$600 i5 Build Thread Whee!

C

compL33Tazn

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Dec 10, 2009
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This is not really a new build, but more like a complete upgrade if you compare the list with my sig. I acquired these parts from all over the place; Fry's, Micro Center, Computer Central, craigslist, even thrift shops to find the best hardware at the best prices.

Case: Thermaltake Xaser VI $40 Discovery Thrift Shop, donated by Fry's Electronics
Processor: Intel Core i5 750 $150 Micro Center
Motherboard: MSI P55-GD65 $150 after $15MIR Micro Center
Memory: OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 1600 $73 after $30 MIR Micro Center
Hard Drive: WD Velociraptor 300GB $30 Estate Sale
Optical Drive: Emprex (Sony NEC) 20x DVD burner $20 Fry's Electronics
Graphics: 2x Diamond HD4850 512MB $125 for both craigslist used
Power Supply: Corsair HX520W $45 craigslist used
Cooling: Thermalright HR-01 $15 Discovery Thrift Shop
1156 Bolt Through Kit $10 Central Computers
Antec 120mm $5 Fry's Electronics
Thermalright T-Rad² $0 craigslist, came used with HD4850
2x 92mm $0 craigslist, came used with HD4850

Total w/o Taxes: $633


 
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C'mon, tell us which RAM you picked up.

And what's with the WD Green HDD? It's designed to be a storage/backup drive, not the primary/OS drive.
 
Haha I didn't pick up any RAM yet because it's too expensive :D
And as for the HDD, I have a Caviar Blue 500GB OS drive but it's from a Gateway which I restored, but eventually when HDD prices go down I'll buy a new one. I may even consider a nice SSD if those prices go down too.
 
Well that's one way to put it, but two years ago a good deal for a 500GB was $100. Recently, I've seen 500GB for $35, hence the price going down.
 
don't mean to be a douche but could you resize that picture?

not bad all said

although it's interesting that you chose to go 2x 4850 in crossfire
 
When I add it up it comes to $845 w/o shipping. I've built a very similar system with only one video card though and it totaled out at $745
 
You spent over $150 on the processor and another $150+ on the motherboard. You're telling us that you couldn't spring for an additional $75-$100 for a dual-channel set of DDR3 RAM?

Could you list, individually, where you've bought everything from and whether or not you bought them new? Here's an example of what I'm talking about.
 
In my eyes, the CPU and motherboard are great pieces of hardware for the price. The memory, however... the exact same specs of 4GB that were only $40 a few months ago have irrationally doubled in price, and I've grown an impression as to how much RAM should cost. I've specified the location of purchase. Everything was new unless indicated.
 
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I appreciate the changes.

Unfortunately, due to the holiday season, RAM prices are generally going to rise. The only way I can think of to mitigate any potential price increase would be to buy a dual channel DDR3 set used.
 
Photoshoot today :D

Motherboard





Processor


Power Supply

Heatsink

Graphics w/ T-Rad²
 
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Mine at $845? How did you get that
Click to expand...

I too thought you meant 2 x $125 for video cards so subtract $125 which would be $720 which is only $100 more than u have listed since you didn't add $ for RAM. I built a budget machine based on the propus 620 and DDR3 with the 4850 and that woman i built it for is very happy with the games performance. Very good card for the price i used the xfx overclocked version it was $119 at newegg.

Cheers, jerry
 
So you spent around $720 if you got 4GB of RAM? Not bad. If I total up one of my i7 builds and move a gaming card into it (it's got an 8600GT right now), it would come out to around $730, but not all parts were bought within the same timeframe, lol (though all parts were new except the DK, which was only slightly used, hehe; case/psu were bought before '09).

$200 - Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core w/ HT (Microcenter)
$185 - Asus P6T SE Intel X58 ATX Motherboard ($20MIR) (eWiz)
$128 - XFX HD-487A-ZHFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 (eWiz)
$80 - G.Skill 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3-1600 F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ (Newegg)
$65 - Cooler Master RC-690 Black ATX Mid Tower ($30MIR x2; $15 shipping) (eWiz)
$60 - Corsair 520W CMPSU-520HX Modular APFC 80+ Certified PSU (Buy.com)
$40 - WD Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA300 (Amazon)
$25 - ASUS Black 20X DVD±RW SATA Model DRW-2014S1T (Newegg)
$25 - Xigmatek Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm (used, tiraides@[H])
==========
$808 - $80MIR = $728
 
That build looks pretty good
I got 4GB 1600MHz RAM for $73 at Micro Center. Total cost without taxes: $633.
 
LOL this is getting comical...I add up $633 w/o a hard drive :) Good find on the ram :)
 
Haha I don't wanna take photos just yet, since it's running off of an IDE drive with messy cables at the moment.
 
Fail said:
true story

you gotta follow through, build it, and post them pics
Click to expand...
It's already built and running, I just want to wait until I get a better HDD and organize my cables :D

Here's a little teaser though:

Teehee hard drive
 
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Duh, we all know that the hard drive's going to be the lowest rated component with the BS Windows Index.

Show us some real pics. I think you stole that pic from someone else's photostream. :p
 
As I said in my first post, I find the best hardware at the best prices. Today I finally got my HDD, a 300GB Velociraptor for $30 new in sealed box, as well as a 150GB Raptor for $10. I also picked up an Antec 1200 for $40. :D That means pics today or tomorrow
 
Heh, where'd you find the VRaptor for $30 new sealed? ... something tells me it fell off the back of a truck. :p
 
lemme give you my address so you can hook me up with those cheap deals!
 
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