$1000 Bang4Buck desktop for a friend

[rohani]

My bud asked me to build him a pc for $1000. This would need to include the monitor also (pref 1900xwhatever). I wouldn't bother with putting in an i7 due to the budget, so Im thinking either a core2quad or on of the new phenII amd's. He's big on multitasking and gaming. And due to his itunes/video/porn directory, a huge harddrive would be great also. I'm currious to see what you guys come up with.

As always... Thanks for the incredible help in the past. I can't think of a time I've asked this community a question and not recieved the perfect answer!

Ryan

 

[aevm]

Let's start with the fixed parts:

Monitor $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049
Vista Home Premium 64-bit OEM $100
RC-690 case $75
WD1001FALS 1TB $105

So far it's $550. You're left with $450 for GPU/CPU/PSU/MB/RAM. Obviously it's not possible to buy all that for $450 and actually get a good enough GPU for 1920x1200. I'd suggest getting a MB with integrated graphics for now. Then you can get a good CPU and a reliable PSU. The GPU(s) would have to be added later when your friend has saved more money.

 

[aevm]

Let's say $100 for a Corsair 750TX and about $50 for 2x2GB DDR2 (or DDR3, depending on the MB you choose). That leaves $300 for CPU+MB, and the MB has to have integrated video (and preferably SLI or Crossfire too).

There's a combo here for $278:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.182255
AMD Phenom II X4 920 2.8GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core
GIGABYTE GA-MA790GP-UD4H AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX

That just about consumes all the budget. The problem with this build is obviously that it will only work for older games, as is. However, when your friend has saved another $230 he can add a HD 4890 and his games will work really well, at least at 1680x1050. Later he can add a second HD 4890 too and start playing all games with maxed eye candy at 1920x1200.

Alternatively, something like Q9550 + GA-EP45-UD3P would work well too. That's a faster CPU, but the combo costs about $100 more. It would also require you to buy the first video card right away because that UD3P doesn't have integrated graphics.

 

[rohani]

Well lets count on 1680x1080 insted of the 1920xwhatev

 

[Helloworld_98]

he might have to go for Win7 RC to save money and get the better graphics card.

 

[aevm]

Right. With $100 saved from Windows you can buy a pretty decent graphics card. There's the brand new HD 4770 for example.

 

[dirtmountain]

Reasonable AMD 2 quad system

Case/cpu combo - coolermaster 690/Phenom2 920-$214
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.182787

Motherboard/OS combo - Gigabyte 790x/Vista premium 64 -$185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.185550

RAM - DDR2 1066 $59
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

PSU - 550w BFG LS - $60 after rebate, enough to CF the 4770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817702008

GPU - 4770 $100 after rebate, 3yr warranty
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161279

Monitor - LG 22" 1680x1050 - $209 with code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005109

HD - WD black 1TB - $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Burner $23
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

close to the $1,000 budget counting the $20 code and shipping

as always with newegg, prices change quickly, combo deals stop, some items may sell out.

 

[aevm]

+1 ^^


I can't believe they're giving the CoolerMaster 690 for $75 - $50 (combo discount) and with free shipping. Some retailers charge more than $25 just to ship a case

 

[rohani]

This is what my friend came up with. Is this any better or worse than what you guys came up with?

Case:Antec 300 $60
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 2.66 GHz $220
CPU Cooler: not sure $30-100
Video Card: Sapphire 100259-1GL Radeon 4870 1GB 256 bit ($190 - Included in combo price below)
Power Supply: Cooler Master RS-700 AMBA-D3 700W $280(combo price for video card and power supply) not sure what it costs seperately)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3?(6 or b cant read my handwriting lol) LGA Intel P45 ATX Intel Mother Board $99
Hard Drive: Western Digital Cavier Black 500GB 32MB cache $65
Memory: A. Data 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-pin DDR2 SDRAM $42
CD/DVD Drive: Samsung 22x DVD+-RModel SH-S222A-OEM $23
OS: Widows VIsta Home ($90-100)
Monitor: Acer 19" widescreen LCD $100
Keyboard: whatever $20-40

 

[Transmaniacon]

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137&Tpk=rc690 - 75

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650tx - 90

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359 - 100

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037&Tpk=e8400 - 170

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209&Tpk=pi%20black - 55

HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 - 75

OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 - 100

Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009157 - 180

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102810 - 150

Total: $995

Edit: Forgot Optical Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173 - 25

Total: $1020

 

[Helloworld_98]

e8xxx? really? not now mate, if it was December/January I would have agreed but it's overpriced now, and will be even more if they don't put the price down when the am3 phenom duals come out.

go with dirtmountain's build but just get the motherboard by itself and use the Win7 RC.