750-800 dollar gaming build

[Patchworks]

Just as the title says I would like help making a 750-800 dollar gaming build.

Approximate Purchase Date: This week or next week

Budget Range: 750-800 after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, General usage

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: by brand or type I'd like to use a i5 760 and a 460GTX

Overclocking: Most likely

SLI or Crossfire: SLI in the future

Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050

Additional Comments: None really.

 

[bdbeall]

this is a build for you parts preferences.

i think it would be better for your budget range if you went with a phenom II x6 and amd 6850 and added a solid state drive as your main os/program drive. This would show a bigger boot time cut and speed increase over any system without a ssd. but thats just me.


dvd drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
~17

case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119047
~49

hdd
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
~55

video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130568
~210

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341039
~70

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260
~50

MOBO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128412
~115

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115067
~205

Heatsink
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
~30

 

[mosox]

AMD alternative in case you change your mind:

GIGABYTE GA-880GA-UD3H + AMD Phenom II X4 955
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.572742
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
ASUS Black 24X DVD+R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
SAPPHIRE 100312SR Radeon HD 6950
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102914
SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151093
Rosewill CHALLENGER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

$791.92

or
COOLER MASTER HAF 912
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=HAF%20912

 

[cloonso]

I would agree with the AMD build. Just built one very similar only with ASUS mobo
, Antec 300 case, and Antec 750w PSU. It is a solid gaming rig that should last for a while. Nothing against Intel (I have an Intel build also) but right now price for performance is AMD IMO. I would consider the Rosewill Blackbone Case as I just did a build for my son in one and was very impressed with it's quality for the $29 (on sale - regular $39) spent on it.

 

[Patchworks]

From reviews on this site. Intel has performed better in the games that I play (MW2, Black Ops, WoW, and other games of that caliber)

 

[ScrewySqrl]

yes. But in play, the difference between 100 fps and 60 fps is nil. They both play at only 60 FPS

 

[mosox]

From reviews on this site. Intel has performed better in the games that I play (MW2, Black Ops, WoW, and other games of that caliber)

Yep. But Intel + GTX460 is worse in any game than AMD + HD 6950. The video card is the one that matters in gaming and with a cheaper CPU and mobo you can buy a better video card.

 

[bdbeall]

yes. But in play, the difference between 100 fps and 60 fps is nil. They both play at only 60 FPS

To piggy back, what type of monitor will you be playing on? if it only refreshes at 60Hz, anything above 60fps is worthless.

 

[bdbeall]

Actually the AMD build with the CoolerMaster Haf912 case above looks awesome, the only things i would change (mind you this is just personal preference for the most part) is the video card and power supply. I would change both of these in case i wanted to do Crossfire down the road,, which you said you did. I would pay the extra 10 bucks to go with XFX and get the double lifetime warranty they offer. I dont see why anyone wouldnt do that. Also i would go with the 700 Watt PSU so you could effectivly run two video cards. Here is a graph of the wattage the card can pull idle and at full load. Tack this onto a 125 Watt proc and you will need at least 700 if you ever have 2 cards.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2010/12/16/ati-radeon-hd-6950-review/10

Video Card - XFX HD-695A-CNFC Radeon HD 6950
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150518
~310

PSU - RAIDMAX Blackstone series RX-700AC 700W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152042
~69.99

 

[batuchka]

Yep with superior CF scaling than ever, it would be a shame not to go for a CFable config

$757AR

HD 6K: Cayman Crossfire in Eyefinity scaling
http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/wiki/AMD_Radeon_6970_6950_-_Featured_Review_Page_11

 

[Patchworks]

Thanks for the quick replies everybody! If you have any more comments or things to add that might help me in these last few days of decision making. PLease feel free to post them !

 

[mosox]

Here's a combo CPU/RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.570491
If you get the XFX register it on their site to activate the warranty.

 

[batuchka]

Yep u are welcomed and happy shopping/building ^^

 

[Guest]

NZXT M59 - 001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811146058
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$20.00 Instant
$69.99
$49.99


MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813130223
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$164.99


XFX HD-695A-CNFC Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
Item #: N82E16814150518
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy
$309.99


Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W Continuous Power ATX12V version 2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC ...
Item #: N82E16817371026
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
-$50.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$139.99
$89.99


G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM
Item #: N82E16820231303
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$69.99


AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
Item #: N82E16819103808
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$149.99

830$ BR
790$ AR


Quad Xfire Capable Mobo
750W PSu required for CROSSFIRE in the future
XFX 6950

 

[Patchworks]

Best answer selected by Patchworks.

 

[mpr21]

Sorry for hacking into the post. I am looking for the same setup for my gaming rig. Just one question. Will the AMD 955 be a bottleneck for 2 HD6950?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

possibly. It depends on the game. for most games, at 1920x1080, probly not