Gaming pc budget of $1200

[draalin]

Ok So I'm currently a network student doing a 4 month co-op term, making pretty good cash and I haven't updated my computer in 4 years lol. I was just wondering if anyone could help build me a new computer which could get the best for my money which is $1200.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE:

Looking to order it within 1-2 days max.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:

Its going to be a gaming computer, but it should be able play the new Call of Duty : Modern Warfare 2 on max details without any fps lag, as well as any other high graphics demanding game coming out in the future. Plus being able to run multiple VM wares without lag would be a additional bonus.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED:

Don't need a Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse and CD Drive and Speakers.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:

I'd prefer http://www.tigerdirect.ca/ but if you can't http://www.newegg.ca/ is fine.

PARTS PREFERENCES:

I've had both Intel/AMD base computers in the past and I liked them, so it doesn't matter which you pick.

OVERCLOCKING:

Yes if possible, as for SLI/CROSSFIRE whatever is honestly the better deal.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

The case doesn't have to be flashy, just be able to fit everything in it.

Thanks for your help!!

edit: I've been looking at prebuild PC's @ http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=114
if you think any of those are built well enough tell me, thanks.

 

[ubernoobie]

wait a tiny bit more when core i5s/dx11 come out so all the other stuff will lower in price then buy i7 when it reaches 250 dollars canadian

 

[draalin]

wait a tiny bit more when core i5s/dx11 come out so all the other stuff will lower in price then buy i7 when it reaches 250 dollars canadian

i could wait, but i'm pretty impatient. i'd rather just buy something now.

edit: unless i can get one of those very soon lol.

 

[draalin]

anyone here

 

[Why_Me]

anyone here

* Edit... vid card has been added to this build.

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=29812&vpn=THREE%20HUNDRED&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1055 $57.98 CAD
Antec Three Hundred Mini Tower Gaming Case 300 ATX 3X5.25 6X3.5INT No PS Front USB & Audio

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=37047&vpn=OCZ550FTY&manufacture=OCZ%20Technology $94.99 CAD After Mail In Rebate: $69.99 CAD
OCZ FATAL1TY 550W ATX12V 20/24PIN Active PFC ATX Modular Power Supply 120MM Fan 80PLUS Black

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42281&vpn=GA-P55-UD3R&manufacture=Gigabyte $149.99 CAD
Gigabyte P55-UD3R ATX LGA1156 P55 DDR3 2PCI-E 4PCI SATA2 RAID Sound Glan Motherboard

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42499&vpn=BX80605I5750&manufacture=Intel $244.99 CAD
Intel Core I5 750 Quad Core Processor Lynnfield LGA1156 2.66GHZ 8MB Cache Retail Box

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42959&vpn=RR-910-HTX3-GP&manufacture=COOLERMASTER $22.99 CAD
Coolermaster RR-910-HTX3-GP Hyper TX Series Aluminum 3-HEATPIPE CPU Cooler S1156/775/AM3/AM2/939/940

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26895&vpn=MX-2T&manufacture=Arctic%20Cooling $9.99 CAD
Arctic Cooling MX-2 Thermal Compound Paste NON-ELECTRICAL Conductive 4 Gram

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=37424&vpn=N275GTX-Twin%20Frozr%20OC&manufacture=MSI/MicroStar&promoid=1055 $244.99 CAD After Mail In Rebate: $229.99 CAD
MSI GeForce GTX 275 Twin Frozr OC 666MHZ 896MB 2.322GHZ GDDR3 PCI-E 2XDVI Video Card

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42746&vpn=F3-12800CL8D-4GBRM&manufacture=G.Skill $109.99 CAD
G.SKILL F3-12800CL8D-4GBRM Ripjaws PC3-12800 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-1600 CL8-8-8-24 Core I5 Memory Kit

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34286&vpn=WD6401AALS&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD&promoid=1055 $76.99 CAD
Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB Dual Proc 3.5IN SATA Hard Drive OEM 5YR Mfg Warranty

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=41501&vpn=SH-S223B/BEBE&manufacture=Samsung $34.48 CAD
Samsung SH-S223B/BEBE 22X DVD+-RW SATA DVD Writer Black OEM

Total: $1,047.38 CAD before taxes, shipping and rebates

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677CVF $142.99 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM | Includes free Windows 7 upgrade coupon

 

[draalin]

I need to know what your monitor resolution is before I can suggest a video card for this build.

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=29812&vpn=THREE%20HUNDRED&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1055 $57.98 CAD
Antec Three Hundred Mini Tower Gaming Case 300 ATX 3X5.25 6X3.5INT No PS Front USB & Audio

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=37047&vpn=OCZ550FTY&manufacture=OCZ%20Technology $94.99 CAD After Mail In Rebate: $69.99 CAD
OCZ FATAL1TY 550W ATX12V 20/24PIN Active PFC ATX Modular Power Supply 120MM Fan 80PLUS Black

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42281&vpn=GA-P55-UD3R&manufacture=Gigabyte $149.99 CAD
Gigabyte P55-UD3R ATX LGA1156 P55 DDR3 2PCI-E 4PCI SATA2 RAID Sound Glan Motherboard

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42499&vpn=BX80605I5750&manufacture=Intel $244.99 CAD
Intel Core I5 750 Quad Core Processor Lynnfield LGA1156 2.66GHZ 8MB Cache Retail Box

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42959&vpn=RR-910-HTX3-GP&manufacture=COOLERMASTER $22.99 CAD
Coolermaster RR-910-HTX3-GP Hyper TX Series Aluminum 3-HEATPIPE CPU Cooler S1156/775/AM3/AM2/939/940

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26895&vpn=MX-2T&manufacture=Arctic%20Cooling $9.99 CAD
Arctic Cooling MX-2 Thermal Compound Paste NON-ELECTRICAL Conductive 4 Gram

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42746&vpn=F3-12800CL8D-4GBRM&manufacture=G.Skill $109.99 CAD
G.SKILL F3-12800CL8D-4GBRM Ripjaws PC3-12800 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-1600 CL8-8-8-24 Core I5 Memory Kit

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34286&vpn=WD6401AALS&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD&promoid=1055 $76.99 CAD
Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB Dual Proc 3.5IN SATA Hard Drive OEM 5YR Mfg Warranty

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=41501&vpn=SH-S223B/BEBE&manufacture=Samsung $34.48 CAD
Samsung SH-S223B/BEBE 22X DVD+-RW SATA DVD Writer Black OEM

Total: $802.39 CAD before taxes, shipping and rebates

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677CVF $142.99 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM | Includes free Windows 7 upgrade coupon

I'm at work atm but I ussually run at a 1680 x 1050 resolution (I think) Its a 20" new LG LCD monitor.

thanks for the help though, i didn't think that i5 was out yet lol.

 

[Jack64]

with that resolution......a gtx 275 would be killer.

 

[draalin]

had another question, is there a noticeable difference between 1600mhz ram and 2000mhz? to the point where its worth the money upgrade?

I was looking through these

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4307847&CatId=4331

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4616536&sku=O261-8120

 

[Jack64]

In a word....NO. Actually the OCZ-1333 would be fine. The Corsair Dominator is what I am running and from what I have read and seen, a good quality ddr3-1333 with good timing is really all you need, the extra speed doesn't get you anything for the price. So if I was doing it over....I would get a $100 dollar set of OCZ gold and be done with that. Save yourself some scratch.

Well after going to newegg...I couldn't find a ddr-1333 6 gig gold kit....they are all 1600 which is fine only 120 or so for that still 60 cheaper than the dominator.

And if your going to go with the I-5 750 then go with ddr-2 1066 4 gig kit...from the reviews it does just as good it seems...unless I am miss-understanding the reviews....which is probable, LOL

 

[Jack64]

There is just so much info out there with all the reviews and all the websites doing different configs it gets kind of confusing!!! I'm lost as usual. Someone with a brain will be here shortly to get this lined out.

 

[draalin]

There is just so much info out there with all the reviews and all the websites doing different configs it gets kind of confusing!!! I'm lost as usual. Someone with a brain will be here shortly to get this lined out.

yeah im so confused, lol. I really want to order from tigerdiect since I can go pick it up plus everything has worked fine so far.

I've been fooling around trying to keep it under 1200. I'll post it soon to see what you think.

 

[Jack64]

Tiger direct is a great place to order from!! I only buy from newegg coz on some things it is cheaper....but I have to have everything shipped.

 

[Transmaniacon]

You need to use DDR3 RAM with the i-5 CPUs.

I would stick with the build why_me suggested, and keep the DDR3-1600 because it is popular and easy to find.

As for a GPU, both the GTX275 and HD4890 are great choices, it really comes down to benchmarks on the games you play, or your brand preference.

 

[draalin]

You need to use DDR3 RAM with the i-5 CPUs.

I would stick with the build why_me suggested, and keep the DDR3-1600 because it is popular and easy to find.

As for a GPU, both the GTX275 and HD4890 are great choices, it really comes down to benchmarks on the games you play, or your brand preference.

yeah i'm pretty sure i'm going to go with the i5. they just posted one up on tigerdirect today (the place i'm going to order from)

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5210397&CatId=4731

 

[Jack64]

You are right...I saw the 1066 speed and 4 gig on HardOCP website and mistook that for ddr2.
Thanks...I knew I was confused as usual and slightly dazed too! LOL

 

[draalin]

I've been debating and why_me's choices seem very good. But I'd like to spend a bit more on my pc I think since I hate upgrading every year or so. I was wondering what you guys thought of this



I know I'm missing a motherboard/fan.
Not sure on which ones I want yet.

And I was unsure of the videocard i picked out.

 

[Jack64]

Here is one I built and it is a little more than you wanted to spend...but it is a good one, I think.

 

[Jack64]

Kinda hard to see....sorry

 

[Why_Me]

I'm at work atm but I ussually run at a 1680 x 1050 resolution (I think) Its a 20" new LG LCD monitor.

thanks for the help though, i didn't think that i5 was out yet lol.

OK, I added a factory o/c gtx 275 to that build I posted on here.

 

[draalin]

OK, I added a factory o/c gtx 275 to that build I posted on here.

nice looks good, i'm going to see if i can find those items on tigerdirect to see what the difference is, btw do you think that the powersupply give enough amps?

 

[draalin]

Here is one I built and it is a little more than you wanted to spend...but it is a good one, I think.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn54/jdharvin64/tger.jpg

the price isn't that bad, i'm just trying to stay under 1200 before taxes.

 

[Transmaniacon]

Draalin, the build you suggested is actually a step down from the why_me build. The GTS250 is nothing more than a rebranded 9800GTX+, and the GTX275 is far superior. Also, stick with the PSU suggested by jack, Corsair makes some of the best PSU's and it will last you a long time. Additionally, you picked out a triple channel memory kit, when the i-5 only supports dual channel, you will be limited to 4GB or 8GB of RAM with the i-5.

 

[draalin]

Draalin, the build you suggested is actually a step down from the why_me build. The GTS250 is nothing more than a rebranded 9800GTX+, and the GTX275 is far superior. Also, stick with the PSU suggested by jack, Corsair makes some of the best PSU's and it will last you a long time. Additionally, you picked out a triple channel memory kit, when the i-5 only supports dual channel, you will be limited to 4GB or 8GB of RAM with the i-5.

do you think that powersupply is enough for everything?

oh ok so i7's support triple and i5's only dual? lol

 

[shortstuff_mt]

oh ok so i7's support triple and i5's only dual? lol

That statement isn't true any more starting today. There were two new i7 chips released along with the i5 chip today. All three new chips use the LGA 1156 P55 chipset and only support dual channel RAM.

 

[Transmaniacon]

If you are fine with a single-card solution, then go with the Corsair 650TX, or comperable models by Antec, PC Power & Cooling, or OCZ.

However, for a little bit more, I believe its $20 at the moment, you can get the Corsair 750TX, which will handle SLI or xfire fine. For build longevity, go with the 750TX, its a little bit more now, but will save you a lot should you ever go SLI/xfire.