Need Help with Building my own Homebuilt Gaming System

Does the budget include OS? What OS do you plan to use? 64 bit?
Is there a special reason you prefer AMD processors? In your budget range I would recommend Intel.

Just for informational purposes and ideas, have you looked at the $1300 model gaming build by THG?

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-sff,2312.ht...

Or more closely to your budget, this $800 Killer Gaming PC from ExtremeTech:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2347620,00.a...

Note that the latter is based on an Intel CPU. Since the $800 does not include a monitor, it actually might be fairly close to your budget range, hopefully with a little left over to upgrade the CPU from the one they selected.

No to the case go with this instead http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

monitor this is better http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

1T, is it a storage build? because unless you planing to download the whole internet you dont need it, i recomend this better http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... its has 2 320 plates making it quite fast

PSU i like this one better http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

as for the cpu combo i rather chose this http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...

Subtotal: $1,012.92
$1,022.97

For the video card, you might want to consider the HIS 4870 IceQ Turbo which I beleive is a better card and, at the moment, is $145 AR of $20 - or $5 less than your choice. Hopefully it might be on sale in October.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

According to this review, it is best in class and they called it the "crème de la crème of 4870 series cards". “There really is no 4870 that we've seen or tested to date which can come close.”

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php?/gpu_displays/hi...

ok i plan to run vista 32 bit as an OS so i need a link for that. Also, i want to keep my case but im kind of stuck between AMD or Intel, which one is better?

dude, that case that you selected isnt anywhere near the cooler master scout, seriously why would you even doub with the scout, Xclio vs Cooler master should be no brainer, as for amd vs intel,, i have to give the edge to the AMD system for now, you getting a quad core as fast as the q9550 or even better, the only way ill recomend intel is if you decide i7, for the OS you will need vista 64-bit other wise the 4gb wont be of any good here is the link : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

ya, your case looks fine as long as you know it can fit everything. I think im going with my AMD system just because i dont want to blow tons of money on an i7. Im kinda on a budget now.

the scout will fit everything and more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK_elZ0sxAE

wow im getting that case. Well im gonna go with my original build but with your case. Does it look ok?

Lol - the scout looks like one of those old 5 gallon "Gerry" gas cans the military used in WWII. Also kind like a junior version of Coolmasters Cosmo case - except black and looks more like a gerry can.

The choice is not between AMD and i7 - but between Intel Quad and AMD. Did you read the May 2009 article on the build from ExtremeTech I posted above and why the experts there picked Intel Quad over AMD?

Why not go 64 bit? With 32 bit you will be FOREVER limited to about 3.2GB - even with 4GB on the board. That is probably all you need at the moment. but with the new video cards coming out soon that will have codecs supporting multiple cores - the guessing is that games may substantial increase the use of multiple cores in the near future - and that has to place additional demands on memory.

Also have you considered Windows 7? I think it is still available in test as a free download (limited trial period lasting I think about a year longer) and then you can purchase it later. Might be easier to make the jump now. I am still on Vista and have not been following 7's progress much but I thought it was very stable now. Anyone else want to chime in on this?

Snake - what alternative PSU are you recommending? Your link above goes the the WD HD?

ok i think i have decided on quad core i7 intel.. could anyone link me a good one with a motherboard?

-As rockyjohn said, you might consider going the intel route. Since you need a monitor and an OS, the budget will be tight, but i think you might be able to build a good i7 build. Remember if you want to i7, to use its full potential you will need triple channel memory. 6GB is the prefered amount for an i7 but you can get 3gb also if you think its enough for you. This will require you to run a 64bit OS, since 32bit OS will limit you to less then 4gb of ram and it is quite inferior to 64bit OS in almost every aspect. So decide what you want! If you look in the right websites and places, you will get the right prices and a good i7 build.

sorry about that, miss linked, lol it happens, i chose the corsair 750, more than needed but it also allows an upgradable path later if a second card is needed, here is the link http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

i want to add to the Intel vs AMD is that if you chose Intel 775 socket, chances are that if you decide to upgrade your card in the future because Dx11 ( http://techfragments.com/news/857/Hardware/AMD_Demos_Di... ) cards are coming out, and you want a cpu to compete with that card, socket 775 wont allow you much of a upgrade, whereas the AM3 platform is just beginning, thats why i said that the only way I can recomend Intel a this point is only if you decide for i7, or wait for i5, its just around the corner ( http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10266536-64.html ) i7 budget is hard to make but no imposible, ill throw you some imput about that

ok I forgot your budget, I think you wrote 1,200. I couldnt manage to do it with that, but there is more experience people on this forum that can accomodate you better but here is my list:

Cpu & mobo combo : http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...

Cpu fan : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

VGA: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Hard drive & dvd burner: ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... ) ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... )

Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... . notice that without a monitor included you're right on the budget

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Os: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... . also if you decide for W7Rc you can save 99 bucks and that will put you on your original 1,200 budget

Grand Total: $1,306.89

What is your budget for an i7 build net07?
The $1300 build I posted above from THG did not include monitor or OS.
Is snake's proposal above acceptable budgetwise? Note that using W7Rc for the OS only defers the purchase of the OS and I bet the new one then - W7 - will cost about $150 for home premium.
Its tough to get a decent i7 system for $1200 - and the biggest risk is that you sacrifice too much on the base components, although snake has done an excellent job above.
Note that you still need to add a DVD burner only about $25
Also I would still go with the HIS IceQ Turbo 4870 card.
But the above does have the makings for one powerful system with an excellent upgrade path - not that you would need to any time soon.
Can you stretch to make this budget?
Also keep in mind that the deals and rebates you are counting on today might not be available later - or they might be better. Since you are planning 3 months ahead - can you grab what deals are available now and wait on other components hoping for better deals? For instance, 3 weeks ago Microcenter had the i920 on sale for only $199 - a savings of almost $90 - now it is not even listed on their site.

For a case, I think that the NZXT Hush looks like a promising alternative to the basic case snake recommended - for only $10 more (again this becomes a budget issue since snake had to go very basic on some items to keep costs down - and he trimed on the right parts and keep the money where it affects performance and critical quality - the question becomes are you willing to spend a little more to have a nice box to show off your powerhouse of a computer) No current rebate on this one so you could wait and watch for one or use it as backup if you can't find a deal on a better one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Also note that a better case the Antec Nine Hundred, now listed on newegg for $107 is frequently on sale at newegg and at local computer stores for only $65-75. This is a good example of where, with 3 months to go, you might keep vigil and snatch a deal if one presents itself. What stores do you have in your area? Or maybe this kind of deal shopping is not worth the effort to you. All a matter of personal choice of course.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


PS - By the way - I should disclose that I know nothing more about his case than what I read on newegg - just trying to help you find something that might look a little nicer. Before going with this case - if it otherwise seems appealing - I recommend googling for some reviews.

Just another thought - are you familiar with the usually large deals offered by many merchants the day after Thanksgiving? If you are not planning to buy until October, is it worth pushing back to the day after Thanksgiving in hopes of scoring a real deal?

if money is an issue, and you cant wait, the only solution is this:


AMD isnt a bad compay, contraty to most people believe, is getting back on its feet, with the PII, as matter of fact times call for moeny saving and for your needs i dont think you need more the the 955, is what i have and i dont think i will need a new build for quite sometime, if you have the 1,100 you can even throw a 4890 and paired with th PII955 you will destroy any game, and like the rumors being spreading about AMD disabling the DX11 support on the 4890 untill release date, if thats true i think you wont need to upgrade for sometime. i though i keep this option open..