Final Gaming Build (w/ Upgrade Potential)

dmr11wv

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Jan 25, 2010
5
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18,510
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 1/31/10 BUDGET RANGE: ~$600 - $700 (or less) After Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, all-around home PC

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor (19" ) with likely upgrade in future, wireless card, sound card

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, directron.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD and ATI

OVERCLOCKING: likely (future) SLI OR CROSSFIRE: likely (future)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280 x 1024 or 1600 x 1200 (and higher in future)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

I am looking for a build that will initially grant me great gaming and sometime in the future be upgradeable for overclocking and use of two graphics cards.

Build ($618 after rebates, etc.):

Combo Deal:
ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
and
AMD Athlon II X3 435 Rana 2.9GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315746

A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model AX3U1600GB2G9-AG - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409

Combo Deal:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
and
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.323089

POWERCOLOR AX4850 1GBD3-PH Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131163

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

APEX Vortex 3620 SGCC / ABS ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154098

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

Wolygon

Distinguished
Jan 26, 2010
894
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19,160
I'd say go for a HD 5770 instead of the 4850 (dx11, higher or on par performance). The much lower power consumption will allow you to use the 600W PSU with these in Crossfire easily, compared with the 4850. Two HD 5770's will generally outperform a 5850, so if you want to upgrade later on it would be very powerful and inexpensive. The single 5770 will give you great gaming performance on 1600x1200.

$145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131328&cm_re=hd_5770-_-14-131-328-_-Product

You could also go for a more upmarket case, not that it matters, just whatever you like.

You can get Corsair memory with 7-8-7-20 compared to your memory which has 9-9-9-24. Costs $20 extra.

$110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145285&cm_re=corsair_1600-_-20-145-285-_-Product

That's my input, Good Luck.