2 gamer builds @ $1,300 what would you do?

gamer2010

October 8, 2010 12:44:01 AM

Approximate Purchase Date: ASAP - very bored

Budget Range: $1,300 to get up and running with at least a single video card

System Usage: gaming, playing music and video's, surfing the internet

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, microcenter.com

Country of Origin: USA

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Yes/Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Universal Items:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
ANTEC 902 case
WINDOWS 7 home premium 64bit OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

i7950 x58 gtx460sli build

Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W
ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-850HX 850W
GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
Crucial Ballistix Tracer 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
total:$1,299

or

AMD/ATI 890fx 5870

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD5 AM3 AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-850HX 850W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
MSI R5870 Lightning II Radeon HD 5870 1GB 256-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
total $1,295

other notes: i never plan to use more then 1 monitor, will be running a widespread genre of games from starcraft 2 to eve online to crysis to badcompany2 world in conflict etc etc,... i have no experiance overclocking cpu's or gpu's, will be running only 1 video card to start and adding a second later to save on the initial cost also will be running the stock cpu cooler to start and upgrading later if temps get too high

this will be my 1st build, i am upgrading from an hp m8000n i bought several years ago that has a athlon +5200 dual core and a radeon hd4350 vista 32bit

More about : gamer builds 300

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sp12

October 8, 2010 12:54:24 AM

Needlessly expensive ram and expensive mobo for the AMD build.

Corsair HX is a bit on the expensive side for what it is. I'd personally get an i5-760 based build.

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coleam45

October 8, 2010 1:00:58 AM

The second system is a lot more balanced. You don't need an i7 if the heaviest thing you'll be doing is gaming. You could drop to an i5-760 and get about the same performance for $200ish less. You could then turn around and put that money into a better video card. The 460 is great, but you can do better on that budget.

For the second system, consider switching to the 955; the 965 is just a 955 with the multiplier bumped up one. Since the Black Edition processors have an unlocked multiplier, you can easily do this yourself with practically zero risk. Also, that Crucial RAM is overpriced. These have lower latency and are $15 less: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

You could also go with this slightly slower, but tighter timings kit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

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batuchka

October 8, 2010 12:46:11 PM

Depends: how willing are u to await 19th October with the HD 6000 unleashed upon us? If you just need a working rig a.s.a.p i would go 955BE + IGP mobo like 785G/880G then await developments in the GPU front like revision of pricing scheme especially, etc

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mosox

October 8, 2010 1:22:31 PM

ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 + Microsoft Windows 7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
AMD Phenom II X4 965 + SAPPHIRE 100280SR Radeon HD 5970
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3
ASUS DRW
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
XFX P1-650X-CAG9 650W + LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...

$1,304.90

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jasonp12

October 8, 2010 1:55:46 PM

jesus mosox's build basically owns yours for 10$ more.....hes got a very nice build....

one thing you can do though is upgrade to the 890GX mobo (FX is overpriced) because it has better crossfire support then the one mosox listed (incase you wanna go that route) then save on a GPU for now....dont get one (the 890gx has an onboard 4290 you can use for now) wait for the ATI 6xxx series to come out, and then purchase an appropriate card (they should be out within the week).

Hands down though AMD build FTW

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gamer2010

October 10, 2010 2:53:09 AM

mosox said:

ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 + Microsoft Windows 7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
AMD Phenom II X4 965 + SAPPHIRE 100280SR Radeon HD 5970
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3
ASUS DRW
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
XFX P1-650X-CAG9 650W + LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...

$1,304.90

i really like this,... my only thoughts are-
will that 5970 fit inside that LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62?
650w would be enough to cover everything?
is there any intel /nvidia build comparable?
is there a cheaper route to the same performance?
thanks

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batuchka

October 10, 2010 3:12:30 AM

I had compiled a list off several International h/w sites and manufacturer spec sheets to compile casings that can fit the HD 5870/5970 here
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=2580...

Quote:

List of cases Below that will fit the 5970
***********************************
1.Cooler Master Sniper Black Edition or regular(Will Fit)
2.CM HAF932 (Almost Identical to the inside of a sniper)
3.corsair 800d (Definitely fit!)
4.Coolermaster HAF 922. (Two inches past GTX 285)
5.Antec 1200 (Verified Pictures seen)
6.Silver Stone TJ07(Verified bye person here and another Forum)
7 Antec P193 - verified by HWZ
8.Silverstone Raven RV02 - verified by HWZ

9 Asus TA-M2 - verified by HWZ
http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_I...zfr&templete=2
10. In-Win Fanqua BS652 - verified by HWZ
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/sh...2598340&page=5
11. CM 370
12. CM 430
#11-12 Verified by CM website
http://www.coolermaster.com/news.php...s&newsletter=2
13. NZXT Hades
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/sh....php?t=2472936
14. Silverstone SG-07
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/new...case_fits_5970
15. In Win IronClad (Four inches past GTX 275)
http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/cases/3713?start=4
16. Silverstone FT02
http://forums.vr-zone.com/mass-order...ristmas-2.html
17. In Win Dragon Slayer
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/artic...e-Review/993/3
18. CM Stacker
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=109078
19. Lian Li V354
http://www.overclockersclub.com/news/27046/

Lian Li K62 has no verification and so best assume the HD 5970 does not fit

As for

Quote:

is there a cheaper route to the same performance?

being more specialized in rigging up mATX/LANParty gamers theses days:
$1062AR

OS $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
CM GeminiIIS low profile cooler $38 Free Ship
http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-PBU1&title...

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