$1200 Gaming PC

[Nerzaghal]

I built a computer back in sophomore year in high school and after it died and I replaced it with a laptop, I'm hungry for the power of a PC

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: End of this week to beginning of next week

SYSTEM BUDGET: 1200-1300

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Movies

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel core. No other real preference

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes (in the future)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200 (I think)

PARTS:

Processor: Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor


Motherboard: ASUS P6X58D-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

RAM: Kingston 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR1066D3N7K3/6G

Video Card: HIS H485FM1GH Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (I feel like I'm cheating myself by getting this)

Power Supply: Seventeam ST-850ZAF 850W ATX 12V V2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

CD-Drive: ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM

Total cost: $1095, going to use a student discount to get windows 7 professional 64-bit for $65 so total right now $1160

Thank you for your time.

 

[MadAdmiral]

No. Just no period.

The i7 isn't a good gaming CPU. It's too expensive.

The RAM you choose is slow. Really slow.

The GPU is a dying card. It's already been replaced by ATI, and it's replacement isn't a good gaming CPU. It will struggle badly at 1900x.

The PSU is not from a great brand. Stick to the major brands (Antec, Corsiar, Silverstone and SeaSonic).

The HDD is slower than cheaper drives.

The case is good, but a little small for the stuff you need.

CPU/Mobo: i5-750 and Asus P7P55D-E Pro $370
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 2x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $110
GPU: HD 5870 $400
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB $90
Case: HAF 922 $90
PSU: Corsair 750W $90 after rebate
Optical: Cheap SATA DVD burner $20
HSF (if OC): Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus (out of stock at the moment, but usally $30)
OS: Windows 7 $65

Total: $1,265.

This would absolutely destroy your build. To make it cheaper, (if needed), you can easily make these changes and would have no noticeable impact on performance:

CPU/HSF: X4 955 and Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus (usually about $185)
Mobo/GPU: Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4 and HD 5870 $485 after rebate

Total: $1,135.

 

[Nerzaghal]

Ouch, but I get good advice, thanks for your honesty.
Just, out of curiosity, what do you think the lifespan of the PC you suggest is? Not from a gaming standpoint, just from the standpoint of it will become frustrating to use (My laptop is at that point)

Thank you

 

[dndhatcher]

You could also drop down from a 5870 to a 5850 and still have a very good system for $100 less.

Either of MadAds builds will be good for 3-7 years, depending on how picky you are about having the "latest and greatest". Given you have been using a cruddy laptop, probably the long side of that range (5-7 years).

 

[Nerzaghal]

Oh, thank you both then, I appreciate your help immensely.
Last PC I built exploded after 3 years and I was nervous about a new one.
I'll consider the 5850, because if it's cheaper then I can afford a second one faster and crossfire them.
Thank you again.