$1200.00 Gaming build

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OneEyeWilly

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Nov 29, 2009
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Hi everyone.I need your advice on a gaming PC.

Budget- I would like to keep my budget at around 1200.00 dollars.I am willing to go up anther $100.00 dollars if needed,but would like to try to stay at 1200.00

I need some help on my first build.I will be starting this build in early January of 2010.I am building this pc for gaming.I download 24/7,so this might be a consideration.I have alot of pc games,but I want to play older games up to the very latest games (ie) Modern Warfare 2 ect..at medium to max settings.I am willing to spend a few more dollars for the best dual core.I'm really debating between the Wolfdale E8600 vs the E8500. $269.00 vs 189.00 is a big price difference.The one thing I heard about the E8600 that really appeals to me is that overclocking is a breeze.I read alot of reviews from various sources.I have never overclocked,but I heard by just changing the multiplier on the E8600 you can get this chip to 4 gigs easy without messing with any other settings.On the otherhand,lets say I go with the E8500,and I don't overclock.Will this give my enough power.

I will be using XP for my OS,which I bought a few months ago for the purpose of Gaming.I still need 4 gigs of ram.I know xp will not use it all,but I want 4 gigs all the same.As far as the specs with the monitor it's default is 1920 x 1080 with a response time of 2ms.I like that alot.

So I still need:

Ram
Video card

I really like prices on the ATI video cards,but Nivida seems much more compatible for my purposes.Old and new games

Finally.I bought a Antec 900 awhile ago,and plan on using that case to build another pc with the i7 set-up.Of course I will be using windows 7 for that build,but I let the prices drop and find a good medium in price some time in the middle of 2010.

Here are most of my parts...

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358


LG W2453V-PF Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Full HD 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 50000:1 w/ Smart Package - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005126


CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 power

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006


XIGMATEK HDT-S1284EE 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233023


Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136296


PLEXTOR 24X DVD/CD Writer Black SATA Model PX-880SA LightScribe Support - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...tDeals&SubCategory=5&StoreType=2&N=2010100005


Case 150.00
CPU 190.00 Priced for E8500,but really undecided
CPU Cooler 40.00
Mobo 130.00
Monitor 270.00
Hard Drive 160.00
CD Burner 45.00
PSU 110.00

Total $951.00
 
Last edited:
Go with a Socket 1156 processor (like the Core i5 750 or the Core i7 860) and a P55-based motherboard (like the Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4P), as it will outperform your proposed setup yet cost around the same. Likewise, get the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus and a 2x2GB DDR3 1600 kit from G.Skill that runs at 1.5V.

ATI owns the high-end market with its HD58xx cards. Its mid-range cards, specifically the HD4890 and HD4870, can perform as well as the NVIDIA equivalents (the GTX 275 and GTX 260, respectively) yet they cost comparatively less. Go with ATI this time.

I believe that the VelociRaptor is not worth the money, as you could place two hard drives with either 320GB (WD6401AALS) or 500GB (Seagate 7200.12 or Samsung F3 500GB) platters in a RAID 0 configuration for less -- and have that RAID 0 configuration outpeform the VelociRaptor. All three of the HDDs I referenced earlier are each only 10% slower than the VelociRaptor. The VR can load games and programs a bit faster, but it doesn't improve frame rates.

Do you really need LightScribe support from your DVD burner? I ask because you can find a decent LG or Samsung SATA DVD burner for around $30-$35.

Cases are a matter of personal taste, but many people here do not like the Antec Twelve Hundred. Are there any other cases you're considering?

The price on the Corsair TX750 is, I believe, a Black Friday special price. It may cost more by the time you decide to buy parts.

Here's a different build to consider (for now, I'm omitting the case and PSU):

$345 - Core i5 750 and GA-P55-UD4P combo deal
$95 - G.Skill Ripjaws Series 2x2GB DDR3 1600 CL9 dual-channel kit
$30 - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus CPU cooler
$55 - Seagate 7200.12 500GB HDD
$27 - LG GH24NS50 SATA DVD burner
$310 - Sapphire Radeon HD5850 video card
=====
$862 - Subtotal (not including shipping, taxes, or rebates)

Right now, a few parts are out of stock (namely, the CPU cooler and the video card) -- supplies may be limited over the next few weeks, so you may need to either get those parts first, as soon as they become available again, or find some alternate choices.
 
tiraides said:
Go with a Socket 1156 processor (like the Core i5 750 or the Core i7 860) and a P55-based motherboard (like the Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4P), as it will outperform your proposed setup yet cost around the same. Likewise, get the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus and a 2x2GB DDR3 1600 kit from G.Skill that runs at 1.5V.

ATI owns the high-end market with its HD58xx cards. Its mid-range cards, specifically the HD4890 and HD4870, can perform as well as the NVIDIA equivalents (the GTX 275 and GTX 260, respectively) yet they cost comparatively less. Go with ATI this time.

I believe that the VelociRaptor is not worth the money, as you could place two hard drives with either 320GB (WD6401AALS) or 500GB (Seagate 7200.12 or Samsung F3 500GB) platters in a RAID 0 configuration for less -- and have that RAID 0 configuration outpeform the VelociRaptor. All three of the HDDs I referenced earlier are each only 10% slower than the VelociRaptor. The VR can load games and programs a bit faster, but it doesn't improve frame rates.

Do you really need LightScribe support from your DVD burner? I ask because you can find a decent LG or Samsung SATA DVD burner for around $30-$35.

Cases are a matter of personal taste, but many people here do not like the Antec Twelve Hundred. Are there any other cases you're considering?

The price on the Corsair TX750 is, I believe, a Black Friday special price. It may cost more by the time you decide to buy parts.

Here's a different build to consider (for now, I'm omitting the case and PSU):

$345 - Core i5 750 and GA-P55-UD4P combo deal
$95 - G.Skill Ripjaws Series 2x2GB DDR3 1600 CL9 dual-channel kit
$30 - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus CPU cooler
$55 - Seagate 7200.12 500GB HDD
$27 - LG GH24NS50 SATA DVD burner
$310 - Sapphire Radeon HD5850 video card
=====
$862 - Subtotal (not including shipping, taxes, or rebates)

Right now, a few parts are out of stock (namely, the CPU cooler and the video card) -- supplies may be limited over the next few weeks, so you may need to either get those parts first, as soon as they become available again, or find some alternate choices.
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking the time for suggestions.I'm not opposed with this set-up,but more concerned if I can still use this set up for my gaming purpose.ATI sounds sweet for gaming,especially on the high end side,but how compatible will this be for games in general.Older and newer.I'm not going back ten years in gaming I think,but in the same term I like older games.Max Payne,Star Wars Series,Alot of FPS ect...
 
The i5 setup will do fine for your gaming.

Now smack yourself for ever thinking about building an LGA 775.
 
Socket 775 is EOL; it's essentially a dead-end path in terms of upgrading. Plus, the Core i5 750 outperforms all of the Core 2 processors at stock speeds. If you live near a Micro Center B&M store, you can pick up the Core i5 750 for $150. Then there's the NewEgg combo deal....

If Max Payne is the oldest game that you're thinking about playing, any of the cards that I listed earlier will work.
 
DTN107 said:
The i5 setup will do fine for your gaming.

Now smack yourself for ever thinking about building an LGA 775.
Click to expand...

This. The i5 setup that tirades recommended is really good and will only outperform the E8400 setup, if anything. LGA775 is dead so there's really no point to have a $1200 build go down that path.
 
Core i-5 750 all the way man. Look what $800 now can get you. Not including the monitor of course.

Intel Core i-5 750 Quad + Coolermaster RC690 both for $259.98 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.281799

G. Skill Ripjaws 4GB DDR3 1600 + ASUS P7P55D LE both for $199.98 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.287872

LG Sata DVD Burner + XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB both for $211.98 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.280423

Antec Earthwatts EA650 for $79.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

Seagate Barracuda 500GB for $54.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

Forget the 10K Raptor drives. Why bother with those when you can later upgrade to a SSD drive that will surely blow it away.

Total: $806.92 w/free shipping

ASUS VK246H 24in for $229.99 w/free shipping.
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010393

2ms response, same inputs as the LG 24", 3yr warranty, free shipping and $40 cheaper than the LG 24"

Grand Total for PC + Monitor = $1,036.91 w/free shipping
 
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