Im building my friend a computer and Id like some advice.

DeathDealer117

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Jun 25, 2012
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Hello,

I'm building my friend a computer. Basically the budget is $1000.
So far I'm looking at getting him...

Motherboard - ASUS/GIGABYTE/MSI 990FX (if ASUS not sure which one... Sabertooth? Crosshair V? or Crosshair V Formula/Thunderbolt?)
CPU - AMD 8-core Processor (FX-8120 or FX-8150)
RAM - 16 GB of 1866 MHZ or 2000 MHZ (looking at G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4x4GB 1866MHz)
GPU - This is one i need help with. Im looking at Nvidia. (bad experiences with ATI) GTX 550 129.99 on newegg. Maybe two in SLI?
SDD/HDD - Frys has 90 GB SSDs for 65 a pop, so I was thinking getting 2 of those and running in RAID 0. They also have a 130 180 GB SDD that is the same read/write as a 90 GB but I heard running 2 SSDs in RAID 0 is faster.
Power - probably like a 750 watt. Looking at a Rosewill case/power supply combo for 180

I did the math and it came out to about 800 without the video card. I will be building it myself, so theres no charge there. He said he would figure out the peripherial, so this is a Tower-only build.

Thanks, organized and well thought out feedback would be greatly appreciated.

-Christian
 
if he has a $1000 budget you can do better than that

would go intel cpu--sandy bridge or ivybridge--k version for overclocking--and a decent heatsink

z68 or z77 motherboard

ram over 1600mhz is dearer for very little performance gain--and 16gb isnt needed for most people

usually 8gb is enough--though depends what they are doing

gpu--for $1000 should be able to get a gtx570 maybe even a gtx670

probably would go for a 120gb ssd--raid can come with its own issues

psu--650w seasonic or corsair or other good maker

not in the usa so prices are different here--but pretty sure one of our usa members could find you roughly

those specs for that budget
 

wr6133

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Feb 10, 2012
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Thats an entry level Graphics card and running 2 in SLi is pointless you would be better suited getting 1 higher end card. I agree with most of mcnumpty's points especially the SSD one I would even venture to say if you dont have a normal HDD do not build with only an SSD they are not good for storage.
 
mcnumpty23 nailed it. low end gpus with an.expensive CPU is a bad idea. especially doing SLI. RAIDing cheap SSDs is just asking for trouble.

GPU should be a GTX 670 or HD7970 or 7850 depending on budget. ATI doesnt exist anymore and shutting yourself out of half the market because you had a "bad experience " with a MANUFACTURER is a little silly.
 

kemperkipie

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Nov 24, 2011
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I'd suggest:
CPU: i5-3570k or i5-2500k
MB: ASUS P8Z77-V LX
SSD: Mushkin MKNSSDCR120GB (120GB is more than enough, should plug an old HDD for storage) Don't get RAID0, 1 SSD is more reliable.
GPU: GTX 670 would be nice, GTX 570 also, but if he can wait, you might as well take GTX660 TI
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-700G