+$1,000 Ultimate Gaming System

Ok this will be my first time building a computer but I know the basics (Processor, PSU, RAM, Graphics Card, Motherboard, OS, Overclocking, Latency, Cache, Etc.) The max I am willing to spend is about $1,300. I am familiar with Newegg. As my thread title suggests the primary use of this system will be gaming(->though I will use it for programming and compiling as well<-), and I am aiming for the ultimate system I can get in that price range. I do want to max out(or come as close as possible) Crysis and GTA IV(rumored to be more demanding than Crysis). And yes I will eventually be investing in a 2560 x 1600 or 2560 x 2048 monitor. I would like specific links to products. And remember I am looking for the best of the best for $1000-$1300.

for your gpu you should get either the amd 4870x2 or the 4850x2 (both on newegg) depending on how much you have left over. if you arn't in the mood to spend more than 400 for a prossessor then go with some of intels cheeper quads or more expensive duos (good selection on newegg). unless you want a state of the art system, try to stay with intel's LGA775 socket type. try to have a psu with a minimum of 550W.

Since you lack knowledge of computers, here is a gaming computer for your first build that will be sufficient and fits your budget...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] =eMachines

COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 RC-590-KKN1-GP Black SECC / ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811119152
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$20.00 Instant
$69.99
$49.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000333AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148373
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy $109.99

MSI DKA790GX Platinum AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813130190
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info13-130-190.0.18)

1 year: $24.99
2 year: $39.99
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate $154.99

SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814102768
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info14-102-768.0.18)

1 year: $39.99
2 year: $82.99
-$40.00 Instant

$20.00 Mail-in Rebate $529.99
$489.99

PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817703005
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$95.00 Instant

$35.00 Mail-in Rebate $199.99
$104.99

Saitek PZ30AU Black USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16823175103
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info23-175-103.0.18)

1 year: $9.99
2 year: $14.99
-$15.00 Instant
$49.99
$34.99

Logitech SBF-96 Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Mouse - OEM
Item #: N82E16826104026
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info26-104-026.0.18)

1 year: $9.99
2 year: $14.99
-$2.00 Instant
$10.25
$8.25

Nippon Labs ICR-BB All-in-one USB +eSATA Card Reader - Retail
Item #: N82E16820816001
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$5.00 Instant
$24.99
$19.99

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Item #: N82E16835100007
Return Policy: Consumable Items Return Policy $5.99

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10664GK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227298
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy -$18.00 Instant

$30.00 Mail-in Rebate $82.99
$64.99

AMD Phenom 9950 2.6GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HD995ZXAGHBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103291
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info19-103-291.0.18)

1 year: $24.99
2 year: $39.99
$164.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116488
Return Policy: Software Return Policy $99.99

ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 120mm 2-ball UFO Bearing / Transparent CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835887011
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info35-887-011.0.18)

1 year: $9.99
2 year: $14.99
-$10.00 Instant

$10.00 Mail-in Rebate $59.99
$49.99
Subtotal: $1,359.13

You may have to loose the 610 watt power source and get the 750 watt It is $40 dollars more, or just keep the 610 watt and get a 4870 instead of the 4870X2

medjognson77's idea is basically like taking a pinto and putting a nascar engine in it... It's ridiculous

For 1300$ USD, you are looking at something like this:

Add your choice of mouse/keyboard (g5 mouse, whatever keyboard suits your fancy?) for another 50-70$ and you hit your 1300$ limit with possibilities for upgrade later (such as a second video card for crossfire, more ram, more hdds, overclocking, etc).

To reiterate, it doesn't make sense to get a phenom (**** cpu) and a 4870x2 (top of the line gpu) because the cpu will limit the gpu and you are also moving away from the price/performance sweet spot.

And Antiacid,

To call the 9950be a (****CPU) just goes to show a very closed line of thinking. If the Phenom's with b3 stepping were a crapy CPU, believe me I would be the first to say it. Sure the Q9950 benchs better then the 9950be, however as long as they both play games with out any hickups or non smooth game play, multi task like crazy, which they both do, who cares about a name, AMD or Intel, I sure do not. Phenom IIs are not even out yet, so were they will fall against the Q9550, we will see when they are out in a few days. You never know they might just compete with the Q9550, either way atleast I can admit they are both sound choice's, instead of doggin the Q9950, because that would be very closed minded on my part.

Um guys I see some of you getting cocky here, I do not mean ULTIMATE PERIOD I mean THE ULTIMATE POSSIBLE WITHIN MY PRICE RANGE.

btw, a 2560x1600 monitor will be about as expensive as your whole computer.

Anyway, forget about upgrade capabilities with either a phenom or a quad, you'll end up having to switch the ram/mobo/cpu/video in your next build anyway. Chances are you'll be very much satisfied with the build I made up previously.