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[Solved] I5 build under $1000 (with monitor+keyboard)

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - [Solved] I5 build under $1000 (with monitor+keyboard)

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Best answer from overshocks.

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This is my first real attempt to assemble a computer from scratch so be easy on me! I feel like I've just been going in circles with some of the pieces and I could use some criticism. I kept ending up on TH forums looking at newer builds within my budget and this is what I came up with:

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within 7-10 days.

BUDGET RANGE: $1000.00 after all sales and rebates.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Music, Writing Papers, Movies, Surfing the Web.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Mouse, Speakers and Operating System (I intend to install Windows 7 64 Bit which I already own).

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: http://www.newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: I need reliable brands, and the only thing I'm dead set on getting is the Intel i5 CPU.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe. Probably not right off the bat.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Would like a relatively COOL PC. Without too much noise please!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail

GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD4P LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

OCZ Obsidian 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3OB1600LV4GK - Retail

Combo Deal (PCU, MoBo and Memory) - $411.97 (before $20.00 Mail in Rebate)

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $49.99

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified - $74.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $54.99

EVGA 896-P3-1257-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail - $199.99 (Before $10.00 Mail in Rebate)

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model GH22NP20 - OEM - $29.99

ASUS VW224U Black 22" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail - $169.99 (Before $20.00 Mail in Rebate)

Logitech Deluxe 250 Black USB Wired Standard Keyboard - OEM - $14.99

All of this comes to $1006.90

Is there anything that I am missing? (Keep in mind I will be assembling this on my own, don't feel like you have to leave the small details out!)

Message edited by Kesjo8 on 11-03-2009 at 05:32:05 AM

Add a reply

Kesjo8 wrote :

Yeah overshocks, I realize I won't be upgrading the monitor anytime soon. So I'm not interested in the crossfire option. Thanks for the info!

Should I stick with my original Antec 650W PSU?

Oh, and DDR3 vs DDR2. I should only be looking at DDR3, correct? Only reason I'm asking is that some of the DDR2 models have lower CAS latency for the same price.

You don't need 650W if you are just running one video card which is the 4890. so you could save some money on the PSU and can get a better case or something

the recommended requirement for the 4890 is 500W with 2 6-pin connectors.

"ATI Radeon™ HD 4890 - System Requirements

ATI Radeon™ HD 4890 System Requirements

* PCI Express® based PC is required with one X16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard
* 500 Watt or greater power supply with two 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power connectors recommended (600 Watt and four 6-pin connectors for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode)
* Certified power supplies are recommended. Refer to http://ati.amd.com/certifiedPSU for a list of Certified products
* Minimum 1GB of system memory
* Installation software requires CD-ROM drive
* DVD playback requires DVD drive
* Blu-ray™ playback requires Blu-ray drive
* For a complete ATI CrossFireX™ system, a second ATI Radeon™ HD 4890 graphics card, an ATI CrossFireX Ready motherboard and one ATI CrossFireX Bridge Interconnect cable per graphics card (included) are required
"
Source: from amd site

Yes, you should be looking at DDR3 since you are going with i5 750 build. You shouldn't compare latencies with DDR2 and DDR3 because they are both very different.

Everything looks good except I would change your graphics card.
The 4890 is cheaper and competes with the 275 gtx.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161299

------------------------------ Q6600 @ 9x333, 500gb barracuda 7200.10
Gigabye DS3R P35, Evga 8800 gt
4x1gb Super Talent 800 3-3-4-8, OCZ 850w, Win 7 64

Reply to cory1234

Is it true that an ATI card would generally be the hotter (temperature) card?

I was also looking into XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail - $144.99

A lot of the reviews warn about the cards heat problem. Is there much truth to this? If so, can it be cooled easily?

Message edited by Kesjo8 on 11-03-2009 at 05:55:21 AM

Reply to Kesjo8

I wouldn't worry about the heat. Graphics cards can handle more heat than a cpu. I know a couple people with the 4870 and they haven't had any troubles with it.
IMO the 4870 is the better value for that price point.

------------------------------ Q6600 @ 9x333, 500gb barracuda 7200.10
Gigabye DS3R P35, Evga 8800 gt
4x1gb Super Talent 800 3-3-4-8, OCZ 850w, Win 7 64

Reply to cory1234

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

Also, you're getting a crossfire mobo and a non-crossfire PSU, assuming you're not getting a 5770. That RAM also has some pretty high latencies.
Finally, since you said you wanted a cool PC, then maybe check out some of these cases (for a similar price - if you don't mind spending more there are even better ones available).

Rosewill R901-P BK Triple 120mm Cooling Fan, Mesh Design Front Panel, ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811147125

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137

Reply to jbakerlent

^Generally speaking, ATI cards are hotter than Nvidia cards. This could affect the overall temperature inside the computer case, IF the video card exhausts inside the case (cheap card), but not much when the video card's hot air blows out of the case.

Also, I would recommend the CM 690, it's cheap and decent case.

This 4870, blows air outside the case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102849

Just get the 4870 if you are running 1680x1050, and don't care about directx11. If you do care about directx11, get the 5770.

Message edited by overshocks on 11-03-2009 at 05:59:41 AM

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

Agreed, the latency on the RAM is quite high. Should I scrap the bundle? Downgrade the MoBo a little bit and pick up a more quality set of RAM?

I definitely will be looking into picking a better case, thank you for the suggestions. As well as a SATA burner.

Should I be interested in Crossfire? (I don't know what that means..)

As far as a video card, if the heat is not an issue I might end up going with the ATI.

Reply to Kesjo8

Your monitor is 1680x1050, if you don't plan on upgrading it, then no point in crossfire/sli

Downgrade the mobo, you don't need crossfire if you don't upgrade monitor, get gskill ram 1333mhz CL7

Here's a combo, the mobo is x16 x4, so it would suck running crossfire anyways as opposed to x8 x8

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.280821

Message edited by overshocks on 11-03-2009 at 06:15:00 AM

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

Check out this combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.280749

i5 and HD 4890, after the Mail in Rebate I'm essentially getting the video card for $154.00

Does this look good?

Reply to Kesjo8

^Nice find buddy. Good deal. Read my above post, if you haven't already.

Message edited by overshocks on 11-03-2009 at 06:17:34 AM

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

The MoBo/Ram looks like its just what I need, thanks!

So I picked up the 2 combos, and I'm still hovering right around $1000 after rebates!

As far as my PSU... What would you suggest.

Reply to Kesjo8

Kesjo8 wrote :

Should I be interested in Crossfire? (I don't know what that means..)

Crossfire is a setup with two ATI GPUs. Since you said you want to keep things cool, crossfire should not really be considered.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by jbakerlent on 11-03-2009 at 06:23:13 AM

Reply to jbakerlent

jbakerlent wrote :

Crossfire is a setup with two ATI GPUs. Since you said you want to keep things cool, crossfire should not really be considered.

Not just that, look at his resolution as I've mentioned numerous times above, no need crossfire unless upgrade monitor.

Message edited by overshocks on 11-03-2009 at 06:32:04 AM

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

Yeah overshocks, I realize I won't be upgrading the monitor anytime soon. So I'm not interested in the crossfire option. Thanks for the info!

Should I stick with my original Antec 650W PSU?

Oh, and DDR3 vs DDR2. I should only be looking at DDR3, correct? Only reason I'm asking is that some of the DDR2 models have lower CAS latency for the same price.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Kesjo8

Best answer

Kesjo8 wrote :

Yeah overshocks, I realize I won't be upgrading the monitor anytime soon. So I'm not interested in the crossfire option. Thanks for the info!

Should I stick with my original Antec 650W PSU?

Oh, and DDR3 vs DDR2. I should only be looking at DDR3, correct? Only reason I'm asking is that some of the DDR2 models have lower CAS latency for the same price.

You don't need 650W if you are just running one video card which is the 4890. so you could save some money on the PSU and can get a better case or something

the recommended requirement for the 4890 is 500W with 2 6-pin connectors.

"ATI Radeon™ HD 4890 - System Requirements

ATI Radeon™ HD 4890 System Requirements

Yes, you should be looking at DDR3 since you are going with i5 750 build. You shouldn't compare latencies with DDR2 and DDR3 because they are both very different.

Message edited by overshocks on 11-03-2009 at 06:56:55 AM

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

Since you are not going to crossfire.

Take a look at these parts/combos

>mobo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128405

>ram+i5 750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.286399

Message edited by overshocks on 11-03-2009 at 07:04:03 AM

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
Reply to overshocks

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[Solved] I5 build under $1000 (with monitor+keyboard)

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - [Solved] I5 build under $1000 (with monitor+keyboard)