Build my i7 Comp for me - $1700 budget

[badboyjazz1735]

HI all ;-)

Got a challege for you. Want the best possible gaming rig you can build with a budget of 1700$ (icluding the i7 920 processsor)
Any recommendations are welcome - basics is that i need a case that can be modified in future and will stay very cool when
overclocking my i7 (which overheats excessively). 6GB of Ram would be good (Triple Channel preferably)

All software - Already have that sorted out friend will give me software for free - dad does something with businesses and said not too worry - says he will give me 64 bit Vista or i can have the new windows7 when it comes out (Anyway)

NEED Some help this is the first time i will will have to put a rig together by myself and i want it to be bang for bucks.

Thanx YOU GUYS AND GIRLS ROCK!!

 

[godfath3r]

well my rig below with the pic seems pretty immense just getin these guys to check it over and that is roughly around your price. instead just drop down to a 22"inch monitor and use the extra buck to get a cd-drive

 

[godfath3r]

well my rig below with the pic seems pretty immense just getin these guys to check it over and that is roughly around your price. instead just drop down to a 22"inch monitor and use the extra buck to get a cd-drive

 

[o0 zeno 0o]

Hrmm.. $1700 with a monitor?

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?BundleExist=N&ID=6432949&ChangeQty=0

If you wanted to cut the price, you could drop the 10000rpm system drive. That would save $100. Then downgrading to the Antec 900 would save another $80ish.

EDIT: Oh, and if your an nVidia guy, you can sub those two 4870's with two EVGA GTX 260's. I tend to forget that most people around here are anti ATi.

 

[Why_Me]

There ya go. If it's performance that your looking for, then this is the build for you. This build includes 2 x gtx 285's. Later on you can add another one of those HD's and run them at Raid 0 if you choose. That case has plenty of room for SLI and great cooling/airflow. Your going to be hard pressed to find a build better than this one in that price range. If you want to sacrifice great performance, cooling, and FPS with a build that includes kiddie stuff like bright flashy lights, less room, crap cooling and in game performace then I suggest you look at another build.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119194 $149.99
COOLER MASTER Storm Sniper SGC-6000-KKN1-GP Black ABS Bezel, SECC Body ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009 $139.99 ($119.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128386 $209.99
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/shopcart.php?additem=i7CPU $325.97
Combo: Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, OEM
Cooler Master RR-UV8-XBU1-GP V8 CPU Fan For Intel LGA1366 LGA775 & AMD Socket 940/AM2
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381 $109.99 ($89.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125255 $339.99 ($309.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate)
GIGABYTE GV-N285-1GH-B GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125255 $339.99 ($309.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate)
GIGABYTE GV-N285-1GH-B GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 $79.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 $24.99 Free Shipping*
LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner - OEM

Total: $1,720.89 *(not including shipping and rebates)
$1,640.89 with w/rebates

 

[shortstuff_mt]

+1 to Why_Me's build. The build above that does not offer great performance for the money. It's also crazy to suggest an old Raptor drive when the current 7200RPM drives are just as fast. It's also a very good idea to completely avoid Seagate drives for a while until they get their firmware/reliability issues sorted out. I also don't agree with the 4870 512MB GPU and 22" monitor in the previous build. Why_Me's build is much better all around.

The only problem with Why_Me's build is that it doesn't include a monitor. I would just go with one GTX 285 for now and use that money for a monitor if the budget is supposed to include a monitor.

 

[o0 zeno 0o]

I really hate the look of the Sniper case, but that's just me. Otherwise a good case.

My only problems with that build are the cooler, and the powersupply/motherboard combo.

The V8 simply doesn't cool as well as some of the cheaper coolers. Plenty of benchmarks to google there.

And I really don't understand getting an 850W Power Supply when your motherboard doesn't support 3-way SLI.

2x285's are also a pretty horrible value. For that much money, you could simply buy a GTX 295 (two 285's on one card) and save $100.

Also, just to defend my build, the Antec 1200 and 900 are two ridiculously great cases. Both cool just as well or better than the sniper, and the 1200 is only $30 more expensive for a full tower case. LED's all over the place, granted.. But it's not like he would be sacrificing better hardware. The 900 is the same basic design as the sniper and is $50 less.

Mine also includes a monitor, hence the 4870's or 260's. But asside from that, I would argue that the performance you get out of the $285's vs. the 260's isn't worth an extra $300 (double the cost).

As far as the Raptor argument, to each his own... Certainly don't NEED one. But the scan rates are still half of a 7200rpm sata II

 

[Why_Me]

I really hate the look of the Sniper case, but that's just me. Otherwise a good case.

My only problems with that build are the cooler, and the powersupply/motherboard combo.

The V8 simply doesn't cool as well as some of the cheaper coolers. Plenty of benchmarks to google there.

And I really don't understand getting an 850W Power Supply when your motherboard doesn't support 3-way SLI.

2x285's are also a pretty horrible value. For that much money, you could simply buy a GTX 295 (two 285's on one card) and save $100.

Also, just to defend my build, the Antec 1200 and 900 are two ridiculously great cases. Both cool just as well or better than the sniper, and the 1200 is only $30 more expensive for a full tower case. LED's all over the place, granted.. But it's not like he would be sacrificing better hardware. The 900 is the same basic design as the sniper and is $50 less.

Mine also includes a monitor, hence the 4870's or 260's. But asside from that, I would argue that the performance you get out of the $285's vs. the 260's isn't worth an extra $300 (double the cost).

As far as the Raptor argument, to each his own... Certainly don't NEED one. But the scan rates are still half of a 7200rpm sata II

Personally my rig could be inside a wood box as long as it does what it needs to do. My eyes are on my monitor, not my case. But I'm surprised you went with 4870 512mb and that G.Skill memory that has a latency of 9. Oh well.... Anyways since you like that gtx 260 SLI here's a build that includes both those cards, as well as a 24" monitor with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 and quick response time.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 $79.99
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103052 $12.99
COOLER MASTER R4-S2S-124K-GP 120mm Case Fans - Retail (4 pk.)

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-750w-tx-series-80-plus-certified-power-supply-corsair-tx-cmpsu/q/loc/101/206178325.html $104.99 Price After Rebate: $79.99 Free Shipping*
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128386 $209.99
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-920 $265.99
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029 $39.99
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381 $109.99 ($89.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130370 $189.99 ($169.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail / Free Call of Duty: World at War w/ purchase, limited offer

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130370 $189.99 ($169.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail / Free Call of Duty: World at War w/ purchase, limited offer

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 $79.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 $24.99 Free Shipping*
LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009125 $259.99
Acer P243WAid Black-Silver 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP Support 400 cd/m2 3000:1 ACM - Retail

Total: $1,665.87 *(not including shipping and rebates)
$1,580.87 with w/rebates

 

[o0 zeno 0o]

No arguments here... The 4870 1GB cards are actually just $10 more. I meant to put those in there, but clicked the wrong card. They look the exact same.

On the low latency ram, there really isn't much of an advantage with the huge cache's we have on our CPU's now. Try swapping your OCZ with a friends normal cas9 and see how many frames it differs. That said, it's not a significant price increase so I would be inclined to agree with it... why not get the best bang for the buck?

I actually like that case. I think the Sniper or the 900 would definitely cool a little better with the nice top vent fan, but you save $30+ and still get good cooling. I like that underside cpu vent, too..

I don't really think we're all that far off in hardware. I like the change to the 750W Corsair. I have no problem with the Gigabyte board, especially if you're never going to see it (ugly colors imho). Ditched the Raptor idea, and got a good quality $40 cooler that cools better than the V8. I'm still a fan of the Arctic Silver 5 over the AC MX-2, but I'm sure they're comparable.

Regardless, if he still wants to spend the $1700, he could add a good keyboard, mouse and speakers/headset, or even upgrade to a GTX295 and not horribly blow the budget. So I guess we're in agreement. Good build.