$1500 gaming PC

[Limper]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Two Weeks BUDGET RANGE: $1000 - $1500

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Surfing Internet

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, Monitor(look in additional comments), DVD Drive

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: NCIX.com, Tiger Direct and Canada Computers (any site that ships within Canada)

PARTS PREFERENCES: I want an I7 cpu and an ATI GPU ( unless Nvidia has something better for the same price)

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Not sure... 1600x1200, 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I would like quiet and not gaudy looking with lights and bling. Have build a comp four years ago but I am out of the loop so that is why I am here. Possibly in the future I may have more than one monitor but this PC is for gaming for the next few years (longer the better). Any and all help is greatly appreciated. I know I have monitor in the not required section as my wife is getting me that outside of the budget so I am asking advice on any monitors from the $150 - $250 range also. Also any info on cooling paste and tools I will need to build this bad boy would be greatly appreciated.

MAIL- IN REBATES: Preferably not but better than nothing

 

[Limper]

Sorry I made a mistake. Could this be moved to New System Build. Thankyou

 

[hunter315]

Its in the right forum and thats what matters. I suggest checking direct canada and a few other sites and using NCIX's price match. I always find parts for canadians at newegg because i am familiarly with the interface, they are in no way meant to represent the best prices.

Comes to 1408 including the monitor, if you shop around you can probably get it down to 1300ish

i7 920/OCZ gold $403
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.231926

Asus P6T SE $260
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131386

F3 500GB $60
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&Tpk=f3%20samsung

XFX 4890 $217
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150360

Pioneer DVD Burner $33
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129045

Antec 900 $120
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

Corsair 750TX $115-20MIR
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

Asus 21.5" 2ms 1920x1080 monitor $200
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051

Since your wife is getting you the monitor the total cost for the system is only 1208ish. Only tool you need is a phillips screw driver. You may want to get an aftermarket cooler if you want to OC or simply dont want to deal with intels pushpins.

 

[Limper]

Should I buy an aftermarket cooler and what type of Thermal paste should I order

Also could someone point me in the right direction or explain to me timings when talking about RAM.

The OCZ gold you mention has timing of 8-8-8-24 timing. So is it better to have lower numbers say 7-7-7-20 or is higher better. Or does it all depend on your mobo

 

[Limper]

OK I went to ncix.com and priced out the comp in Canadian dollars. I couldn't get everything the same but I tried to get close and I am not sure on the RAM like I mentioned. 1549.25 before I price check it and I should be able to get that to drop by 150 or so dollars.

CPU
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34598&promoid=1066
Motherboard
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=38342
Hard Drive
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=30999
VideoCard
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=39249
Case
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=21123
PSU
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26415
OS
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=40693&promoid=1066

ok and can't decide between RAM
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=35341
or
http://secure.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34802 ( get if for $199 with I7 CPU)

The total cost is around 200 more than I budgeted but that is ok.

Also found the same monitor for a little cheaper
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=39132&vpn=VH226H&manufacture=ASUS

Here is case I really like the look of but not sure it is better than the 900 series.
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=41741&vpn=CPC-T55DB-U02&manufacture=Xigmatek
I was reading other posts and someone mentioned you hould have a cable extension if you get a bottom mounted PSU. Anyone know what that was and anything else that would be crucial to get this up and going as soon as the mail arrives.

I keep thinking of things to ask so please bear with me. Would it be in my interest to get all the fans that a case could hold right away or is that over kill.

 

[hunter315]

I would go for the mushkin ram, it will perform the same as the dominators for significantly less, i dont see the point in paying for the cool looking heat spreaders, toms recently did a review and the ram kit with no heat spreaders actually overclocked the best so they dont do too much.

Powercolor isnt that good, this is the same card i listed so you can get it price matched down to 217
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=37431&vpn=HD489AZDEC&manufacture=XFX

The antec 900 already comes with 4 fans, it can fit a side fan if your components are getting hot but you arent running multiple graphics cards or heavily overclocking so you probably wont need it. The 900 will provide you a bit more room to work with and slightly better cooling but if you like the xigmatech case get that one, it will do fine and personal preference is really the determining factor in a case.

 

[Limper]

Yeah I picked that card at first too but they are out of stock or will be before I order that id why I went with the power color. Any other cards you may be able to recommend

 

[hunter315]

Whoops totally didnt realize that, then get this one, the clock difference isnt that much
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=37430&vpn=HD489AZDFC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1066
Newegg equivalent is this one for slightly less
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150359

I like XFX because of the lifetime warranty, sapphire also makes good cards but powercolor generally doesnt have good coolers on theirs that exhaust heat out the back, you dont really want all the heat just sitting in the case.

 

[Limper]

Thanks Hunter I am happy with this as a build. I will still be here looking at specs but this helps alot. I think I would go with the Midgard case just for looks. I wilhopefully be ordering an a couple of weeks and will give a final list of what I like before I order.

 

[imrul]

good...