Tom's Hardware: Topic [Solved] 600-800 decent (?) gaming pc
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > [Solved] 600-800 decent (?) gaming pc
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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: (ASAP) BUDGET RANGE: (600-800)
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (GAMING, then just basic stuff; music, movies etc...)
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: (I COULD come up with mouse, keyboard, speakers, BUT its old stuff and I'd be willing to spend for new if there's a good deal anywhere.)
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: (Probably newegg.com but cost is the main issue, if its cheaper elsewhere, I'll go there.)
PARTS PREFERENCES: (OK, this is my first build and I have basic PC knowledge but little regarding PSU, fans, or cooling in general actually. I'd LIKE to have a Intel i5 750, at least 4gb RAM, at least 512 VRAM, and a decent internal HD, but I already have a 500gb external so its not imperative. As far as the rest goes, I just want decent, well-priced parts that work well for demanding games.)
OVERCLOCKING: (No, don't really know what it is and it seems a little useless for my goals?) SLI OR CROSSFIRE: (Again, not 100% sure I understand this well enough to make a decision, hoping others would divulge their wisdom 
MONITOR RESOLUTION: Not sure yet, depends on monitor.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Building for my hs Senior Project, or at least thats my excuse for the parents
Message edited by dwavrin on 10-12-2009 at 06:49:32 AM
| overshocks wrote : you can get a i5 750 build for 800 after rebate for sure. so no need to get a core 2 quad..because i5 750 beats anything before it. |
Thanks overshocks, seems like a plan. I'll go with the 750 but what else do you guys recommend? I'm basically looking for a parts list with full compatibility from the ground up. All help is much appreciated
All of those parts are good choices, let's see if you can finish that build under budget.
800 is good for an i5 build, but not with a good monitor included.
OK I couldn't fit a decent monitor into an i5 build, so you are back to an AMD build that can be upgraded down the road.
this is version 3... 800 ain't easy
X3 720BE and Asus 785G MB -182
A capable 3-core CPU... somewhere down the road you can upgrade to a faster quad, but for now you will find this plenty... equivalent to an Intel E8400, which I use and have absolutely no need to replace. The board is just a single GPU board, not crossfire capable, but it does have a nice onboard video for backup.
OCZ DDR2 1066 CAS 5
---
Antec 300 and BP500U PSU -95
The case is adequate now and can be upgraded with more fans later. The PSU is adequate for now.
---
HD -55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152181
Optical -29
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106289
---
Monitor -160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236050
While you might get by with a smaller monitor, I think 22" is pretty much standard these days. I have set you up with just enough GPU to handle it in most games at high settings... adding a second 4850 will cover the rest.
---
4850 -95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102824
Buy a second one when you can.
Vista 64-bit with Windows 7 upgrade
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116677
To be added later, an after market CPU cooler so that you can overclock the CPU.
With shipping, you should be at your budget cap.... possibly just over but you'll have rebates.
Message edited by Proximon on 10-12-2009 at 09:02:23 AM
A big list of recommended parts
Troubleshooting Guide w/links
Reply to Proximon
ahh proximon!! u beat me to it..i was just away..good find on the combo.
remember that mobo doesnt CF or SLI
"And I am thoroughly uneducated about SLI/Crossfire. I have had mostly Nvidias so I like them over ATI but my bias has no foundation so I'll leave the choice for an expert. "
okay lesson time, BASICALLY crossfire is a brand name for ATI Technologies' multi-GPU solution. The technology allows up to four graphics cards to be used in a single computer to improve graphics performance.
sli is a brand name for a multi-GPU solution developed by Nvidia for linking two or more video cards together to produce a single output. SLI is an application of parallel processing for computer graphics, meant to increase the processing power available for graphics.
info taken from wikipedia, more professional definition 
Message edited by overshocks on 10-12-2009 at 08:02:19 AM
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks
| Proximon wrote : Doh I knew I forgot something.... OS.
|
thanks for the catch didnt realize its IDE. ill change to urs
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks
just an update proximon if u missed it. he said 800 exclude monitor and check out my monitor
"haha thanks a lot, I understand your lethargy. Um, for the sake of simplicity, we'll say that the monitor is NOT included in the 800 but I do need one at some point. ( I looked at the i5 a little more closely and don't think I could go without now) "
Message edited by overshocks on 10-12-2009 at 08:56:52 AM
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks
| Proximon wrote : /cry Yes I missed it. Yes, that Acer is on my short list, but I look at it this way.... more monitor needs more GPU to run at native resolution. Also the one I listed is faster, better in games. The Acer you listed is better for high def movies and such though. I think he should go with the UD4P and the 4850, then grab the second one later.... Or go a 5850 For any gaming build the biggest expense should be the GPU, not the CPU... so it seems to me CF 4850s or a single 5850. |
5850 is OVERKILL if he get your monitor 1680x1050.
dont forget my monitor is 1920x1080 at same price
my build owns yours no hard feelings hehe
Message edited by overshocks on 10-12-2009 at 09:26:00 AM
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks
None I just gave up trying.
I'm thinking a lower cost AMD solution with a crossfire capable board, your monitor, and a 5850 at this point.
The 720BE comes with a nice AM3 790X combo as I recall.
A big list of recommended parts
Troubleshooting Guide w/links
Reply to Proximon
| Proximon wrote : None I'm thinking a lower cost AMD solution with a crossfire capable board, your monitor, and a 5850 at this point. The 720BE comes with a nice AM3 790X combo as I recall. |
its just too bad i5 750 DOMINATES every amd processor..thats the thing..
at 800 bucks..its nice with 4870 1gb
Message edited by overshocks on 10-12-2009 at 09:59:05 AM
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks
NP, the OP really wants an i5 anyway 
Different things are important to different people. Some folks will say they want a gaming rig, when really they want a very quiet gaming rig, for instance. Or they want shorter load times in Crysis more than they want frame rates.
A big list of recommended parts
Troubleshooting Guide w/links
Reply to Proximon
| Proximon wrote : NP, the OP really wants an i5 anyway |
Now, we'll wait for the OP to come back and take a look at my build. It's great for the price. I might even buy this myself editing some parts.
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks
Well the 955 is marginally slower than the 965 and about the same price as the 750, so it's still not a domination of all AMD CPUs, just most . I rarely recommend the 965 now unless it's marginally more expensive than the 955 and the person doesn't want to overclock.
Reply to randomizer
| randomizer wrote : Well the 955 is marginally slower than the 965 and about the same price as the 750, so it's still not a domination of all AMD CPUs, just most |
In the end, we know i5 750 beats all the amd cpus at a price below $200. That's a significant mile stone on Intel's part. I wonder what AMD is doing/planning...next
haha come to think of it intel vs amd+ati vs nvidia. funny...
intels launch on the larabee will be quite interesting..seeing how they said it's performance is like gtx 285..i doubt it though
Message edited by overshocks on 10-13-2009 at 03:24:17 AM
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks
^looks amazing
when you get it, post some results, great to hear I can help
Message edited by overshocks on 10-13-2009 at 05:47:25 AM
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks
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