Trying to build a gaming rig for $2,000

[scyence]

So, I haven't built a new system in several years now, and I think it's about time I replace my P4 clunker (which has been pretty reliable up until recently)

I have about 2k to spend, so i'd like to build a gaming machine that will let me play Counter Strike Source, Left 4 Dead, and both S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games.

I've been reading alot about the i7's, so I think I want to go with that.

I already have an OS for the machine (Vista64 license from my old employer). I would need a monitor as well.

Any suggestions would be awesome. Thanks in advance =]

 

[scyence]

Oh, I also would like to be able to do some Photoshop and Premiere as well. Just thought i'd mention that.

 

[sassan]

Oh, I also would like to be able to do some Photoshop and Premiere as well. Just thought i'd mention that.

I to upgraded from P4 take a look at this list:

CPU
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail $288.99

Motherboard
ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $289.99

Combo deal for the motherboard and the cpu here you save $25 therefore
Combo Price: $553.98

RAM:
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK - Retail $94.99

Hard Drive:
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $69.99


CPU Cooler:
Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 120mm SSO CPU Cooler - Retail $76.99

Power Supply:
SILVERSTONE ELEMENT ST75EF 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail $124.99 (109.99 mail in rebate)

GPU:
BFG Tech BFGEGTX260MC896OCE GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $178.99

Case:
Antec Nine Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $159.99

Total before monitor: $1259.92

If you want to get a monitor look into this:
Acer H243Hbmid 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 40000:1 Max (ACM) Built in Speakers - Retail $259.99

Your total with monitor: $1519.91

If you want to spend less then we can get rid of the cpu cooler or get a cheaper one like Mugen 2 or the CMV8

For case we can also look at the cooler master 690 or the antec 900 or even the antec 300

You can also upgrade the gpu and the cpu to these two, I just didn't added up there because of your budget before the monitor and I'm not sure if your budget includes shipping and tax.


GPU:
BFG Tech BFGEGTX2851024OCPE GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $329.99

PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail $149.99

Your new total before monitor: $1435.92

And I recommend this for your monitor:
Acer H243Hbmid 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 40000:1 Max (ACM) Built in Speakers - Retail $259.99

Your total with monitor: $1695.91

 

[Jack64]

Very nice Sassan, add a couple of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 wd black 640 gig hdds
And one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001275 Samsung T240Rose
and some of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365 OCZ Gold 6 gig

Should bring the price up to about 1700-1800

 

[sassan]

Very nice Sassan, add a couple of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 wd black 640 gig hdds
And one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001275 Samsung T240Rose
and some of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365 OCZ Gold 6 gig

Should bring the price up to about 1700-1800

yea I forgot about those, I added them then I saw that. BTW nice monitor. If he wants to go with a 24 inch with 1920 x 1200 resolution then I think he should go with the gtx 285 don't you think?
The he needs to change that PSU with the 850 wat

This asus monitor has a faster response time 2ms and it's 24inch and the contrast ratio is the same,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009167 cheaper

 

[Jack64]

Yes, I agree, the asus would be nice!

 

[philipV]

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039
$300

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224c
$170

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
$290

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801
$190

Case & PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.178139
$300

Cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207004
$40

Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152102
$100


I say get the monitor at a store near you, much easier and usually cheaper. Also you might want to crossfire 2 graphics card and overclock that i7.

 

[scyence]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I'm gonna order my parts pretty soon, but just had one more question. I've seen a lot of people talk about Windows 7 beta these days. Is the most recent beta usable as a primary OS (especially when doing gaming or video editing) or should I just stick with Vista?

 

[sassan]

I used windows 7 initially but it wasnt compatible with my wireless whenever I used to download at maximum speed.

It works with 90% of the apps, give it a try it's faster then windows xp and vista

 

[philipV]

Heres a revision of my previous post:

GPU - Sapphire 4890 OC Edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102831
$250

CPU - i7 920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
$290

Monitor - Acer H243Hbmid 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009167
$250

CPU Cooler - Noctua NH-U12P SE1366
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608007
$80

Compound - Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound (12g)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100008
$18

RAM - OCZ DDR3 1600 6GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381
$90

Hard Drive - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152102
$90

Case - Antec Twelve Hundred
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043&
$160

PSU - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
$120

Motherboard - ASUS P6T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359
$250


Total - 1.6k


Well if you want you can CF that 4890, but I recommend waiting for the 1GHz versions to come out, get the OC version of that and then CF them for an insanely powerful CF set up. Will beat the GTX 285 SLI anyway. I still think it's better to pick up a monitor at a store though.

I wouldn't go for Windows 7, get Windows Vista Home Premium (pretty much the same as ultimate for $100):
Windows Vista Home Premium for System Builders
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

 

[Why_Me]

Here's a build w/monitor (1920 x 1200) that also includes two gtx 285's running in SLI. This build is also set up to over clock.

Make sure you flash to the latest bios with this mobo and then dl the latest drivers for it.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/gigabyte-nvidia-sli-motherboard,7463.html <--- Gigabyte: Enable SLI On X58 Boards

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-275,2266.html <---vid card benchmarks gtx 285, 275, 4890, 260, 4870, etc..

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=1665&product_id=2882 <--- more pics and specs of the case used in this build.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119194 $159.99 ($139.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
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 $144.99 ($119.99 after $25.00 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.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-EX58U3R $179.99 | $164.99 after rebate
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R Core i7/ Intel X58/ DDR3/ CrossFireX/ A&GbE/ 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.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029 $39.99 Free Shipping*
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154003 $4.99
Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130480 $329.99 ($299.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
EVGA 01G-P3-1180-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Free Cryostasis game w/ registration at manufacturer website

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130480 $329.99 ($299.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
EVGA 01G-P3-1180-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Free Cryostasis game w/ registration at manufacturer website

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=N82E16822136319 $74.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171 $24.99 Free Shipping*
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X 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 Burner - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236033 $269.99 ($249.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
ASUS MK241H Black 24" 2ms HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor with 1.3M Pixel Webcam 450 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 3000:1) Built in Speakers - Retail
$20 off w/ promo code LCD05ACE, ends 5/25

Total: $1,920.88 | $1,780.88 w/mail in rebates

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx?ITPID=mscomsc <---Save yourself some money on an o/s and dl the 64 bit version of Windows 7

 

[philipV]

Save some money and go with two 4890s (OC'd) instead of the GTX 285. Here is a review on two 4890s in crossfire versus two GTX 285s in sli. While the 4890 is NOT overclocked.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gtx285sli-hd4890cf.html
In total the 4890 CF only loses to the GTX 285 in one review. Is $200 (2 cards) worth a few frames per second extra? And that is when the 4890 isn't overclocked. Look at this anandtech post, they overclock the 4890 and it ends up beating the gtx 285.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3555
Oh and if you get the 1GHz version of the 4890, it will automatically beat the gtx 285 without any overclocking (the 1GHz version still gives room for even more overclocking, btw)