1200 gaming build advice

[Cordilla]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc

Gaming, SC2 beta/release for now, and want to be able to play future games as well. Also Solidworks/ProE/CAD/Rhapsody, plus any other eng programs I'll need in the future

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?

1100 before tax/shipping including a monitor

3) Where do you live?

FL, USA

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.

Complete build besides mouse/keyboard

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.

N/a

6) Will you be overclocking?

Possibly in the future

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?

>= 23"

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?

Within the next 2 weeks

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.

Nothing specific

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
No, will use Win7 student


I've been using my terribly outdated Dell Vostro laptop as my main PC for far too long now. I need to be able to run most any engineering/CAD program out there and I'd like to be able to finally play a decent game on my computer.

Here's what I was thinking (Please criticize)

Mobo 80$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5235299&sku=A455-2881

Phenom II 955 170$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5752143&sku=A79-1955

5850 320$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5252732&sku=P450-5850

4 GB DDR3 1600 105$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-193-_-Product

Case + PSU 110$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.345220

WD 1TB 80$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4538820&sku=TSD-750AALS

Total = 865$

Which leaves me 235$ for a monitor

I am not obsessive about LCDs... a TN panel will do just fine

Asus 24" TN panel seems to fit... 230$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4942559&CatId=4420

edit* Mistakenly wrote 1200 in the title. Would much prefer to keep it to 1100

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

 

[lt_shiro]

I would get 23" display and save the $60 and get the i5 750

i5 750 $180

EVGA P55 V SLI Motherboard - Intel P55, Socket LGA1156, SLI+PhysX $110

 

[Dangman]

I concur with lt_shiro.

 

[Cordilla]

Thanks for the input. After some slight modifications I'm pulling the trigger in exactly 1 hour before I head to class. If anyone has any final input, here is my build.


i5 750 200
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4959973&sku=I69-0750

GA-P55A-UD3 and corsair 4g combo 205
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.349202

Antec 300 + 620W PSU 110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.345220

Asus 25.5 310 - 30MIR = 290
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5371370&sku=A466-2502

WD 750G HD 80
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4538820&sku=TSD-750AALS

XFX 5850 325
http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5562974&sku=P450-5854

Which comes out to 1332 after tax and shipping. Slightly over budget but... life's too short not to splurge a bit .

Plus I should get a 30 dollar MIR + about 90 in bing cash back if all goes well bringing the final price pretty close to my limit.

 

[Negative Decibel]

looks pretty good

 

[engiNURD]

The only think I'd change is the HDD, to either a Samsung F3 50GB, 1TB, or WD Caviar blue/black 640GB or 1TB -- these drives are faster because of the platter density.

 

[Cordilla]

I got my asus 26" in today... it's a beast! Running at 1920 x 1200 even from my laptop it looks beautiful.

And I did get a caviar black 1 TB. Also decided on running 5770s in crossfire, as Compusa called and told me they were backordered and I couldn't get an xfx 5850 or 5870 besides that for a decent price at the time. All the components should be in by tuesday

 

[lt_shiro]

don't forget to post pics of the rig and setup.