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New $1K gaming build -- HELP

N

nickmv

n00b
Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
31
Alright, so the time has finally come to build a system. I'm gonna pickin parts out over the next 2 weeks. This build is in anticipation of Battlefield 3 coming out in the fall, but I wanna go ahead and get a head start and build something to play current games.

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming, Music, Photoshop, Web Browsing, HD Movie Watching, etc

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
about $1000+tax

3) Where do you live?
Memphis (newegg DOES charge tax)

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget?
CPU, MOBO, GPU, RAM, PSU, Case, SSD, 1TB HD

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing?
Re-using kb,mouse,monitor, and a SATA DVD Burner

6) Will you be overclocking?
Most likely, not into hardcore OC'ing, but with the K series sandy bridge potential, I'm going to...

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
ASUS 24" full hd, already got it

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
2 weeks or less

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video? etc.
usb 3, sata 6, esata, that's all i can think of

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Yes, Win7 64-bit Pro, legit


Here's what I got configured so far. As you can see, without a case, I've gone a bit over budget. Please help me trim the fat a bit. I'm NOT willing to cut the 128gb SSD down to 64.

Also, I was looking at one of the Phantom cases, but I don't think I need a case that large. However, the fan-speed control system is quite appealing. Any alternative suggestions? Have I missed anything in my build besides the case? Thanks!
 
Last edited:
nickmv,

There is not much you can do about this. The HD 6850 is already at the minimum that I'd recommend for 1920x1080 gaming with most games.

And unless you downgrade to a smaller-capacity SSD, there is no room whatsoever in your budget for a decent case even if you downgrade the motherboard.
 
So what is your recommendation for a vid card? That's one of the few components I don't know much about.

My other option which I'm willing to take, is to forego the SSD for a month or so, deal with the slower load speeds, etc, and then invest in a 128gb at that time. That'll cut my intial build cost by ~ $250.
 
Think that was my orig suggestion... Cut out the ssd.. Wait a month have the money and get tge ssd then... Ur new machine will be amazing without it... Then once u get the ssd u will be in a whole new class of amazed
 
OK, so after looking at a $1300 dollar build Danny Bui recommended that included $300+ of monitor and Win7, I've decided to revise. Danny, if you would, I'd appreciate some input here, especially as to the gfx card I should get.

$320 - Intel Core i5-2500K CPU + MSI P67A-C43 Intel P67 ATX Motherboard
$85 - G.Skill Ripjaws F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$240 - XFX HD-695X-ZNFC Radeon HD 6950 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$140 - Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1CCA 2.5" 64GB SSD
$70 - Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$90 - Corsair 650TX V2 650W PSU

That puts me at $940. Throw in a $100 case, and we're talking roughly $1050, plus shipping and tax. I can eat those costs a little bit, and may be able to find some components on Amazon and use my soon-to-expire student Prime shipping fees.

I originally was looking at the MSI GD65 P67 mobo here. In terms of future CrossFire/SLI capabilities, is this really worth it? I've never had a system with dual card support.

Is this the right choice for a gfx card, when I want to run things at 1920x1080? I figure 1gb is fine, and 2gb is overkill for 1080, but I wanna make sure this is gonna be a good performer.

And yes, I totally contradicted myself and have a Crucial 64gb SSD listed there when I JUST said I wouldn't go from 128 to 64, but who cares
 
Do u plan on always having just one monitor? Well even 2 .... Depending on how u would use them.. U will likely always be a 1 card kinda person.. I dont upgrade to dual card.. Just my single card... No issues with the 64gig ssd.. That will get u started... And just like my siggestion before a month or 2 down the road u can add another and be at 128gigs... So works out the same.. The 64gig will hold ur initial os and a few games... U can always move stuff off the ssd and onto ur hdd as u start playing something new and no longer play whatever was on ur ssd
 
I'll have one monitor at the moment. I occasionally will use my 40inch HDTV as a 2nd, but just for playing movies, and I've recently purchased a Seagate FreeAgent Theatre+ anyways, so at the moment, just 1. I'm certainly gonna get a 2nd down the road (6+ months), but I'm in no hurry.

And your point about the 64gb is exactly why I did a 180 and decided to go for it. I can get a 128 down the road and have TWO ssd's and a 1tb.
 
Should be g2g then.. Gonna get the phantom? U cant go wrong with it and I hope u do..

keep us posted on the build
 
I still haven't decided on the case. I like the Phantom but it is pretty big. It'll all depend on whether it fits in my computer desk's tower area.
 
It's enclosed, with a door on the front, but I'll prob remove the door for ventilation and maybe cut some holes in the back for extra flow.
 
Ya def gonna need airdlow in there... If the back is that cheap crap just take it out
 
Considering that you have Amazon Prime and live in TN, yeah defeinitely get as much of those listed parts as possible from Amazon.com. The only part that I can think of where you won't be able to find from Amazon.com proper would be the RAM. So I recommend this RAM instead:
$39 - Patriot PSD34G13332 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM

Your video card choice is fine BTW. You might have to switch manufacturers if you can't find that XFX for a reasonable price on Amazon but the HD 6950 1GB is enough.
 
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Well, I've decided to make some changes. First off, the XFX seems to have some bad reviews about artifacts and green-screens, so I've made a change to a Sapphire card of equiv specs. I also have decided that I'm going to go with the ASUS P8-P67 Pro Mobo instead of the MSI. It's same in price as the MSI GD65 board, but seems more stable and has a better BIOS interface.

My last change was the case. I'd like a Phantom, but I'm gonna hold off and reuse my Antec Sonata case for the moment. Only issue I gotta check is whether the PSU can fit in the top; I think it should be able to.
 
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