1500-1700 Gaming system

Jpatel21

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Apr 16, 2010
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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: (this week (by today if possible 4/16/10))

BUDGET RANGE: 1500-1700

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies - will start rendering by end of year

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Not bound to newegg (but i like it)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type (e.g.: I would like to use an AMD CPU & Biostar mobo with a 24" LCD and full tower case)

OVERCLOCKING: Yes - definetly

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe in the future

MONITOR RESOLUTION: max it goes to is 1280x1024 9 ihave a MAG innovision 17' inch LCD)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I would like a quiet PC if possible and below is the list of stuff that i have thought of:

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231329 -----$256
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131614 -----$300 (have 2 old HD and 1 is not SATA so a problem here)
Intel i7 930: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038JE9MU/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A2JM9JAFBK630W -----$270
Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 -----$90 after mail in rebate
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125294 -----$220
CPU Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055 -----$60 with mail in rebate
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119213 -----$195
Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167016 -----$220
Blu Ray Drie: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136183 -----$112


 
Solution
To start, you don't need 8 GB of RAM. Also, the i7-930 uses triple channel kits, so that dual channel kit would not be great.

After that, it's still a crappy build. Here's a gaming monster:

CPU/Mobo: i7-930 and Asus P6X58D Premium $575
RAM: G.Skill Pi 3x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $190. Some very fast sticks that will actually be fully compatibile with the i7.
GPU: HD 5870 $400. nVidia is getting killed right now. Getting anything that isn't a 5xxx card is a waste of money right now.
HDD: Seagate 7200.12 500 GB $55. The SSD is definitely out of your budget right now.
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 750W $85 after rebate. A unit that's just as good, but cheaper.
Case: HAF 922 $80 after...
To start, you don't need 8 GB of RAM. Also, the i7-930 uses triple channel kits, so that dual channel kit would not be great.

After that, it's still a crappy build. Here's a gaming monster:

CPU/Mobo: i7-930 and Asus P6X58D Premium $575
RAM: G.Skill Pi 3x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $190. Some very fast sticks that will actually be fully compatibile with the i7.
GPU: HD 5870 $400. nVidia is getting killed right now. Getting anything that isn't a 5xxx card is a waste of money right now.
HDD: Seagate 7200.12 500 GB $55. The SSD is definitely out of your budget right now.
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 750W $85 after rebate. A unit that's just as good, but cheaper.
Case: HAF 922 $80 after rebate. A smaller, cheaper version of the 932. You really don't need to get any case more expensive than this one.
Optical: Cheap SATA DVD burner $22. BR is too expensive right now and completely worthless for computers. Wait for the price to come down and an actual use to appear.
HSF: Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus $35 (with free card reader). A cheaper and better CPU cooler.
Monitor: Asus 23" 1080p $180 after rebate. Gaming on that old monitor is a waste.

Total: $1,622
 
Solution

Jpatel21

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Apr 16, 2010
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18,510
I have a WD 7200RPM 500GB HD and a 320 GB HD in my 'good ol' PC and since i have the budget i wanted to invest in an SSD...I absolutely understand your thoughts but I wanted to splurge and if I go with the above sytem, and not invest in a monitor b/c i will most like link this PC to my 65'inch LCD for some hardcore gaming. Thanks again for the help.
 
I would still wait for a while until the price of SSDs drop. Anything under 128 GB isn't going to be all that useful for gamers, so I'd wait for those to be under $250.

You should have mentioned that you weren't using such an old monitor. That would have changed my suggestions quite a bit. Drop the monitor and the HDD from the above build and switch the GPU for an HD 5970. That should give you a total of $1,682.
 
1) I absolutely hate the CP-850. It's cheap, but it will only work in three Antec cases. All three of those cases are overpriced and too small for oversized parts (i.e. the massive GPUs to come). Not only that, but the PSU has a much lower efficiency than many other 850W units. I would just spend the extra for a unit that's more efficient and will fit any case.

Also, 750W is enough for Crossfiring the 5870.

2.) Then do that. I don't think you'll actually need to Crossfire the 5870 for a few years, so I'd wait until the price drops to something you find more reasonable.
 

Jpatel21

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Apr 16, 2010
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thanks for all the help...just realized that the monitor you suggested wont fit on my comp. desk (the width is only 20inches)..do you have any other sugestions? I mean i do have the TV in living room for occasional gaming but i dont want to compete with wife for the tv (i know i will never win)
 
@coldsleep: The monitor is 21.61" inches wide. From Newegg's specs: Dimensions 21.61" x 16.1" x 8.66"

BTW, the stand looks to be about 1/3 of width of the monitor, so as long as the desk is at least 7" across, it will stand there, assuming there is room off the sides...
 

Jpatel21

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Apr 16, 2010
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the over width of my desk is wide but i have pop ups (abt 5inches tall and 15inches wide) on both sides, this restricts the width of my screen that i can fit between the 2 risers..i can fit the screen you suggested but i would have to put a few textbooks underneath the monitor...
 

coldsleep

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What? Look at the specs? Madness.

Must be one heck of a bezel. It's been ages since geometry, but a^2 + b^2 = c^2 hasn't changed, right? :)
 

Jpatel21

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Apr 16, 2010
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18,510
just completed my order for my first build...THANK YOU(MadAdmiral) for the help...My current computer has an AMD 2500+ and I was looking into an AMD processor but research and a hunch drew me towards the i7 (i hope I am correct)...the rest was provided by always insightful MadAmiral...so here is what i have coming to me soon...i just hope all of the cables and liquids and heatsinks are provided....


1 COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811119197
Standard Return Policy
$89.98

1 ASUS P6X58D Premium LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131614
Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
$299.99

1 SAPPHIRE 100281-3SR Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video ...
Item #: N82E16814102883
VGA Standard Return Policy
$399.99

1 Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W Continuous Power ATX12V version 2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC ...
Item #: N82E16817371026
Standard Return Policy
$104.99

1 Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Model BX80601930
Item #: N82E16819115225
CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
$289.99

1 G.SKILL PI Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7T-6GBPI
Item #: N82E16820231335
Memory Standard Return Policy
$189.99

1 Nippon Labs Internal Card Reader 3.5" Internal All In One Card Reader/Writer with USB2.0 & ESATA
Item #: N82E16820816003
Standard Return Policy
Free with the CPU Cooler

1 SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822152185
Standard Return Polic
$89.99

1 Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM
Item #: N82E16827118030
Standard Return Policy
$21.99

1 COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long ...
Item #: N82E16835103065
Standard Return Policy
$34.99

1 COOLER MASTER Megaflow 200 R4-LUS-07AR-GP 200mm Red LED Case Fan
Item #: N82E16835103072
Standard Return Policy
$19.99
 


It must be noted that the CP-850 is in fact more efficient (85.56 %) then the EA-750 (84.45%) you recommended.
http://www.80plus.org/manu/psu/psu_detail.aspx?id=6&type=2



Other than it's outright dominance over anything in its price range, or double it's price range for that matter, what's to hate about it ? It actually fits 5 Antec cases (P183, P193, 1200, DF30, DF85).....most peeps can't grab the DF's for another month though. As SPCR writes, what you see as a detriment SPCR sees as an advantage.:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article971-page7.html

"The above is an obviously unfair advantage for the CP-850... but what of it? Antec has used an integrated systems approach for its CP-850 and its best cases, and if that approach is an advantage over all other case/PSU combinations, then, all the more power to Antec! It's not uncommon for enthusiasts to frequently replace the motherboard and components that mount onto it — such as CPU, RAM and video card — while the case and PSU are retained. There would be ample reason to take that approach with the CP-850 and one of the compatible Antec cases.

For the quiet-seeking computer gaming enthusiast, the CP-850 (along with any of the three compatible cases) is something of a godsend. Fantastically stable power, super low noise at any power load, long expected reliability due to excellent cooling, modular cabling, and all at a price that's no higher than many high end 6~700W models. That you're limited to one of three well-executed high cases from Antec — one mostly for silence (P183), one mostly for gaming (1200) and one that's really an ultimate everyman case (P193) — is not exactly a hardship either. "


No 850 PSU tops it electrically except for the SG-850 and it's quieter than any 850 PSU on the market. It's the only PSU (again, besides the SG-850) to make the SilentPCreview.com Editor's Choice List and get a 10.0 PERFORMANCE rating at jonnyguru.com

Jonnyguru.com certainly doesn't hate it either
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=142

It is completely unmatched by any ATX unit on the market I can think of. You'd have to spend twice as much as this thing costs to find the next best thing, performance wise



As for the cases, the HAF and Antec 1200 match up very well in the reviews.....but looking at who's buying what .... the 1200 is picked 4 to 1 over the HAF 922 and has a higher newegg rating.

Antec 1200 1657 reviews w/ 85% rating http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043
HAF 922 400 reviews w/ 82% rating http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

I'm not putting down the HAF's ..... but hating the CP-850 just because it's larger form factor gives it an advantage over competitors points to nothing but good design and marketing by Antec. The HAF 922 w/ the HX850 costs $250 (after $10 MIR). The Antec 1200 w/ CP-850 costs $230. I can find no fault with choosing either pairing.
 
On the CP-850, it's not that much cheaper than a lot of 850W PSUs. And I simply say that I don't care to recommend it.

As for the Antec 1200 being chosen a lot, that would be because it looks pretty, while the HAF certainly doesn't. Newegg reviews also mean very little to many people here, myself included. That said, there is no doubt that the HAF is the better case. Also, I didn't say that the Antec cases were bad cases, just that I feel they are overpriced (which is a bit subjective) and a tad small for the large video cards (which they are).

The only problem with the 58D-E is that it's a new board. I'm particularly cautious with new technology, and would like to see some kind of reviews (not user reviews) of it before recommending it. The specs certainly look nice, and if it gets good reviews, it would likely replace the 58D Premium as my recommendation. You certainly don't lose much for the cheaper price, which is also a reason to wonder about it.