Help me build a i7 Gaming PC w/ $2G Budget!

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redice

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Sep 24, 2007
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OK just ordered my parts..here is my final build. Will post pics of the install when I get them!

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz - 229.99
EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 - 299.99
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - 119.99
EVGA 01G-P3-1285-AR GeForce GTX 285 SC Edition - 349.99
CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX - 235.49
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS - 229.99
SAMSUNG Black DVD Burner - 24.99
SilverStone Raven RV01 - 199.99
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme 1366 RT - 84.99

Total came out to a little over $1800 with rebates.

Thanks for everyone for the help!

-----------------------------------------------------------------


I've been out of the loop for over a year..tell me whats good!

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

Mostly Games. Want to use Intel I7, SLI/Crossfire (definitely 2 for now, maybe 3 in the future), 6GB+ memory. maybe water-cooled? Want a fast HDD for the OS (velociRaptor?) and do not need a storage drive (will be reusing).

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

$2000 w/ tax + shipping

3) Where do you live?

US

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

Need everything except Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, Speaker, Storage HDD, and Sound Card.

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

Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, Speaker, Storage HDD, and Sound Card.

6) Will you be overclocking?

Yes

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

22" Samsung LCD

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

Within the next month

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

Definitely Crossfire/SLI

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?

Have OS (Vista Ultimate x64)


Let me know what you guys can come up with using my budget. Thanks to everyone for the help!!
 
First and foremost: You do NOT need Crossfire or SLI for a 22" monitor or any res lower than 1920x1200. So unless you're planning on getting a bigger monitor within 3 months, don't bother with SLI or Crossfire AT ALL.

Now onto the build:
Intel Core i7 920 CPU and GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P Intel X58 ATX Motherboard combo - $539
2 x G.Skill F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ 3 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM - $220
eVGA 01G-P3-1285-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB PCI-E Video Card - $350
Western Digital WD6401AALS 640GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $80
Samsung SH-222F 22X DVD±R SATA DVD Burner - $25
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme 1366 RT - $70
Corsair 850TX 850W PSU - $140
Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $90
----
Total: $1514 plus tax and shipping

Spending more than what I spent above won't yield any significant or worthy enough performance increase to justify the increase in cost. You could probably get a better looking case or more hard drives or even a new monitor if you want to spend that extra $500.
 
Danny Bui said:
First and foremost: You do NOT need Crossfire or SLI for a 22" monitor or any res lower than 1920x1200. So unless you're planning on getting a bigger monitor within 3 months, don't bother with SLI or Crossfire AT ALL.

Now onto the build:
Intel Core i7 920 CPU and GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P Intel X58 ATX Motherboard combo - $539
2 x G.Skill F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ 3 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM - $220
eVGA 01G-P3-1285-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB PCI-E Video Card - $350
Western Digital WD6401AALS 640GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $80
Samsung SH-222F 22X DVD±R SATA DVD Burner - $25
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme 1366 RT - $70
Corsair 850TX 850W PSU - $140
Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $90
----
Total: $1514 plus tax and shipping

Spending more than what I spent above won't yield any significant or worthy enough performance increase to justify the increase in cost. You could probably get a better looking case or more hard drives or even a new monitor if you want to spend that extra $500.
Click to expand...

this is an awesome build
 
Thanks Danny Bui ..Yes I do plan to upgrade my monitor in the future.. and also want a PSU and Motherboard to handle 3 SLI for the future.
 
up the psu to the corsair 1000 watt modular unit and keep everything else the same. save the extra cash, when you do upgrade your monitor, throw in another gtx 285 and you are all set; or grab 2 of the newer GPUs at that point if they are out.. but everything else is relatively future proof; remember I did say relatively since no PC ever is

that psu should be able to handle two GPUs for sure.. but probably not three comfortably; for that reason I would get the bigger one now and not have to upgrade it later, plus wire management is so much easier with a modular unit
 
^^ whats the difference between that and the Gold, seem to have the same price?
 
I agree with the above about going with the 1000 watt Corsair PSU. In addition to having modular cables, you will also have more room to upgrade without having to worry about whether or not you will have enough power. And choosing a case is purely subjective; there is no one size/design fits all case. Other than that, I agree with everything else that Danny suggested.
 
I would just get the new monitor right now.. don't wait.. that rig deserves more resolution :)
 
OK this is the initial build I have come up with. Keep in mind I do plan on upgrading my monitor to something 24"+ and want the room to be able to do 3xSLI when I need it (hence the PSU)

CPU:
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz - 269.99
Motherboard:
EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 - 289.99
or
ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 - 289.99
Memory:
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - 119.99
Video Card:
EVGA 017-P3-1291-AR GeForce GTX 295 - 509.99
PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX - 239.99
HDD:
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS - 179.99
Burner:
LG Black DVD Burner - 22.99
Case:
SILVERSTONE RAVEN RV01 - 199.99
Cooler:
???

Total - $1892

Let me know what I can save money on, but keep in mind I want the best possible for my needs. (I am also pretty set on the Case and HDD)

Thanks!
 
you can't do x3 SLI with a gtx 295

either plan for 2 gtx 295 or get 1 gtx 285 and add one or two for the future.

if you want more horsepower now, I would suggest getting two gtx 285 now and add one more later if you need it (which you won't, but more power to you if you decide to do that)

but honestly, the single gtx 285 is more than enough for your current res and two of them is perfection at higher resolutions

however, you can still add an extra gtx 295 and run two of them in SLI and then use your third pci-x slot for a dedicated physx card.. but the list of games that support it is rather limited
 
Since you plan to OC, I would wait until the new DO stepping I7s hit the market - ETA 3/25. That's if you can wait.
 
yep, i wouldn't get any other than the regular or sc (due to the price difference being minimal), because they overclock well past FTW speeds in most cases
 
btw, the i7 920 is cheaper on amazon by $20 ($269.99)..definitely gonna get it there
 
^^ has that been the regular price? I have one near me (20min away) but can't stop till next week. Just hope the price doesnt change. Thanks for letting me know!
 
redice said:
^^ has that been the regular price? I have one near me (20min away) but can't stop till next week. Just hope the price doesnt change. Thanks for letting me know!
Click to expand...

has been that price for quite a while now http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0300438

another random combo to look at. i believe the revolution85+ is said to be one of the best power supplies in the US and the combo basically gives you the dvd for freehttp://http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.174117
 
Anymore more suggestions on the cooling?

Also where can I grab the thermalright ultra 120, i don't see it anywhere. Also will does this come with compatible brackets for my motherboard?
 
frozencpu.com has them, so does jab-tech

some come in a kit with the 1366 socket bracket and some don't
 
OK just ordered my parts..here is my final build. Will post pics of the install when I get them!

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz - 229.99
EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 - 299.99
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - 119.99
EVGA 01G-P3-1285-AR GeForce GTX 285 SC Edition - 349.99
CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX - 235.49
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS - 229.99
SAMSUNG Black DVD Burner - 24.99
SilverStone Raven RV01 - 199.99
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme 1366 RT - 84.99

Total came out to a little over $1800 with rebates.

Thanks for everyone for the help!
 
any explanation for the raven? just wanted to know what it was that made you want to get that case.
 
stainremover said:
any explanation for the raven? just wanted to know what it was that made you want to get that case.
Click to expand...

Wanted to try something different, and was very intrigued on the 90 degree MB.

Tunabow said:
not bad, with that kind of budget I would have went with an SSD though.
Click to expand...

Yeah I was contemplating getting a SSD also, but just wasn't to thrilled about the size to cost ratio.
 
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