Help! First Gaming Rig! =D

[tahayassen]

Budget: $650-$750
Available Stores: TigerDirect, CanadaComputers, DirectCanada, FutureShop, Best Buy, or any other PC store in Canada

1) 2 of: POWERCOLOR Radeon HD 4850 AX4850 512MD3-PH Video Cards ($100.64 x2 = $201.28)
OR
2 of: POWERCOLOR Radeon HD 4850 AX4850 1GBD3-PH Video Cards ($122.28 x2 = $244.56)

2) AMD Phenom II X4 945 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor ($158.41)

3) ASUS M4A78T-E ATX AMD Motherboard ($109.99)
OR
ASUS M4A785-M 785G HDMI Micro ATX motherboard ($78.11)

4) OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 ($119.97)

5) OCZ 600W StealthXStream Power Supply - 600 Watts, 120mm Fan, ATX ($45.99)

6) Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($44.79)

7) Antec VSK-2000 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99)

8) Cyber Acoustics CA-2014 2-PC Desktop Speakers - Black ($17.99)

9) Logitech Cordless Desktop 920000879 EX 100 ($32.97)

GFX Option 1 & Mobo Option 1: $771.38
GFX Option 1 & Mobo Option 2: $739.50
GFX Option 2 & Mobo Option 1: $814.66
GFX Option 2 & Mobo Option 2: $782.78

As you can see, 3 of those options are above my budget. Can anyone give me any advice to improve performance & reduce price? =D

 

[tahayassen]

By the way, I already have a monitor, and Operating System. The Logitech Cordless Desktop 920000879 EX 100 is a combination of a mouse & a keyboard.

 

[tahayassen]

Sorry for not being descriptive. I thought I would be able to edit my posts.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: As soon as I get a confirmation that this is a good build.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, and browsing the web.

OVERCLOCKING: Probably not. I wouldn't mind if I am able to though.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1024 x 768. I can set it higher, but I don't want to squint my eyes.

 

[jbakerlent]

Welcome to the forum.

There's a form in my signature that you could fill out for more help, but for now I would recommend against the dual 4850s in favor of a 5770 or 5850. Also, you'll want to get AM3, DDR3. Some more suggestions as well, but I recommend you fill out the sticky first to be sure.

 

[tahayassen]

Available Stores: TigerDirect, CanadaComputers, DirectCanada, FutureShop, Best Buy, or any other PC store in Canada

By PC store, I do not mean online stores. I am currently using http://shopbot.ca/ to look up the prices, and then I just look at the store name, and ignore the ones that are not listed above.

 

[jbakerlent]

Posted at almost the exact same time . Either of the little pages with the lightning bolt in the bottom right of your post should allow you to edit. A single 5770 would be plenty for that resolution and higher. For overclocking especially you should consider the 955 BE. Assuming crossfire is a no, I recommend this motherboard

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128432&Tpk=Gigabyte%20GA-785GMT-USB3

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808&cm_re=955_be-_-19-103-808-_-Product

Then this RAM
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303&cm_re=g.skill_ripjaws_series_4gb_(2_x_2gb)_240-pin_ddr3-_-20-231-303-_-Product

You could also check out this PSU
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007&Tpk=Antec%20earthwatts%20EA500duct

 

[tahayassen]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: A.S.A.P.

BUDGET: $750 After Rebates.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, watching movies, and surfing the net.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor and Operating System.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Stated in my previous post.

PARTS PREFERENCES: No preference.

OVERCLOCKING: Yes, but I don't mind if I can't. SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No preference.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1024x768

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: No additional comments.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) 2 of: POWERCOLOR Radeon HD 4850 AX4850 512MD3-PH Video Cards ($100.64 x2 = $201.28)
OR
2 of: POWERCOLOR Radeon HD 4850 AX4850 1GBD3-PH Video Cards ($122.28 x2 = $244.56)

2) AMD Phenom II X4 945 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor ($158.41)

3) ASUS M4A78T-E ATX AMD Motherboard ($109.99)
OR
ASUS M4A785-M 785G HDMI Micro ATX motherboard ($78.11)

4) OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 ($119.97)

5) OCZ 600W StealthXStream Power Supply - 600 Watts, 120mm Fan, ATX ($45.99)

6) Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($44.79)

7) Antec VSK-2000 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99)

8) Cyber Acoustics CA-2014 2-PC Desktop Speakers - Black ($17.99)

9) Logitech Cordless Desktop 920000879 EX 100 ($32.97)

The reason why I can't purchase a 5850 or a 5770 is because they'll both go over my budget. With 2 4850's, I'll stay close to my budget. Also, I believe the CPU has an AM3 socket, and the RAM is DDR3.

jbaker, I love how you're suggesting better items, but I'm already at the very top of my budget ($750). The CPU and PSU are both more expensive than what I currently have. Unfortunately, according to http://shopbot.ca, no Canadian store sells that brand of RAM. Also, according to http://shopbot.ca, no Canadian store sells that model of the motherboard. If they did, I would've switched my components. :S

 

[jbakerlent]

Here's a 5770 that's cheaper than the dual 4850s?
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150462&cm_re=hd_5770-_-14-150-462-_-Product

You need an AM3 motherboard as well as CPU. The RAM you have selected is DDR2...

 

[tahayassen]

Opps. Sorry. That was a typo on my part. It's actually DDR3 RAM. Click on the link to see. AFAIK, both the CPU & mobo use the AM3 socket.

"AMD Phenom II X4 945 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor"
"Asus M4A78T-E Socket AM3 blah blah"

Checking the 5770 with shopbot.ca. Just a second.

EDIT: I found this: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=13630BD6258&vpn=AX5770%20512MD5-H&manufacture=POWERCOLOR

Wow! Thanks for the new card. =] Any reason why it's better to use one card than two? Well, I guess I do save $55.68. According to this, the dual 4850 perform better.

 

[tahayassen]

After a bit of thinking, I think I'm going to settle with this: http://carbonic.tk/rig.html Any final suggestions? My budget is at $750.

 

[jbakerlent]

Looks pretty good.

 

[tahayassen]

For anyone reading this thread: after doing a bit of research, I found a few reasons why having a 5770 is better than 2 4850's.

1) DirectX 11 Support
2) In the future, I can upgrade my rig by just buying another 5770, and putting that in CrossFire, which is much cheaper than buying two new graphics cards.
3) 4000 series is dying. The latest technology is better, because in a few years, they will be obsolete.
4) Eyefinity support.

 

[jbakerlent]

Didn't see your question, sorry. Looks like you answered it pretty well yourself though

 

[tahayassen]

By the way, is it just me or is the RAM a bit overpriced?

 

[jbakerlent]

It actually doesn't look too expensive for what you are getting...

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2%2040000147%201052315794%201052528354%201052429371&name=DDR3%201600%20(PC3%2012800)

 

[tahayassen]

I just found out that I can buy from newegg.ca =O

Which one is better?

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131327

or

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=14-161-317&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=100&SelectedRating=-1&PurchaseMark=&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&Page=1&Keywords=%28keywords%29

 

[Reyesx]

Go for this one http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447&cm_re=5770-_-14-150-447-_-Product

 

[jbakerlent]

^ I like the price on the HIS.