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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: < 1 month
BUDGET RANGE: $2000 not incl Monitor
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Surfing, MS Office, VPN (Work) , Dreamweaver
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, mouse, speakers, webcam, monitor (possibly)
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Amazon (or Tiger Direct). I live in California so Newegg charges sales tax, not an option.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel, ATI, Asus
OVERCLOCKING: Yes
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes within 6 months to a year but not initially.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: Currently 1680x1050 (Viewsonic 20”) but will probably give that to the wife and get a new ~24” or run a dual monitor setup.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Windows Professional 7 64bit, I need pro as I do connect for work and I think pro would make that easier. Also this computer will be the hub of the home network that contains 2 laptops and another desktop so backups etc would be done here.
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The $2000 is not set in stone and I have a lot of flexibility but I am trying to find those sweet spot prices where you get best value and performance while maintaining the ability to upgrade at a later point, i.e. the I7 950 is almost 2x the I7 930 and not a lot of performance difference.
This is what I have so far, all from Amazon (free shipping and no tax).
Cooler Master SGC-6000-KXN1-GP Storm Sniper ATX Mid Tower Gaming Case (Black) $129.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OIRUQO/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Also considered the Antec P183 and Cooler Master Haf X but just liked this case better.
ASUS LGA 1366 - Intel X58 - True USB 3.0 & SATA 6Gb/s - ATX Motherboard P6X58D-E $239.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003FV5XGC/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Considered ASUS Rampage Extreme III but realized this is overkill as although I plan on overclocking I won’t be turning it into a hardcore hobby.
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-930 2.80GHz 8 MB LGA1366 CPU, Retail BX80601930 $289.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038JE9MU/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
I prefer Intel to AMD even though my current desktop is an Athlon 3500
Noctua 6 Dual Heatpipe with 140mm/120mm Dual SSO Bearing Fans CPU Cooler NH-D14 $86.92
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VKVZ1A/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Have not done any overclocking in the past but planning on it here.
Also considered were the Corsair H50, with dual fans.
Seagate Barracuda 1 TB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s 32 MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Desktop Hard Drive ST310005N1A1AS-RK-Retail Kit $79.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012YXWWQ/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Retail kit because if I am going to need to buy SATA cables etc might as well pay $10 more and get them here in the retail package. Also considered the WD Caviar Black 1TB.
Intel 80 GB X25M Mainstream SATA II Solid-State Drive (SSD) Retail Package SSDSA2MH080G2R5 $219.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IJA1EG/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
This will house the OS along with whatever other apps will benefit most from an SSD.
Corsair CMPSU-850HX 850-Watt HX Professional Series 80 Plus Certified Power Supply compatible with Core i7 and Core i5 $169.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029F21LA/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Also considered were the Corsair 850TX but like the fact this one is modular. I know this is overkill at the moment but I will be overclocking along with crossfire at some point in the future.
Mushkin Enhanced Redline Frostbyte 6 GB Desktop Memory 998805 $199.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00368CI4Y/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Considered Corsair as well but everyone seems to rave about the Mushkin
RADEON HD 5870 1GB DDR5 HDMI Graphics Card HD587XZNFC $379.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037YMWXO/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Will be buying a second one down the road, could buy one now but don’t really need it so figured might as well wait as the 2nd one will be cheaper in 6-12 months when I do need it. I see many brands and the prices seem to vary a lot even btwn different XFX versions of the 5870, anyone have any reasons why I shouldn’t get this one as it is about the cheapest 5870. I prefer ATI to Nvidia
LG Electronics GH22NS50 22X SATA Super Multi DVD+/-RW Internal Drive - Bulk with Software (Black) $23.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C9K3UO/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Windows 7 PRO 64 Bit System Builder 1pk $139.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NGQLIE/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Total price on Amazon $1960.82
I will probably end up getting a monitor as well and either hooking up my existing 20” Viewsonic (1680x1050) in a dual monitor setup or more likely giving that one to my wife.
The monitor I am looking at is the ASUS VW246H 24-Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black
http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VW246H-24-Inch-Widescreen-Monitor/dp/B001LYWBOM/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1280095225&sr=1-1
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: < 1 month
BUDGET RANGE: $2000 not incl Monitor
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Surfing, MS Office, VPN (Work) , Dreamweaver
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, mouse, speakers, webcam, monitor (possibly)
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Amazon (or Tiger Direct). I live in California so Newegg charges sales tax, not an option.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel, ATI, Asus
OVERCLOCKING: Yes
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes within 6 months to a year but not initially.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: Currently 1680x1050 (Viewsonic 20”) but will probably give that to the wife and get a new ~24” or run a dual monitor setup.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Windows Professional 7 64bit, I need pro as I do connect for work and I think pro would make that easier. Also this computer will be the hub of the home network that contains 2 laptops and another desktop so backups etc would be done here.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The $2000 is not set in stone and I have a lot of flexibility but I am trying to find those sweet spot prices where you get best value and performance while maintaining the ability to upgrade at a later point, i.e. the I7 950 is almost 2x the I7 930 and not a lot of performance difference.
This is what I have so far, all from Amazon (free shipping and no tax).
Cooler Master SGC-6000-KXN1-GP Storm Sniper ATX Mid Tower Gaming Case (Black) $129.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OIRUQO/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Also considered the Antec P183 and Cooler Master Haf X but just liked this case better.
ASUS LGA 1366 - Intel X58 - True USB 3.0 & SATA 6Gb/s - ATX Motherboard P6X58D-E $239.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003FV5XGC/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Considered ASUS Rampage Extreme III but realized this is overkill as although I plan on overclocking I won’t be turning it into a hardcore hobby.
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-930 2.80GHz 8 MB LGA1366 CPU, Retail BX80601930 $289.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038JE9MU/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
I prefer Intel to AMD even though my current desktop is an Athlon 3500
Noctua 6 Dual Heatpipe with 140mm/120mm Dual SSO Bearing Fans CPU Cooler NH-D14 $86.92
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VKVZ1A/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Have not done any overclocking in the past but planning on it here.
Also considered were the Corsair H50, with dual fans.
Seagate Barracuda 1 TB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s 32 MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Desktop Hard Drive ST310005N1A1AS-RK-Retail Kit $79.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012YXWWQ/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Retail kit because if I am going to need to buy SATA cables etc might as well pay $10 more and get them here in the retail package. Also considered the WD Caviar Black 1TB.
Intel 80 GB X25M Mainstream SATA II Solid-State Drive (SSD) Retail Package SSDSA2MH080G2R5 $219.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IJA1EG/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
This will house the OS along with whatever other apps will benefit most from an SSD.
Corsair CMPSU-850HX 850-Watt HX Professional Series 80 Plus Certified Power Supply compatible with Core i7 and Core i5 $169.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029F21LA/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Also considered were the Corsair 850TX but like the fact this one is modular. I know this is overkill at the moment but I will be overclocking along with crossfire at some point in the future.
Mushkin Enhanced Redline Frostbyte 6 GB Desktop Memory 998805 $199.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00368CI4Y/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Considered Corsair as well but everyone seems to rave about the Mushkin
RADEON HD 5870 1GB DDR5 HDMI Graphics Card HD587XZNFC $379.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037YMWXO/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Will be buying a second one down the road, could buy one now but don’t really need it so figured might as well wait as the 2nd one will be cheaper in 6-12 months when I do need it. I see many brands and the prices seem to vary a lot even btwn different XFX versions of the 5870, anyone have any reasons why I shouldn’t get this one as it is about the cheapest 5870. I prefer ATI to Nvidia
LG Electronics GH22NS50 22X SATA Super Multi DVD+/-RW Internal Drive - Bulk with Software (Black) $23.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C9K3UO/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Windows 7 PRO 64 Bit System Builder 1pk $139.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NGQLIE/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Total price on Amazon $1960.82
I will probably end up getting a monitor as well and either hooking up my existing 20” Viewsonic (1680x1050) in a dual monitor setup or more likely giving that one to my wife.
The monitor I am looking at is the ASUS VW246H 24-Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black
http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VW246H-24-Inch-Widescreen-Monitor/dp/B001LYWBOM/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1280095225&sr=1-1