First Gaming Rig Build

[jonny76]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within the next month BUDGET RANGE: $800-$1100 USD

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming-Movies

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, Monitors

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Tigerdirect.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: Will only use Intel processors, fast RAM, fast HD

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes (SLI)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Primary monitor 2560x1600 Secondary monitor 1024x768

PARTS CHOSEN THUS FAR:

-CASE: CoolerMaster CM690 Nvidia Ed. ATX Case SLI Ready
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4177133&sku=C283-1189

-MOBO- XFX nForce 750i SLI Extreme Motherboard - NVIDIA nForce 750i, 45nm Support, Socket 775, ATX, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Ready, Gigabit LAN, S/PDIF, USB 2.0, Firewire, Serial ATA, RAID
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4316659&sku=P450-9124

PSU: Corsair TX650W 650-Watt Power Supply - ATX, 120mm Fan, SLI-Ready, SATA-Ready, 80Plus
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3438607&sku=C13-2502

CPU- Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Processor BX80571E7400 - 2.80GHz, 3MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB, Wolfdale-3M, Dual-Core, Retail, Socket 775
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4256897&sku=CP1-DUO-E7400

GPU- XFX GeForce 9800 GT Video Card - 512MB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, (2) Dual Link DVI, HDTV, VGA Support
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4209965&sku=P450-9830

RAM- OCZ Dual Channel Platinum 4096MB PC8500 DDR2 1066MHz Memory (2 x 2048MB)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3803377&sku=O261-8094

HD- Western Digital WD5000AAKS Caviar Blue Hard Drive - 500GB, 7200rpm, 16MB, SATA-300, OEM
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2795126&sku=TSD-500AAKS

CD Drive- Sony DRUV200A/BR DVD/CD Rewritable IDE Retail Drive
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4087352&sku=S167-4522

OS- Windows Vista Home Prem 64-bit DSP OEM DVD
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2864283&sku=M17-7414

Thanks for your comments on this build.

 

[smithereen]

Why will you only use Intel processors and TigerDirect? Just asking...

I would strongly suggest you switch to a p45 motherboard and a HD4850, the 750i chipset is a POS. If you insist, this GTS 250 is better than the 9800GT you posted. You could cut costs by buying from ewiz and newegg.

 

[drunknmunkys]

GPU- XFX GeForce 9800 GT Video Card - 512MB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, (2) Dual Link DVI, HDTV, VGA Support
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4209965&sku=P450-9830

HD- Western Digital WD5000AAKS Caviar Blue Hard Drive - 500GB, 7200rpm, 16MB, SATA-300, OEM
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2795126&sku=TSD-500AAKS

OS- Windows Vista Home Prem 64-bit DSP OEM DVD
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2864283&sku=M17-7414

Thanks for your comments on this build.

If you're gaming at 26x16 youre going to need a lot more than a 9800gt. Take a look at this guide on GPUs. Drop Vista, use Windows 7 RC and get yourself a good GPU. I'd also switch out the WD 500Gb blue for a WD 640Gb black.

If you're going to stick with DDR2 this ram is cheaper.

 

[drunknmunkys]

Why will you only use Intel processors and TigerDirect? Just asking...

I would strongly suggest you switch to a p45 motherboard and a HD4850, the 750i chipset is a POS. If you insist, this GTS 250 is better than the 9800GT you posted. You could cut costs by buying from ewiz and newegg.

Agreed. With that budget you want a HD4850 at least or the nvidea equivalent.

 

[jonny76]

Why will you only use Intel processors and TigerDirect? Just asking...

I would strongly suggest you switch to a p45 motherboard and a HD4850, the 750i chipset is a POS. If you insist, this GTS 250 is better than the 9800GT you posted. You could cut costs by buying from ewiz and newegg.

Ive read many reviews that say AMD procsessors just dont stack up performance-wise with Intel processors.
Only reason I stick with Tiger is because I just have always used them and like them.

 

[jonny76]

Oh and thanks for the advice on the GPU..better card at the same price is nice

 

[thaoval]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157143 ~ P45 mobo $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115055 ~ E8200 ~ $160


with $$ saved form your OS, using windows 7... get a GTX 250 or higher.. or even a sound card

 

[jonny76]

Why will you only use Intel processors and TigerDirect? Just asking...

I would strongly suggest you switch to a p45 motherboard and a HD4850, the 750i chipset is a POS. If you insist, this GTS 250 is better than the 9800GT you posted. You could cut costs by buying from ewiz and newegg.

Can you link a mobo you think I would be better off with?

 

[jonny76]

If you're gaming at 26x16 youre going to need a lot more than a 9800gt. Take a look at this guide on GPUs. Drop Vista, use Windows 7 RC and get yourself a good GPU. I'd also switch out the WD 500Gb blue for a WD 640Gb black.

If you're going to stick with DDR2 this ram is cheaper.

I currently use a Dell XPS 400 (crap I know) and I use a BFG GeForce 8800 GTS, and it runs the 2560x1600 res quite well. I most often play WoW with the settings on High and I get about 50fps in Dalaran at its busiest times. I did add some RAM to my current system in the hopes that it would increase my framerate as WoW is a RAM intensive game. I want to build a new system for the experience and also to increase the framerates even more.

I skimmed over the guide you linked, thanks for doing that.

What does "RC" mean after Windows 7, and is this a stable OS?

 

[drunknmunkys]

WoW can run on high settings on an Apple I, its not the most demanding of games. If that's all youre going to play you don't need to upgrade. If you're going to play any modern games, you will.

RC stands for Release Candidate. It's not beta anymore, its pretty much the retail OS and it's free until June 1, 2010. I'm running it along with half this forum, and I haven't heard anybody having any problems that aren't caused by user error.

 

[smithereen]

Jonny

Respectfully, anyone giving advice on this forum has read as many reviews as you have. It's an unarguable point that Intel makes higher-performing processors than AMD does. It's also an unarguable point that AMD makes many processors at least as powerful for the price as Intel does in many price segments. Like yours. You are usually better off posting a budget and uses, and letting the forumites go to work.

Also, Newegg usually offers the best deals, and always has the best customer support.

Here are a couple builds.

Phenom II 720 & ASUS AM3 790GX $260 $15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.190879
+20+3
4GB OCZ Platinum DDR3-1600 $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227447

750W PCPAC PSU $110 -$20 MIR, $10 more if you don't want the ugly red one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011

Antec 900 $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

WD Caviar Black 1TB - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Sony Opteric - $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118032

HIS HD4890 - $220, $20 MIR.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161276

or if you want the good warrenty and HAWX:
XFX HD4890 $270, $20 MIR, HAWX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150360

Dark Knight - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

OR Core Contact Freezer - $30 -$10 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207004

Total ~ $950 before rebates

Better overall system, with 4GB DDR3, a triple-core Deneb black edition processor, and an HD4890. The PH2 720 will perform better than the Core 2 in games, and much better in multithreaded applications. The HD4890 is better than the GTX260. If you want to spend more of your budget, you could upgrade to a Phenom II 955, an HD4850X2, or Crossfire 4870s.

Alternate Builds.

nVidia build:

as above, but

Phenom II 720 and ASUS 980a, $290
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.198677

4GB DDR2-1066 $60, $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227298

Cooler Master NV-690, if you insist, same price
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119157

eVGA GTX 275, $265, $20 MIR, Cryostasis, Call of Duty, World at War
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130478

$60 more than HD4890 build, more expensive motherboard of similar quality, more expensive graphicas card of superior quality.

Crossfire Buld

As above, but
2X Sapphire HD4870 1GB, $380, $15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801

I'll let Why_Me post the i7 build.

At your resolution, 2GB of video memory would really help you. I'd go with the HD4870s.

 

[drunknmunkys]

^+1. That pretty much wraps it up. Pick you're allegiances and go for it.

 

[smithereen]

Additional Point: If you have the money, upgrade the first build to a Phenom II 955 - $255
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674&Tpk=Phenom%20II%20955

Or the second build to a Phenom II 940 - $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471