Please help me with computer specs for girlfriend and I

[bigchocolate]

Hello everyone I am in the process of picking out parts to make my girlfriend a computer. She wants to play wow on max settings, which isn't too demanding -- while being able to fraps
Some light video editing from the fraps
and photo shop.
Oh and portal, whatever game that is.

I just need to know where to heavier at and where to go lighter at, if you know what I mean.
Case - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5222597&sku=A406-1094
Motherboard and CPU - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6817301&sku=B69-5126
CD/DVD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039
Harddrive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433
Video card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130549
Power supply - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018
Memory - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227559
OS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

If there is anything I forgot, please tell me. I am completely open to suggestions because I think I over killed it. It's at 1015 dollars at the moment. So I want to maybe see what I have to drop performance wise to get the price down a little. I probably need more fans and what not, but I'm not too sure what I need.

Thank you guys so much for your help.



Currently I have a Intel(R) Core (TM)2 Duo CPU
E6750 @ 2.66 GHz
2.67 GHz, 1.98 GB of RAM
Physical Address Extension

It's register to IntelboxDP35DPM

I have windows xp 2002.

With a ATI radeon HD 2600 PRO.

The games I play are League of legends, which is a very low game and I run it fine no problem. The problem is I play star craft and I can't even alt tab in a game without being dropped or even my computer crashing. I'm pretty sure I don't have a virus because I run my scans twice a week. I am probably going to play wow again when cataclysm comes out so I'm looking to run star craft 2 and cataclysm on ultra settings.

So I will give you a list of what I have picked out and hope you can make suggestions on where I need to improve, and where I can drop some.

CPU - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4777384&CatId=4074
Mother Board - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5376741&Sku=E145-2062 OR - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6666331&Sku=A455-2996
RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224
Video Card - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6594582&CatId=3669
Power supply - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276567&Sku=ULT-LSP750
OS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754
Hard drive - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4691122&sku=TSD-1000AS3

I don't know how to see what kind of hard drive I currently have. Any help you guys can offer is greatly appreciated. I understand the windows 7 is OEM, but I have put together multiple computers and my dad is a computer engineer and has helped me build them all as well.

Thank you again for your help guys.

Sorry for the extremely long post. She is looking for wow and photo shop / fraps. I am looking for star craft 2, diablo 3, and league of legends all on max settings.

If you include links and what I should be changing I will forever love you.

 

[bigchocolate]

Top is the parts I have picked out. Not sure how they will do performing those tasks for her.

The bottom is mine. I have more money to spend, while she is pinching pennies.

 

[mosox]

Nr 1 (still kinda overkill)

CPU/mobo/RAM/case/PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514071
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
ASUS EAH6850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121399
ASUS Black 24X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

$833.96

You can get this combo for $10 more
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.544802.14-121-399


What's the budget for Nr 2?

 

[bigchocolate]

Very nice job on the first one. I might buy those items from the first link, but why is the case 160 dollars?? Kind of seems like a waste of precious money on something adding no performance.

The budget for number 2 is about 1000. It's for myself and I have no problem spending the extra money here and there to get minimal upgrades, where as hers it was kind of like as cheap as you can go with what she wants.

Mine (Number 2) I just want to be able to run star craft 2, diablo 2, world of warcraft cataclysm on full settings. ANd not have no upgrade it for near future video games.

 

[bigchocolate]

bump

 

[mosox]

The case includes a $70 PSU.

$20 cheaper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.543354
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.542810
.........................
$813.93

For yours I suggest getting a system that's close to the first one

GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 + AMD Phenom II X4 955
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.543364
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276
XFX HD-687A-ZNBC Radeon HD 6870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150507
LITE-ON DVD Writer + Rosewill CHALLENGER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.542810
Arctic Silver 5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007
Samsung Spinpoint F3 1T
Seasonic 520
Win 7

$933.90

The CPU is faster in gaming and in almost all the other applications except for video encoding. It's black edition so it's very easy to overclock and make it even faster. The video card is more powerful.

Other cases
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.546483.11-119-233
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.546483.11-112-239
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.546483.11-119-197

Modular PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207007

 

[bigchocolate]

I am sorry to be blunt or anything. Just need clarification.

I am using the site - http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html

It rates the gtx 470 higher and the i7 higher then the AMD.

I just want the one that runs better, I have always been an intel guys that's why I am so puzzled as to why the AMD is being recommended.

If you could just claify those points I would appreciate it.

Do I need to get windows 7 premium, professional, or ultimate?

I have a computer case and it should work, if not i'll look at those.

I will probably get your power supply if 650 watts is enough, just let me know.

Thanks

 

[mosox]

That HD 6870 is overclocked not standard. You can get an overclocked 470 for a little more speed but much more power consumption, heat and noise.

There's no way you can get an i7 gaming system in your budget. The CPU you linked before is alone $66 more than the AM3 CPU + mobo.

The Phenom II X4 is very good for gaming and it's best bang for the buck. If you want Intel I think we can squeeze a i5 760 system in your budget but it will be about the same in gaming as the Phenom. Only change to be made:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.552987

Home premium is good for regular users, you need one copy for each machine as far as I know.

The system will take under 400W on full load (with the AMD card), any of those PSUs is very good.

 

[bigchocolate]

So on my orginal post, the computer is like 1000 to 1100 dollars. How is having an i7 not possible? I like to be able to have skype open, multiple internet tabs. I can get an i7 at microcenter in atlanta for 211 dollars.

 

[mosox]

You can do all that on a Athlon II X3. Here's a comparison in gaming:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-975,2318-8.html

For the 1366 platform though if you can get an i7 on the 1366 socket like the i7 950 you can get this mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641
RAM (you need triple channel)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231304
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145286

If you want to add later a second video card get one of these PSUs

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151087

second one modular, made by Seasonic.

 

[bigchocolate]

Right now I'm looking at the i7 950. It's on sale at microcenter for 199.99... I'm giving them a call at the moment.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

a note: you might want to get the family pack of Windows 7 home. Its $129.99 at newegg (only $30 more than a single license OEM). can be loaded on both PCs (and a 3rd pc later) for full retail rights

 

[bigchocolate]

Okay cool note.

 

[bigchocolate]

I keep miss posting my parts with hers.

I will probably go AMD for her because she is on a budget.

 

[mosox]

The advantage to get the same platform is that when you burn your mobo or CPU you can swap them with hers.

 

[bigchocolate]

Currently I have a Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 Duo CPU
Intelbox DP35DPM is the mobo
and radeon HD 2600 PRO which is 512 MB
With 4 gigs of ram, limited to 3.25 from windows xp...

Is any of that worth working with to give to my girlfriend to keep the price down, while still being able to perform very well in raids?

For myself I am going to be getting
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0346210
and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157163

Does anyone have feedback with those products and on my old crap computer specs?

This sounds like a novice question but is the mobo triple channel, it says it is. Just not used to seeing triple channel without them being 3 of the same color in a row...

The video card I am looking at for myself is
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125338

So any concerns or comments I am all ears, You guys have been so helpful so far!!

 

[ScrewySqrl]

that board is Triple channel, if you look carefully it has 6 slots, alternating white and blue. the white slots are one triple channel set, and the blue is the other.

 

[bigchocolate]

Okay, thanks!

 

[bigchocolate]

Someone told me you could get a 3 pack windows home OEM 64 bit for 129.99.

One OEM windows home 64 bit costs 99.99 so if anyone can find the link for 2 or 3 of them bundled, that'd be awesome.

Has anyone dealt with Microcenter? They currently have a i7 950 for 199.99 with is like 100 dollars off anywhere else I've seen them.

It says available for only in store pick up but there isn't one in my state. So can my uncle who lives 5 minutes from one pick it up and ship it to me? And if so, can I buy it online for the sale price or does it have to be in store, I'm just confused, and anyone can clarify that.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

here is the Windows 7 Family Pack for $129.99:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116775