a "just in case" crossfire option.