Budget Gaming Rig Build

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wrxdrunkie

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 23, 2007
Messages
461
Hi all, I am rebuilding my gaming PC, I will probably only reuse the DVD drive, OCZ powerxtreme 1000W PS, and my monitor.

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc. Gaming, Excel, Web Browsing, Everything.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included? My budget is between $450-$750

3) Where do you live? I live in Austin, Tx

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.Depending on advice I will need a GPU or GPUs, MB, HDD, Case

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


OCZ ProExtreme 1000W power supply

-DVD RW drive

-Zalman 9700 cpu cooler

6) Will you be overclocking? Yes, if recommended

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have? Samsung syncmaster 2343, 23inch. 2048x1152. 40inch 1920x1080 (most of the gaming)

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC? I plan to start buying now and build over Christmas break. Late Dec/Early January

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc. Optical out, good overclocking capability. Crossfire or SLi

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? Yes, Windows7
 
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Can you raise your budget about $50-$100 more? You can get a good AMD Phenom II or Intel Core i5 system for that price range that would run circles around a Q6600-based build.

How old is the PSU?
 
I just ordered the PS today. for $60.

Would the i5 system run circles around the q6600 in gaming when they both have the same GPU? Would the i5 have to be OCed?

I might be able to increase the budget slightly, I would not want it to cost $700 though, I can not swing that.
 
wrxdrunkie said:
I just ordered the PS today. for $60.

Would the i5 system run circles around the q6600 in gaming when they both have the same GPU? Would the i5 have to be OCed?

I might be able to increase the budget slightly, I would not want it to cost $700 though, I can not swing that.
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For the tasks described, going Phenom II x2/x3 is cheaper and as good.
 
I am just making sure that we are on the same page.

So far the general recommendation is to NOT reuse the Q6600?

Thanks!
 
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Hey guys, just wanted to update on my build, see what you guys thought:


Antec 902 Case $99.00 or the Cooler Master CM Storm Scout gaming case. Opinions? Antec CoolerMaster
WD Caviar Black 1TB $99.00
Core i5 750 $200
2xAti 4890 $150.00 each
CORSAIR XMS3 4GB $99.00
MSI P55 GD65 MB $160

I already have a power supply I ordered, OCZ proxtreme

What do you guys think?

My primary concerns are, the x8/x8 pci-e slots when running crossfire.

Also, I thought you guys might be able to offer case suggestions, I like the scout a lot, it would make it a lot easier to take to LANs. And even though I have read that the scout has great cooling, even in crossfire, I thought some of you might have some experience with the case as well.

Also I am not mainly concerned with how crysis runs, but that is my main focus, I know if crysis runs kickasss that I really wont have any problems running other games, (I game at 1920x1080) But who knows, maybe their is a better GPU combo that I can pull off for around $300?

Funny how quickly my build got over budget, thats just one of the side effects of visiting this forum everyday :)
 
The above parts are what I am looking at buying right now, I had a q6600 with that needed a new motherboard and instead of investing in an older Overclockable MB, I have been advised to just upgrade the cpu and mb, which gets me to my 6th post, of the parts I am currently looking at.


Thanks!
 
The Coolermaster case is a far better choice than the Antec 902. Cheaper price yet similar cooling capability. Other than that, looks good to me.

Though if you already have 4GB of DDR2 RAM and don't mind buying used motherboards, that Q6600 setup would still be a good choice.
 
wrxdrunkie said:
Would the i5 system run circles around the q6600 in gaming when they both have the same GPU? Would the i5 have to be OCed?
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For playing GPU bound games at such high res, no, you won't notice a difference between the Q6600 OC'd to 3.2Ghz vs a stock i5 750.

I'm a bit confused, because the OP does not mention a Q6600, but the rest of the thread does -- guess it was edited out? :confused:
 
I edited it out because advice was so firm on me getting rid of the q6600....

So I just decided to make it easier to follow, but I failed. My thinking being that if the general consensus was to get rid of the q6600, then why waste peoples time. So I tried to revamp it and make it focus on a new everything build.
 
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Well, if the only re-usable core component you have is the CPU, you'll only save around $150 - $200 by staying with that CPU. For gaming and web browsing, you shouldn't notice a difference between the two. However, I wouldn't spend money on overpriced DDR2 right now anyhow, so a new build sounds like a good option. Simply sell the Q6600 to offset the cost of the new CPU.
 
Well guys I thought I would update everyone and thank everyone for their help. I am finished with my rig, and boy am I happy, I ended going waaay over budget (got my tax return).

Parts:

MSI X58M and Core i7 920 (280 at fry's)

2x 5850 Graphics Cards

Zalman 9700 CPU cooler

Thermalright HR-05 chipset cooler

WD Caviar Black 1tb HDD

6gb Patriot DDR3 RAM

Cooler Master Storm Scout Case

OCZ ProXStream 1000w PS


Overall I am loving it, just got my second 5850 in so I have not been able to really get a good idea of how the crossfire setup is doing but ya.

I am researching overclocking the i7 right now, I gave it bumps in core clock from 133x20--> 166x20 --> 200x20

My idle temps are right at 35, 40, 45 on the different OCs. And under load they are at like 40-42. 42-50, 50-75.

The computer was stable at 4ghz but then I looked at the voltage and it was seeing around 1.4v. So I went back to stock settings. I can get pretty fast clocks by just changing the core clock, but the auto voltage was way to high for my liking.



Thanks for the help everyone! I will get pictures up ASAP
 
wrxdrunkie said:
Well guys I thought I would update everyone and thank everyone for their help. I am finished with my rig, and boy am I happy, I ended going waaay over budget (got my tax return).

Parts:

MSI X58M and Core i7 920 (280 at fry's)

2x 5850 Graphics Cards

Zalman 9700 CPU cooler

Thermalright HR-05 chipset cooler

WD Caviar Black 1tb HDD

6gb Patriot DDR3 RAM

Cooler Master Storm Scout Case

OCZ ProXStream 1000w PS


Overall I am loving it, just got my second 5850 in so I have not been able to really get a good idea of how the crossfire setup is doing but ya.

I am researching overclocking the i7 right now, I gave it bumps in core clock from 133x20--> 166x20 --> 200x20

My idle temps are right at 35, 40, 45 on the different OCs. And under load they are at like 40-42. 42-50, 50-75.

The computer was stable at 4ghz but then I looked at the voltage and it was seeing around 1.4v. So I went back to stock settings. I can get pretty fast clocks by just changing the core clock, but the auto voltage was way to high for my liking.



Thanks for the help everyone! I will get pictures up ASAP
Click to expand...

Congrats!
How much was the final build if you don't mind my asking? I plan on eventually creating a post of my own for building a rig, and your build is kind of what I am aiming for + or - a few things like a I7 930 instead of a 920 for example. I too am waiting for my tax returns before taking on the project. :D

Have fun building it!
 
It so great, I was originally going to go with the i5 and MSI GD65 MB, but when the opportunity came to get the 920 with MB for 70 dollars less, I jumped on it, especially since I planned on running crossfire.

I payed:

MB and CPU- 280
5850 #1 - 310
5850#2 - 310 with $39 CB
WD Caviar Black- 100
6gb Patriot DDR3 - 120
1000W PS- 60
Thermalright cooler - 30
storm scout 100

Total: $1271

So right around a $1,300 build

Some taxes here and there, some rebates here and there
 
nice score on the cpu/mobo combo at fry's. was sold out when i went. :(

no pics?!?
 
whoa whoa whoa

a 1k watt PSU for $60?

i hear klaxon sirens going off
 
Fail said:
whoa whoa whoa

a 1k watt PSU for $60?

i hear klaxon sirens going off
Click to expand...

Nah don't worry about it. He just got a good PSU that was refurbished and sold on sale making for huge cash savings. At normal pricing and brand new, that PSU was around $175 IIRC.
 
oh ok, disregard what I said then

I didn't read his whole post and see it was an OCZ, i thought it might have been one of those crappy Coolermasters they are unloading at steep discounts off newegg
 
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