New Build - Gaming - $700-900 with Peripherals

flaergr

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Dec 14, 2010
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18,510
Approximate Purchase Date: By the end of December

Budget Range: 700-900 without rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (PC and 360), watching movies on Netflix/DVDs, surfing the web

Parts Not Required: After having an Inspiron 8600 laptop for 6+ years as my primary computer, I’ll need everything, unfortunately.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Probably newegg, but basically anywhere. There’s also a MicroCenter nearby.

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: No Preference

Overclocking/SLI/Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: This is my first build. I’m not much of a PC gamer, but that’s because I’ve been stuck with this laptop for years. I hope to order the components soon so I can get in on the annual Steam sale at the end of this month. I also plan on connecting my 360 to the monitor.

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (59.95)

Antec earthwatts EA430 430W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply (39.99)

GIGABYTE GA-770T-USB3 AM3 AMD 770 USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard (79.99, 69.99 AR)

AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX (99.99)

SAPPHIRE 100283-3L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (136.99, 121.99 AR)

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL (59.99)

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive (69.99)

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM (19.99)

Logitech MX 518 8 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Gaming Mouse (41.99, 26.99 AR) - could go for something cheaper, but I've used this one before and I really like it. The price AR is pretty good.

LITE-ON SK-1788/BS 2-Tone PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard (6.99)

ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor (179.99, 159.99 AR)

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

Total: 895 (835 after rebates) + shipping
**Ideally, I'd like something closer to 800 before rebates.

This is my first system so just a couple of questions/concerns:
1. In order to save money, does it make sense to get a case that comes with a PSU? I think one of the Antec Three Hundreds does…
2. The 5770 might be a bit of an overkill for me. I don’t know how many graphically intensive games I’ll be playing so something cheaper would probably be better.
3. Best monitor? I know I’m stuck with a TN at this price range, but what are some good sub $200 monitor recommendations?
 
For your price its pretty good. Hunt down some combos to improve it.

You could trim back to a Athlon II X3 450 processor, but you probly want to get a GTX 460 or HD6850 if you are gaming at 1080p,the 6850 by preference as the 430W has only one 6-pin power cord
 

mianmars

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May 20, 2010
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18,810
O.S + MOBO: WIN 7 HOME 64BIT + GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 (179$)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.552610
GPU: HIS H577FK1GD Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 (129$ - 99$ AR))
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161338
MONITOR: ASUS VH222H-P Black 21.5" 5ms HDMI Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000 :1 (149$ - 139$ AR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236067

Better Mobo, Cheaper 5770 after rebate, cheaper ASUS HD LCD. Also Samsung F3 hdd is now 10$ cheaper. If u aren't a serious gamer then 5770 would be fine at medium details in current games.
 
If you intend to become a serious gamer, you will need at least 6850 or GTX 460 at that resoultion.

A 570 would be optimal, but thats outside of budget range.

If you want to game casually and dont realy care about graphics, go for the 5770
 
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Probably newegg, but basically anywhere. There’s also a MicroCenter nearby.

Items off Egg
Untitled-1564.jpg

$470AR

23" LCD $150 Free Ship
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009266

$620AR

Items off Microcenter $200 : 965BE + MSI 870A-G45 (SATA/USB 3.0)
http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/AMDbundlePROMO.html

$820AR Grand Total
 

refugeesus

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Aug 24, 2010
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18,630
Dude,
I can't help with cheaper PSU or good cheap monitor, but with the graphics side of things, here's my 2 bits worth...

If you intend to become a serious gamer, you will need at least 6850 or GTX 460 at that resoultion.

Bollocks. You can still be a serious gamer without all the high end equipment. I have an xfx 5850, and my mate has a sapphire 5770, and we both get immense joy out of shooting people in MoH (seriously). Yes the graphics would be (allegedly) mind blowing with 6850 (i guess, it is new after all, could be fraught with bugs and errors, for all anyone knows), but it is not really necessary. The up side to 6XXX being released is that 5xxx is cheaper (YAY!). And my monitor is 1080p and all that jazz too!

Anyway, I do not feel that I am being left behind with my 'crappy' 5850 and my mate loves his 5770, so i would go with that as you are trying to stay below 900 bucks for your system.

And to the haters, please, it's just an opinion, and like bum holes, everyone has got one :)
 

refugeesus

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Aug 24, 2010
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Also,

I hope to order the components soon so I can get in on the annual Steam sale at the end of this month.

If you're connected to the internet (as i assume you are, posting threads and what not) you can get in on the sale via your laptop (it doesn't have to be playable on the laptop if you're going to run it on your new beast, just get the sale confirmed and download it when you're up and running!)

So that may help bring costs down for all the post xmas sales (you might even get a 5850 or better for a bargain!)