Building awesome gaming pc under AU$2,000

[JDogg]

Hi guys!, I have NEVER built a pc before so I would really appreciate your help.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Next week

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies, photoshop, sony vegas

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, Optical drive, hard drives

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: msy.com.au, centrecom.com.au

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel CPU, Nvidia GPU

OVERCLOCKING: Not for the first few months, in future maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: In the future, the MOBO im looking at has 2x PCIE slots so I can do it later.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1440x900

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Doesn't need to be quite, I want the best stuff, on a budget .

Here's the parts list I've been working on.
1GB GTX 285 ASUS(GPU)
Q9650(CPU)
ASUS U-65GA 650W(PSU)
Antec 900(CASE)
ASUS P5Q3 DDR3(MOBO)
Corsair DDR3 4GB(RAM)
Which comes to about $1,700(AUSTRALIAN), prices are from my local pc shop. I like the CPU and GPU choice, I've heard that Corsair ram is good, but everything else I'm not too sure about.

 

[tidefan94]

This looks really good, but makes sure you add a hard drive, and an optical drive.

All the manufacturers you picked are really solid.

 

[JDogg]

This looks really good, but makes sure you add a hard drive, and an optical drive.

All the manufacturers you picked are really solid.

I forgot to add those to PARTS NOT REQUIRED, but I already have an optical drive, and a few hard drives. I'm glad my setup is good , just a question tho, will the graphics card fit inside the Antec 900?. And just to make sure does the ASUS P5Q3 DDR3 support SLI?

 

[JDogg]

Is i7 worth it?
1GB GTX 285 ASUS:$559 MSY
Intel Core i7 920:$441 MSY
ASUS U-65GA 650W:$169 MSY
Antec 900:$193 MSY
ASUS P6T-SE:$319 MSY
Corsair DDR3 4GB:$115 centrecom

Total:$1 796
Will I get a noticeably more powerful machine if I get the i7 920?

 

[Outlander_04]

definitely go with i7 since its in your budget .

Probably worth installing a 3 x2 gb memory kit . i7 can use triple channel ram

 

[Helloworld_98]

^ and you get a slightly more future resistant PC.

edit: you'll also want a 750w PSU if you plan to SLI later.

 

[JDogg]

Corsair DDR3 4GB:$115 centrecom
Thats the ram kit, I would think about doing SLI, but I've heard that the Antec 900 can be a tight fit for SLI.

 

[Helloworld_98]

It will do fine for two cards, but if you want it to be less of a tight fit then get a CM 690.

 

[JDogg]

It will do fine for two cards, but if you want it to be less of a tight fit then get a CM 690.

As long as I can FIT it in there with out too much problems I'm fine with it, and I like the look of the Antec more tbh.
My current parts list is:

1GB GTX 285 ASUS:$559 MSY
Intel Core i7 920:$441 MSY
ASUS U-75HA 750W:$209 MSY
Antec 900:$193 MSY
G-B EX58 UD3R:$309 MSY
Corsair DDR3 4GB:$115 centrecom

Total:$1,826

I don't think I will be revising it, unless too replace the parts with something cheaper, what do you guys think?, do all these parts work well with each other?.

 

[Helloworld_98]

yeah but I'm not sure on that PSU, try the PCP&C or Corsair 750w.

and Tri-channel will give you more memory. Not to forget that there might be i7 price cuts around i5's release so you might be able to save some $ if you wait.

 

[JDogg]

yeah but I'm not sure on that PSU, try the PCP&C or Corsair 750w.

and Tri-channel will give you more memory. Not to forget that there might be i7 price cuts around i5's release so you might be able to save some $ if you wait.

I can't wait, because I'm a Student, the government is giving back half the money, but the dead line is about a week.

 

[croc]

I can't wait, because I'm a Student, the government is giving back half the money, but the dead line is about a week.

Tri-channel memory needs three modules, not two, or you fall back to dual channel mode. Just thought I'd mention that since no one else seems to have caught that. I frequently find that itestate.com.au is cheaper on some things than msy, but then there is shipping, etc. Of course the two buses that I have to take to get to msy counts as shipping for me, so...

 

[JDogg]

Tri-channel memory needs three modules, not two, or you fall back to dual channel mode. Just thought I'd mention that since no one else seems to have caught that. I frequently find that itestate.com.au is cheaper on some things than msy, but then there is shipping, etc. Of course the two buses that I have to take to get to msy counts as shipping for me, so...

Thanks for the info, and yeah getting to MSY can be a hassle. Here's a site you might not know about http://staticice.com.au/.

 

[micky_lund]

JDogg: you need to get 3x ddr3 memory: either 3x1gb ddr3, 3x2gb, or 3x4gb (dunno y the last one), cause otherwise the voltages on them will be too high for the i7, as it needs under 1.65V, and ur memory will have around 2V+.
from www.centrecom.com.au:
---------------------
1333mhz
3x 1gb corsair 1333mhz cl9 $91.30
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?keywords=3gb%20ddr3&products_id=35314

3x 2gb corsair 1333mhz cl9 $152.91
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?keywords=6gb%20ddr3&products_id=35313

----------------------
or at 1600mhz
3x 1gb corsair 1600mhz cl9 $105.60
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?keywords=3gb%20ddr3&products_id=35594

3x 2gb corsair 1600mhz cl9 $198.00
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?keywords=6gb%20ddr3&products_id=35593

also, theres heaps of other brands, but stick with kingston or corsair (IMO)

 

[JDogg]

JDogg: you need to get 3x ddr3 memory: either 3x1gb ddr3, 3x2gb, or 3x4gb (dunno y the last one), cause otherwise the voltages on them will be too high for the i7, as it needs under 1.65V, and ur memory will have around 2V+.
from www.centrecom.com.au:
---------------------
1333mhz
3x 1gb corsair 1333mhz cl9 $91.30
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?keywords=3gb%20ddr3&products_id=35314

3x 2gb corsair 1333mhz cl9 $152.91
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?keywords=6gb%20ddr3&products_id=35313

----------------------
or at 1600mhz
3x 1gb corsair 1600mhz cl9 $105.60
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?keywords=3gb%20ddr3&products_id=35594

3x 2gb corsair 1600mhz cl9 $198.00
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?keywords=6gb%20ddr3&products_id=35593

also, theres heaps of other brands, but stick with kingston or corsair (IMO)

Cheers!, I really appreciate you putting time into helping me out. I think the 1333mhz
3x 1gb corsair 1333mhz cl9 $91.30
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?keywords=3gb%20ddr3&products_id=35314 should be fine, I use Windows XP Pro 32bit, and I'm not planning on upgrading 'till Windows 7, so 3gb of memory is the most I can have anyway.

1GB GTX 285 ASUS:$559 MSY
Intel Core i7 920:$441 MSY
Corsair TX-750 750W ATX Power Supply:$239 Centrecom
Antec 900:$193 MSY
G-B EX58 UD3R:$309 MSY
Corsair DDR3 3GB PC-10600/1333 (3 x XMS3 1GB) TR3X3G1333C9 Ram:$91 centrecom

Total:$1,832

I'm not sure if that MOBO is any good, can someone please help me out with that, I'm already pretty over budget hehe, I'll see if my dad will let me make the budget up to 2,000, that should give me some better choices for the Mobo(I just picked the cheapest), btw Helloworld_98, do you have the Corsair 750W or have you just read reviews about it?. One more question guys, 1GB GTX 285 Inno3D /Gainward /Gigabyte /ASUS-515/515/529/559
I have no idea which brand is the best, anyone have personal experience, good or bad, or read good reviews on any of these cards?.
EDIT:Is 750W overkill?, or maybe not enough, should I go for the 850W?.

 

[micky_lund]

750W corsair will be good, even if u want to add another gtx285 in sli. and if u dont want the 'enhanced' audio or 3x sli (from the next gigabyte motherboard up, the giga ex58 ud4), the motherboard u have is good (stay with the 1 u have, uinless u want 3 GPU, then ull need a bigger PSU anyway)

and even if u want to OC the i7 920, the 750W will still cover it, and the MB is good enough as well


so my recommendation is that u get:
corsair 750tx $239
G-B EX58 UD3R $309
and overclock it

 

[JDogg]

750W corsair will be good, even if u want to add another gtx285 in sli. and if u dont want the 'enhanced' audio or 3x sli (from the next gigabyte motherboard up, the giga ex58 ud4), the motherboard u have is good (stay with the 1 u have, uinless u want 3 GPU, then ull need a bigger PSU anyway)

and even if u want to OC the i7 920, the 750W will still cover it, and the MB is good enough as well


so my recommendation is that u get:
corsair 750tx $239
G-B EX58 UD3R $309
and overclock it

Awesome!, I'm not interested in 3 way SLI, 2 way SLI possibly, not for a LOONG time hehe, off topic question, does 2x SLI with the GTX 285 increase performance by much?, anyway I think I'm all set now I have the a-ok for the MOBO, thanks.

 

[micky_lund]

as ur going with the INITIAL g-b ud3r mobo, get the corsair 750tx, and it wont matter if u do add another gtx 285 later...
dunno bout the increase of sli, im ati with gpu atm

also, if u haven't purchased yet, www.mwave.com.au and www.umart.com.au are also good. the latter better for components (ram/cpu/gpu) and the former for cases/monitors

 

[JDogg]

as ur going with the INITIAL g-b ud3r mobo, get the corsair 750tx, and it wont matter if u do add another gtx 285 later...
dunno bout the increase of sli, im ati with gpu atm

also, if u haven't purchased yet, www.mwave.com.au and www.umart.com.au are also good. the latter better for components (ram/cpu/gpu) and the former for cases/monitors

Thanks, I haven't purchased yet, but I'm running out of time, so I need to find the best prices soon, and avoid ebay etc, need a receipt and stuff.

 

[micky_lund]

yeah.... im in aus too... u get up to 1.5k back, as long as its half or less of the original

 

[JDogg]

yeah.... im in aus too... u get up to 1.5k back, as long as its half or less of the original

A fellow Aussie . A new question, ram speeds, 1333mhz or 1600mhz, the price difference is only 14 dollars.
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?keywords=Corsair%20DDR%203gb&products_id=35314
vs
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?keywords=Corsair%20DDR%203gb&products_id=35594
btw wtf is so good about this ram haha http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=115_23&products_id=38261. Thanks alot guys, it really helps.

 

[micky_lund]

who cares about ram costing 1000+ aud... umm... are u just doing gaming? or what? and are you gonna OC the processor? i need to know b4 i can answer fully

 

[JDogg]

who cares about ram costing 1000+ aud... umm... are u just doing gaming? or what? and are you gonna OC the processor? i need to know b4 i can answer fully

Mostly gaming, internet browsing etc, light use basically, occasionally I use Photoshop, Sony vegas and things like that, but mostly gaming. I am planning to OC my CPU eventually, I aim to reach 3.0 ghz, the speed of the Q9650 which was my first choice in CPU , btw, do you have some form of IM we can chat on?, Gtalk, Xfire, msn etc, it would make things easier I think.

 

[micky_lund]

i have msn... but how do i PM you? if u can pm me, we can talk tomorrow... if ur going for over 3.3ghz, get the 1600mhz, but if ur going for 3.3ghz AND lower, keep the 1333mhz ram

PM me if u can

 

[JDogg]

i have msn... but how do i PM you? if u can pm me, we can talk tomorrow... if ur going for over 3.3ghz, get the 1600mhz, but if ur going for 3.3ghz AND lower, keep the 1333mhz ram

PM me if u can

Well, if I go over 3.3ghz would I need better than stock cooling?, I'm assuming yes, if so, probably not, unless there are HUGE performance increases if I OC that much I have no reason to go that far, but its only 14 dollars, so why not keep my options open and get the 1600?