Finalizing gaming build $800 (no case, monitor etc) please help!

[squirrel15]

Hi there everyone. I just need some help with a gaming build that I'm probably going to put together in the next 7 days or so. It is a gaming computer and I will use it for school work and for internet and watching movie but games more than anything. I dont need a case, I got that last week when newegg had their special on the thermaltake V9, (has two 230mm fans and two 120mm fans) heres the link for extra details:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133074

I also dont need a monitor (provided by my brother, I think its a 1080x1920 or something i dont know exactly, but it is wide and its hd) I also just asked a friend if he could give me his hard drive, keyboard/mouse. I'll know later today what is giving me. I would still like the build to involve the hard drive and everything, I dont need an OS either (provided by my brother). Is there also a way i could get windows 7 for really cheap or free anywhere?

I would like a 5850 in my build or whatever can be fit into the budget but I'm not going to be crossfiring, I'm not exactly sure what SLI is but I dont think I'm doing that either. I am planning on overclocking the CPU, video card and RAM.

Once again my budget is $800 and it is a gaming build and I dont need a monitor, case, and keyboard/mouse for sure. Thanks for your help.

 

[MadAdmiral]

First, SLI is the nVidia equivalent of Crossfire, so you won't be doing that. Second, there is no legal way to get Windows 7 for really cheap.

GPU/PSU: HD 5850 and Antec Earthwatts 750W $370 after rebate
CPU/Mobo: X3 425 and Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4 $197
RAM: Mushkin Enahanced Blackline 2x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $105 after rebate
HDD: Seagate 7200.12 500 GB $55
HSF/Optical: Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus and DVD burner $40

Total: $767 after rebates.

 

[osu43130]

Have not checked lately but is Microsoft still having the deal for Students on Win7? Not sure if the OP is a student or not but it was around 60 bucks last I checked.

Yep just found link.

This is as cheap as you can get Win7 Legally and you must be a student with a valid EDU account to get it.

Win741

 

[squirrel15]

Thanks, I am college and that is a big possibility.

Can I get this? Get this motherboard, doesnt have crossfire (dont need it) and it has the 3.0 usb.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128431

I wanted to fit a Phenom ii X4 955 BE in there. I dont mind about the 3.0 usb too much. I would rather have a good CPU.

 

[MadAdmiral]

Yes. That's the board I recommend for people who don't want Crossfire (which I totally missed the first part of that sentence).

 

[squirrel15]

Could I fit a 955 then? I found a deal at ewiz.

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-M4A78TE&title=Asus-M4A78T-E-Socket-AM3-AMD-790GX-Hybrid-CrossFireX-HDMI-A-V-GbE-ATX-Motherboard

Its only 235 dollars after MIR, and it does crossfiring but that looks like a great deal since newegg has that same board for $135 and its $109 on ewiz with a $29 combo discount with the 955

 

[MadAdmiral]

That would work as well. I think the total would be $805 with that board and the X4 955.

 

[squirrel15]

Do you anything about their customer service or anything? does it compare to neweggs??

 

[MadAdmiral]

No idea. I've never heard of them. It's unusal that Newegg doesn't have the best prices once the combos are figured in...

 

[squirrel15]

Ya, newegg is the best with prices but once in awhile a site just has a really good deal for some reason that just beats neweggs.

 

[saint19]

Hi, like a personal advice, try to get a full tower case. I have a V9 with a X4 955 and a GTX260 and the space is very adjusted.

 

[squirrel15]

I already purchased the V9 case and I'm not gonna spend extra for another case. So it was a tight fit with the GTX260? any hope that a 5850 will fit? what do you mean adjusted?

 

[MadAdmiral]

The 5850 (9.5") is shorter than the GTX 260 (10.5"). The 5850 fits very easily in mid towers. It once you get up to the 5870 that you start having trouble...

 

[saint19]

^Wow, I don't know that the 5850 is more shorter that my old GPU.

 

[squirrel15]

ok, good lol. Do I have sufficient cooling in my build? The case alone has two 120mm fans and two 230mm fans and the Hyper 212 plus will help too. Is this enough cooling for the build?

 

[MadAdmiral]

Definitely.

 

[saint19]

^+1, the V9 is a good cooling case. My problem is my big GPU.

 

[squirrel15]

Would the cooling be fine if I crossfired another 5850 in the future?

 

[MadAdmiral]

Yes. You've got a LOT of fans...

 

[squirrel15]

Is there a big difference between crossfiring with dual x16 or dual x8?

 

[MadAdmiral]

4%. It's only noticeable with the 5970.

 

[squirrel15]

Thats good. Well thanks for the help guys. Once I get my build next week or so I'll have to check how to build and go to bios and overclock etc. Thanks again guys.

 

[squirrel15]

Best answer selected by Squirrel15.