New High End Value Build ~$1500, need help

T

Trigeminal

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
256
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: In two weeks.

BUDGET RANGE: $1500 After Rebates.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: RTS, RPG, and TBS Games, Movies, Webserfing and Email, and way down some light Photoshop and SPSS (stats program). Also keep in mind, that though I need good gaming, I am in Medical School and tend to game <10hrs. per week.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, OS, HDD.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Prefer Newegg, but willing to go where the deals are, like microcenter for CPU.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US.

PARTS PREFERENCES: I would like to use an Intel CPU & ATI 5850 or 5870.

OVERCLOCKING: Yes, big time, shooting for ~4.0-4.2 on air.

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No, I'd rather buy a high-end, newer card in 2-3 years than crossfire now.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Looking for somewhat of an upgrade path so I can make a boost if needed to CPU and Graphics in 2 years, but essentailly want this to last me 4 years like my last (current rig). Highly prefer modular high efficency power supplies. Don't suggest I get a different or cheaper case, that's the one I want, and it is non-negotiable. Also looking for "pretty parts", no black and red theme stuff and limited/no leds.

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Purchase/Arrived:
Silverstone FT02-B - $229.99
Core i7 930 - $199.99

Rest of the build:
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Motherboard - $209.99

Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme-1366 RT Rev. C CPU Heatsink -$55
OCZ 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 RAM - $140.99 after rebate ($170.99 before)

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 5850 - $329

SILVERSTONE 750W Power Supply - $129.99

Acer GD245HQ: 120 Hz and FullHD - $359

In advance, thanks a ton.
 
Last edited:
Trigeminal said:
I am really hoping to see a price drop of the 5850 shortly after Fermi launch on the 26th.
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More than likely not gonna happen. Fermi launch looks like it might be soft launch or paper launch. In addition, the rumored pricies for Fermi shows them being priced pretty well above ATI cards. So probably not gonna happen.

And go with gwarren007's recommendations.
 
I was looking at that PSU, I went with silverstone for bigger fan (135mm vs 120mm) and 80+silver vs bronze rating. Thoughts on the given that info?

As to graphics cards, that'll be a last minut choise, but nice find to the xfx.

Anything need to be upgraded? Anything shitty that I am not seeing? Motherboard good enough??? CPU Cooler???
 
I know you said you didn't want to hear it but.... drop the case for SSD. SSD performance > case performance. Everything else looks fine though.
 
Shadowssong said:
I know you said you didn't want to hear it but.... drop the case for SSD. SSD performance > case performance. Everything else looks fine though.
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Plan to toss in an SSD around christmas time with the new process from intel. More capacity at same price means I can actually use it for a main drive, not just a boot drive. I have really debated the SSD issue and feel that is the way to go given my desire to keep the budget in check.

The case is a must. Love the look and cooling and quiet, and I have a mod I am working on for it.
 
Eh, an X25-M 80GB is only a 16% bump in the overall budget... I'd say go for it. :p It really is that much faster.
 
enginurd said:
Eh, an X25-M 80GB is only a 16% bump in the overall budget... I'd say go for it. :p It really is that much faster.
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I have been watching my HD use and I need 100GB minimum. May put my taxes to it, but the gf really wants to go on holiday instead.
 
you can go on holiday for $225? wow! :p

you need 100gb for your os/apps drive?!? wow again!! my x25-m is only 20GB full, hehe.
 
Trigeminal said:
Any 5850 will do me, but the 650hx is nowhere near as efficent as the other hx series or the silverstone.
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heh, once you're at 80+, I think the difference between the bronze, silver, and gold are negligible most of the time (due to price premiums for the higher rated models).
 
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