$1000 high-end gaming and photo-editing PC

psycho sykes

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Aug 24, 2009
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Hello,
So, I wanted a new PC for a while but economical problems prevented me.
I previously put a budget of $1400 but that went out of the water as problems started to increase here in Misr.
Basically, I want a good fairly upgradeable and cheap PC. In the $1000 range... And the cheaper the better.

I put a 'starter' list as follows... and I don't even know if it's in the $1000 range...
I want something that's safe from Intel's crazy marketing and generation policies and son on.

Motherboard: Didn't decide but I'd prefer a good Asus with USB3 and Sata6G (I don't need the later as much as the first but to be safe)
CPU: an i7 950 or if there's a better cheaper option (upgradeable of course)
PSU: Corsair TX750
RAM: I'd prefer a Corsair XMS3 or a G-skill (4GB at least)
HDD: a 1TB smasung F3 or a 1TB WD Caviar Black
GPU: an nVidia GTX 560 Ti or an AMD HD 6950
Cooler: Xigmatech The dark knight

I'm open to suggestions and more (reading familiar) lists! :D

I should be online for another half an hour and I won't be here tomorrow morning (it's 11PM right now here)
My internet connection is pretty unstable and that's also a reason why my writing wasn't that accurate.

I'll be using it for heavy photoshoping (CS5), and games like MW2, BlackOps, AC Brotherhood, AC2, SHattered dimensions, Crysis 2, Splinter Cell Conviction, BF Bad Company 2, Just Cause 2 and so on.

Oh, and on a 1920*1200 screen resolution.
 

wasupmike

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Oct 13, 2010
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192
- SAMSUNG Black 22X DVDRW: $17

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
- SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB: $60

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754
- Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit: $100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129099
- Antec SONATA IV Black Mid Tower + 620W Power Supply: $170

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128460
- GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0: $125

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
- Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz: $225

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146748
- Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4GB (2x2) DDR3 1333: $38

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150523
- XFX HD-695X-ZNFC Radeon HD 6950 1GB: $265

TOTAL: $1,000 (...exactly)
 

snurp85

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May 6, 2009
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Intel Core i7-950.........$294 from newegg, $199 from microcenter
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Motherboard.......... $195
Corsair XMS3 3x2Gb, 1600Mhz Ram, CAS 8........... $95
EVGA 012-P3-1472-AR GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) SuperClocked 1280MB........... $265
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB............. $60
Antec 300.............60$
Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W......$65
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus....... $30
and maybe a few extra fans....$30

Total.... $1000 (if you buy the cpu from microcenter)

Also, you will want to be sure that whatever configuration you go with, to have ample RAM for CS5.... at least 6 gigs, if not 12. And having an Nvidia card will help also because of its CUDA capabilities
 

pacioli

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Nov 22, 2010
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psycho sykes, Sandy Bridge is out! Don't get the i7 950! The $330 i7 2600k is faster than the $1000 6-core i7 980.
The i5 2500k is only 100mhz slower than the i7 2600k and $100 cheaper... Id go for something like this...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.575884
- $390 - Mobo/CPU combo w/ free game!
-Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
-575884ASUS P8P67 PRO LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
-575884Intel Sid Meier's Civilization V Free Game for CPU promo Free with purchase!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152185
- $60 - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB:

http://www.evga.com/products/moreInfo.asp?pn=01G-P3-1561-AR&family=GeForce 500 Series Family&sw=
- $250 - EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197&cm_re=haf_922-_-11-119-197-_-Product
- $100 - COOLER MASTER HAF 922

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&cm_re=corsair_650-_-17-139-005-_-Product
- $90 - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-650TX 650W PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&cm_re=hyper_212-_-35-103-065-_-Product
- $30 - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308&cm_re=g.skill_8gb-_-20-231-308-_-Product
- $80 - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB)


total.... $1000 exactly before rebates

for $25 more you could get faster RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314&cm_re=g.skill_8gb-_-20-231-314-_-Product
 

psycho sykes

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Aug 24, 2009
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Sorry for the mistakes I made... Here's the correct build:

----------------------------------------------
Also, I wanted to ask somethings:
1. I work on PS CS5 as a hobby but that doesn't mean that I want it low performance...
So, should I get an i7 instead or...
2. I won't be able to upgrade a lot of times... So I want the PC to stand the test of time and software innovations...
3. Should I wait for LGA 2011 or 1365 (not sure which is legit in what not...) Or would the LGA1155 stand for sometime yet?
4. I know that PCI-e 3.0 and USB 3.0 are worth waiting (wait for the first and for a true implementation for the second) BUT, Is it worth waiting for PCI-e 3.0 and getting a new rig right now especially that USB 3.0 will be popularized faster than PCI-e3?
5. I want a cheap high end system that will live... and so will do its cooling solution... I can't afford WC so I got a good cheap air-cooler along with a presumably good motherboard (from every aspect and especially cooling, SABERTOOTH p67)
--For the record.. temps here are around 36c for the whole year.. and above 38c during summer...

Thanks in advance...
 

psycho sykes

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Aug 24, 2009
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*BUMPING THE THREAD!*

So, my last question and request for replies... as the internet here runs with schedule and it's about to be turned off (possibly in an hour):

--Which is better.. GTX 560 Ti or HD 5950 2GB?
-I won't be using EyeFinity but I may use 2 displays (which AFAIK works well on GTX's)
-I will be playing PhysiX enabled games as well as running the hopefully CUDA compatible PS CS6 (although I still hope that they'll go with OpenCL or something instead)...
-I won't be using 3D vision...

Keeping those in mind as well as the results of both the 6950 and the 560 Ti in games and 3Dmark and vantage... I would like a very educated advice about which could stay and bear longer...

Thank you very much...
 
^ Is the thread still alive ??

My suggestions -

1. For PS even the LGA 1155 CPUs would be very good,... Though the Tri-Channel controllers might offer some slight performance increase(higher memory bandwidth), but I doubt it would be worth it for your usage,...
As for i7 over i5, if you plan to keep the PC for a longer time, then it would be advantageous, but you should also know that if you go with i5 now, you can anyways upgrade to the i7 later on(am sure you will be able to find used ones later one for cheap)

2. Did you check out the HD 6950 1GB ?? No Eyefinity, then you can get away with the 1GB version,... Even the GTX 560 would be a pretty good choice,... This review would be very good to decide which card to go with
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/40165-amd-radeon-hd-6950-1gb-review.html
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150523
GTX 560
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604
But you should know that if rebated work for you, you can get HD 6950 2GB cheaper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161355

3. RAM - Why not 8GB ?? If PS will become more than a hobby for you, then am sure 8GB would be better,... IMO more RAM better than faster RAM for such apps,...
Crucial 8GB DDR3 - This one overclocks well too,...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148347

4. Mobo - If you want to save money elsewhere for the RAM/ CPU/ GPU, then get the ASUS P8P67 PRO/ GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD4/ MSI P67A-GD65