$1100 Gaming PC

[RDTP]

Hey there! After being a PC gamer my entire life, I got out of it in early grad school because my computer wasn't able to play the newest games any more, and also my computer wasn't prepared to upgrade easily. I've done some console gaming, but this computer's slow death and my desire to get back into PC gaming have spurred me on to get a new computer. But I've decided there's no better way to know how to upgrade my computer down the line then by just building it and knowing exactly what's in there. Hopefully you can all help me out!

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Around a week, but I could putz around for 2

BUDGET RANGE: $1100, after rebates-lets call it my ceiling

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming first and foremost, also basic video editing/photoshopping,

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: I like newegg.com, but I have no real loyalty to any site, I'm just after good prices

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: Again, no preference, this is the first time I've ever built a machine, so I've never been sure what I've had up until now.

OVERCLOCKING: Not likely, if this goes well and I get addicted to this, then who knows.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024 I think is my moniter's max (Lg flatron L1920p - she's an older girl, so I'll probably upgrade her within a year or so)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I'm after a computer that'll last for a good several years, with the ability to upgrade, particularly the GPU. I would potentially go crossfire if I felt like I needed it, although the only real reason I'd do it is if my computer couldn't handle a game I really wanted to play down the line. I'm definitely interested in the i5 and a 5850. Again, longevity is key! My gaming interests tend to be RPG/action adventure games. Assassin's Creed, Batman Arkham Asylum, and Dragon Age are games that I want to play but can't because of my old machine. Finally, I want to state again that I've never built a computer before. I changed a PSU a few months ago on a computer in the office I work in, that's about the extent of my level!

So, without further ado, here's a potential build utilizing a combo deal from newegg...

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CPU

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

Case

NZXT LEXA S LEXS - 001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811146060

Motherboard

GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813128405

RAM

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820231277

PSU

Rosewill Green Series RG700-S12 700W Continuous @40°C,80 PLUS Certified,Single 12V Rail,ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91,SLI Ready,CrossFire Ready,Active PFC"Compatible with Core i7, i5" Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817182191

HD

Seagate Barracuda LP ST31500541AS 1.5TB 5900 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822148412

DVD Burner

Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16827118030

GPU

SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814102857

OS

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

Other

I guess while I'm at is
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Licensed for 3 PCs - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116135


Ok, that seems to be about it. Right now, the grand total on Newegg with all the combos and rebates and shipping is... $1,071.08. It looks like this offer ends 12/31, so any hasty help would be great! Thank you all so much for any help, advice, anything! I really appreciate it, and I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

 

[ares1214]

that is the one big combo right. the only thing is, they normally put the bad overpriced parts in. the hdd is bad, and slow, the psu is absolute $hit, and the motherboard isnt the longevity part you want, as it has no sata 6 or usb 3.

 

[JustChrono]

Guy above me is pretty on the mark, go for a 7200 RPM Hard drive, and for the PSU get a Corsair and Antec are good names mentioned often around here.

Dunno enough about motherboards to really like or dislike his view on the one you picked, I dont see many people worried about SATA 6 or USB 3...

 

[RDTP]

that is the one big combo right. the only thing is, they normally put the bad overpriced parts in. the hdd is bad, and slow, the psu is absolute $hit, and the motherboard isnt the longevity part you want, as it has no sata 6 or usb 3.

Tricky-thanks for saving me from some crap parts. Any suggestions on what to go with that will keep me around my budget still? I'm open for anything! Thanks

 

[JustChrono]

Well to be honest i'm not sure just how much power you actually need for the system.

Here is one for a lil less then the same price you were going for

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

the cheapest Corsair on NE is $100, theres a deal on amazon for one for $90, again 650W
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CMPSU-650TX-650-Watt-Certified-compatible/dp/B000X24ISU%3FSubscriptionId%3D01CTTZ2EMJ1DMFJYZ302%26tag%3Dlogicbuy-20%26linkCode%3Dsp1%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000X24ISU


For your hard drive, do you need the 1.5 TB? Samsung spinpoint F3 is praised as the fastest type of HD around

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA- $55 the 1TB version is sold out but it is $85 plus shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

Basically pick either a Samsung F3, a Seagate 7200.12, or a Western Digital Caviar and make sure it's 7200 RPM, there are lots of options under the $100 you were gonna spend, dunno about getting 1.5TB though.

 

[RDTP]

That's funny, I was just looking at the Antec PSU right before I checked this. And no, I don't really need the 1.5 TB, I just added that due to the combo. If you have any suggestions about a mobo, I'd really appreciate it. I know you don't have any strong opinions, but I'm a bit of the "whatever will work with this setup" mentality! I really don't know enough to argue one way or another. Thanks!

 

[JustChrono]

Motherboards are a lil complicated even for me, above all make sure you have the correct CPU socket, then worry about the RAM capacity, the PCI express 2.0 slots (one or two for your GPUs), since we kinda busted up your combo deal, are you sure you want to stick with an i5 CPU? at the top of the Homebuilt systems board there is a sticky *Guide to Choosing Parts* it's very informative and makes some recomendations. An i5 build should be manageable on your budged, there are also some cool AMD setups you could work with.

I just ordered a computer that's gonna be using a Phenom II x3 720 processor, which is a quad core that has one of the cores locked so it's basically a triple core unless you're lucky and unlock the 4th core and its stable and working. Without the monitor my build is about $850 and it's not out to break records but its gonna be a good computer for a while. The Antec i linked is in my build too. If you go Intel, get an i5 and you will be getting a p55 motherboard, if you pick AMD there are some varied options for a CPU (Phenom II or Athlon x4) and get an AM3 board.

Half of this is getting the right brands for the right parts, DVD drives are kinda just pick a cheap one. People around here like HIS, Sapphire, and XFX GPU's (Mine is a Sapphire 5770). Consider getting a decent CPU cooler, you may find yourself wanting to OC and it's best to put it on while your preparing to install your motherboard (watch videos about thermal paste and read the sticky about putting together your computer).


The fun of this is that it's all up to you, you will be the one putting this together or with a friend. Like I said a great place to start is with a CPU and just work your way from there.

 

[RDTP]

Thanks for the tips. I kind of revamped things a bit, I added $100 extra to my budget, and I'm ready to purchase today, so I'd really appreciate anybody letting me know what you think. Here's the breakdown of parts...

Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard w/ USB 3.0 & SATA 6 Gb/s - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128409

CPU
Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

Case
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

RAM
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

DVD Burner
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

HDD
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152100

PSU
Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

GPU
DIAMOND 5850PE51G Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103085

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


Thanks again for all the help, hopefully you can give me some good feedback on this machine, I'm excited to get started!

 

[redman4ever]

Looks like a good build.

Might think about going w/ one of the following HD that use a 500GB platter: Samsung F3, a Seagate 7200.12, or a Western Digital Caviar Black. The F3 1TB is sold out on newegg right now but the Seagate and WD Black are available.

Might also consider this new ram by G-Skill. Its low voltage - less power used, less heat generated. Appears to have some good OC capabilities too. I like Cas7 lat ram but it makes little difference in real life apps.

 

[RDTP]

Looks like a good build.

Might think about going w/ one of the following HD that use a 500GB platter: Samsung F3, a Seagate 7200.12, or a Western Digital Caviar Black. The F3 1TB is sold out on newegg right now but the Seagate and WD Black are available.

Might also consider this new ram by G-Skill. Its low voltage - less power used, less heat generated. Appears to have some good OC capabilities too. I like Cas7 lat ram but it makes little difference in real life apps.

Interesting. What do you think of this selection for RAM

G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBECO - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231316

There aren't any reviews on there, so I'm not sure.

Maybe I'll go for this HDD...

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&cm_re=Samsung_F3-_-22-152-181-_-Product

I'd rather be a little under then a little over budget, you know? And with external drives being so cheap, I don't feel a huge need for a 1TB, I guess that's why I selected the 750GB.

There IS this...

Open Box: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185R&cm_re=Samsung_F3-_-22-152-185R-_-Product

I've never gotten anything open box from newegg before, and nothing is worse then a HDD failing, so I'm a bit hesitant. What do you think?

 

[RDTP]

Actually, I put the incorrect RAM in, I meant this one...

G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBECO - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231319