(near)Final Build - Help

[scizorshock]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next week and a half


Budget Range: About $1,000 after rebates


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Poker, gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies


Parts Not Required: All required


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


Country of Origin: U.S.A.


Parts Preferences: Intel


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: No


Monitor Resolution: With the ASUS monitor it would be 1920x1080


Additional Comments: I am basically looking for the best gaming computer for my budget and also one that has room for future upgrades

Possible Parts:

CPU:
Intel Core i5-760 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80605I5760 - $208.99

Mobo:
ASUS P7P55D-E LX LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $129.99
or
BIOSTAR T5 XE CFX-SLI LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - $134.99

Monitor:
ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor Built in Speakers - $189.99

RAM:
Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - $79.99
or
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - $78.99

Graphics Card:
EVGA 012-P3-1470-AR GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP - $259.99

PSU:
XFX P1-650X-CAH9 650W ATX12V v2.2 / ESP12V v2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - $89.99
or
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-650HX 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - $119.99

HDD: Probably a samsung spinpoint, but which one? Should i get 2 small ones or 1 big one? Maybe a SSD?

Case:
COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $79.99
or
Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $69.99

ODD:
LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner - Bulk LightScribe Support - OEM - $17.99
or
LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM - $19.99

HSF:
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler - $29.99

OS:
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM - $99.99

Keyboard/Mouse/Speakers: ?

Total: $1,155.90-1,243.90

Thoughts, comments, or suggestions on the parts?
Any advice on how to better this build and possibly lower the cost while not losing too much performance or slightly increasing the cost while gaining a lot of performance is appreciated.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

See some of these from the last cupla days:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/299262-31-1000-gaming-computer
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/299260-31-build-1000-computer-intel
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/299150-31-1000-purely-hardware-gaming-time-build
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/299225-31-1000-1200-gaming-system
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/299166-31-1000-1500-black-friday-build-please
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/298566-31-gaming-build-advice-1000-1200
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/299130-31-system-1000
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/298871-31-advice-1000-dollar-system

 

[scizorshock]

I checked all those threads out. they didnt really help me narrow down my decisions on parts and most of them were AMD builds.

 

[mosox]

Wait a little for the new ATI 69xx series to come out (Dec 7, I guess).

 

[scizorshock]

Im not that tech savvy so can you explain the benefits of waiting?

any advice on what kind of keyboard, mouse, or speakers to get?

 

[scizorshock]

what do you guys think of this build? any advice on how to better it, maybe areas to save some money on(ex. the monitor, psu, gpu)? what do you think of the speakers?

My main question is about the gpu, would the MSI make a big difference over the EVGA or is it an easy way to save some money without losing much performance? are there any better options for a gtx 460 gpu or a completely different one?

CPU:
Intel Core i5-760 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80605I5760 - $204.99

Mobo:
ASUS P7P55D-E LX LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $129.99

Monitor:
ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers - $189.99

HDD:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $54.99

GPU:
MSI N460GTX Hawk GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - $209.99
or
EVGA 768-P3-1360-TR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 768MB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - $169.99

PSU:
XFX Black Edition P1-750B-CAG9 750W ATX12V v2.2 / ESP12V v2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - $129.99

RAM:
Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 996782 - $79.99

Case:
Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $69.99

HSF:
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler - $29.99

OS:
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM - $99.99

ODD:
LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM - $16.99

Keyboard:
Logitech G15 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys USB Wired Standard Gaming Keyboard - $84.99

Mouse:
Logitech MX 518 8 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical 1800 dpi Gaming Mouse - $41.99

Speakers:
Logitech S-220 17 Watts 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System - OEM - $24.99

TIM:
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM - $9.99

Total: $1338.85 or $1378.85

all suggestions welcome, thanks

 

[mosox]

mobo + CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.552987
case + HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.543371
Video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150506

 

[scizorshock]

for my uses, i dont think that i need a video card over $200. if you disagree, why?

 

[mosox]

I don't know exactly your uses. Some people for gaming get two $500 video cards, some get a $100 one. You can get a GTX 460 or a HD 6850. Don't get a 460/768 MB, either a good 460/1GB or any HD 6850.

 

[scizorshock]

Ok i think ill get this 460/1GB card then

GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

what do you guys think of this monitor? better than the other one since its 2ms?

ASUS MS246H Glossy Black / White 23.6" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 ASCR 50000:1

ill probably switch to this psu

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

does this build look solid? ill most likely be buying all the parts in 4-5days which sucks since BF is going to be over by then, right?

 

[mosox]

The HD 6850 is better than that one. Here's a combo PSU/HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.556746

 

[scizorshock]

so everything else looks good then? Which one of these HD 6850's is good/best?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=hd+6850+1gb

thanks for the help, ill start looking for combos once i get everything finalized.

 

[mosox]

I would get the Sapphire Toxic, it's the fastest.

Alternatives for monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

 

[rza]

Hey scizorshock

I have the Asus VH242 5ms response time 23.6" 1080p 60hz, the model you are looking at and the one I have are almost identical. The only difference is the contrast ratio MS246h = 50000:1 vs. VH242 1000:1 and the response time is faster for the MS246 @ 2ms>5ms
*Also double check what inputs you need the MS246 only has 1 D-sub and 1 HDMI connectors*

The VH242 is my first HD anything and it has exceeded my expectations. I fell that it is a great budget LCD monitor. I use mine for my PC, TV and my Xbox and so far its been great. I still think that 23.6" is a huge screen. The only thing that I wish I could change would be the overall refresh rate. Both monitors only have a 60hz refresh rate. I have notice in times of fast pace action some blurring occurs but it is hardly noticeable. O yeah, the built in speakers are just garbage.

Overall I am very happy with my screen and with Asus in general, my computer is 75%+ Asus products. For the price you can't really gripe about to much. Sure there are better monitors out there but for pretty much 24" for under $200 I think that is fair and that is why I bought mine. You can't even buy a named brand TV (Samsung/Vizio/Sony..) @ 1080p 24" TV for under $200.

Unless you are looking to do some sort of hardcore graphics design or photography that requires pristine color, any one of the screens that mosox suggested or the one you where looking at would be fine, Asus has some of the most competitive prices and quality parts...so far

Look at some screens from Samsung, Acer and Hanns-G

 

[scizorshock]

I was also looking at the ASUS MS246H, and it was one of my top choices. I think that is the one that i am going to get.

ASUS MS246H Glossy Black / White 23.6" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 ASCR 50000:1 - $189.99

since the built-in speakers suck and this one doesnt even have built-in ones, which one of these would you get

Logitech Z523 40 Watts RMS 2.1 Speaker System - $49.99
or
Logitech S-220 17 Watts 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System - OEM - $27.99

This sucks the logitech g15 keyboard is sold out, can someone suggest a good one, possibly from the BF deals list?

which of these mice(mouses) is best or an alternative?

 

[scizorshock]

This is my final build, i want to order it asap before anything gets sold out. any last minute suggestions? does everything look good? With combo deals(any better deals out there?):

 

[mosox]

Cheaper RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277
combos
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.542805
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.556746

 

[scizorshock]

im getting 8gb of ram, yours is only 4gb. does my final look good? i want to buy it asap, as soon as someone says its good. thanks

 

[mosox]

That's my point, you can't use all that 8G of RAM even if you want to, it will just sit in there unused. 4G is plenty.

It's good.

 

[scizorshock]

Ok ill get the 4gb ram then, thanks alot for your help.

edit: Shipped

 

[scizorshock]

Best answer selected by scizorshock.