1100 dollar Budget Gaming Desktop?

Can you let us know if you need an OS(windows) and a monitor to be included in your budget and for what country; USA, Canada, etc...

This should also give you reference point:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... AM3 X3 720 $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... Giga 790X $110 (xfire)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... G.Skill PI Black DDR2 800 $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=P... 1GB 4870 $200 - $30MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... LG DVD Burner $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... WD 640GB AALS $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... CORSAIR 650TX $95 - $25MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... CM 690 $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... Artic MX-2 Thermal Compound $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... Xigma $37 - $10MIR (AMD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... 6pin adapters $3 x2

$845 - $65 = $780.

You can switch to a intel CPU/Motherboard for an extra $80 if you have strong desire to go intel.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... LGA 775 E8400 $165
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... Giga P45 $135 - $20MIR (xfire)

+1 for MykC's build - very hard to beat for the price.

You could just get a 750TX for $20 more than the 650TX and get rid of the adapters. It may actually be cheaper if the shipping charge for a $3 adapter is $8.   (OK, I have no idea how much the shipping is...)

You can buy the adapters later when/if you add a second HD 4870. The 650TX doesn't need any adapters for the first HD 4870. It only needs them for the second one.

If you don't intend to overclock you can skip the Xigmatek cooler. The stock fan on that X3 720 CPU is good enough for its intended usage i.e. that CPU at stock clocks.

I'd suggest adding Vista Home Premium 64-bit OEM to the mix, and a 22" monitor (or 24", if possible).

Edit: between E8400 and X3 720 - I don't think you'd notice a difference, except for FSX or GTA4 where the third core gives the X3 720 an advantage. If you play those games you should probably consider a quad, like Phenom II 920 or Q8200.

Absolutely: sorry my bad  

I will have the monitor keyboard and mouse already, so we're good there. It will be for the United States, hoping for XP frankly.

This looks amazing, I was wondering if we could fit in a Nvidia graphics card (I have such awful experiences with radeons)--i need to get an OS aparently as well. XP or Vista what do you guys think?

OK, so you only need the OS ($100). That brings MykC's build to $880. Add a second video card and now it's $1050. Upgrade the HDD to the WD 1TB Caviar Black and there you go, $1100.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

What monitor do you have? The resolution is important to deciding which gfx hardware you need to drive it . More pixels means you need a more powerful gfx card to make the required number of calculations , and a more powerful gfx card needs more powerful processor to work with.

As MykC's buid show you can build a great gaming system for way less than your budget . You can also buy more expensive hardware and never use it to its potential

Oops, I hadn't seen this reply. Definitely Vista, because it has DX10. Also because Vista 64-bit is tested with games while XP 64 not so much.

If you prefer nVidia then I'd suggest a GTX 285. It's safer than getting a SLI motherboard and trying to combine GTS 250 or 9800GTX+ cards in SLI.


Edit: BTW, 650TX can handle a GTX 285 card and doesn't need those adapters.

Yeah I'm interested in just switching to intel for hte additional 80 bucks, and I would love to just get a strong single card. I don't really want to deal with SLI nightmares.

OKAY so : just so i'm sure on all this, the intel chipsets and mobo, vista 64, and can someone newegg-erize me the best card to fit the bill and confirm which PSU is best to get (I don't mind paying 20 more for no adapters)

(by the way, you guys are great, thanks so much for all the help).

Also do I need to push over 2gigs of ram if I use Vista ? I know it eats more than XP

(and i'm a bit lost with the gtx 250 talk, sorry bit of a hardware noob).

ANy chance anybody could list out all those on newegg with the new build to make sure I have this all right!

Love.

(monitor will typically run at 1280x1024, but It can push 1600x)

Doesn't the video card come with an extra adapter?

You can fit any GPU into the CM 690 case. If you go nvidia you lose the ability to run SLI. To be honest for most people a 1GB 4870 is going to be overkill, I'd recommend starting off with a 1GB 4870 and if or when you need more get a second. Other wise, either of these videocards would be fine and fit into your budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=P... 896MB GTX 260 $185 - $20MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=P... 1GB GTX 285 $340 - $30MIR

Weihaas your monitor could be replaced with a 22inch LCD [ or even a 24 inch if you go with AMD] in your original budget .

As it stands you dont need a gfx card thats very powerful at all . A Radeon 4850 or a GTX250 will be more than enough

okay how about benefits of spending the 80 dollars to switch intel, or is amd good enough?

I think the amd version is actually better  


@bmuell: excellent point, the HD 4870 may already include those molex->PCI-E adapters. I guess it depends on which HD 4870. For example Sapphire includes them AFAIK.

Okay so from the sound of it, go with the first recommendation in full ? any changes to that? (other than the addition of vista 64) ?

YES: you can afford a new monitor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... CPU and 512MB 4870 Combo deal thats pretty good.
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... CPU and Mobo Combo

I'd work a 22" monitor into your new build
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=P... $150 startings
1080p monitors http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=P... $180

last question I promise   is 2gigs sufficient for this with vista 64? or do I need to push that?

you want 4 gigs... 2x2 Try this out, it's cheap and it's decent.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $39.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Yeah, 4GB is much better than 2GB for gaming. Read this:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/07/08/is-more-memory-better/5

Okay just for sure, this is the readout, going to purchase this pretty soon (+22 " monitor suggested to me).. Any last minute objections or suggestions before I do!? Thanks again guys you're amazing.



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103649 AM3 X3 720 $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128387 Giga 790X $110 (xfire)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231209 G.Skill PI Black DDR2 800 $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 83%3A20729 1GB 4870 $200 - $30MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136152 LG DVD Burner $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319 WD 640GB AALS $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139005 CORSAIR 650TX $95 - $25MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137 CM 690 $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186020 Artic MX-2 Thermal Compound $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003 Xigma $37 - $10MIR (AMD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6812887001 6pin adapters $3 x2

Looks good.

You don't have to buy the 6pin adapters yet. Only when/if you buy the second video card. Also, you might even get them for free with the first video card, depending on who made it. Wait and see what you get in the box.

Your processor has a few good combo deals you can take advantage of.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... CPU + Biostar 790GX motherboard. The advantage of it is that you save $50 + $10MIR. You get onboard video which is good for a back up/trouble shooting and when you done with the board it can transition into a HTPC, but the Biostar brand name isn't as stong as the Gigabyte and the board layout will leave you with only access to 1 PCI slot, which depending on your use is fine since the only things that go in PCI slots now a days are Wi-fi cards, sound cards and tv tuner cards. If you don't use more that two of those then its a good fit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... CPU + 512MB 4870. You save $70. The 1GB 4870 is generally at most going to be 10% faster. http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3415&p=1 Benchmarks

Out of the two deals, I'd recommend taking the 512MB 4870 combo.

I know I used arctic sliver on my laptops gfx cards, what is it intended to go on in this build? everything? lol  

The only thing you'll use it on the is the CPU cooler.

Here's a guide for the arctic silver 5:
http://www.arcticsilver.com/ins_route_step2amdas5.html