New Build, $850-$900 Budget

[Diverse]

My friend wants to build a new computer with a budget of around 850-900 USD. He already has a DVD-RW drive and a 500GB HDD.


APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 2 - 3 weeks

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Video editing, photoshop, gaming

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: DVD-RW and hard drive

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: any legit website goes

PARTS PREFERENCES: He wants a i7-920 and a X58 mobo

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: He is also looking for 6GB of ram. He also doesn't need a high end video card, just a mid level card like the GTS 250. I don't know much about ATI's new lineup, but if the value is good then that would be good also.

 

[dpaul8]

With less than $900 budget, you should consider a i750 / P55 system:
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3641&p=5

The i750 system will perform almost as well as the i920 system, and should save you about $160. Your other option would be to stick with the i920 system and get a cheap X58 motherboard, but these cheap motherboards have a bad reputation for being unreliable.

Another option would be the i860 processor, which will outperform the i920 system, and save you about $80.

 

[MadAdmiral]

The i7's not happening. With that, the motherboard and the RAM, it'd be $675. Add in Windows 7 and you're at the budget.

CPU: i5-750 $195

Mobo: Asus P7P55D-E Pro $190

RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 2x2 GB 1333 mhz CAS Latency 7 $100

PSU: OCZ StealthXStream 700W $50 after rebate

Case: HAF 922 $80 after rebate

GPU: HD 5770 $155 after rebate

OS: Windows 7 $100

Total: $870. Tack on a Coolermaster Hyper 212 CPU cooler, and it's $900. If you don't need the OS, you can get more RAM.