Gaming PC first build $900-1000

digimilesx · Aug 9, 2009

Hey everyone. This is my first build gaming pc and I'll be grateful for any help I can receive. Sorry if my post is too long or isn't formatted correctly.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This or Next Month
BUDGET RANGE: $900-1000

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Viewing Media such as movies, encodes, youtube, web surfing.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, and Monitor

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com and mwave.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type parts preferenced are marked lower. Althought i'm torn between amd phenom 955 and i7 920 =(. Which will then change my gpu decision.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 Most likely

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Prices from newegg

AMD PC - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

Processor
Price: $199.99
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail

Definte!

Motherboard and Videocard

Combo Price: $464.98
BIOSTAR TForce TA790GX A3+ AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
230935SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video ... - Retail

Pretty sure about video card. Unsure about motherboard, willing to switch/tweak.

HDD Price: $89.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

Pretty sure. Willing to switch for different brand.

Memory

Unsure Kingston or G.SKILL. 4gb most likely, probably will have to change if I get a differnt motherboard.

Power Supply & Case combo undecided.

Burners/Readers Unsure. I want a blue ray burner and reader as well as dual layer cd dvd etc.

Intel

Processor Price: $279.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz

Definte!

Motherboard Price: $209.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131386
ASUS P6T SE LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Sure but willing to change.

OR

Processor and Video Card combo Combo price: $629.98

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
231064SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video ... - Retail

Unsure about using . Was leaning towards a GeForce GTX 275 or 260 with intel.

HDD Price: $89.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Pretty sure. Willing to switch for different brand.

Memory

Unsure Kingston or G.SKILL. 4 or 3gb most likely, probably will have to change if I get a differnt motherboard.

Power Supply & Case combo undecided.

Burners/Readers Unsure. I want a blue ray burner and reader as well as dual layer cd dvd etc.

hunter315 · Aug 9, 2009

skora · Aug 9, 2009

I'd scrap the i7 idea. This will illistrate the min you'd need to get the system and your budget is too small. Besides, the AMD 955 is more CPU than games will use and you can get more GPU which will top out before the CPU does anyway. If there is a game that is CPU limited before the GPU, you'll already be running 100+ FPS anyway.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&cat=31&post=269380&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=1&trash=0&trash_post=0&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0

PSU: For the big GPU you're talking, a 750w corsair, antec, seasonic, silverstone, PCPower and Cooling. Any will get the job done nicely. Expect to pay $100+.

Case is a personal desicion. Get one you love the looks of. Once you hit the $75+ mark, you're pretty much assured acceptable quality and decent airflow. If the looks isn't that big of a deal, then use Proximons guide to find the best performer.

But you're running out of cash quick, so the GPU might have to come down a bit. A single 4890 or 4870 1gb will do well enough at that resolution.

This WD Caviar black will peform better than the Seagate. $95, or its baby brother 640gb for $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Biostar makes an okay mobo. If you're not concerned with overclocking much, it will provide a moderate OC. If you want to push the chip to its max, Asus or Gigabyte probably.

Don't spend too much time worrying about the Blu-ray burner, they either work or they don't. Just make sure you get the features you want. Now the burner will run you $160+. That takes a big bite out of your budget.

For Ram, any speed DDR3 is fine, but the tighter the timings (lower Cas and lower voltage) the better. $75 Cas 7 DDR3 1333 or similar:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144264

digimilesx · Aug 9, 2009

Thanks a lot for both posts. I was leanin towards i7 after reading reviews but you are right about the budget. So I might have to roll with AMD and keep within my budget. newegg is SOLD OUT of 955 at the moment too lol.

Also how would I know if a case is big enough or too small?

obsidian86 · Aug 9, 2009

anything from mid tower an up will be fine for bout any build there are a few exceptions on design mid towers wich tend to be a bit smaller in some respects

Helloworld_98 · Aug 9, 2009

if you get the i7 from microcenter then you might be able to stay in budget,

$200 for the i7
$170 for a mobo
$90 for 6GB of ram
$110 for the antec 900
$200 for a 4890
$120 for a Corsair 750TX
$85 for the 1TB HDD
$25 for a DVD-RW or a lot more for a BD-ROM.

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Gaming PC first build $900-1000

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