~$700 Intel gaming system

nd_hunter

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Jul 26, 2009
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Approximate Purchase Date: Nov 1 (I know prices might change slightly)

Budget Range: ~$700 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (new Star Wars, RTS games (Civ 5, Total War, etc.)), school work

Parts Not Required: OS, keyboard, mouse, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: Intel SB CPU, AMD GPU

Overclocking: Most likely not in this price range

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Will be building this for a friend. I've got a good idea on parts, just looking for either confirmation or ideas for improved price/performance. Thanks!

The items below total about $725 including shipping to ND.

CPU: Intel Core i5-2400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074

Motherboard: ASRock H61M-GE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157256

RAM: 4GB (2x2GB) G.Skill Ripjaws DDR3 1600 C9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

GPU: Sapphire HD 6850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908

HDD: 500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.12
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701

Optical: Lite-On 24x DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

PSU: Antec HCG-400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371046

Case: NZXT Gamma Classic
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061

Monitor: HANNspree 21.5" LCD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824262011
 

nd_hunter

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$9 for a few more features on the -GE seems worth it; I will go with that. I'm going to stay away from the Corsair CX series...might go with an Antec HCG 400W.
 

cutebeans

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Really? Is it worth the additional $15 though? I think they are both solid PSUs though. Money is better spent on a 6870. :)
 

008Rohit

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Its not worth the extra $15, though. :p

but it delivers 30A on the +12V rails whereas the corsair unit delivers 28A being a 430W unit. Plus, Corsair uses some Chineese Capacitors in the CX series.
 

nd_hunter

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I will not purchase or recommend an AMD CPU to anyone with a budget > $500 until BD is released. And even then, who knows, since the performance is still an unknown. I believe I've heard that MMORPG games (I don't play them myself, nor am I interested) are pretty CPU intensive, another reason for the SB chip. A 6870 is probably within reach, I'll know on Nov 1 when he tells me exactly how much he has to spend. 8GB of memory is ideal, and again, I will know if that is doable in a few weeks.

I also don't figure rebates into a budget because they are an unknown, even when everything is properly filled out.
 

cutebeans

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I will cry myself to sleep if this is true which it is not! Online games will never be CPU intensive for any CPUs of its time. The only CPU intensive game I know is CiV5.