Help a newbie assemble this 1K$ rig :) (pic included!)

[d3lit3]

Hey guys!

First time assembling my own rig, I'm going tigerdirect.ca for this one, and I need the gaming PC to be 1000$ or less. So far this is what I've come up with. Please comment on it if you can, also have a few questions;

Will the PSU be enough? Could I buy a cheaper processor, or would it bottleneck the 4890...or get really outdated fast (I was thinking the q8200 instead...)? Anything I'm missing (building it from scratch)? Thanks.



APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: In a week

BUDGET RANGE: 800-1000$

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, movies, internet, photoshop

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Tigerdirect.ca

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada

PARTS PREFERENCES: Doesn't matter really, but ATI is cheaper.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080

Here is a pic of the parts I am planning to buy;

 

[Niklas_13]

Change out some parts. I missed the ca part sorry my bad but i would go with something more in the line of what i posted. That PSU is crap the case dont look all that good the ram dont have heat spreders and not grate ram.



SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223C - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151192
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

$29.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192
1
Kingston 4GB Micro SDHC Flash Card with microSD/SDHC USB Reader Model MRG2+SDC4/4GB - Retail
Item #: N82E16820134990
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$11.99 Saving $11.99
$0.00



XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814150359
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy
-$55.00 Instant $249.99
$194.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150359



OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817341022
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

-$20.00 Instant
$25.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$89.99
$69.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022



G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231276
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$89.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276




COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811119137
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822136319
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$15.00 Instant
-$45.00 Combo $159.98
$99.98 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.273732




Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115215
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813128405
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

-$10.00 Combo $309.98
$299.98 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.270438
Subtotal: $784.92

 

[DokkRokken]

Is there a reason why you're using TigerDirect.ca? Often, their prices are considerably higher than retailers like www.ncix.com, and DirectCanada. Also, NCIX allows you to 'pricematch' competitor's prices against theirs which means you may end up saving some money too. You can also create an account on the hardwarecanucks.com forum and ask for advice on Canadian prices on there too.

 

[sisley_111]

Aggred with DokkRokken. For me DirectCanda is THE store.

About your build, please use a good power supply. Corsair 550VX for example, not a generic part...

Seagate 7200.12 drive are faster, like the samsung F3 and cheaper than Western Black.

About the video card, at this price, you can have the Sapphire Vapor-X from DirectCanada. Cool and quiet.

 

[d3lit3]

Ok thanks guys. Well I'm using tigerdirect.ca because it's a physical store I can drive to, and I prefer that rather then online shipping. If directcanada has a store in Toronto I'd use it instead.


I'd also prefer a better mobo and RAM for the same price or even cheaper, but Tigerdirect doesn't have it. For example, I'd much rather buy the G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB from newegg for 80$.

 

[DokkRokken]

Ok thanks guys. Well I'm using tigerdirect.ca because it's a physical store I can drive to, and I prefer that rather then online shipping. If directcanada has a store in Toronto I'd use it instead.

Unfortunately, Direct Canada doesn't do in-person orders, and their only office is in BC.

Have you checked out TigerDirect's barebone kits? You might save some coin, like on this i7 system:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4899014&sku=B69-1099

There's no GFX card, unfortunately, but an XFX 4890 (cheapest one on TD without rebate) would bump the total to $1,046. I'm not a keener on the case, but the other stuff looks really decent, and it's a surprisingly good deal given your situation. If you can nab that deal at a Tigerdirect store, it may be a good bet.

 

[Shadow703793]

DO NOT SKIMP ON THE PSU!!!!EVER. "PowerUp" is a LOW QUALITY brand. Get a quality unit from Corsair, PC Power & Cooling, Antec, Seasonic, or OCZ. A quality 550W should be OK. I recommend a 650W+ if going to CrossFire down the road. I recommend a Corsair 550VX/650TX or smiler quality PSU.

DO NOT get the Intel branded board if going for overclocking. The Intel boards do not have much BIOS settings for OCing (as in voltage control levels,LLC,etc)

Also, try and get a 5850 as it's only $30 more in US. Not sure about over there.

 

[d3lit3]

Hm the barebone kits seem intriguing, never saw them before. I found this;

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5226067&sku=B69-1115

Looks like it has a pretty good PSU as well, lots of good reviews. It has all the essentials though, right? If I add the 4890 and a DVD burner would that be everything? Along with the 4890 and a DVD burner, that barebone kit sums up to $929.

Oh and btw how's the mobo? I don't really plan to overclock but I'd want the i5 to use turbo mode, which apparently (from what I've read) automatically increases your CPU clock speeds when you're gaming, etc. Would I be able to use this with that mobo?

 

[DokkRokken]

Hm the barebone kits seem intriguing, never saw them before. I found this;

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5226067&sku=B69-1115

Looks like it has a pretty good PSU as well, lots of good reviews. It has all the essentials though, right? If I add the 4890 and a DVD burner would that be everything? Along with the 4890 and a DVD burner, that barebone kit sums up to $929.

Oh and btw how's the mobo? I don't really plan to overclock but I'd want the i5 to use turbo mode, which apparently (from what I've read) automatically increases your CPU clock speeds when you're gaming, etc. Would I be able to use this with that mobo?

If you don't plan on CrossFiring/SLI'ng or overclocking, that Intel board will serve your needs, and it will support Turbo Mode. All you'll need to buy is the 4890, DVD burner, and an OEM copy of Windows if you don't already have it. Make sure the OS is 64bit in order to take advantage of the 4GB of RAM.

The reason I suggested the Core i7 (EVGA, Socket 1366) build is because the motherboard brand is very well respected, with mountains of support on their forums. Plus, it has some really good OC muscle, and support for multiple GFX cards, both of which could be worthwhile in the future, although it looks like the PSU may not have enough connectors for more than one high-end GFX card.

Anyway, if keeping cost under strict control is a priority, then I think the i5 bundle is the way to go!

 

[d3lit3]

If you don't plan on CrossFiring/SLI'ng or overclocking, that Intel board will serve your needs, and it will support Turbo Mode. All you'll need to buy is the 4890, DVD burner, and an OEM copy of Windows if you don't already have it. Make sure the OS is 64bit in order to take advantage of the 4GB of RAM.

The reason I suggested the Core i7 (EVGA, Socket 1366) build is because the motherboard brand is very well respected, with mountains of support on their forums. Plus, it has some really good OC muscle, and support for multiple GFX cards, both of which could be worthwhile in the future, although it looks like the PSU may not have enough connectors for more than one high-end GFX card.

Anyway, if keeping cost under strict control is a priority, then I think the i5 bundle is the way to go!

Yes, unfortunately it is, otherwise I would go for the awesome i7 barebone you recommended. But I'm on a strict budget, so I'll have to settle for less.

Thanks for your insight, I plan to buy the build + a 4890, a DVD burner, and the new Windows 7 next week (the i5 is sold out atm...). Will let you know how everything goes but if anyone has anything to say, feel free - it's the weekend .

 

[impaledmango]

Look at http://infonec.com/site/main.php, i by my parts from the dundas location, really good prices that are generally better then newegg.ca

 

[d3lit3]

Look at http://infonec.com/site/main.php, i by my parts from the dundas location, really good prices that are generally better then newegg.ca

Wow extremely useful, thanks a lot! This seems like the best option for me, and it's pretty close too. Question though, can they assemble your build for you as well? And can you drive there and order your PC from an employee, or do you have to do it online (I don't know if this makes sense...)?

Basically what would be convenient for me is to tell them which PC parts I'd like, and then they'd take all the parts and assemble them, and I drive down there and pay in cold hard cash. Would something like this be possible? Thanks.

 

[impaledmango]

I do know they have inperson transactions, where you can order form an employee and pay with cash only, that's what I did. Also talk to the asian guy, he'll help you pick the right stuff for your system

As for if they build it for you, I'm not sure. I've read reviews saying they do, and they ask if you want a specific request so they might. I just received my parts from them today and made my first gaming build. Quite proud I must say and easy too, but cable management is a bitch

there's also http://lucomputers.com/site/ which has a location at leslie and york mills, there prices are slightly more then infonec, but I know 100% they build PCs and have descent in person customer service. Also you can take your PC to them and for $20 they'll install your choice of operating system, though you dont get the disc.

 

[d3lit3]

Lol. Yeah their prices are a bit too much :/.

I'd still prefer infonec if they assemble PCs...I'll call them tomorrow I guess.

 

[impaledmango]

I'd buy the antec 300 case. Really good case for the price...
http://infonec.com/site/main.php?module=detail&id=353163

Fatality 550w psu...
http://infonec.com/site/main.php?module=detail&id=442781

i5 750, P55 gigabyte ud3r, 4gb 1600mhz OCZ ram...
http://infonec.com/site/main.php?module=detail&id=449761

Saphire 5770...
http://infonec.com/site/main.php?module=detail&id=449818id=449818

Then your choice of DvD drive and power supply. Make sure the dvd drive is SATA, I almost bought an ide one by mistake till the employee told me.

total is $805 +80-120 for a descent dvd and hard drive. That is $900 +13% tax. You'll be just under $1000

 

[DokkRokken]

Not shabby at all, and it's always good to do business with the little guy.

However, that 5770 will not have the horsepower for satisfactory 1900x1200 performance. I'd still go with a 4890, and then wait and see how nVidia and AMD play their DirectX 11 hands later in the new year.

 

[Shadow703793]

^Agreed on the 4890.

@OP: Also check Newegg Canada for any deals: http://www.newegg.ca/

 

[d3lit3]

Ok, well something else has come up. Basically I was thinking instead of the 4890 I could get a 5850 to last me for a LONG time. With the i5 build, I could not replace the 4890 with the 5850 because it would be too much $$ for me. BUT, if I replaced the CPU and mobo, I would have enough extra money to add the 5850.

What do you guys think of this? If I got the AMD Phenom II X4 945 / 3 GHz processor instead of the Intel Core i5 i5-750 / 2.66 GHz processor, then I could get the 5850 (i5 costs 220$, 945 costs 170$ - allowing me to get the 5850). But the problem with this is I'm not sure if the AMD CPU would bottleneck the 5850. Would it bottleneck significantly more than the i5? I plan to play @ 1920x1080, no plans to CF.

So, here was my old build;

And, if revised specially for the 5850, I came up with this;

Which would be 15$ more than the i5 build, but this would be my final resort. Can't go higher.

As you can see it swaps the 4890 & i5 for the 5850 & 945 (along with a new motherboard). Is it worth it (please note I plan to use this for gaming)?

Intel i5-750
ATI 4890 IGB

or

AMD II X4 945 @ 3.0Ghz
ATI 5850 1GB
(new ASUS mobo)

??

 

[Shadow703793]

Go with the AMD in that case. Imo, Intel should never have made LGA1156. It's going to be a dead socket down the road with out any chance of a Hexa core CPU. On the other hand, AMD *may* have a hexcore CPU for AM3.

 

[d3lit3]

Go with the AMD in that case. Imo, Intel should never have made LGA1156. It's going to be a dead socket down the road with out any chance of a Hexa core CPU. On the other hand, AMD *may* have a hexcore CPU for AM3.

Good to know, thanks.

What about bottlnecking? I'm concerned I'm gonna buy a 5850 with that 945 and it's gonna perform way worse than it's supposed due to the CPU. But I don't know much about bottlenecking, and a quad core CPU @ 3.0 Ghz might be more than enough. What do you think?

 

[impaledmango]

yea it will be more then enough.

 

[impaledmango]

Good to know, thanks.

What about bottlnecking? I'm concerned I'm gonna buy a 5850 with that 945 and it's gonna perform way worse than it's supposed due to the CPU. But I don't know much about bottlenecking, and a quad core CPU @ 3.0 Ghz might be more than enough. What do you think?

For god's sake spend the extra $10 and buy the 955 http://infonec.com/site/main.php?module=detail&id=444317!!!!!!!! LoL you wont regret it, it destroys a 945 in overclocking!! If I were you i'd buy a this hard drive... even though it's only 500gb, you can put the saved 50 bucks into... Phenom 965 http://infonec.com/site/main.php?module=detail&id=449110.. and then the other 20 into the antec 300...http://infonec.com/site/main.php?module=detail&id=353163 then later on you can always just buy and pop in a harddrive.

edit: actually I dont think the 955 is the Black Edition version.

 

[d3lit3]

Yeah, it's not the BE. And it uses 195w as opposed to the 945s 95w. Still worth it? Not sure if the PSU would be enough for 125w lol...

 

[DokkRokken]

Don't fret about the 945, because it's got a lot of power already, and since you're not overclocking, it's an awesome choice. Plus it lets you get your hands on a 5850!

Everything else looks great, and that Asus 790X shouldn't disappoint! The board gives you an extra slot to let you Crossfire if you wish, and you can get a reliable OC out of it if that's something you wish to do in the future.

 

[Shadow703793]

^+1.