Gaming Comp for Under $1000 PLEASE GIVE FEEDBACK

JoeO

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Jun 25, 2011
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Hey everyone. I'm extremely new to building computers and I'm not really quite sure why i want to so bad except I really want to play starcraft 2 on ultra settings and I like a challenge. I'm not quite sure who to go with as far as the CPU... AMD or Intel. I'll put up two builds that I have and please give me feedback on to which is better and additional comments are appreciated.

AMD Build

CPU - AMD Phenom X6 1100T BE $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103913

MB- Biostar TA870U3+ AMD 870 Motherboard - ATX, Socket AM3, AMD 870 Chipset, DDR3 1600MHz, SATA 6.0 Gb/s, 6-CH Audio, Gigabit LAN, USB 3.0 $80
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7265659&sku=B450-2425

GPU- EVGA GeForce GTX 460 SE (Fermi) 1GB GDDR5 PCIe $100 after MIRhttp://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=140752&sku=E145-0489

Memory - G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&cm_sp=Cat_Memory-_-Weekly_Deals-_-20-231-460

HD - Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

Case- Cooler Master HAF 922M ATX Black Mid-Tower Case - 5 External 5.25" Drive Bays, 5 Internal 3.5" Drive Bays, 2 200mm Fans, 1 120mm Fan $90 with $10 MIR
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4631382&sku=C283-1223

Power Supply- Cooler Master RS650-ACAAE3-US GX Series 650W Power Supply - ATX, 650 Watts, 80+ Certified, 120mm Fan $90
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5662680&sku=C283-3056

DVD/CD- ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM $21
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

After taxes this comp comes out to a good $761. With shipping im guessing it will come out to $800. Please keep in mind i'm not going to do any video editing or anything crazy. Just want to play movies and games at max settings. I'd like to keep this desktop as cheap as possible without sacrificing much performance if any.


Intel Build

CPU - Intel i5 2500K Sandy Bridge $220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...9115072&cm_re=i5_2500k-_-19-115-072-_-Product

MB- MSI P67A-C43 B3 Intel P67 Motherboard - ATX, Socket H2 (LGA1155), Intel P67 Express, DDR3 2133MHz (O.C.), SATA 6.0 Gb/s, Gigabit LAN, 1 x PCI-Express x16, USB 3.0 $120
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7325818&sku=M452-6206

GPU- EVGA GeForce GTX 460 SE (Fermi) 1GB GDDR5 PCIe $100 after MIRhttp://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=140752&sku=E145-0489

Memory - G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&cm_sp=Cat_Memory-_-Weekly_Deals-_-20-231-460

HD - Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

Case- Cooler Master HAF 922M ATX Black Mid-Tower Case - 5 External 5.25" Drive Bays, 5 Internal 3.5" Drive Bays, 2 200mm Fans, 1 120mm Fan $90 with $10 MIR
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4631382&sku=C283-1223

Power Supply- Cooler Master RS650-ACAAE3-US GX Series 650W Power Supply - ATX, 650 Watts, 80+ Certified, 120mm Fan $90
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5662680&sku=C283-3056

DVD/CD- ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM $21
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

So the only thing I changed on the Intel build is obviously the processor and motherboard. I'm pretty sure everything else is compatible. With the modifications the base comp cost went up 80 bucks so i'm almost at $900. I still haven't put anything for sound card as I'm not sure if its necessary at this moment. I've been looking up parts for these builds for the past couple of days and learned that even though AMD's X6 1100T is the newest processor for AMD, the i5 2500k still beats in performance. I guess AMD still has some work to do but I do like the idea that I would have six cores in my computer for a lower price. Anyways, please leave me some feedback so I can learn some more. I'm interested in what you guys have to say.
 
Solution
^ Only on a good chip. I'll give the 2500K at least 4.5ghz, but after that. I'd say you'd need a better cooler than a Hyper 212+ from what I've heard. The Mugen 2 can hit about 4.8ghz. But these are on chips with a solid grade. Not all 2500Ks are made to that A++ mark. So 5ghz is some luck, but not a given. I'd say you would be happy with 4.5ghz.

Anyways, to answer your question, BD would probably come in July/August/September. They need to fix the stepping and I believe they're working on either B2 or B3. Can't remember. If you need your comp now, just go for it. BD will match with SB but there is no guarentee's, but it'd be an interesting contender. Pricing has already been released.

The 2500K beats out the 1100T because, you are...
^ mjmjpfaff you should include that your build is after rebates. $390 for 2 560 Ti's is a bit misleading. Until you see that it is $225 each and a $30 MIR from a company that has been pretty looked down upon when it comes to MIRs. (I've just heard that many don't get their rebates back. And if OP doesn't the total is $60 more. Other than that it looks good.
 
Definitely NOT the AMD build at this price , and definitely not a Hexcore .

The Tomshardware system Builder Marathon is on the home page at the moment . The current $1000 build is a bit of a fail compared to the march build . Have a look at the march article . Thats where you should be looking IMO .

 

JoeO

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Jun 25, 2011
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Thats a nice build but I'd like to keep it a little cheaper. I don't really need two video cards but your build seems very good. Just a little more than I want to spend. Please leave feedback on my build. I would appreciate any positive criticism. Also I really need to choose between AMD and Intel. Thanks for the help!
 

JoeO

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Jun 25, 2011
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thanks outlander. i appreciate the advice. I hope I can put the comp together sucessfully. I still like my AMD build's cost the most =/. To run starcraft 2 on ultra, crysis and any other new FPS games do I really need to spend around 1K? Please keep in mind I would like to keep this comp for a while. My last build that someone else did for me lasted for about 6-7 years.
 

mjmjpfaff

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ok so 1 m.i.r per customer got it.
 

kaweee

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May 5, 2011
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This what I would go for since you are just mainly gaming

GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3(Supports Bulldozer):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128514

AMD Phenom II X4 955
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

HDD + DVD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.667950

G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460

Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-750 750W:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049

COOLER MASTER HAF 922:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

ASUS EAH6950 DCII/2DI4S/1GD5 Radeon HD 6950 1GB 256-bit GDDR5:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121437

Total:
$854.78 After Rebates and Shipping
 

JoeO

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Jun 25, 2011
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Thanks for the replies.. so far I'm getting the hint that Intel is the best way to go but I'm kinda curious about AMD's Bulldozer chip. When is it going to come out? I heard it would be ready by the end of June and in certain models by July. Would it be worth it to wait for that or would I be future proof by the i5 2500k? Also why is it that the 2500k outperforms the X6 1100t? It only has 4 cores compared to 6. Is it that most programs do not need utilize all 6 cores?
 
^ Only on a good chip. I'll give the 2500K at least 4.5ghz, but after that. I'd say you'd need a better cooler than a Hyper 212+ from what I've heard. The Mugen 2 can hit about 4.8ghz. But these are on chips with a solid grade. Not all 2500Ks are made to that A++ mark. So 5ghz is some luck, but not a given. I'd say you would be happy with 4.5ghz.

Anyways, to answer your question, BD would probably come in July/August/September. They need to fix the stepping and I believe they're working on either B2 or B3. Can't remember. If you need your comp now, just go for it. BD will match with SB but there is no guarentee's, but it'd be an interesting contender. Pricing has already been released.

The 2500K beats out the 1100T because, you are correct, not ever program utilizes 6 cores. It is also because of the better architecture. 32nm is more efficient than 45nm (Older i7/i5 + all current AMD Procs) You'd see the 1100T beat out the 2500K in virtual programs though. Like Virtualization since those depend on cores more than HT.
 
Solution

JoeO

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Jun 25, 2011
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I haven't read too much on virtualization so please correct me if im wrong. Would it allow me to run virtual programs such as a different type of OS that would allow me to run software that's specific to that OS in particular? If this is true that seems like something that would be more future proof but I'm not quite sure if it's the easiest thing to take advantage of. Knowing myself I would probably get as far as playing a game and going on microsoft office lol. I'm also a bit nervous about buying all this expensive equipment and then screwing it all up due to a little static. I know grounding yourself to the power supply is what your supposed to do but how can I be sure it doesn't come back? Btw i'm giving you best answer but I'd like to continue chatting. I'm not sure if that's how people end discussions here as i'm very new to forums in general.