Download the Tom's Hardware App from the App Store
The reference for current tech news
Yes No
Ads
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Systems > Homebuilt > [Solved] I would like to build a nice game rig that will last me a while.

[Solved] I would like to build a nice game rig that will last me a while.

Forum Systems : Homebuilt [Solved] I would like to build a nice game rig that will last me a while.

Best answer from etk.

Word :    Username :           
 

I have piced out basically everything, and I was interested in some opinions before I take the plunge. This is my parts list. I also have a Radeon HD 5870 1gig, and a Corsair 750w PSU already. HELP :)
1
ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS
Item #:N82E16827135204
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$19.99
1
Intel Core i7-950 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
Item #:N82E16819115211
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
-$20.00 Instant
$299.99
$279.99
1
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1.5TB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #:N82E16822148337
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$59.99
1
CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
Item #:N82E16820145262
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$129.99
$119.99
1
ASUS Sabertooth X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813131665
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$20.00 Instant
$199.99
$179.99
1
RAZER ABYSSUS Black Wired Optical High Precision Gaming Mouse
Item #:N82E16826153056
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$44.99
1
Logitech G13 USB Advanced Gameboard
Item #:N82E16823126050
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$12.00 Instant
$79.99
$67.99
1
i-Rocks KR-6820E-WH White 104 Key USB Wired Backlit Gaming Keyboard (Blue LED)
Item #:N82E16823204028
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$8.00 Instant
$34.99
$26.99
1
Saitek Cyborg V.1 Gaming Surface
Item #:N82E16826993013
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$14.99
1
VisionTek Bigfoot Killer 2100 Gaming Network Card
Item #:N82E16833189002
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$53.24 Instant
$129.99
$76.75
1
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders
Item #: N82E16832116758
Return Policy: Software Standard Return Policy




APEVIA X-JUPITER G-Type X-JUPITERG-BL Blue Computer Case With Side Panel Window
Item #: N82E16811144204
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$20.00 Instant
-$30.00 Combo
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$299.98
$249.98
Grand Total: $1,141.64


Reply to Wantagamerig
Register or log in to remove.
Best answer

I would drop to 6GB of RAM to simplify future upgrades, and get Win 7 home premium unless you have a need for pro. A build in this price range generally includes an SSD.

------------------------------ HAF 932 -- Asrock Extreme3 Gen3 -- 2500k @3.0 (CPNS10X Fanless)--
Corsair Nova 32GB -- 8GB GSkill @ 1866 --
Seasonic X-560 --
2X HD5450 Corssfire -- 2494sw Dual 24" And 42" Plasma
Reply to etk

^+1
i5's run in dual channel mode not triple, so 6GB with 3 sticks will actually slow your system down..
I run win7 ultimate, home premium does nothing for me, even pro has a better features list.
go AMD and save more even adding the SSD.

------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

Thank you etk, for taking a look at what I have so far. Your suggestion on the RAM is an awesome peice of advise and I will implement that strat :). Is there a preferred SSD that would work well for this rig? And... Am I missing anything else or does this look like a winner after the afore mentioned changes? Also... The OS is a deal with the case :) Not a deal breaker; Home premium would work well.

Reply to Wantagamerig

Malmental while I appreciate your responce I think I might have missed your points. The chipset in the build I am proposing is an i7 950 and not an i5. My existing system contains a AMD 9600 chipset and well... Lemme just say... It blows. So I will probably be staying clear of AMD for the immediate future and want a rig I can have some fun with.

Reply to Wantagamerig

Kingston SSDNow V+ Series SNVP325-S2/64GB 2.5" 64GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
2.5" 64GB SATA II Sequential Access - Read: up to 230MB/s
Sequential Access - Write: up to 180MB/s
Power Consumption (Active): 2.6W
Power Consumption (Idle): 0.15W
Model #: SNVP325-S2/64GB
Item #: N82E16820139108

Does this look like a good fit? I am new to the build your own market and want a fun, versitile game PC that fits me. I am looking to order my parts in the next few days so that I can get the PC finished in early Dec. Thanks again for any and all input.

Reply to Wantagamerig

Wantagamerig wrote :

Malmental while I appreciate your responce I think I might have missed your points. The chipset in the build I am proposing is an i7 950 and not an i5. My existing system contains a AMD 9600 chipset and well... Lemme just say... It blows. So I will probably be staying clear of AMD for the immediate future and want a rig I can have some fun with.


OK that makes sense. an i7 of course LGA1366 socket runs triple channel RAM.

 

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB or 1TB version 32MB
OCZ Technology 60 GB Vertex 2 Series SATA II
SAMSUNG BLU-RAY COMBO 8X BLACK BD ROM/DVD WRITER


Message edited by malmental on 11-28-2010 at 05:22:40 PM
------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

Malmental, thanks again for an update reply. I will look into your recommendations there 4 sure. Hopefully that will complete my new game system and give me a good order for some fun pre xmas gamming. It's looking like I'll put my order in tommorow. I don't think I'm missing anything else. TY again.

Reply to Wantagamerig

looks good from afar...
what about your power supply and video card.?


Message edited by malmental on 11-29-2010 at 10:03:42 PM
------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

I have a Radeon HD 5870 1gig and a Corsair ATX 750 PSU

Reply to Wantagamerig

1 last question and it may be a dumb one, but before I ask it... I wanted to say thank you for turning me on to OCZ. The question is.... Do I need a modem as well as a network card? My cable router uses a network plug.

Reply to Wantagamerig

I'd say get rid of both the network card and the modem.

If your PC plugs into your router via an ethernet (network) cable then just use the onboard network socket on your motherboard. That will save you some money.

You may think the BigFoot network card will boost performance, but in test it increases online performance by like 1% over onboard ethernet ports. So save yourself the cash.

------------------------------ www.scan.co.uk

Main: Intel I5 750 @ 4.0 GHz | Asus Maximus III | 8 GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 MHz | 1 TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 | 2 GB XFX 5970 | 850 W Corsair HX | Windows 7 64-bit
Reply to Griffolion

network card needed if not on-board available,
no modem unless you plan on using a phone line into your unit for a fax but that's about it.
i have used a modem card for a unit in almost 5 years now..


Message edited by malmental on 11-30-2010 at 01:43:14 PM
------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

Thank you Griffolion, I just placed my order. With shipping the whole system ran 1399. That included a Samsung Blue ray combo drive and a SSD. Does it look like I'm missing anything else? I'll post the order sheet here in just a sec. I really really appreciate the help and support. Best I can tell so far is I'm saving about 3k in total from a prebuilt.

Reply to Wantagamerig

TTY Malmental again :) One sec and I'll have that order sheet up.

Reply to Wantagamerig

Everything looks good so long as you sorted that RAM issue.

Also i hope that Vertex 2 was the SandForce based one. Even then, the best SandForce based SSD's are done by Corsair. No matter though.

------------------------------ www.scan.co.uk

Main: Intel I5 750 @ 4.0 GHz | Asus Maximus III | 8 GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 MHz | 1 TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 | 2 GB XFX 5970 | 850 W Corsair HX | Windows 7 64-bit
Reply to Griffolion

1 Logitech G13 USB Advanced Gameboard $67.99

Saitek Cyborg V.1 Gaming Surface $14.99

OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $139.99

DISCOUNT -$14.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $59.99

i-Rocks KR-6820E-WH White 104 Key USB Wired Backlit Gaming Keyboard (Blue LED) $26.99

ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $199.99

Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950 $294.99

SAMSUNG Black Blu-ray Combo Drive - Bulk SATA Model SH-B083L/BSBP LightScribe Support - OEM $69.99

RAZER ABYSSUS Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical High Precision Gaming Mouse $44.99

VisionTek Bigfoot Killer 2100 Gaming Network Card $76.75

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

OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1333C8ELV6GK $125.99

APEVIA X-JUPITER G-Type X-JUPITERG-BL Blue Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case $159.99


I already have a corsair 750W PSU, and a XFX Radeon HD 5870 Graphics card.

Reply to Wantagamerig

I made a change on the SSD and went with the OCZ. I hope that was a good call?
TY again for all your help. I was lost and now I feel like I can handle it. lol

Reply to Wantagamerig

The one drawback that I noticed was by using the Asus Sabertooth; it limited the mem config on the RAM that is why I went with the OCZ Platinum. Maybey after I save some more cash I can get into a faster Motherboard/RAM configuration. I think the price point and the speed will be tons faster than my old AMD 9600 Quad core and the 4gigs of DDR2 that are present in it. If this works??? I'll never buy a prebuilt PC again.

Reply to Wantagamerig

Don't worry so much about the SSD. I do like my corsair drive, but in random reads/writes, any ssd will be 100X faster than a HDD, so if you go +/- 10%, you won't notice the difference.

------------------------------ HAF 932 -- Asrock Extreme3 Gen3 -- 2500k @3.0 (CPNS10X Fanless)--
Corsair Nova 32GB -- 8GB GSkill @ 1866 --
Seasonic X-560 --
2X HD5450 Corssfire -- 2494sw Dual 24" And 42" Plasma
Reply to etk

I was beginning to wonder if you were still checking on me etk. :) Thank you again as my order is processed and due to arrive Friday... I can hardly wait. This is the most fun I think there is for the holidays. XD

Reply to Wantagamerig

Oh. Also as a side note etk. If you hadn't mentioned it... The SSD. There would be no SSD in the build. I had to google it to find out first what you were referring to. The SSD will make alot of difference to this build. I will definately be learning more about them as I go. Thank you for dragging this dinosaur into some modern computing. Great advise!!!!

Reply to Wantagamerig

your welcome...;)
looks like the work has paid off with your project.
good-luck and enjoy.

 

P.S. - good call on the SSD.
malmental told you so..


Message edited by malmental on 11-30-2010 at 03:02:39 PM
------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

The Asus Sabertooth is the one that uses military grade ceramic MOSFET's isn't it? Designed for ridiculous overclocking. I've always wanted to see one of those for real, but i'm happy with my Maximus III.

Still, enjoy it all, and try to keep up!

------------------------------ www.scan.co.uk

Main: Intel I5 750 @ 4.0 GHz | Asus Maximus III | 8 GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 MHz | 1 TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 | 2 GB XFX 5970 | 850 W Corsair HX | Windows 7 64-bit
Reply to Griffolion

I will absolutely be posting when I get it live. Should be Sun. if all the parts get here ok. Thank you again for everything. I think you all can see that your advice was incorporated into the final project. I hope that everyone has a fantastic and joyful holiday season! I believe mine is going to be alot less frustrating and alot more enjoyable thanks to you all!

Reply to Wantagamerig

Yep Griffolion it is indeed that beast. I hope it lives up to the rep. At the very least it should be a great teacher for projects that I'm sure will develope in the future.

Reply to Wantagamerig
Register or log in to remove.
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Systems > Homebuilt > [Solved] I would like to build a nice game rig that will last me a while.
Go to:

There are 1958 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Ads
Latest best answer
$600 Budget Gaming Build - Advice Appreciated
By coffeecoffee, 5 hours ago:

Alright, your on the right track. There are a few changes I would like to make if I...

Best offers
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
Top experts