RSaylinson

Distinguished
Mar 30, 2009
1
0
18,510
Hello, ladies and gentlemen.

I recently built a $1200 i7 rig for myself and I must say that I'm incredible pleased with it. However, now I'm in a situation where my girlfriends wants me to build a computer for myself. With i7 on the brain, I'm having a hard time putting together the hardware to build a rig for her that isn't as costly as mine.

That probably sounds bad, but let me explain.

She wants to run games much like myself, but she isn't an avid gamer. That said, I'd like to build her a gaming rig that focuses a lot on over multimedia as well. She loves to download quite a bit of music and videos, so I have to keep that in mind.

That said, I'm look at a budget somewhere between $800-$900 and I'd really like to go for a Quad-core processor, but I'm willing to part ways with that idea if I absolutely have to. There isn't an AMD/Intel preference. Whatever fits better into the budget. What do you think?
 

MykC

Distinguished
Nov 24, 2008
480
0
18,780
Between a computer for multimedia and gaming, the components that will change the most are the GPU and PSU, followed by CPU and Motherboard.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.165025 AMD Phenom II 720 and Biostar 790GX $185 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184 2x2GB Corsair DDR2 800 $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=48&Description=&Type=&N=2010380048&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&OEMMark=0&PropertyCodeValue=679%3A40678&PropertyCodeValue=683%3A20729 1GB 4870 $170 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 LG DVD Burner $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 WD 640GB AALS $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 CORSAIR 650TX $70 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 Antec 300 case $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 Artic MX-2 Thermal Compound $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003 Xigma $37 - $10MIR (AMD)

$654 after MIR

I don't know if you want a monitor, keybaord, etc. But you can add those on.

You can upgrade the GPU or downgrade depending on what you need.
The CPU can be upgraded to a Phenom II 940BE for $75.
The case can be upgraded to a CM RC-690, for a bigger case, better airflow, tooless interior, heavy.
Upgraded the ram to G.SKill back for $25. Better timings.
 
:bounce:

If you really love here you will build her an i7 rig. :p

This rig is ready to over clock not to mention that cpu fan comes with MX-2 compound... btw, this build includes a monitor.

http://cmstore.coolermaster-usa.com/product_info.php?products_id=109 $45.99
CM 690 Black SECC/ATX Mid Tower, W/O window, W/O PSU - Refurbished

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-750w-tx-series-80-plus-certified-power-supply-corsair-tx-cmpsu/q/loc/101/206178325.html $99.99 Price After Rebate(s): $79.99 Shipping: FREE
Corsair TX CMPSU-750TX ATX12V & EPS12V Power Supply

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-X58PRO $187.99 after rebate: $167.99
MSI X58 ProO Core i7/ Intel X58/ DDR3/ CrossFireX/ A&2GbE/ ATX Motherboard

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

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-XTREM2 $32.64
Arctic Cooling Freezer XTREMERev 2 CPU Fan

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121288 $164.99 ($134.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate)
ASUS EAH4870 DK TOP/HTDI/512MD5 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247 $94.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL 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=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=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=N82E16832116488 $99.99 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254038 $159.99
Hanns·G HW-220DPB Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 3000:1 Built in Speakers - Retail

Total $1,257.54 *$1,187.54 w/rebates *(not including shipping)
 

MykC

Distinguished
Nov 24, 2008
480
0
18,780
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121288 $164.99 ($134.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate)
ASUS EAH4870 DK TOP/HTDI/512MD5 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

This is a really good price on the videocard if you want to save money on the GPU.
 
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=CA-ANTE300 $48.45
Antec Three Hundred No PS Mid Tower Gamer Case (Black)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022 $74.99 ($59.99 after $15.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359 $114.99 ($99.99 after $15.00 Mail-In Rebate)
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
2 oz copper PCB + Easy Tune 6 for OC

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=Q8300 $187.99 Free Ground Shipping
Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q8300 2.5GHz 1333MHz 4MB LGA775 CPU, OEM

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-LBU1 $28.99
Cooler Master Hyper Z600 RR-600-LBU1-GP CPU Cooler

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468 $129.99
EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231192 $44.99
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - 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 $22.99 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=N82E16832116488 $99.99 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM

Total: $833.36 *(not including shipping and rebates)