APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: by the end of October
BUDGET RANGE: $2000 No rebates
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming and some research on game design, playing music and movies, word processing
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, OS (Win 7 x64)- speakers and monitor can come later
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg or any other retailer easy to order from (see below)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US
PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel
OVERCLOCKING: Yes
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes (eventually)
MONITOR RESOLUTION: I have an Ultrasharp 24" in my office, not sure if this build will be paired with that or my 19" Samsung.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
My new job is allowing me to build a computer for gaming research. I don't have a hard cap for my budget, but it is coming out of my research money so the less I spend the better. Because they are doing the ordering, rebates won't help me, and I might not be able to take advantage of deals unless they last about a week, as I've got to go through purchasing and they can be slow to actually pull the trigger. Looking to have everything ordered by the end of October. this is a one-shot deal, so I want the machine to be as future-proof as possible without going overboard.
I've built before and am OK at it, currently using a totally adequate Asus p5b-e/e6400/6GB/Radeon x1950 pro/Win 7 x64/2x250 GB Western Digital in RAID 0 and a 1 TB Spinpoint for data.
I'd like to overclock but don't have much experience with it- I have the cash to put together a well-cooled system with parts conducive to it, so I'd like to experiment a little. And I need this to be future-proof, as I'm not getting another computer any time soon.
I have a Logitech G9 mouse and a few nice keyboards to pick from, as well as an RTM copy of Win 7 x64. I'll probably be getting a monitor, speakers, and a gaming headset for the system but I'm not as concerned with ordering these at the same as the other components.
Here is my budget broken down by item and what I'm thinking of getting as of right now:
Total w/out monitor/speakers/headset: $1925
===
Processor- $400
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz- $289
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214
===
Motherboard- $300
No ideas on this one- just started looking, would like something with wifi, crossfire, and if there's good onboard sound I can skip the Soundblaster
===
GPU- $400
SAPPHIRE 100281SR Radeon HD 5870- $379
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102856&cm_re=Radeon_HD_5870-_-14-102-856-_-Product
Which version grab? Worth waiting for the x2? Will the performance bump be worth it?
===
PSU- $100
===
Case- $100
Antec Nine Hundred - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
Don't need it to look flashy, but do want something with great airflow and lots of room, not married to this one.
===
Ram- $200
WINTEC AMPX 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)- $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161305&Tpk=WINTEC%20AMPX%206GB%20%283%20x%202GB%29%20240-Pin%20DDR3%20SDRAM%20DDR3
6 GB of triple channel OK or should I spend to get 12 GB? Haven't bought RAM in a while, so any advice on this front would be helpful.
==
Hard drive- $200
This is what I'm thinking now-
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM- $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152100
Faster/smaller HD? Two 500 or 750 GB/7200 RPM in a RAID 0? I'm considering a 2 TB drive (or 2x 1.5 TB) for storage as well. I'd like to keep a lot of games and software installed on the OS drive, so the larger the better.
===
Cooling- $100
Really not sure what to do here. I have a Zalman 9500 CPU cooler and VF 1000 GPU cooler in my desktop currently. My case was running hot so I bought the best-rated solutions for around $50/each. Should I just do the same here? Suggestions for case fans? I also have a Silverstone FM 121 that cranks up fast and loud when I need it.
===
Optical- $30
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW SATA DVD Burner LightScribe- $32
Worth upgrading to Blu-Ray reader?
===
Sound Card- $100
Creative Sound Blaster X-fi Titanium
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019&cm_re=soundblaster-_-29-102-019-_-Product
Comments- is this worth it or would I be better off spending the $$$ elsewhere?
===
I'd also appreciate advice on a good gaming monitor, under $400, speakers and a headset. I have a Logitech z-5500 but am using those in my living room now, and they'd probably be overkill for what I need on this system.
BUDGET RANGE: $2000 No rebates
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming and some research on game design, playing music and movies, word processing
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, OS (Win 7 x64)- speakers and monitor can come later
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg or any other retailer easy to order from (see below)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US
PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel
OVERCLOCKING: Yes
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes (eventually)
MONITOR RESOLUTION: I have an Ultrasharp 24" in my office, not sure if this build will be paired with that or my 19" Samsung.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
My new job is allowing me to build a computer for gaming research. I don't have a hard cap for my budget, but it is coming out of my research money so the less I spend the better. Because they are doing the ordering, rebates won't help me, and I might not be able to take advantage of deals unless they last about a week, as I've got to go through purchasing and they can be slow to actually pull the trigger. Looking to have everything ordered by the end of October. this is a one-shot deal, so I want the machine to be as future-proof as possible without going overboard.
I've built before and am OK at it, currently using a totally adequate Asus p5b-e/e6400/6GB/Radeon x1950 pro/Win 7 x64/2x250 GB Western Digital in RAID 0 and a 1 TB Spinpoint for data.
I'd like to overclock but don't have much experience with it- I have the cash to put together a well-cooled system with parts conducive to it, so I'd like to experiment a little. And I need this to be future-proof, as I'm not getting another computer any time soon.
I have a Logitech G9 mouse and a few nice keyboards to pick from, as well as an RTM copy of Win 7 x64. I'll probably be getting a monitor, speakers, and a gaming headset for the system but I'm not as concerned with ordering these at the same as the other components.
Here is my budget broken down by item and what I'm thinking of getting as of right now:
Total w/out monitor/speakers/headset: $1925
===
Processor- $400
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz- $289
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214
===
Motherboard- $300
No ideas on this one- just started looking, would like something with wifi, crossfire, and if there's good onboard sound I can skip the Soundblaster
===
GPU- $400
SAPPHIRE 100281SR Radeon HD 5870- $379
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102856&cm_re=Radeon_HD_5870-_-14-102-856-_-Product
Which version grab? Worth waiting for the x2? Will the performance bump be worth it?
===
PSU- $100
===
Case- $100
Antec Nine Hundred - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
Don't need it to look flashy, but do want something with great airflow and lots of room, not married to this one.
===
Ram- $200
WINTEC AMPX 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)- $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161305&Tpk=WINTEC%20AMPX%206GB%20%283%20x%202GB%29%20240-Pin%20DDR3%20SDRAM%20DDR3
6 GB of triple channel OK or should I spend to get 12 GB? Haven't bought RAM in a while, so any advice on this front would be helpful.
==
Hard drive- $200
This is what I'm thinking now-
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM- $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152100
Faster/smaller HD? Two 500 or 750 GB/7200 RPM in a RAID 0? I'm considering a 2 TB drive (or 2x 1.5 TB) for storage as well. I'd like to keep a lot of games and software installed on the OS drive, so the larger the better.
===
Cooling- $100
Really not sure what to do here. I have a Zalman 9500 CPU cooler and VF 1000 GPU cooler in my desktop currently. My case was running hot so I bought the best-rated solutions for around $50/each. Should I just do the same here? Suggestions for case fans? I also have a Silverstone FM 121 that cranks up fast and loud when I need it.
===
Optical- $30
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW SATA DVD Burner LightScribe- $32
Worth upgrading to Blu-Ray reader?
===
Sound Card- $100
Creative Sound Blaster X-fi Titanium
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019&cm_re=soundblaster-_-29-102-019-_-Product
Comments- is this worth it or would I be better off spending the $$$ elsewhere?
===
I'd also appreciate advice on a good gaming monitor, under $400, speakers and a headset. I have a Logitech z-5500 but am using those in my living room now, and they'd probably be overkill for what I need on this system.