Best gaming machine for 1300USD/1500CAD

liberona

Distinguished
Jan 26, 2009
103
0
18,680
I had an idea in another post for a gaming rig I wanted to build, but I would like to hear from the gurus what they would recommend for this price. I want to build the best gaming rig I can for this price, and I would like to overclock as much as I can (I am a beginner). I am in Canada so it would be easier if you could recommend stuff off newegg.ca or NCIX. Can you please advise me the best gaming rig I could build for this price (I have a monitor Samsung 2253BW). I need software and gaming keyboard/mouse as well. I am a bit flexible with the price, willing to go up to 1500USD/1800CAD.

Thank you for all the help

 

Akebono 98

Distinguished
Dec 5, 2008
560
0
18,980
It's pretty hard to improve on the Grandmaster's build, but let me see if I can suggest a few minor tweaks...

WD Caviar Black 640GB, the AALS version (frequently on sale at NCIX)

Asus P6T Deluxe, V2 if available by the time you go to buy / build

Or, consider also the Gigabyte EX58-UD4P mobo as a reasonably comparable alternative.

Sapphire 4870 1GB, Toxic Edition

:D
 

rescawen

Distinguished
Jan 16, 2009
635
0
18,990
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163135 raven case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150329 2 x gtx 260

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 good psu

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145221 3 gbs of ddr3 is enough

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130220 sli motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202 core i7

I didn't include the mouse keyboard etc

i recommend the vista 64

razer deathadder and a logitech g15 :D hoped that helped u will going bout 150 over the limit but believe me its totally worth it.
 

liberona

Distinguished
Jan 26, 2009
103
0
18,680
Thank you all for the help. I was thinking of using a GTX 295 over a HD4870x2. Also is it better to go with i7 over a e8500? What kind of aftermarket fan should I use with this setup?
 

liberona

Distinguished
Jan 26, 2009
103
0
18,680
GPU: ASUS GeForce GTX 295 576MHZ 1792MB 1.998GHZ GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDMI HDCP Video Card ($629.99)
http://www.ncix.com/products/index [...] cture=ASUS

Case: Antec Nine Hundred

PSU: Corsair TX850W 850W CMPSU-850TX 12V 70A 24PIN AT Power Supply Active PFC 140M Fan Powersupply ($164.99)
http://www.ncix.com/products/index [...] omoid=1015

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Dual Core Processor LGA775 3.16GHZ Wolfdale 1333FSB 6MB Retail ($264.30)
http://www.ncix.com/products/index [...] ture=Intel

MOBO: Gigabyte EP45-UD3P ATX LGA775 P45 DDR2 2PCI-E SATA2 RAID HD Sound 2GLAN 1394A CrossFireX Motherboard ($161.57)
http://www.ncix.com/products/index [...] e=Gigabyte

RAM:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=33651&vpn=F2%2D6400CL4D%2D4GBPI%2DB&manufacture=G%2ESKILL


HD: Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB Dual Proc 3.5IN SATA Hard Drive OEM 5YR Mfg Warranty
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34286&vpn=WD6401AALS&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD

Fan & HS: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro LGA775 2500RPM 45CFM ($32.87)
http://www.ncix.com/products/index [...] %20Cooling


This was my other build I originally thought of.
 
If you open to the 'other' chip maker option :p

Read HD4870x2 vs GTX 280 (ditch the CrossfireX vs Sli benches)
http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews.php?reviewid=607&pageid=10

Read non TRI SLI Phenom 2 benches
http://www.guru3d.com/article/amd-phenom-ii-x4-920-and-940-review-test/18

Suggested configuration inclusive of 24" and OS
p2full.jpg

p2fulltotal.jpg

$1189 w/o LCD

Hoped i helped - cheers
 

Akebono 98

Distinguished
Dec 5, 2008
560
0
18,980
You don't really need a GTX 295 to run a 22" monitor. That video card is much better paired with an i7 rig.

Proximon's original suggestion of the Sapphire 4870 1GB with room to Crossfire is ideal in your case (unless you prefer nVidia). If so, then the PSU can drop down to 750W.

For a pure gaming rig, have a look at the new E7500 processor--it's ideal, and a better value.

For the heatsink, the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 is much better than the Freezer 7 Pro.
 

liberona

Distinguished
Jan 26, 2009
103
0
18,680
I do prefer Nvidia because I also run Linux and ATI's drivers for linux are just awful. Would you recommend on my budget to build an i7 then? Will the 4870 be able to run games like crysis maxed out on my 22 inch monitor at full settings? Also I plan on getting a new monitor within the next few months (24")

thank you
 
Nothing runs Crysis "maxxed out" on a 22" monitor, except perhaps a GTX 295 or such.

You could start out with a GTX 260 core 216 on an X58 board, and then add another down the line. Just make sure you have drivers for the X58 in Linux.
 

Akebono 98

Distinguished
Dec 5, 2008
560
0
18,980
+1 to Proximon's suggestion of scaling GTX 260 Core 216 cards on an X58 board.

Abstracting price for the moment, if you want to use nVidia cards for gaming and Linux, with future scaling potential through SLI, then the best route is the new i7 platform.

Unfortunately for you, the price premium of the i7 platform in Canada is higher than in the US, so you will not be able to come in at your 1800 CAD budget, after including accessories and incidentals.

Perhaps if you split your usage and ran Linux from your existing rig, that might put you in a better spot with respect to an ideal gaming rig within your budget.
 

liberona

Distinguished
Jan 26, 2009
103
0
18,680
I am kinda confused how come most people say you dont need a quad core for most current games, that a dual core would be fine. I plan on upgrading my monitor in the near future to a 24" that is why I want to use a GTX 295. I was thinking about the HD4870x2 but it is almost the same price here in canada so I might as well go for the better card, the GTX 295.
 

Akebono 98

Distinguished
Dec 5, 2008
560
0
18,980
Hardly any games utilize multiple cores right now, so the higher linear speed of a Duo beats the advantages of quad cores because they can't overclock as high. However, the difficult question to wrestle with is how many games that you will play over the life of your rig will require 4 cores. That's very difficult to predict and it is known that coding games for multiple cores is quite difficult. Therefore, at your budget, the pragmatic route is probably to go with a Duo and then upgrade to a LGA 775 socket Quad if and when you need it.

The GTX 295 is a great card, but just know that you can't scale it on a P45 mobo. However, a single GTX 295 driving a 24" monitor would "last a long time" on the graphics front, so you're probably OK.