Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > [Solved] Time to drop $4k. Pimp my gaming rig.

[Solved] Time to drop $4k. Pimp my gaming rig.

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - [Solved] Time to drop $4k. Pimp my gaming rig.

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!

Ask the community Add a reply

Best answer from gkay09.

Bottom Search this thread

Oh mighty hardware gurus, I pray to the wise ones to review my shopping cart and steer me on the right path...

Purchase Date: Immediate
Budget: under $2k for PC, under $2k for Monitor
Usage: Gaming, Video & Photo Editing, Photoshop, Coding, Surfing
Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS (Windows 7)
Overclocking: No
Crossfire: Maybe
Res: 2560 x 1600
Comments:
I want a decent gaming machine and something that can handle a big monitor. Don’t care about over clocking – I’m hoping the i7 920 will be fast enough for a few years. Also something that I can throw HD video editing at. I’m also a bit of a noise freak – so quieter components the better without compromising performance.

Here’s what I’m thinking:

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 ~ $280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115202
[Seems decent enough.]

Mb: ASUS P6T SE LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard ~ $209
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131386
[Don’t need anything too fancy if I’m not over clocking]

Ram: Mushkin Redline 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 (6-7-6-18) ~ $212
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820226052
[Seems like decent Ram w/ low numbers]

Video: MSI R5870-PM2D1G Radeon HD 5870 ~ $389
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127449
[I was thinking two of these with the 30” screen, but it seems beefy enough, that it might be overkill. Thoughts?]

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Two ~ $124
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129058
[I don’t see the point of a full tower, and would like it to be compact if possible. Seems like a decent case].

PSU: Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W ~ $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371022
[750w seems like more than enough]

Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM (Qty 2) ~ $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152181
[Two of these in RAID0. I’m sure there’s better HD’s out there, I haven’t looked too hard yet. Reviews say these are quiet. ]

Optical: LG Blu-ray Burner BH08LS20 ~ $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136164
[Nothing fancy]

Cooler: Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme-1366 ~$75
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556088318.html
[If I’m not overclocking, perhaps the stock cooler is good enough? The Prolimatech Megahalems looks cool, but I’m worried that sucker won’t fit into a small case.]

--
Total PC Cost: ~ $1694

Monitor: Dell 3008WFP ~$1400
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna [...] u=223-4890
[Love the size/look. Several reviews talk about "input lag" issues that make it not great for gaming. How many Radeon HD 5870's I need to power this sucker? Other contender is the 30" Apple.]

Thought, opinions, flames, burning at the stake.... all welcomed.

Add a reply

I would suggest these changes...
1. RAM - As you will not be overclocking, I dont see the need for such an expensive RAM...
I would suggest this one instead...
CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 CAS 7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145242
You wouldn't notice any difference between a CAS 6 and CAS 7 RAM...

2. PSU - I would suggest Corsair 750TX instead.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006

3. Change the brand from MSI to XFX - Better warranty
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150443

4. Mobo - For nearly the same price, I would suggest the Rampage II Gene
If you wont add an sound cards or other cards, then get this one...It comes with better onboard sound.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131371
Or another option is ASRock X58 Extreme

5. CASE - This case is as good as the 902 and has very good construction and is cheaper...
CM HAF 922
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119197

6. Building such a high end config, an SSD maybe ?
INTEL SSDSA2MH080G2C1 X25M 2.5in 80GB SATA II
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] st=froogle

7. CPU Cooler - As you will not be overclocking, you might not need a CPU cooler, but it is always better as it will keep the CPU cooler...
Some options.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233029
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185093
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103057

Now for the Screen - Do you know that the 5870 can support 3 screens at a time ?
Instead of buying a single large screen, I would rather buy 3x 24" Dell and be happy with the extra pixel area...
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna [...] u=320-8277
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna [...] u=320-6272

Best answer

Reply to gkay09

A $4000 computer with a Samsung Spinpoint. LOL

And a i7 920 is simply not fast enough for 2 5870's.

Why on Earth would you pay $1400 for a measly 30" screen? I'll sell ya my 52" plasma for $5K

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by zipzoomflyhigh on 10-07-2009 at 02:03:09 PM

Reply to zipzoomflyhigh

zipzoomflyhigh wrote :

And a i7 920 is simply not fast enough for 2 5870's.

LOL. The 920 is the fastest thing the guy could get with a reasonable price tag, the higher models of the 1366 could possibly blow his budget (even thought it is already quite high).

@gkay09
+1 for the SSD.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to amnotanoobie

thanks for the feedback.

- RAM, PSU, Video and Mobo changes all seem good.
- Case and Cooler I'll noodle on some more
- I thought about SSD, but I'm OK waiting for it to come down a lot more - seems like I can add later easily. With an 80Gb, you'd just run Windows on it and put all the apps on the HDD? Would it really be that much of a perceivable difference? I don't care about boot times, as I leave my PC on 24x7.
- Sounds like the Spinpoint was a bad selection out of the gate. Maybe the WD Caviar Black (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284)?

- Re: screen. You have experience with multi-monitor gaming? It seems weird to me that there is a physical divider between the monitors right in the middle of my view-point. Maybe I'd get used to it. For desktop stuff - I agree - several 24"'s would be better ...

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to spacklemaster

I thought the F3 was one of the most reliable around as it's a single platter high density? Im sure I read on here it was a good drive. I'll be using the 1tb version on a (very) similar system I'm building. I used this thread as a guide as we want similar things - thanks everyone ^

Reply to CarmineB

spacklemaster wrote :

I think Samsung and ATI are working on developing almost zero bezel monitors - with the multi-display power of the new 5xxx series.

"AMD is working closely with leading display partner Samsung Electronics to introduce ultra-thin bezel monitors and compatible stands that can easily be tiled to create an even more immersive and virtually seamless ATI Eyefinity experience. The ultra-thin bezels will enable customers to create their own scalable display matrix. Samsung is the first to bring these displays to market."

link: http://www.amd.com/us/press-releas [...] ept10.aspx

Reply to jared51182

amnotanoobie wrote :

Really? 2.66ghz is not fast, and surely not fast enough for 2 HD5870's. Apparently you missed the part where hs has a $4000 budget. LOL. Reading comprehension, its amazing isn't it.
If I wanted to spend $4000 on a computer, and I surely would never even spend 1/4 that, I would have a 4.5ghz water cooled processor that could keep up with such GPU power.

Message edited by zipzoomflyhigh on 10-08-2009 at 02:40:56 PM

Reply to zipzoomflyhigh

Ask the community Add a reply

Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > [Solved] Time to drop $4k. Pimp my gaming rig.

Go to:

Help |
Forum rules

There are 1148 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Page generated in 0.600 seconds

Focus On

[Solved] Time to drop $4k. Pimp my gaming rig.

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - [Solved] Time to drop $4k. Pimp my gaming rig.