First time build 1000$

[bishop113]

In keeping with the "how to ask for advice" post:

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 3 weeks. BUDGET RANGE: 900-1000$ Before Rebates, shipping not included.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, internet browsing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, mouse, monitor.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: : newegg.com, tiger direct, US

PARTS PREFERENCES: no preference, best performance.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI, overclocking needs to be possible in 1-2 years.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Don't care for a sound card unless it can be gotten cheaply.

Basically I'm looking to overtake my current PC which is as follows.

Intel Quad core Q6600 2.4ghz
2GB DDR2 RAM
Nvidia 8800GT 512mb
P5N-e SLI mobo

It's two years old and it cost more than it was worth, I didn't get to build it myself so I want to build my next one myself. The next computer would be bought after the sale of this one so no salvaging parts except the ones I mentioned.

Thanks!

 

[p55ibexpeak]

What kinda games do you play? At what image quality: low, medium or maxed out?

 

[bishop113]

I'm looking for the fastest machine possible, I prefer to play them maxed out at 1920x1200. My current setup is starting to struggle with games such as Champions online, Stalker Clear sky and borderlands. But I play all types of games, shooters, RPGs etc.

 

[dndhatcher]

I dont think you can replace the whole thing and get much improvement with your budget. My thinking is to replace the graphics card with a much stronger one like an ATI 5850 for a big boost now. Then in a couple years you can replace the CPU/RAM/Motherboard and keep the 5850 or even add a second if you feel like it.

 

[bishop113]

I dont think you can replace the whole thing and get much improvement with your budget. My thinking is to replace the graphics card with a much stronger one like an ATI 5850 for a big boost now. Then in a couple years you can replace the CPU/RAM/Motherboard and keep the 5850 or even add a second if you feel like it.

This is the problem with simply upgrading, I've asked around here and read plenty of articles about upgrading my GPU, but the idiots that built this PC wasted away price on the quad core instead of giving me a decent power supply. The 5850 requires "500 Watt or greater power supply" while I have a 400 watt psu. So I would have to buy a 100$ power supply on top of the 300$ for that card, and I simply don't have 400$ to spend on one upgrade.

That kind of surprises me though because this was an 800$ system 2 years ago.

I would also like to mention that the OS is already covered so that doesn't need to be included in the price.

Well lets set the bar at 1000$ then.

 

[dndhatcher]

If you look at the builds by usage sticky at the budget and gamer builds, you should be able to mix& match to get under $1000. The thing I was saying about large improvement is that the 8800 is still a decent graphics card. The 5770 is only about 50% faster, which is a nice upgrade but not "large" by my reckoning.

Basically one of the budget builds with upgrading the 5770 to a 5850 and the PSU to an Antec Earthwatts 650 would be where I think you should be looking for a "large improvement".

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Antec Two Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129070&cm_re=antec_two-_-11-129-070-_-Product

Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031

(This PSU doesn't come with a power cable. A lot of people have them laying around, but it's something to keep in mind)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.304808 $114.94 (Case + PSU combo)

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&cm_re=i5_750-_-19-115-215-_-Product

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

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.309193 $359.98 (CPU + motherboard combo)

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&Tpk=SAMSUNG%20F3%20500GB $54.99

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276&Tpk=g.skill%20ddr3%201333%20cas%207%204gb $99.99

ASUS EAH5850/2DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121361&cm_re=5850-_-14-121-361-_-Product $309.99

LG Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136177&Tpk=lg%2024x%20sata $29.99

Total - $969.88

 

[bishop113]

Thanks! Exactly what I'm looking for!

 

[shortstuff_mt]

No problem. Good luck with the build!