I need advise for a gaming comp build. $600-$1200

[powrie]

Hey Guys. It is my first time on this site. Time to build a new computer and my brother recommended I come here to research.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ASAP
BUDGET RANGE: $600 - $1200

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, internet

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: monitor, case, keyboard, mouse, maybe hard drive.
Case: Fatality Gaming Case

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg or other reputable sites COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: It doesn't have to brand name as long as it performs

OVERCLOCKING: Probably not
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This is going to be primarily a gaming computer. A big concern is the cooling. I live in CA and it is usually pretty hot here. I like to play memory intense games and have had problems with ram overheating. Basically it needs to handle uninterrupted hours of starcraft2 or similar games. Thanks.

 

[powrie]

Sorry, I blew it on the link in my post and can't edit.

Case : Fatality gaming case
[url=http://www.acousticpc.com/fatality_champion_gaming_pc_case.html]http://www.acousticpc.com/fatality_champion_gaming_pc_case.html [/url]

 

[coldsleep]

Any chance you could narrow down the budget a little? $600-1200 is a really big range, and the suggestions you get are going to be vastly different based on what end of that range people focus on.

For example, a $600 budget recommends itself to an AMD X3 build, while $1200 looks more like an i5-750 build. You're more likely to get suggestions that meet what you're looking for if you can provide a budget with a $200ish range, rather than $600.

 

[powrie]

I am really looking to spend around $800, but I would be willing to go higher if the performance is worth the price.

 

[powrie]

Ok I am looking at something like this.

XFX HD-585A-ZNBC Radeon HD 5850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150454
$340

EVGA P55 SLI 132-LF-E655-KR LGA1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188055
$180

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471
$156

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015
$75

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277
$105

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395
$55

So that brings the total to $911.

Not sure if I need this much, but I just wanted to throw a build out there to get some feedback. Do I need a 5850 or can I settle for a 5770? I really need advise on the motherboard and a good heat sink / cooling fan.

Also the ripjaws have gotten great reviews, but I am worried that they won't perform well on a non intel.

 

[squirrel15]

I'm confused why you have a Intel Motherboard with a AMD CPU? Thats not going to work. I agree on everything else though, the hard drive, ram, PSU, graphics card. I suggest you get a 955 though, its only about $6 more and it has a AM3 socket.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

Also heres a few mobos you might consider:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128415
This one has usb 3.0, single X16 PCi 2.0 socket or dual X8.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681312841
Heres one thats a little bit cheaper but does have crossfire and usb 3.0 like the one above.

 

[squirrel15]

You can just go to newegg and select 'motherboards', then 'AMD' then 'AM3' and you can look at them yourself.

 

[obsidian86]

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

XFX HD-585A-ZNBC Radeon HD 5850

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150454

G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (low voltage =less heat)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231321

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm

Sony Optiarc DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.343531

Antec Nine Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.335381

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3P LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard -

Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I7860

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.332526

$1,181.87

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I am having trouble reconciling a $375 case with a $800 system budget

Antec 902 / EA-650 $165
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.335381

ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $190
This one doesn't have its SATA III / USB 3 crippled when you add a 2nd GFX card
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/usb-3.0-performance,2490-2.html
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131621

CPU - Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 $195
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

RAM - Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 CAS 7 Model 996782 $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226103

Hard Drives - Yours is fine $55

But ya might wanna check out the performance charts and pick whatever 500 GB per platter drive performs best under your usage patterns. The 2 TB WD Black and LX from Seagate are good choice but at smaller capacities, you are limited to the Seagate 7200.12 or the Spinpoint F3. The 7200.12 excels in gaming, multimedia and pictures whereas the F3 wins at music and movie maker. See the comparisons here (copy past link in manually, link won't work in forum):

(http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009-3.5-desktop-hard-drive-charts/compare,1006.html?prod[2371]=on&prod[2770]=on)

Look at the tests that reflect your usage and choose accordingly.

That's $1,050 if I added right w/ your original $340 GFX card

I'd add a HS in there .... Megahalems in the $65 budget range and the Xigmatek S1283 in the $35 range. Don't forget fans (1200 rpm) for $6-11 each and TIM $7. If you want to have fans controlled by MoBo, you'll need a PWM cable splitter

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8418/cab-150/FrozenCPU_PMW_Y_Splitter_Cable.html

 

[powrie]

The case is actually a left over for a previous computer so I already have it.

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
$90

XFX HD-585A-ZNBC Radeon HD 5850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150454
$340

G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231321
$120

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm

Sony Optiarc DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.343531
$55 combo

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3P LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131621
$190

CPU - Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215
$195

This brings the total to $990.

This is closer to what I am looking for. Thank you everyone who posted. It has really been a big help. I am still indecisive on whether go go Intel or AMD. And does anyone else use this ram? Obsidian86 recommended it for low heat (thanks obsidian). The ripjaws have gotten so many good review though it's hard for me not to want ripjaws if I go Intel.

Thanks again.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Personally, I'd take the Mushkin over the GSKill.

Again, I gotta ask, why get a Gigabyte USB 3 / SATA III MoBo if Xfire is a possibility. The Gigabyte's drop down to half speed on USB 3 / SATA 3 when a 2nd GFX card is installed...the Asus for the same price doesn't.

 

[powrie]

I acutaly copied and pasted the wrong motherboard. If you click on the link it takes you to the Asus. I was tired, opps. So ya I am gonna go with the Asus.

Also I think I will take your advise on the Mushkin.


Another thing. How much of a difference would a 10,000rpm hard drive make? Is something like a VelociRaptor really worth an extra $70?

Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136296

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

And whats up with the raptor only have a 16MB cache?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The Raptor is an old geezer in HD life

The F3 would be my choice for movies, 7200.12 for games per the performance chart references above.

 

[powrie]

It's almost done ! NewEgg was sold out of the 5850 so I am still waiting on that, but everything else is here ! Thought I would show you guys since you helped build it.

-Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156
-ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA
-COOLER MASTER Hyper 212
-XFX HD-585A-ZNBC Radeon HD 5850
-SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB
-Sony Optiarc DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA
-Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W
-Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB)

Scroll through, I took 4 pics. I still can't believe how big the heatsink is.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=902141&l=c8a06bf2e7&id=1527072163

Once again, thank you everyone. I can't wait till this beast is up and running !

 

[osu43130]

Any5850 will work look at the Saphire one as an alternative to the xFx.

BTW getting a little antsy to fire it up...

 

[powrie]

Well, I really wanted the xfx black edition, so I just ended up ordering it from Tigerdirect. The stuff I ordered from newegg got here 3 days ago and I ordered everything same day. Newegg ended up getting in back in stock next day anyway. I should have just waited, I didn't realize newegg beamed the products to your door step. Everything got here so fast.

 

[osu43130]

GL with your build hope it turns out the way you wanted it to.