$1000 Mostly Gaming Computer

[Bismarck]

I am planning on buying this today. I am looking for a more experienced opinion. Especially for compatibility between the parts. The list is from TigerDirect shipping to the West Coast (USA) for $1033.88 before $85 rebate.

I mostly use these things to game, watch movies on the interwebs and mess about in photoshop.

PARTS PREFERENCES: I prefer using a Gigabyte mobo and its AMDs

OVERCLOCKING: I will overclock this eventually and get new video cards for CFX action.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: I have no idea, I've never had an LCD monitor before.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I would like to avoid compatibility issues. Does the Ram work w/the motherboard? Will my PSU support Crossfire? It doesn't specify so I don't know. Will my case be able to fit my board and CPU fan? I've checked out all the numbers so I think they do, but maybe you know something I don't. I'll be getting an SSD in the future, hence the relatively small HDD. I appreciate any help given. I haven't built a computer in 7 years so I don't know all the little things. Which could turn out to be huge. Thank you.

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Corsair XMS3 TW3X4G1333C9AG 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 RAM - - PC10666, 1333MHz, 4096MB (2x 2048MB), 240 Pin, Dual-Channel
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4837614&sku=C13-8220

Thermaltake VL90001W2Z Armor A90 Black ATX Case & Thermaltake CLP0564 Frio Dual 120mm Universal CPU Cooler & Ultra LSP650 650-Watt Power Supply Bundle
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6337496&sku=S19-4188

Gigabyte 890GPA-UD3H Motherboard - AMD 890GX, Socket AM3, DDR3, PCIe, LAN
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5975100&sku=G452-1023

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition AM3 CPU HDZ955FBGMBOX - 3.20GHz, Socket AM3, 6MB Cache, 2000MHz (4000 MT/s) FSB, Retail, Processor with Fan
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5752143&sku=A79-1955

Lite-On IHDS118-04 Internal DVD Drive - DVD-ROM 18x, CD-ROM 48x, SATA (OEM)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5744256&sku=L12-1370%20OEM

Gigabyte GV-R455D3-512I Radeon HD 4550 Video Card - 512MB DDR3, PCI-Express 2.0, DVI, HDMI, VGA
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4843027&sku=G452-4550

Western Digital Caviar Blue Hard Drive - 3.5", 7200RPM, SATA 3G, 80GB, 8MB Cache, OEM
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3318115&sku=TSD-80AAJS

ASUS VH242H 24" Widescreen LCD Monitor - 1080p, 1920x1080, 20000:1 Dynamic, 16:9, VGA, DVI, HDMI. Black
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4942567&sku=A466-2406

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64BIT Operating System Software - OEM DVD
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5213932&sku=M17-7302

 

[asteldian]

I would upgrade the HDD to a 500gb Samsun Spinpoint F3 for $54.99.
You may be thinking of getting an SSD in the future, but you need to get a decent GPU long before then, besides, as you can see, the price difference between 80gb and 500gb is not that big.

I would not get the combo deal for case/heatsink and PSU. Rarely is the PSU with a case much good, I may be wrong but reading the specs of that PSU I think you are better off buying a cheaper case, no CPU cooler and a Corsair PSU. The cooler can wait until the future, there will be no reason to overclock your CPU until you have a decent GPU.

I don't know much about AMD motherboards, but hopefully someone can recommend a good one or confirm your suggestion as best value for money.

Exactly what games are you playing? Your new monitor is great, you will be playing HD resolution, ideally you are wanting the expensive cards like the 5850, but could get away with less depending on your games. The 4550 will be struggling in modern games at that resolution

 

[Griffolion]

Everything looks fine but you won't be gaming at 1080p very well with the 4550 but the other 2 activities are fine for it.

 

[Bismarck]

Yow! Yeah there isn't much of a price difference in the different sizes of HDD.

I'm going to be playing StarCraft 2 in the near future. I'm not playing anything too intensive like MW2 or Crysis right now. Looking forward to FFIV but who know how that'll turn out. Diablo 3 will come out someday and I'll play that too. I hadn't considered that the resolution would draw so much on the video card. Hmm.

 

[Griffolion]

Yeah the resolution is a big factor. And with some of the games you're on about you're going to need a better card. The 5770 will be a good starting point, Crysis will still tear it a new one but you should be able to do most modern games at reasonable settings.

Just for the record, everything else in your build looks good for gaming but the 4550 is a massive bottleneck.

 

[asteldian]

Yes, the higher the resolution the better the game looks but the more pressure on teh graphics card. Certainly when buying a new monitor you don't want to be getting anything less than 1920 x 1080, else you will be wanting to replace again in the near future, whereas once you have an HD monitor you only need it replaced when it dies
Until you get a better GPU you will have to live with lowering the settings on games

Just curious, is there a reason you didn't go with newegg for the parts?

 

[banthracis]

I'll give you 2 builds. 1 that's $1000 after Rebates, one that's under $1,000 before rebates. Both include a 1920x1080 monitor.

Case
Antec 300 Illusion $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

HD
Spinpoint F3 $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

RAM
G SKill Eco $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231321

GPU/Monitor
5870 and 23" 1920x1080 Acer $555
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.428236

GPU/Optical
OCZ 700w and Lite on $89 w/ $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.418929

MOBO/CPU/Free Game
GA 790 UD4 and Phenom II x4 955 $250 w/ $15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.405957

Use promo codes: MBTEN,VGA061710,EMCYTNN22 Save $60 immediately

$50 in MIR/Gift Card

Total After Rebates: $1009 before shipping

Under $1,000 before rebates

Case
Antec 300 Illusion $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

HD
Spinpoint F3 $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

RAM
G SKill Eco $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231321

Monitor
21.5" Acer 1920x1080 $159
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009219

GPU
XFX 5850 $287
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.422132


GPU/Optical
OCZ 700w and Lite on $89 w/ $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.418929

MOBO/CPU/Free Game
GA 790 UD4 and Phenom II x4 955 $250 w/ $15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.405957

Use Promo codes: MBTEN,EMCYTNN22

Total: $990 before Rebates and shipping

 

[asteldian]

That's why I was asking if there was a reason he didn't go newegg, can get good combos

 

[banthracis]

Hmm ok looks like I forgot OS >.<


Case/HD
HEC Blitz and 7200.12 500gb $59
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.413256

RAM
G SKill Eco $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231321

Monitor
21.5" Acer 1920x1080 $159
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009219

GPU
XFX 5850 $287
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.422132


GPU/Optical
OCZ 700w and Lite on $89 w/ $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.418929

MOBO/CPU/Free Game
GA 790 UD4 and Phenom II x4 955 $250 w/ $15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.405957

OS
win 7 Home 64 bit OEM $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Use Promo codes: MBTEN,

Total: $1044 before $50 Rebates and shipping

 

[Bismarck]

Thank you for taking the time to list those systems. I did check out the parts but I'm really into some of the things I picked out. As for why I didn't go with newegg: I have no preference but I did find some parts I liked on TG that weren't on newegg. That's all. There was some RAM I was into on newegg that wasn't on TG also so.. yeah. Compromise.

asteldian, Griffolion - Thanks for the tips on the HDD and the video card bottle neck info. I'll be upgrading the HDD and Video Card but I'm still going with a more budget class GPU. Here's what I think I'll get instead:

Western Digital WD5001AALS Caviar Black Hard Drive - 500GB, 7200 rpm, 32MB, SATA-3G
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4914330&sku=TSD-500AALS

Gigabyte GV-R545OC-512I Radeon HD 5450 OC Video Card - 512MB DDR2, PCI-Express 2.0, DVI, HDMI, VGA
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6078345&sku=G452-5450

 

[nuke123]

That's why I was asking if there was a reason he didn't go newegg, can get good combos

Not only do newegg offer better combos

, ive heard that tigerdirects customer service is awful. Newegg for me everytime!!!

 

[Bismarck]

Best answer selected by Bismarck.