Help me make a PC for $600-$700 CAN

I'm on abit of a budget and want to make a new computer. I have 600 bucks and can push 700 if needed, I already have 4890 and a 550watt tough power thermaltake power supply (I can replace power supply if its needed), g5 mouse, g15 keyboard, 320gb HD (may need a new one), dvd write/player, and I game on a 42 inch 1080p TV.

I'd preferably like either a 955 BE or a i5 750 and Full Tower case. I can only shop from 2 stores, http://lucomputers.com/site/ and http://www.tigerdirect.ca/, both these stores are located within 10min from my house and there is no wait on ordering. So basically I need a mobo, case (full tower), ram (ddr3 only), cpu cooler, and case for 600-700 CAN.

Any tips on a build that everyone agrees on would be great, because I cant make my mind over certain things (like what cpu and mobos to buy) would be greatly apreciated!

Edit: how is the antec 900 2 case?

Message edited by impaledmango on 09-20-2009 at 06:59:22 PM

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This PSU is not the best but should cut if you stick to 1 hard drive, 1 DVD drive and a 95W (this includes i5 CPU's so don't worry about it.)
Waht's more is that the 4890 has the same TDP as the 5870, so you could upgrade to that one in the future.

CPU: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicat [...] u=I69-1750

MOBO: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicat [...] CatId=4720

RAM: http://lucomputers.com/site/produc [...] 341&cid=29

CASE: http://lucomputers.com/site/produc [...] 656&cid=21 or http://lucomputers.com/site/produc [...] 606&cid=21 (which ever you like the most)

HDD: http://lucomputers.com/site/produc [...] 471&cid=25

PSU: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicat [...] CatId=2533 this little gem is a good catch at the price point and a lot better than the Thermaltake PSU.

------------------------------ CPU: Intel Core i7 920 @3.2Ghz, MOBO: Asus P6T SE, RAM: 3x 2gb OCZ Platinum OCZ3P1600LV6GK, GPU: Sapphire HD 5870, PSU: Corsair HX520W, HDD: Seagate ST31000528AS 1Tb 32mb, COOLER: Scythe Mugen (S775 version), CASE: Coolermaster CM690
Reply to Gulli

tigerdirect is a rip off. i didnt use lucomputers because i copied and paste this from a build i made yesterday to help a person.

canadian :

http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] e=GIGABYTE
$179 gigabyte ud4p

http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] ture=INTEL
$225 i5 750

http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=G.SKILL
$96 GSKILL 4gb 1600 8-8-8-21 timings

or

http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=G.SKILL
$108 gskill 4gb 2000 9-9-9-24 timings

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=4133 [...] OLERMASTER
$30 heatsink, good price

http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] ture=ANTEC
$99 antec 900

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

overshocks wrote :

tigerdirect is a rip off. i didnt use lucomputers because i copied and paste this from a build i made yesterday to help a person.

canadian :

http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] e=GIGABYTE
$179 gigabyte ud4p

http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] ture=INTEL
$225 i5 750

http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=G.SKILL
$96 GSKILL 4gb 1600 8-8-8-21 timings

or

http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=G.SKILL
$108 gskill 4gb 2000 9-9-9-24 timings

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=4133 [...] OLERMASTER
$30 heatsink, good price

http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] ture=ANTEC
$99 antec 900

I'm not Canadian, didn't know Tigerdirect is a ripoff

Now, PSU: http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=CORSAIR
RAM: http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] acture=OCZ
MOBO: http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] e=GIGABYTE
HDD: http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=SEAGATE (use your old HDD as a secondary drive for storage.)

Leave the rest the same as overshocks wanted it.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ CPU: Intel Core i7 920 @3.2Ghz, MOBO: Asus P6T SE, RAM: 3x 2gb OCZ Platinum OCZ3P1600LV6GK, GPU: Sapphire HD 5870, PSU: Corsair HX520W, HDD: Seagate ST31000528AS 1Tb 32mb, COOLER: Scythe Mugen (S775 version), CASE: Coolermaster CM690
Reply to Gulli

Gulli wrote :

I'm not Canadian, didn't know Tigerdirect is a ripoff

Now, PSU: http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=CORSAIR
RAM: http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] acture=OCZ
MOBO: http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] e=GIGABYTE
HDD: http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=SEAGATE (use your old HDD as a secondary drive for storage.)

Leave the rest the same as overshocks wanted it.

that ram sucks? 1333 CL 9-9-9-20, add 6 dollars get the gskill i posted instead? DDR3-1600 CL8-8-8-21

dont know about lucomputers prices for these parts..go compare.

Message edited by overshocks on 09-20-2009 at 09:51:08 PM

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

I suggest this ram kit over all of the suggested ones, its low latency so it will be faster than them
http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=G.SKILL

dont forget to use NCIX's price match feature to get the best deal and get it all shipped in one box.

Message quoted 2 times

Reply to hunter315

hunter315 wrote :

I suggest this ram kit over all of the suggested ones, its low latency so it will be faster than them
http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=G.SKILL

dont forget to use NCIX's price match feature to get the best deal and get it all shipped in one box.

i dont think hes ordering online, he said 10 min with the stores..good ram tho

i suggested this earlier, with latency being 1 higher and its $9 cheaper
http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=G.SKILL

i think this would be best choice if u want speed instead of lower latency, DDR3-2000 CL9-9-9-24
http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=G.SKILL

1600 vs 2000 the performance is bout the same cuz of the tighter latencies.

Message edited by overshocks on 09-20-2009 at 09:58:35 PM

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

hunter315 wrote :

I suggest this ram kit over all of the suggested ones, its low latency so it will be faster than them
http://www.directcanada.com/produc [...] re=G.SKILL

dont forget to use NCIX's price match feature to get the best deal and get it all shipped in one box.

Yeah, that RAM would be better than what I choose, it's also more expensive and you won't feel the difference while gaming, I believe tom's hardware had an article about DDR3 with the conclusion being basically that you might gain 1fps between 1066mhz and 2000mhz memory, timings had no effect either.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by Gulli on 09-20-2009 at 09:58:26 PM

------------------------------ CPU: Intel Core i7 920 @3.2Ghz, MOBO: Asus P6T SE, RAM: 3x 2gb OCZ Platinum OCZ3P1600LV6GK, GPU: Sapphire HD 5870, PSU: Corsair HX520W, HDD: Seagate ST31000528AS 1Tb 32mb, COOLER: Scythe Mugen (S775 version), CASE: Coolermaster CM690
Reply to Gulli

If you have read the memory articles here you would have seen that the difference between 1066MHz and 1600MHz ram is less than the difference between CL9 and CL7 memory, latency is more important than speed as the two are combined to give the true speed of the memory.

Reply to hunter315

Gulli wrote :

Yeah, that RAM would be better than what I choose, it's also more expensive and you won't feel the difference while gaming, I believe tom's hardware had an article about DDR3 with the conclusion being basically that you might gain 1fps between 1066mhz and 2000mhz memory, timings had no effect either.

you're wrong with the last part. timings do have an effect, because when comparing 1600 CL8-8-8-21 vs 2000 CL9-9-9-24 , the performance gap is so little because the timings make up for it.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

overshocks wrote :

you're wrong with the last part. timings do have an effect, because when comparing 1600 CL8-8-8-21 vs 2000 CL9-9-9-24 , the performance gap is so little because the timings make up for it.

This is the article: http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 325-7.html I agree one should look for fast timings but only if it doesn't cost more, it's just not worth your money.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ CPU: Intel Core i7 920 @3.2Ghz, MOBO: Asus P6T SE, RAM: 3x 2gb OCZ Platinum OCZ3P1600LV6GK, GPU: Sapphire HD 5870, PSU: Corsair HX520W, HDD: Seagate ST31000528AS 1Tb 32mb, COOLER: Scythe Mugen (S775 version), CASE: Coolermaster CM690
Reply to Gulli

Gulli wrote :

This is the article: http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 325-7.html I agree one should look for fast timings but only if it doesn't cost more, it's just not worth your money.

it only costs say 5-10 more usually, it is worth it if you do video editing..etc. but in terms of gaming the performance will not be noticeable.
my opinion is that 1600 ram with law latencies is the best because of the it is balanced out. the mid range price also, affordable
or just get 1066 or 1333 and overclock, it's the same thing basically

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by overshocks on 09-20-2009 at 10:14:49 PM

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

overshocks wrote :

it only costs say 5-10 more usually, it is worth it if you do video editing..etc. but in terms of gaming the performance will not be noticeable.
my opinion is that 1600 ram with law latencies is the best because of the it is balanced out. the mid range price also, affordable

Yeah, sure, 5 bucks extra won't matter that much, it's up to the OP to determine how strict his budget is.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ CPU: Intel Core i7 920 @3.2Ghz, MOBO: Asus P6T SE, RAM: 3x 2gb OCZ Platinum OCZ3P1600LV6GK, GPU: Sapphire HD 5870, PSU: Corsair HX520W, HDD: Seagate ST31000528AS 1Tb 32mb, COOLER: Scythe Mugen (S775 version), CASE: Coolermaster CM690
Reply to Gulli

Gulli wrote :

Yeah, sure, 5 bucks extra won't matter that much, it's up to the OP to determine how strict his budget is.

overclocking will change this up if he does it, 1066 or 1333 will be fine.
lookin at ur signature 3.2ghz , why not higher? want lower temps? and mugen s775 version works on i7?

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by overshocks on 09-20-2009 at 10:18:21 PM

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

overshocks wrote :

overclocking will change this up if he does it, 1066 or 1333 will be fine.
lookin at ur signature 3.2ghz , why not higher? want lower temps? and mugen s775 version works on i7?

It doesn't work on socket 1366 but the P6T SE has additional holes for a socket 775 cooler, I took advantage of that, temps are reasonable at 3.2ghz and I think it's pointless to go higher because it won't make a difference with my 4890 (and probably not even the 5870), I noticed only 1-2 additional fps in Crysis Warhead and Supcom FA going from 2.66ghz to 3.2ghz, besides I've got a virtual i7 965 now, so I'm perfectly happy with 3.2ghz.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ CPU: Intel Core i7 920 @3.2Ghz, MOBO: Asus P6T SE, RAM: 3x 2gb OCZ Platinum OCZ3P1600LV6GK, GPU: Sapphire HD 5870, PSU: Corsair HX520W, HDD: Seagate ST31000528AS 1Tb 32mb, COOLER: Scythe Mugen (S775 version), CASE: Coolermaster CM690
Reply to Gulli

Gulli wrote :

It doesn't work on socket 1366 but the P6T SE has additional holes for a socket 775 cooler, I took advantage of that, temps are reasonable at 3.2ghz and I think it's pointless to go higher because it won't make a difference with my 4890 (and probably not even the 5870), I noticed only 1-2 additional fps in Crysis Warhead and Supcom FA going from 2.66ghz to 3.2ghz, besides I've got a virtual i7 965 now, so I'm perfectly happy with 3.2ghz.

i couldnt agree more, overclockin more is just for amusement rather than performance wise in terms of gaming. well done. i couldnt remember that the p6t se has additional holes lol..

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

overshocks wrote :

i couldnt agree more, overclockin more is just for amusement rather than performance wise in terms of gaming. well done. i couldnt remember that the p6t se has additional holes lol..

Yeah, I still had a Scyth Mugen from my previous socket 775 build, so the P6T SE with the extra holes was a nice gesture from ASUS (and a smart way to bind customers to their brand) and it made choosing a board for my new setup a lot easier (at the time all X58 were priced nearly equally and had all the features I would ever need.)

Message edited by Gulli on 09-20-2009 at 11:15:42 PM

------------------------------ CPU: Intel Core i7 920 @3.2Ghz, MOBO: Asus P6T SE, RAM: 3x 2gb OCZ Platinum OCZ3P1600LV6GK, GPU: Sapphire HD 5870, PSU: Corsair HX520W, HDD: Seagate ST31000528AS 1Tb 32mb, COOLER: Scythe Mugen (S775 version), CASE: Coolermaster CM690
Reply to Gulli

I was thinking of following Gulli's build plan, but I'll probably stick with 320gb hard drive and go for an antec 900 2 case. I was also looking at the ud3r from Lucomputers which costs about 140ish.

$225 for i5 750
$145 for ud3r
$150 for antec 900 2

not including tax thats 520 bucks. That leaves about 180 to stay within my limit. I was thinking of ordering the G-skill ram and then staying put with the 550w for a little bit and pick up the 750w corsair power supply down the road.

Reply to impaledmango

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