New PC around $1000-1300

[Unseen_Killa]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ASAP

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, browsing the internet, video watching.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: All I need is the computer itself with a case and a monitor.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: A 500 gig hard drive will suffice for me.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe but probably not, and I don't think I need SLI or Crossfire.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Whatever the 22 inchers use, lol.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I'm not too picky about most cases, but I don't like too much lights and such and don't need a side window.

Thank you guys, I really appreciate the help. I'm excited to get back into PC gaming.

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Current build:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10008209&prodlist=celebros
$149.00
CPU: AMD Phenom X4 9850

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131366
$139.99
Motherboard: ASUS M4A78T-E

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227286
$75.99
RAM: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2x2) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150349
$349.99
GPU: XFX Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650TX
$99.99
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
$74.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
$69.99
Case: COOLER MASTER RC-690

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187
$26.99
DVD Burner: SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner

= Grand Total of $986.93 Without a monitor

 

[Proximon]

Ok then, but I think I will save you some money.

X4 955 AND Gigabyte 790GX board -304
See the bottom of the page for the combo deal. Newegg is out of 955s
G.Skill 1066 CAS 5 4GB -51
--
cooler Master 690 case -70
Corsair 550VX PSU -93
--
SAPPHIRE VAPOR-X 100269VXL Radeon HD 4890 1GB -220
--
Caviar Black 640 GB -75
You get this because it's faster than a 500GB.
DVD burner -27


Buy your monitor locally, from a place with a good return policy, so you avoid shipping costs and RMA hassles.

If you really WANT to spend more, we can do that too.

 

[Unseen_Killa]

Well I am willing to spend more if you think it would pay for itself in the long run. Meaning I'd end up saving money when it comes to upgrading and such.

Will this PC run all the latest games with all the bells and whistles maxed out? How would it do on Crysis?

Also, if I wanted to get a noticeable performance increase, how much more would I have to spend?

Sorry, I'm a question FREAK.

 

[Proximon]

The same processor but get an AM3 board that supports DDR3:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131366

And some DDR3:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227286
This doesn't really give you a big performance upgrade, but it makes the system a bit more upgradeable.

Then to improve performance, upgrade the GPU a bit.
XFX 4870X2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150349
This will max out all your games at 1680x1050. You may need to lower a few settings in Crysis, but mostly maxxed. About as good as Crysis gets anyway on sane equipment.

Then you'll want a bit more PSU as well:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650TX
Not a big jump in price there

That should cover it.

 

[g3force]

The same processor but get an AM3 board that supports DDR3:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131366

And some DDR3:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227286
This doesn't really give you a big performance upgrade, but it makes the system a bit more upgradeable.

Then to improve performance, upgrade the GPU a bit.
XFX 4870X2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150349
This will max out all your games at 1680x1050. You may need to lower a few settings in Crysis, but mostly maxxed. About as good as Crysis gets anyway on sane equipment.

Then you'll want a bit more PSU as well:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650TX
Not a big jump in price there

That should cover it.

Just wondering, but would it be a better idea to grab two 4870 1GBs instead? That would shave about $40 off the price, though I'm unsure if two cards in CF would consume more power than the single card.

 

[Helloworld_98]

^ dual 4870 1GB's don't do as well as the 4870 X2 and the dual cards will consume a bit more power.

 

[Proximon]

Yep, you would need a 750W for CF. Not a big deal, but no need either.

 

[Unseen_Killa]

So, should I get 32 Bit Vista or 64 Bit Vista? I plan to upgrade to Windows 7 as soon as it lets you, because I hear Vista comes with something now that lets you do it for free.

And for monitors, should I get a 21.5 or 22 inch? They have different resolutions so I don't know which is preferred.

Any precautions for building my first PC besides don't suck? lol.

Also, updated first post.

 

[Proximon]

1680x1050, that's what is important.

64-bit:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677

 

[Unseen_Killa]

Alright, how's this look?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009145

 

[Proximon]

Fine, although it's not the best gaming monitor (I should know) but it's adequate.

I would advise buying a monitor loacally from a store with a good return policy. Avoid shipping and RMA hassles.

 

[Unseen_Killa]

Alright, I'll see what Best Buy has. Anything you recommend?

 

[Proximon]

What they have online can be pretty different from the store.

Just have a look at this (it's a lot of data):
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=2049206&enterthread=y

That will help you pick your own monitor. Note also the list of top 10 gaming monitors about half-way down the page.

 

[Unseen_Killa]

Lol, I don't want to pirate an OS. The only thing I pirate is music. You think buying a computer online is stupid? I thought that is what everyone does...

And 100 more watts just for basically the same GPU setup? Isn' t that kind of a big deal? Not sure if you know what you'e talking about...lol. And I'd have to pay more money for a higher wattage PSU anyways.

Why Intel over AMD? I kind of want to see benchmarks now...

 

[hunter315]

Dont listen to ezkiller, recently he has been proving he is a moron. On your budget an AMD build is your best bet as you are including the monitor so it leaves more room for the graphics card.

Stick with what proximon suggested with the 4870x2

The overclocked 4890s tend to be the better chips and will overclock higher and tend to have better coolers on them too so im not sure where he is getting the waste of money bit from, he appears to just be trolling today.

And dont pirate an OS when you can get Vista 64 bit with a free upgrade to windows 7.

 

[Proximon]

Sometimes posts just appear out of the blue like that

EZ there killer or you'll get yourself banned. Tom's doesn't like ripping off software.

The reason the 4870X2 is better is that some games prefer a single card, even though it's not a single GPU. Other games prefer the 4870X2 over crossfire:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3517&p=9

And the OP wanted a single card solution.

 

[hunter315]

"the video card proximon suggested is stupid your paying more for a OC'd 4890? just pathetic. when you can get the regular one and do it yourself at no extra cost."

Sorry i dont feel the need to quote exactly most people arent anal retentive. I was refering to the above statement so i guess i was refering to 'is stupid your paying more' and not 'waste of money', to most people stupidly paying more and waste of money are close enough.

And if we are going to get really picky about wording, its you're not your

 

[Unseen_Killa]

You don't know what you're talking about ezkiller, 4870 X2 runs better than 4870 in Crossfire. Very noticably too:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3517&p=9
For only $50 more that's very worth it.

Now get out of my thread so the big boys can talk.

On top of this I didn't disrespect you, all I did was question you. But I can see how you can mix the two up, monitor = computer guy.

Anyways, do I need a heatsink? Tuniq Tower seems to get a lot of praise, but I don't even know if I need one. Is it just for OC'ing? Its pretty cheap:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154001

 

[hunter315]

yeah, if you arent overclocking the stock cooler on the 955 should be plenty, its rather hefty and seems to work quite well, you should be able to even get a small overclock out of it possibly up to 3.6, if you want more or you start getting above 60C you will need an aftermarket.

 

[Proximon]

Yep, you can always add one later.