$700 Gaming PC

[bennett18]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Next Month or so

BUDGET RANGE: ~700

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Hard Drive, Monitor, Windows 7

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Whatever's Cheapest (can get to Micro Center too)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.

PARTS PREFERENCES: I would like to use AMD if at all possible

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I think this is a pretty solid build for a friend of mine who wants to build his first computer. Looking to play mostly Starcraft II and some newer games, but he says he doesn't HAVE to have max settings everywhere. I suggested that he might want to start off with a single 5770 and then when he needs to, get a second one.

 

[batuchka]

$609AR after F3 500GB taken out ^^

 

[dookie11]

$609AR after F3 500GB taken out ^^
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/batuchka/Untitled-853.jpg

That looks like a really good build. How's the brand "Zotac" for the GPU? I've never heard of them.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Zotac is a relatively new company that has made a name for itself with high quality NVidia Ion HTPC builds.

 

[bennett18]

What if instead of the 460, we threw in a 5850 or something comparable to the 460 so there would still be a chance for CF in the future? My friend really likes the idea of adding a second card. I guess then the issue would be that the MSI mobo only does x16/x4. That's kinda why i was leaning towards the Asrock at the beginning. It's supposed to do x8/x8, which I thought i read somewhere doesn't put too much of a damper on performance versus x16/x16. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

8x8 vs 16x16 is hardly noticable.

the 460 is a great bang for buck card, 5850 is comparable performace for a bit more ($260-275 vs $220-230)

 

[falseg0d]

8x8 is around 5% less than 16x16, and that's benchmarks. You won't notice any real world difference. Stay away from 16x4 though. I'll get back to you on a motherboard.

 

[falseg0d]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.480286

 

[bennett18]

That's what I figured, good to double check though. But i can't seem to tell any difference between the MSI http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130269 and the Asrock http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...k_870_EXTREME3_AM3_AMD-_-13-157-198-_-Product, other than the onboard graphics of course. It seems to me that the Asrock board has a couple more features (ESATA3, and the always nice reset CMOS button, maybe more?), is cheaper (~$40), and has a respectable amount of good, solid reviews. As far as I can tell, it's a win-win.

I managed to drop the price about $20 with some combos. Not much, but hey. Every bit counts. I'm still debating what to do about the GPU. I like everything in this build here so far, except I keep flopping on the GPU. And I guess if I don't got the CF route, I probably won't need a 750W PSU, right? Which would save me some money, and I could get the PSU/ODD combo batuchka had in his post...

 

[bennett18]

Just found this combo deal http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.480370. Saves $50 on the current PSU/Case combo. I know the case is good, but anything wrong with the PSU?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

nothng wrong with antec. Top flight case & PSU maker

Just that 750W is overkill unless you are crossfiring.

 

[bennett18]

Would that PSU be able to handle CF 5850's sometime in the future? I like everything in this build so far except the GPU. Still undecided there. I'm thinking 5770 or potentially 5850 if I can convince my friend to fork over the extra cash.

What would your opinion be on a 5850? Worth the extra $100? Or stick with 5770 until it loses most of its luster, then buy another one and match/beat a 5850?

 

[macabre215]

Would that PSU be able to handle CF 5850's sometime in the future? I like everything in this build so far except the GPU. Still undecided there. I'm thinking 5770 or potentially 5850 if I can convince my friend to fork over the extra cash.

What would your opinion be on a 5850? Worth the extra $100? Or stick with 5770 until it loses most of its luster, then buy another one and match/beat a 5850?

Absolutely not. I wouldn't trust an OCZ psu with any multi gpu set up. And the Cooler Master PSU that you've picked out is garbage compared to what you can get at near the same price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750tx

Stick with Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, and some Silverstone PSUs. You might save 20 bucks at the most but get a unit that's terrible quality.

 

[bennett18]

Absolutely not. I wouldn't trust an OCZ psu with any multi gpu set up. And the Cooler Master PSU that you've picked out is garbage compared to what you can get at near the same price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750tx

Stick with Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, and some Silverstone PSUs. You might save 20 bucks at the most but get a unit that's terrible quality.

I actually picked out a diferent PSU in the combo deal I posted right below the image. It's an Antec EarthWatts 750W PSU. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371026

I think I'm also leaning towards the 5770 with future CF.

 

[bennett18]

So I think the final build I've come up with is gonna be:

Comes out to be ~$590 after MIR.

 

[bennett18]

Same build as above, but swapped the XFX for a Sapphire to save about $20. Didn't see any major flaws in any reviews I read about the Sapphire card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873.

Now I'm just looking for a final check by someone, and I think this is a done deal.

 

[falseg0d]

Everything looks good to me, pull the trigger when you're ready.

 

[macabre215]

Same build as above, but swapped the XFX for a Sapphire to save about $20. Didn't see any major flaws in any reviews I read about the Sapphire card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873.

Now I'm just looking for a final check by someone, and I think this is a done deal.

Now I'm just looking for a final check by someone, and I think this is a done deal.[/quotemsg]

It looks fine as quality in Sapphire cards is the norm, but the XFX 5770 is a reference design that would allow over-volting. The Sapphire card has a non-reference PCB and won't allow that.

 

[bennett18]

Best answer selected by bennett18.

 

[bennett18]

Now I'm just looking for a final check by someone, and I think this is a done deal.

It looks fine as quality in Sapphire cards is the norm, but the XFX 5770 is a reference design that would allow over-volting. The Sapphire card has a non-reference PCB and won't allow that.[/quotemsg]

Ah. Good to know. Thanks. I think I'll still stick with the Sapphire since I don't plan on seriously overclocking this system much at all. Thanks for all the help.