$600 Gaming PC

[walnutmon]

First Build, looking for any advice, criticism etc.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ASAP

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Programming, General Use

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, nVidia8800GTS, possibly a HDD

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com mostly

PARTS PREFERENCES:

CASE :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811517004 - AZZA Solano 1000 Black/Black Japanese SECC Steel/Metal mesh in front ATX Full Tower Computer Case

PS :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006 - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

MB :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131404 - ASUS P7P55D LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard

CPU :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115215 - Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor

COOLER :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103065 - COOLER MASTER Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-GP 120mm

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050, but I want the ability to increase this

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This is my first build, I want to ensure that the parts I've chosen will work with each other, and I also am on the fence regarding an operating system, I've not included RAM since it's a bit of an afterthought for me... I do have 4GB of DDR2, but it won't work with the system I've spec'd here

 

[scatrdfew]

Upgrade your gfx card while you're at it

 

[obsidian86]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131405 get the p55 pro board for sli/crossfire the board you chose has the second pci slot at x4 and this ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231279 or this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276

64 bit os

 

[walnutmon]

could you expand on that?

any advice on the build I have, or a reason for the updating my graphics card? it was $350 a year an a half ago, it should be more than enough... I've run Crysis on full settings with a much weaker PC and that graphics card.

I think the 8800GTS is still a competitive board for a $600 PC

 

[walnutmon]

get the p55 pro board for sli/crossfire the board you chose has the second pci slot at x4

Come again? I'm quite new to the terminology

Are you saying there is a limitation of the MB I've chosen? What is the limitation, and what is the p55 pro board?

 

[walnutmon]

edit: you expanded

 

[obsidian86]

asus p55 pro sli/crossfire bandwidth 2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode)

asus p55 lga bandwidth

1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (single at x16) 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots (@x4 mode, 2.5GT/s)

x4 pci slot limits the amount of data a second mid-high card will contribute to a dual card setup

 

[scatrdfew]

could you expand on that?

any advice on the build I have, or a reason for the updating my graphics card? it was $350 a year an a half ago, it should be more than enough... I've run Crysis on full settings with a much weaker PC and that graphics card.

I think the 8800GTS is still a competitive board for a $600 PC

eh, I just think that while you're at it, you might as well upgrade the card too...It's not a "bad" card, but there are better cards available for a really good price that you will see the benefit from. You may have run Crysis on "full settings" with that card (and a weaker PC) but it probably wasn't playable :-D

 

[walnutmon]

purely for savings right now I'm going to put the computer together, and use my current video card, but I have every intention of upgrading the card eventually, as well as the RAM, but your point is well taken, the video card is something to look at soon, perhaps after christmas

I was thinking of going with a cheaper processor/MB combo, but figured i'd spend extra there for long term viability, and the video card I can add later

do you recommend anything in specific, it's been awhile since I've bought a GPU

 

[snakej]

1st you want reliable products from a reliable company, Noo to that case
2nd I think you can go ahead and wait to upgrade your GPU because it is smarter to wait to ATI 5000 series drop a bit and also to see Nvidia counter ATI with their not yet announced gtx300 series.

and 3rd i dont recomend re-using anything else more than the GPU and a dvd burner.

Here is a quick reference build:

CPU & MotherBoard: Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail
ASUS P7P55D PRO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.273251

Memory Ram: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

HardDrive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

HSF: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

not quite the $600, but c'mon dude if u can get $600 u can save a little more to get $697, patient is the key and you wont regret.

 

[walnutmon]

Hey, I just wanted to let you know, you said not to get the case, but I already bought it when I saw your post... Your point on reliable companies is well taken, but I have to tell you, this case is AWESOME, it was a lucky pickup, but I would recommend it to anyone looking to build a computer, it's just an amazing design and everything about it is high quality

1st you want reliable products from a reliable company, Noo to that case
2nd I think you can go ahead and wait to upgrade your GPU because it is smarter to wait to ATI 5000 series drop a bit and also to see Nvidia counter ATI with their not yet announced gtx300 series.

 

[phrostbyte]

Hey, I just wanted to let you know, you said not to get the case, but I already bought it when I saw your post... Your point on reliable companies is well taken, but I have to tell you, this case is AWESOME, it was a lucky pickup, but I would recommend it to anyone looking to build a computer, it's just an amazing design and everything about it is high quality

I checked out that case and it actually looks pretty nice! Never heard of them before. Do you really feel it to be quality? no flimsy parts or problems? Good paint job? Not put together terribly? I am curious to know. It looks like my NZXT tempest except bigger fans, full tower, and under body air flow.