Building a new rig for family friends.

[ragsters]

I am going to build a new computer for a long time family friend. He wants me to build his 15 year old son a gaming computer with a budget of $800-$1000. I am willing to drive around different stores like Frys and Microcenter but will probably do most of the shopping through Newegg. The new ATI 5770 seems like a good start. Please give me some ideas. Oh and I am not going to overclock. I want this computer to be completely stable.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

What's included in the budget? It helps if you follow the format in the "How to ask for new build advice" sticky at the top of the forum so we have all the information we need to optimize a build for you.

Here's a Crossfire ready build suggestion assuming that you don't need a monitor, keyboard, or mouse in the budget:

Intel Core i5 750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD4P LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128400

OCZ Obsidian 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3OB1600LV4GK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227495

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.280597 $411.97 - $20.00 MIR (CPU + motherboard + RAM combo)

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 $51.95

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754 $106.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181 $54.99

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192 $25.99

Antec TruePower New TP-750 750W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371025 $114.95 - $20.00 MIR

XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447 $174.99

Total - $941.83 - $40.00 MIR's

 

[ragsters]

Thanks short stuff, this is exactly what I had in mind.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Anytime. Good luck with the build.

You might want to give Newegg a week or so to sort out their November combo deals. They're always a mess for the first week of the month. Be sure to check for new combo deals before you make your purchase.

 

[Shadow703793]

+1 for shortstuff's build.

One more thing: Add a good HSF to that list if OCing.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

One more thing: Add a good HSF to that list if OCing.

Oh and I am not going to overclock. I want this computer to be completely stable.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

 

[Shadow703793]

^ lol, didn't see that. Any ways, the kid's 15, so he *SHOULD* be OCing! It's sad to see an i5 not OCed......

 

[ragsters]

Is this the best motherboard for the money? How does this compare?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128401

 

[shortstuff_mt]

That depends. You still haven't edited your post to include the information in the "How to ask for new build advice" sticky. Do you want to leave Crossfire open as an option? I built my system above to be Crossfire ready. The GA-P55-UD3R is a nice board, but runs its second PCI-E slot at 4x. You do not want to run Crossfire on that board. Not wanting Crossfire support will affect other areas like the PSU.

There are no combo deals with the GA-P55-UD3R and the i5 750. If you go with that board, I would use this motherboard + RAM combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.280821

 

[ragsters]

Thanks Shortstuff. I just wanted to make sure that the PCI-E slots were the only difference between the boards.

 

[badge]

I am going to build a new computer for a long time family friend. He wants me to build his 15 year old son a gaming computer with a budget of $800-$1000. I am willing to drive around different stores like Frys and Microcenter but will probably do most of the shopping through Newegg. The new ATI 5770 seems like a good start. Please give me some ideas. Oh and I am not going to overclock. I want this computer to be completely stable.

Please give me some ideas.

I bought this Coolermaster case recently. I have taken the case out of the box and opened it up and it looks very nice as a gaming case with the side panel window for $40. I haven't built with it, but it looks like it will be easy to work with and fit everything needed. Fifteen year old would like it. I like it and I'm an old man.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119203

Also, this company ships from very near Newegg in SO CA. Quick and out the door. next day if you live in SO. Cal. Refurbished, but there are some deals here.

http://www.thermaltakestore.com/refurbished-product.html

 

[ragsters]

Thanks badge, I really like that coolermaster case.

 

[madswimmer]

yea im going to be buying that case, it looks very nice, one fan but oh well i can buy another

 

[ragsters]

To cut some cost I decided to go with the 4870 instead of the 5770 so I came up with this configuration. Let me know what you guys think.

Optical Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119203

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150441

Video Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

Power Supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Ram/Motherboard Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product
/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.280821

Total = $852.91 before tax and shipping

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Some of your links are messed up or broken. I would step up to a 1GB 4870 if you're going to go that route. Here's one in a combo with 64-bit Windows 7.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.282080

 

[Shadow703793]

Looks pretty good.

 

[ragsters]

Ok so I came up with two different configuration. Let me know which one you guys think is the best one for gaming.

All these parts are the same. The difference will be the Motherboard and CPU.

Optical Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119203

Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

Power Supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276

Operating System:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

System i7:

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128401&Tpk=n82e16813128401

Processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215&cm_re=750-_-19-115-215-_-Product


System AMD

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131402

Processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

Even though I don't show it I did take combos into consideration and the difference in price is around $43. In terms of the i7 system there isn't really anything I would change but if you guys can recommend a similar AMD motherboard in performance for a cheaper price please do so.