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Budget i7 Gaming computer

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Vos17   01-12-2009 at 05:23:09 AM

This is what i have so far.
Remember, basis first, extras later
(i know the i7 greatly benefits from 2 video cards)

Corsair 750watt (129.99)
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R (209.99)
Intel Core i7 920 (294.99)
Vigor Monsoon III (59.99)
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) (144.99) <--3 sticks for Triple Channel
SAPPHIRE HD 4870 1GB (239.99)

Total: $1,080

Price is actually greatly achievable.
I Want to play video games on my computer like.

-Call of duty: World at war
-Fallout 3
-Dead Space
-StarCraft II
-Diablo III
-Elder scrolls V (2010 release)

Think this rig would greatly achieve my goal of lasting for awhile?

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Akebono 98   01-12-2009 at 06:47:14 AM
- 0 +

I don't like the EX58-UD3R mobo here because it's a bit too stripped down for my liking, especially when you evaluate it as a long-term platform investment:

1. Only 4 memory slots and not 6.

2. Can't support 3 video cards.

3. Lesser power design than the others (you will be OC'ing the 920 for sure).

4. Only supports Crossfire and not SLI.

Without the four items above, how is this any different from an LGA 775 mobo running a Core 2 Quad? Games are not yet optimized for multi-core yet, so you've paid extra for LGA 1366 and not received any long-term expansion benefits.

If you want to build a budget i7 gaming rig, then the best value in a Gigabyte mobo is the EX58-UD4P at $260, which addresses my 4 points above. Don't need to pay extra for the UD5 for unnecessary features.

Thinking as a platform, this will be more future proof because of the LGA 1366 socket. If you don't mind the extra $315 for the i7 platform, then this would definitely last longer than the older platform.

On your listed games, I would see some potential benefit for Elder Scrolls V, maybe a little for Starcraft II, but not the others.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to Akebono 98
Kaldor   01-12-2009 at 07:27:16 PM
- 0 +

Akebono 98 wrote :

I don't like the EX58-UD3R mobo here because it's a bit too stripped down for my liking, especially when you evaluate it as a long-term platform investment:

1. Only 4 memory slots and not 6.

2. Can't support 3 video cards.

3. Lesser power design than the others (you will be OC'ing the 920 for sure).

4. Only supports Crossfire and not SLI.



1. It still supports triple channel, and 6 gigs of RAM (2X3) is more than enough.

2. Who cares? For most people 2 card SLI or Xfire is more than adequate.

3. Im sure even though the power circuity is just a little less, I have doubts it will effect over clocking that much.

The key word here is "budget" and I think he pretty much nailed it spot on.

Good build, will probably run anything you have on your list. And you have the option to add a second 4870 at a later date for even more power. But a single 4870 will easily max out a 1680x1050 res monitor.

------------------------------ Google is your friend!
 Reply to Kaldor
Vos17   01-12-2009 at 08:58:56 PM
- 0 +

how bout a 24" 1920 x 1200 monitor?
(Size and resolution im aiming for)

Reply to Vos17
Kaldor   01-12-2009 at 09:27:27 PM
- 0 +

A single 4870 1gb will run at 1920x1200. Id start with a single card, see how well it works, and then maybe get another one or a faster one in a year.

------------------------------ Google is your friend!
 Reply to Kaldor
Vos17   01-12-2009 at 09:29:37 PM
- 0 +

With the build u see, do u believe this computer will be good for a long time. and play games right now on high? like cod and fallout?

Reply to Vos17
Kaldor   01-12-2009 at 09:48:36 PM
- 0 +

No PC is future proof anymore. All you can do is insulate your self for the future. Myself, I build a $1000 machine every 2-3 years and maybe throw in a upgrade if needed. The machine you have specced here is headed in the right direction. The i7 is a good CPU. You mobo will support multiple GPUs. 6 gigs of RAM shoudl last for the life of the PC. All in all, your machine should last 2-3 years. It should handle current software, COD and Fallout, with ease.

What else can you do?

------------------------------ Google is your friend!
 Reply to Kaldor
Vos17   01-12-2009 at 09:52:55 PM
- 0 +

i know i can't really future proof a system.
But i want it to be good for 2-3 years, without having to resort to playing games on low quality.

Video games, music, some photo shop. that's all i will really do.

I have a 360, i am growing to hate the system too, its fans are loud (and i mean distracting from a video game loud) and it pushes out half the quality of the pc versions of the same games.

I use to be a huge pc gamer a long time ago, i really wanna get back into it. lol

Reply to Vos17
Foolycooly   01-12-2009 at 10:16:04 PM
- 1 +

Have you considered going dual core instead of quad and spending the extra money on improved graphics/bigger monitor?

Reply to Foolycooly
Vos17   01-12-2009 at 10:55:45 PM
- 0 +

Games and other programs are just starting to be written for multi-core threading. If you see the difference in lost planet (one thread) and then with (multi-thread) enabled. it jumped over 20-40 frames.

i have no doubt in my mind that games i would like to play that come out late 2009, 2010, will have support for multi-cores. Even valve who is updating their engine to offload different processes to the cores for better performance.

I want my computer to be read when they come out wit these new improved technologies

Reply to Vos17
Foolycooly   01-12-2009 at 11:10:15 PM
- 0 +

sure multi-core threading...but all four cores? I don't know of many games besides supreme commander that utilize four cores. Most games are just beginning to fully utilize two...

Reply to Foolycooly
Vos17   01-12-2009 at 11:59:27 PM
- 0 +

i understand games now are not fully utilizing the multiple cores. i am talking about later on. maybe i wasn't clear when i said into 2010 they would start making games and programs to support the multiple cores.

Reply to Vos17
mikat   01-13-2009 at 07:40:06 PM
- 0 +

I play Call of Duty on a Pentium 4 2.8GHz 800Mhz FSB, Intel 875 motherboard, 1GB RAM, and an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB AGP video card and it runs fantastically. Oh, and I built the computer in 2003. Who the hell needs 6GB RAM and quad core? Are you rendering 3d movie scenes? My computer isn't future proof anymore, I'm just saying you can save more money.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to mikat
Kaldor   01-13-2009 at 07:54:36 PM
- 0 +

mikat wrote :

I play Call of Duty on a Pentium 4 2.8GHz 800Mhz FSB, Intel 875 motherboard, 1GB RAM, and an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB AGP video card and it runs fantastically. Oh, and I built the computer in 2003. Who the hell needs 6GB RAM and quad core? Are you rendering 3d movie scenes? My computer isn't future proof anymore, I'm just saying you can save more money.



/clap?

At what resolution and graphic detail? The point here is to build a machine that will run today software very well yet still be able to handle the next 2 years software as well. When you built your machine in '03 how much did you spend?

------------------------------ Google is your friend!
 Reply to Kaldor
ugk3401   01-13-2009 at 08:00:50 PM
- 0 +

I would have to agree with changing the motherboard and then everything else looks find.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to ugk3401
Kaldor   01-13-2009 at 08:13:40 PM
- 0 +

ugk3401 wrote :

I would have to agree with changing the motherboard and then everything else looks find.



Can you honestly give a valid reason he would need to run more than 3 sticks, 6gigs, of ram?
Or why he would need a fancier power circuit?
Or why he would need more than 2 card SLI or Xfire?

Be realistic people. $50 extra for something that is unlikely it will ever be used?

------------------------------ Google is your friend!
 Reply to Kaldor
Vos17   01-13-2009 at 08:38:14 PM
- 0 +

Crossfire in the future is nice, really. 2 HD4870s would be great for later on.
Kaldor is perfectly right, and understood my purpose of even posting this topic. I want a computer that is good now, and good in 2 years.

I don't know what graphics and technology is going to be in 2 years, no one does. Though, i do know that elder scrolls V is in development and bethesda is aiming for 2010.

I know it won't take that much greater to run because it will be on the ps3 and xbox 360 (also what they promised)

So yea, 2 years from now is what i am aiming for, with the exception of needing a new video card.

Also.. don't throw in somethin i don't need, he is right, 6gbs of ram is all i need. right now 4gbs is a overkill for games, it is more than you will need.

That build is only 1,075 dollars (US) so it is kick ass

Reply to Vos17
jrosa78   01-13-2009 at 08:43:14 PM
- 0 +

I saw that chip at Microcenter for $229 if you have one near you... Build looks great, I might copy yours...

Reply to jrosa78
Vos17   01-13-2009 at 08:45:09 PM
- 0 +

Sure, go ahead. lol.
I honestly did not think i could get a i7 for that cheap.
To be honest when i first thought about building a computer, somehow it was in the 2k range. XD

Though.. i have no idea how i dropped 1k from the price, but eh.
Maybe cuz i was going to buy it, rather than build it first

Reply to Vos17
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