Need help picking parts - $1500 budget build

bavman

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May 19, 2010
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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Mid-late june

BUDGET RANGE: $1500

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (MW2, fallout, prototype..etc), I also want to be able to run skype video and a movie file at the same time, when i do this now on my core 2 duo (2.0ghz) laptop, everything lags and the processor can't keep up

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg, amazon, microcenter
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ks, US

PARTS PREFERENCES: I prefer intel processors, ati gpu

OVERCLOCKING: Depending on how cool i can keep the cpu, i heard alot of the new i processors from intel can be overclocked near 4ghz which would be awesome as long as they dont get too hot

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Not now, but in the future

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Never built a pc in my life, but you have to start somewhere.

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i7-930 bloomfield $290
For the processor i was thinking an i7 930, but alot of people said if my greatest concern is gaming i can save alot of money by sticking with an i5 instead

HIS hd 5850 $300
I dont know too much about gpu brands.

Corsair 750W psu $109 ($89 after rebate)

A-DATA ddr3 1600 $165

COOLER MASTER mid-tower $70
looks nice and well ventilated?

ACER 21.5'' 1080p $150

So that brings me to $1064 leaving me in need of a motherboard and HDD. I would like a motherboard that will accept my gpu and another 1 in the future if possible, and also have sata 6gb/s for a faster hdd since i dont have money for an ssd right now.

Thanks for your help.

 
Do you need an OS? If so, tack on $100 for Windows 7.

The i7 is definitely not a good choice. I'd stick with the i5. Here's the full build:

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: Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus (It's usually $30, but it was just sold out, so the price jumped. I'd check Microcenter for a better price.)
Monitor: Asus 23" 1080p $180 after rebate

Total: $1,370
 

asteldian

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I would agree and say the i5 750 is the way to go. When it comes to gaming the i7 offers you little in performance gain. The great advantage of going for i5 750 is not just the price saved on the CPU, but also savings on RAM and motherboard, usually it means enough money to get a better GPU which will give far more performance gains than the i7 does

Here is an idea on a build:

i5 750 - $194.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215&cm_re=i5_750-_-19-115-215-_-Product

Asus P7P55D-E PRO - $189.99 (6gb/s, 3.0 USB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131621&cm_re=asus_p7p55d-e_pro-_-13-131-621-_-Product

G Skill 4GB 2x2GB RAM - $118.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231278&cm_re=g_skill_4gb_ddr3-_-20-231-278-_-Product

XFX Radeon HD 5850 1GB GDDR5 - $309.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150491&cm_re=5850-_-14-150-491-_-Product

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 500gb 7200RPM 16MB Cache - $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&cm_re=samsung_spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-181-_-Product

Corsair 750W psu $109 ($89 after rebate) (from your link)

Sony DVD drive - $26.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030&cm_re=dual_layer_dvd_drive-_-27-118-030-_-Product

CPU cooler Hyper212+ - $39.99 (+2.99 shipping)(may be cheaper elsewhere)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&cm_re=hyper_212%2b-_-35-103-065-_-Product

HAF 922 case - $89.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197&cm_re=HAF_922-_-11-119-197-_-Product

Total: $1118.89

You have not mentioned the OS, I assume you need to buy Windows 7 Home Premium. The OEM version is $99 so your new total is:
$1217.88

Add your monitor to get $1367.88. That is still over $100 less than your budget so you could upgrade your GPU to the 5870 for maximum performance
 

bavman

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Thats funny that you too completely changed my build but it was exactly the same between yours. Anyways thank you both for the help, its great to have some guidance building my first pc. One more question though, should i need to buy any extra material? Thermal paste for cpu, cables, screws, etc... or will all of that be included?