Help Me with a $1000 Build

[dabomb75]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ~within the next 4 weeks

BUDGET RANGE: preferably $1000, max $1200 after rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Poker, databases, gaming, movies, music, browsing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse, keyboard, monitor

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: None

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080

Other Comments: Looking to keep this computer/upgrade parts when need be for the next 2 years, so I want to create a solid base to build around for the future. In terms of gaming, I don't need anything too hard-core, just so I can occasionally play StarCraft 2, and any other games on medium settings for the next year

added from my 2nd post:
I currently have 2 monitors and will eventually be adding a 3rd. Ultimate goal within the next 6 months-1 yr. is 2 20" monitors and a 30". So yea, multiple display capabilities is a must.

And I will be running some pretty intensive software that need to read from the drive at lightning fast speeds, so a solid SSD is a must as well (although it doesn't necessarily need to have a ton of space, just fast)


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Build I am leaning towards so far:

Processor:
Intel Core i5-760 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115067&cm_re=i5_760-_-19-115-067-_-Product

Motherboard:
ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131621&cm_re=p7p55d-_-13-131-621-_-Product

Power Supply:
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...39010&cm_re=corsair_hx-_-17-139-010-_-Product

SSD:
Intel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2M080G2XX 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167027&Tpk=N82E16820167027

RAM:
A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409

Video Card:

?????

Case:

?????


Adding up all those components puts a shade over $1k without the video card and case included. That's without combo deals or anything like that, which I have absolutely no idea how to look for on newegg.

Also, I have no preference for Intel over AMD, so if anyone thinks AMD would suit me better, then I'm all ears.

Thanks

 

[batuchka]

Hmm have done up these poker rigs but those peeps have a condition that they wanted to run like 3-4 displays and such - so for just poker/SC2 no multi display and i assume multi tasking is very much on the table @ $643AR we have

Optional
60GB Sandforce based SSD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226151

CM Hyper 212+ $30
http://www.directron.com/rrb10212pgp.html

 

[dabomb75]

probably should have mentioned this in the OP:

I currently have 2 monitors and will eventually be adding a 3rd. Ultimate goal within the next 6 months-1 yr. is 2 20" monitors and a 30". So yea, multiple display capabilities is a must.

And I will be running some pretty intensive software that need to read from the drive at lightning fast speeds, so a solid SSD is a must as well (although it doesn't necessarily need to have a ton of space, just fast)

 

[batuchka]

Hmm in that case swap out to a HD 5850 ^^
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.494187

 

[wielander]

You will have to go with an ATI graphics card to run three monitors simultaneously. You should read up on ATI's Eyefinity technology, because you can't just connect 3 monitors to the graphics card (unless one of them has a displayport connector):

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-eyefinity-6-displayport,2596.html

Luckily they now have cheaper dongles to convert displays to displayport:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3879/active-singlelink-displayport-adaptors-available-soon

 

[wielander]

Here are some nice combos:


Intel Core i5-760 & ASUS P7P55D-E Pro for $360:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492249


Antec 900 Case (Very highly rated case, quiet and cool) and XFX 750W Power supply (very highly regarded, excellent 80 plus silver certified efficiency, modular) for $151 with promo code XFXPOWER after $40 in rebates:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492896


batuchka's combo with the OCZ ModXStream 600W power supply (still decent, 80 Plus Bronze, modular) and Lite-On 24X dvd burner for $57 after a $20 rebate makes more sense in retrospect:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.499346


Gigabyte HD 5850 with custom cooling (Decent mid range card with Eyefinity support, custom cooling makes it quiet so that it doesn't distract you from those high intensity poker matches) and 4GB DDR3 1600 CL9 memory for $317 after a $10 rebate:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.493443


Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB for $60:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&cm_re=samsung_spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product


If 60GB isn't enough, OCZ Agility 2 90GB Sandforce SSD for $214 after a $25 rebate:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227608&cm_re=90gb_ssd-_-20-227-608-_-Product


Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B Case (Very high quality and highly rated, excellent construction quality, brushed aluminum exterior, personally I like the clean look) for $70 after $30 off with the promotional code EMCYWPZ35.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112154

 

[dabomb75]

If I plan to be using this computer as a base system to keep adding on to/upgrading, you guys don't think I need a 750W PSU?

Also, how does the Intel X-25M compare with the 2 SSD's listed?: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167023


I'm liking the Intel based systems more, so I'm probably going to stick more-so with almost all of Wielander's suggestions:

CPU + M/B:
Intel Core i5-760 & ASUS P7P55D-E Pro for $360
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492249

GPU:
Gigabyte HD 5850 for $260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125318

SSD:
Intel X-25M for $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167023

RAM:
A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 for $88 (already bought these last week so no combo deal)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409

HDDs:
2 Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TBs in Raid 1 for $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...e=samsung_spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product

Case:
Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B Case for $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112154


And I'll wait on the response about the power unit before deciding what to get there.

Total Price (w/o power unit): $1098 (~1200 after tax)

 

[wielander]

If I plan to be using this computer as a base system to keep adding on to/upgrading, you guys don't think I need a 750W PSU?

If you think you will want to add a second HD 5850 in crossfire later, you would need at least the 750W PSU to comfortably power it (~550W total system power consumption at load). Otherwise, if you just plan on switching out components for better ones as you go, the 600W PSU may be plenty powerful (~375W total system power consumption at load).

Also, how does the Intel X-25M compare with the 2 SSD's listed?: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167023

You can read up on the differences in the latest Tom's Hardware SSD Roundup:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-7-ssd-trim,2705.html

The Sandforce SSDs that we listed were released more recently and have higher read and write speeds (much, much higher write speeds). The article basically says that while the Intel X-25M is still good, sandforce drives are the best option in your price range. The sandforce drives we linked are also cheaper per gigabyte which makes them an even better value.

 

[sp12]

Hot deal on that Antec+PSU.

 

[dabomb75]

Best answer selected by dabomb75.

 

[dabomb75]

Ok cool, so looks like this will be the final choice of parts:

CPU + M/B:
Intel Core i5-760 & ASUS P7P55D-E Pro for $360
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492249

GPU:
Gigabyte HD 5850 for $260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125318

PSU + DVD Burner:
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 and LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer Black SATA Model iHAS-324-98 for $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.499346

SSD:
Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe MKNSSDCL60GB-DX 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) for $155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226151

RAM:
A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 for $88 (already bought these last week so no combo deal)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409

HDDs:
2 Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TBs in Raid 1 for $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...e=samsung_spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product

Case:
Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B Case for $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112154

Total Price: $1108 ($1200 w/ tax)