$2000 Budget for Gaming PC

[doogansquest]

I will have roughly $2000 to spend on a new computer. My primary interests are gaming, and the internet.

I have owned both Intel and AMD in the past, so I'm not a fanboy of either. The same can be said of ATI and NVidia, though I'm currently leaning towards 2 GTX 460's in SLI mode.

I will need a new monitor (preferably one with 1920 x 1200 res), keyboard, sound card, and maybe speakers.

Thanks in advance for any advice, tips, and combo links. I prefer Newegg, but I'm open to anything available (from Iowa).

~Doogansquest

P.S. Just a few questions:

If I purchase an i5 750, or a Phenom 2, x4 965 BE (relatively similar for gaming), will I get a bottleneck with 2x GTX 460's in SLI mode?

What's the best hard drive configuration for this budget for gaming? Should I set up an SSD (say, 60-80 gb) for the OS, while storing my games and files on a big, 7200 rpm drive?

Thanks again,
Doog

PRIMARY USE (in order): Gaming, Internet, Watching Movies

BUDGET: $1850 - $2250

WHAT I AM SET ON: 2x 1gb GTX 460 in SLI mode (preferably x16, not x8!!!) or a comparable price/performance single GPU solution.

WHAT COMPONENTS DO I NEED: All of them. Leave nothing out, if possible. Sound card, monitor, etc.

 

[gkay09]

The i5 or the Phenom have enough power to support GTX 460 SLI...
But SLI and AMD is not a good combination...So you best bet would be the i5 + P55 board...

HDD config - Like you said, a SSD for OS and a data on 7200RPM drive would be a very good setup...

Here is a config...
i5 760 + OS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.437518.19-115-067

ASUS PRO-E + Kingston Hyper-X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.452291

Lian-Li K62 + XFX 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.440193

SSD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227550
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227542
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148357

HDD -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Graphics card x2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333

 

[doogansquest]

I like that setup. Thanks for the quick reply.

My only concerns with the i5 are the limitations for SLI/Crossfire; by that I mean the fact that most MB's which house an 1156 chip can only SLI/CF in x8 mode, and not x16. From what I've researched, that's a considerable drop in performance.

Also, since my secondary use will be internet and video, would it be worth finding a way to jump to the i7 to take advantage of triple-channel memory?

Would I want to install any games on the SSD, or would it be best to leave them on the primary storage drive and keep the SSD as simple as possible?

Finally, are there any good guides for setting up that Hard Drive configuration?

I will edit the first post to clarify exactly what it is I'm hoping to achieve.

 

[ultimabeam]

On a $2k budget, there is absolutely no reason to limit yourself to an i5 setup. Here's a potential build with an i7-930 and a GTX 480 (I know you're set on SLI'd 460s, but consider going instead with a single 480 as it will give you much more headroom to expand in the future).

$1680AR, before shipping:

Hyper 212+: $30 on Amazon

You can swap out the 480 for 2x 460s for about the same cost.

I've left you a few hundred bucks to get an SSD if you desire it.

 

[doogansquest]

On a $2k budget, there is absolutely no reason to limit yourself to an i5 setup. Here's a potential build with an i7-930 and a GTX 480 (I know you're set on SLI'd 460s, but consider going instead with a single 480 as it will give you much more headroom to expand in the future).

$1680AR, before shipping:

http://i31.tinypic.com/254yhib.png

Hyper 212+: $30 on Amazon

You can swap out the 480 for 2x 460s for about the same cost.

I've left you a few hundred bucks to get an SSD if you desire it.

That is a great shopping list! I may be making a similar purchase soon. I'm thrilled that I can still get an SSD, and perhaps a sound card with that set up! I may upgrade your speaker selection, but otherwise, way to go! You combo-guys are awesome. I usually pick and drop in the cart. I've got much to learn.

 

[doogansquest]

While I haven't fully settled on exactly what it is I want just yet, let me ask you guys (and gals) what you would do if you had 0 computer parts of any kind, and somewhere between $1850-$2250 to spend on a gaming rig that also blazes downloads, watches movies, etc?

Remember, you don't have a monitor, a keyboard & mouse, a printer (if you want one), a sound card, speakers, etc. Nothing.

Fire away!

 

[gkay09]

For GTX 460 SLI, I doubt there would a a lot of performance difference when they run at x8x8 compared to x16x16...
Only for cards such as GTX 470 and above, you would notice significant difference...
But its your call though...

And as for a single GTX 480 Vs 2x GTX 460s in SLI, I would get the GTX 460s...
Reasons :
- They offer more performance than a single GTX 480s
- GTX 480s soon will be replaced by newer cards based on GF104 or GF106...so rather get 2x GTX 460s for about the same price, get more performance and if you want to upgrade, then get the newer cards instead of sticking to GTX 480s...

Here is a complete build...
i7 930 + ASUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.434526

RAM - Have seen many users complaining about unstable OCZ RAMs...so I would suggest to stay away from them...
GSKillz 6GB DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231304

OS + GTX 460
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.437534.14-125-333
GTX 460
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333

Lian Li K62 + XFX 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.440220

DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106333

SSD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227550

HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.425802

Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121036
or if you want a very good one -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121122

KB + Mice
Wireless Desktop MK700 from Logitech®
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A3869108&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=CJ&cid=24471&lid=566643&acd=10550055-1727683-

MFC Printer
Canon® PIXMA® MX860 Office All-in-One Printer
http://www.staples.com/Canon-PIXMA-MX860-Office-All-in-One-Printer/product-nr_779461?cmArea=SEARCH

CPU Cooler - If the Hyper 212+ is back in stock by the time you buy, get that else this...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142

LCD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051

Not sure if I missed something...

 

[doogansquest]

Way to go. And that price total comes to?

 

[gkay09]

^ Well dint calculate that...but mot probably would tough the ceiling of your budget I guess...

 

[doogansquest]

Best answer selected by doogansquest.