New build $2000 budget

angrydw4rf

Distinguished
May 17, 2009
1
0
18,510
OK, I've got $2000 to build a new PC, with a focus on gaming

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ASAP, as soon as I figure out the parts I want

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Linux stuff (development, screwing around)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, mouse, screen, speakers.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Whatever is cheapest and won't rip me off.

PARTS PREFERENCES: Prefer a full case, and parts that have strong Linux support.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024, however this is probobly my next upgrade, so I guess that should be considered for video cards, etc.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I could care less about fancy lights, windows, or any of that crap. Functionality is key
 

tidefan94

Distinguished
May 6, 2009
86
0
18,640
First: I really don't know anything about Linux, so I have no clue how well this will work for Linux, but heres a $2000 gaming PC
I'm assuming you already got Vista or are just waiting for Windows 7 (use RC 1 now) (plus i know you're going to use Linux some of the time)
I'm going to use newegg for the parts because they are amazing.

In the end I really tried to push upwards towards $2000 (I even through in a second graphics card, and gave you a CPU cooler, because you said you might want to OC) but in the end it came to around $1700

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131386
This is Crossfire only, but since we are using 4890's it wouldn't be a problem (if you want Nvidia just switch)

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
This is an amazing/future proof processor, and I hear it's really overclockable, so that why I threw in the cooler

CPU cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118223
It seems solid, and is getting amazing reviews

GFX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150368
I threw in two of these because you have the budget to spare (obviously this would be a good place to cut down) but for the price ATI delivers ridiculous cards.

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043
You said full case so I'm guessing you meant full tower, but Antec always makes amazing cases, that keep your system decently cool

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224
This is a lot of RAM, and is very solid (plus it works with i7)

DVD/CD Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171
Might as well have burning

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
Corsair makes really solid PSU's and 750w is more than enough to sustain any upgrades you may get

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136313
WD makes really solid drives, and 1 TB is a lot of room (plus you can always upgrade)
 
Here's a build w/monitor that also includes two gtx 285's running in SLI. gtx 285's in SLI > 4890's Crossfired. btw you can turn down or even turn off the bue LED's with the adjustable control knob on the outside of the case if they are too bright / too flashy for you. This build is also set up to over clock like a champ! :)

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=N82E16822136284 $99.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - 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: $1,945.88 | $1,795.88 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 :)