Want to build a gaming PC, where should I start?

How about i7?

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

$74.99 -$5.00 Instant $69.99

Update SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #:100245L
Item #:N82E16814102770
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy

$169.99 -$20.00 Instant $149.99

Update Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #:Nine Hundred
Item #:N82E16811129021
Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy

$139.99 -$30.00 Instant $109.99

ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-20B1LT - Retail
Model # RW-20B1LT
Item #:N82E16827135183
Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy

$29.99 $29.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBNQ - Retail
Model #:F3-10666CL9D-4GBNQ
Item #:N82E16820231190
Return Policy:Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

$129.99 -$15.00 Instant $114.99

MSI X58 Platinum LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #:X58 Platinum
Item #:N82E16813130216
Return Policy:Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

$220.99 $220.99

Antec EA650 650W ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Model #:EA650
Item #:N82E16817371015
Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy

$99.99 -$50.00 Instant $49.99

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Model #:BX80601920
Item #:N82E16819115202
Return Policy rocessors (CPUs) Return Policy

$299.99 $299.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM
Model #:66I-01939
Item #:N82E16832116488
Return Policy:Software Return Policy

$99.99 $99.99

Subtotal: $1,145.91

You dont want that ram with an X58 board.... you need 3 *2gig sticks

for starters how much money are you looking to spend?
Do you already have a monitor that you want to play on or do you want to get a new monitor to game on? if so what res?

well i'm hoping to spend less than 1300, but of course the less the better. i have a monitor and speakers and everything, this is just for the tower and everything inside it. i was interested in a nvidia graphics card but it's been two years since i've bought one and don't know what's best. i want a card that can support mulitple monitors as well. i was looking at that i7, but which one is better? i saw the one for like $569 i think it was 2.9 GHz, would that be better?

  for that price margin you don't want to spend half of it on a cpu and mobo. if you do, you have to buy a 4670 gpu  

yea i would rather get a c2d dual or quad core, and then spend the rest of the money on a better graphics card instead. What resolution will you be playing at?

$1250 Mid-Range System Components Component Model Price (USD)

CPU Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 190
CPU Cooler Xigmatek HDT-S1283 (& ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket) 42
Motherboard DFI LanParty X38-T2R 175
RAM PNY XLR8 2 x 4GB 60
Graphics Powercolor Radeon 4870 X2 529
Hard Drives Western Digital Caviar black 640GB 32 MB cache 85
Sound Integrated 0
Network Integrated Gigabit Networking 0
Case Antec Three Hundred 55
Power Antec Neo 650W 90
Optical LITE-ON 20X DVD±R SATA Model iHAS120-04 24
Total Price $1,250

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.as...

This is similar to the one I built.

I used the same i7 920 cpu and have it overclocked to 3.8 on the stock cooler. I also have a e8400 core 2 duo @ 4.0. My i7 rig makes my e8400 feel like it is outdated. i7 runs circles around my e8400.

Hers a link to some benches against a qx9770 ($1500) and it clearly blows the qz9770 away.


http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/258117-31-roadrunners

The Core2Duo or Core2Quad will not be upgradeable and will be abandoned sooner or later.
The i7 system will be upgradeable.

At $300, the 920 is really a good deal. I would just go for it.

after reading some of the reviews on the two, i'll go with the 920.

evongugg, is that first mobo you listed the best choice for the 920? also what about the ram?

and kyeana, i've been using a 32" RCA LCD, the resolution's really high i can't remember what exactly, but i think it was somewhere around 1300 X 700, but again, i could be wrong. is that monitor alright or should i opt for something else if i get a more advanced graphics card?

SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151173
$28.99

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129043
$119.99

ABS Tagan BZ Series BZ800 800W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Patent Piperock Modular Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817814014
$99.99

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231223
$194.99

GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813128362
$298.99

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115202
$299.99

HIS Hightech H487FT512P Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Turbo Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814161248
$239.99

Subtotal: $1,282.93 + Shipping


Grand Total: $1,298.38

I know this is over by 100.00 but it is well worth it. If you buy this it would have to be today. All items available at newegg. Cyber monday deal on the case and psu almost -200.00

you've got to start with .......




braking your moneypig!

so far i've got these, i kinda took from the two lists you gave me evongugg, are these compatible?

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115202
$299.99

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231223
$194.99

MSI X58 Platinum LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #:X58 Platinum
Item #:N82E16813130216
$220.99

SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151173
$28.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #:WD6400AAKS
Item #:N82E16822136218
$74.99 -$5.00 Instant $69.99

how's that looking?

only a few left now,what PS would be best for this set up? and i was really hoping for a Nvidia card but if radeon would be better for multiple monitors and pushing games pretty hard then i'll go with what's best.

btw thanks everyone for the comments

so far i've got these, i kinda took from the two lists you gave me evongugg, are these compatible?

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115202
$299.99

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231223
$194.99

MSI X58 Platinum LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #:X58 Platinum
Item #:N82E16813130216
$220.99

SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151173
$28.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #:WD6400AAKS
Item #:N82E16822136218
$74.99 -$5.00 Instant $69.99

how's that looking?

only a few left now,what PS would be best for this set up? and i was really hoping for a Nvidia card but if radeon would be better for multiple monitors and pushing games pretty hard then i'll go with what's best.

btw thanks everyone for the comments

Yes, check that the memory is on the vendor's qualified list and you are ready to go. You could take a chance at the memory if it is not on the vendor's qualified list.