Quality gaming rig for around $900

[bordering]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within this week

BUDGET RANGE: US $850-950

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, movies, music

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE FOR PARTS: Newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES:
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7" Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131398

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

ASUS EAH4890/HTDI/1GD5 Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121308

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231180

SAMSUNG EcoGreen F2 HD103SI 1TB 5400 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152173

LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW SATA CD/DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Not yet, maybe some time down the road

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I have experience installing all components except CPUs and motherboards. Looking to play games such as Fallout 3, Bioshock, Crysis, etc.

 

[psycho sykes]

Try the i5.

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.245596 Combo Discount: -$20.00 Combo Price: $124.90 Free Shipping*
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Antec TruePower New TP-550 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.246589 Combo Discount: -$15.00 Combo Price: $304.98 Free Shipping*
GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Intel Core i5 750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.256454 Combo Discount: -$20.00 Combo Price: $254.98 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100269VXLE Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030 29.99 Free Shipping*
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.259577.22-136-284 Combo Discount: -$10.00 Combo Price: $194.98
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - Retail
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM | Includes free Windows 7 upgrade coupon

Total: $909.83

 

[bordering]

Wow, thanks so much for that, you have definitely pointed me in the right direction!

 

[bordering]

For my HD 4890, who has the better track record; Sapphire, XFX, or HIS? The Newegg reviews are not giving me a clear picture.

 

[silvergo]

XFX then sapphire because xfx has a lifetime warranty while sapphire has a 2 year limit. both are really good though i dont know about his. but you get a discount on the sapphire with combo deals

 

[psycho sykes]

HIS make very good cards, Actually people might recommend them over XFX for Radeon cards and they have life-time warranty (non-transferable).
Also you might want to use something like HD3450 and wait for HD5000 (HD5850; $249.99~/Sep. 23rd~)

Medo

 

[bordering]

I just found this deal on Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.259503) same cpu and motherboard, but with the ati hd 4870. Is the 80 or so dollars after rebates worth saving, or is the 4890 noticeably better than the 4870?

 

[tecmo34]

At your resolution, the 4890 would be better. If you can wait for the end of the month, the new ATI 58xxx series cards will be better.

 

[psycho sykes]

^ +1

 

[bordering]

I feel as though the 5000 series might put me over of my budget. However, can I expect prices for the 4890 to go down after the 5000s are released? So, whether I get the 5850 or the 4890, my best bet would be to wait. Am I correct in assuming this?

 

[psycho sykes]

Yes!
The prices of HD4000 should dramatically decrease with the HD5000 available.

Also at $199.99 the HD5770 would easily beat HD4890 with:
---------------------------
~800~ Shader procs
725~ MHz memory
256Bit or 128Bit GDDR5
DX11 - SM 5.0

I'll update shortly.

Medo

 

[bordering]

Alright, thanks so much everyone who has helped out! I guess I will be back at the end of the month with a new build, but I'll be posting questions if I have any. Again, thank you all for the help.

 

[bordering]

Well, I've gone ahead and ordered most of the components minus the GPU. Hopefully I can get some stuff running and use the integrated video card until I decide to purchase my video card.

 

[psycho sykes]

Good luck [:jaydeejohn:5]

 

[bordering]

Ok, so I have my rig all built except my video card. I'm trying to decide between the ati 4890 and 5770. I've read that the 4890 outperforms the 5770 and has a higher buswidth (256 vs 128), but the 5770 runs cooler and draws less power.

Is the dx11 optimization that big of a deal with the 5770? Should I just get the 4890 now, and if I need to upgrade in the future, crossfire in another one? I'm leaning towards the 4890, but any other opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[psycho sykes]

The HD5850 is only 60 dollars more!
If it's HD5770 vs HD4890 only then I give the HD5770 a (+1)...
The DX11 capability serve you in the future when it becomes a standard in games (more attractive than the disaster so called DX10/.1! :lol: )

Medo

 

[bordering]

Ya, I'm thinking bout the 5850 as well... perhaps I should just save up and go with that one. Now I have to decide which brand I'm going to go with.

 

[psycho sykes]

XFX > Sapphire > HIS > any other...
This is only right for now but when modded versions of the cards come out then it's Sapphire in the first place...

Medo