$1000 or Less Gaming Build

[brettcb]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: In the next week or so. BUDGET RANGE: $800-$1000 Before / After Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: World of Warcraft, Multi-Tasking, Movies, Music, General computer usage.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Windows license [Already own a Windows 7: Ultimate license.]

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg and other reputable sites.

PARTS PREFERENCES: No preference.

OVERCLOCKING: Yes.

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe. At a later time.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680 x 1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This is going to be a gaming machine and that is basically it. I've been debating on going the SSD route but that will most likely put me at a $1300-1500 price range. Any recommendations are welcome. The Core i5 is what I was looking to build around but I'm open to any ideas.

 

[jbakerlent]

Welcome to the forum. Maybe something like this.
Intel Core i7 860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214

ASUS P7P55D PRO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131405&cm_re=p55_motherboards-_-13-131-405-_-Product

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227478

ASUS EAH5770/2DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121350

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&Tpk=f3%20500gb

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&cm_re=750w_corsiar-_-17-139-006-_-Product

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-066-_-Product

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-GP 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

See what you think.

 

[brettcb]

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

ASUS P7P55D PRO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227478

ASUS EAH5850/G/2DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121349

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] f3%20500gb

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

COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151192

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-GP 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103065

Basically I made changes to the case, processor, and video card. The case is obviously a personal thing but I was wondering if I'd see better gaming performance from this build in comparison to the i7 build? Also, would it be worth it going to faster memory?

 

[jbakerlent]

Looks good, yes the performance would most likely be better. That memory is actually only 2nd to 1600/CL7 RAM in terms of speed and I suggested it because the performance difference is not noticeable and it's much cheaper.

 

[blackhawk1928]

Ahh, why are people always buying crazy overkill power supplies!Downgrade to the 650Watt. Remember, newer hardware is more efficient (More power, less energy consumption) So now a days you need smaller powersupplies for things and plus Corsair makes amazing PSU's (PLus wattage isn't the only important thing, amps is also critical.) so a 650Watt will be perfect and save you money so you can spend them in other things which are more important.

 

[jbakerlent]

^ I agree, a 550W PSU would be plenty for any single GPU, I just recommended the 750W because the OP said "Maybe" to crossfire, so I wanted to leave the option open.

 

[blackhawk1928]

^Also Agree, BrettCB, if you are going crossfire then a more powerful PSU will be a better investment but if not, then a good solid 550-650Watt PSU will be perfect. I just didn't see the "maybe" in his form so I thought he wanted a single GPU my bad sorry about that.

 

[jbakerlent]

Yeah, this one would be fine for crossfire 5770s, but not 5850s.

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

 

[sonic-boom]

Why the Asus boards with foxconn sockets?

 

[jbakerlent]

Why the Asus boards with foxconn sockets?

This pretty much sums things up
"In any case, though, Gill specifies that this problem "will probably occur only in extreme overclocking scenarios." We haven't suffered any hardware failures when overclocking Core i5 and i7-800 processors in our labs, and neither did Gill "with air or water cooling overclocking up to 4.3GHz." The vast majority of Lynnfield users can probably rest easy for now."

If you're really scared out of your mind by it then check out this board as an alternative
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188055

 

[sonic-boom]

I understand it only affects extreme overclockers, but the socket is still fault in that the processor doesn't seat properly, no?