$850 Flight Simulator, Gaming system

[con5021]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Hopefully within 2 weeks

BUDGET RANGE: Less than $880, preferably after rebates.

SYSTEM USAGE: FSX (lots of system-heavy AI)>Gaming (Spore, Sim City)>Possible at-home weather model>Internet>GIMP

PART NOT REQUIRED: Monitor

PREFERRED WEBSITE FOR PARTS: Newegg
COUNTRY: United States

PARTS PREFERENCES: I like the Phenom II X4's (955, 945) and the NVIDIA 9800gt, but not locked to them and would happily go to an Intel and/or ATI, or others from AMD and NVIDIA. I'd like a quad-core, however. I also prefer Windows 7.

OVERCLOCKING: Most likely not.

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1600X900, according to the website (http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/LG-W2061TQ-PF-20-in-LCD-Monitor-w-Auto-Bright-Sensor-Refurbished/4239600/product.html)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This is my first build and I'm definitely going cheap. It's going to be lightyears from top of the line, but anything is an improvement over what I've got. Picking parts on my own is a bit daunting, especially making sure things are compatible, along with concerns over things like the power supply and cooling (due to frustrating past experiences).

Thank you!

 

[Alvin Smith]

First: ... An Athlon x3core (435) and a decent cooler (Hyper 212+) will actually do better (for gaming) and will OC very nicely ...

2nd: Please stretch for a 22" 1920x1200 monitor ... totally worth any extra expense !!

3rd ... Start with a Radeon 5770 ... A 22" mon (1920x1200) and the 435 (or 440)

Micro ATX is definately your friend.

= Al =

 

[con5021]

I've been looking at monitors and the 1920x1200s seem to be out of my price limit. My monitor limit is less than $200. I have however found several 1920x1080 monitors within my price range. Is there a significant difference between the two?

I've tried putting some parts together and this is what I've gotten so far:

Windows 7: $99.99

Sapphire Radeon HD 5770: $159.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102864&cm_re=radeon_hd_5770-_-14-102-864-_-Product

Athlon II X3 440 + ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX: $139.98 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.390980

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus: $26.99 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4950641&SRCCODE=JELLYFISH&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjC3wkkYubltCjCVqHCjCdwwp

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM: $109.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W: $79.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015&Tpk=Antec%20EarthWatts%20EA650%20650W

Rosewill Smart One ATX Mid Tower Computer Case: $49.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147120

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive: $55.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

ASUS Black DVD drive: $27.98 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Mouse, Keyboard, Thermal Compound: $36.93

Total: $787.82

That leaves about $200 for a monitor. Is there anything that could/should be changed?

Thanks.

 

[Alvin Smith]

No ... no prob ... 1080P is just dandy ... you DO want 120Hz or under 6ms g-to-g.

 

[con5021]

Best answer selected by con5021.