+$1,000 Ultimate Gaming System

DKSE

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Dec 29, 2008
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Ok this will be my first time building a computer but I know the basics (Processor, PSU, RAM, Graphics Card, Motherboard, OS, Overclocking, Latency, Cache, Etc.) The max I am willing to spend is about $1,300. I am familiar with Newegg. As my thread title suggests the primary use of this system will be gaming(->though I will use it for programming and compiling as well<-), and I am aiming for the ultimate system I can get in that price range. I do want to max out(or come as close as possible) Crysis and GTA IV(rumored to be more demanding than Crysis). And yes I will eventually be investing in a 2560 x 1600 or 2560 x 2048 monitor. I would like specific links to products. And remember I am looking for the best of the best for $1000-$1300.
 

DKSE

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(sorry for double post: please merge) I want all newer technology, DDR2 won't satisfy me. I want 1333Mhz to be the minimum clock for FSB and RAM. I'm also looking into over 6MB(preferably 8-12MB) for processing cache. and preferably a processor running over 3GHz(whether through stock or overclocking). I have yet to understand hyperthreading but possibly include that too.
 

cheepstuff

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Dec 13, 2008
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for your gpu you should get either the amd 4870x2 or the 4850x2 (both on newegg) depending on how much you have left over. if you arn't in the mood to spend more than 400 for a prossessor then go with some of intels cheeper quads or more expensive duos (good selection on newegg). unless you want a state of the art system, try to stay with intel's LGA775 socket type. try to have a psu with a minimum of 550W.
 

eklipz330

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Jul 7, 2008
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sorry to break it to you, $1000 will get you far from ultimate... if you had about $1700, i would suggest a core i7 build, should be better than current lga 775 solutions
 

Lurker87

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Oct 30, 2008
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Personally, I'd recommend going something along the lines of one of these builds Tom's put together, and swapping components to meet your budget needs:

$625 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-graphics-overclocking,2082.html

$1250 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-graphics-overclocking,2083.html

Maybe put in a e8500 or e8400 or something like that for the $625 build, and maybe replace the PSU with one that may be able to support SLI/Crossfire better later, and changing out that GPU for perhaps a 4870.

 

medjohnson77

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Jan 5, 2008
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COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 RC-590-KKN1-GP Black SECC / ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811119152
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$20.00 Instant
$69.99
$49.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000333AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148373
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy $109.99

MSI DKA790GX Platinum AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813130190
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info13-130-190.0.18)

1 year: $24.99
2 year: $39.99
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate $154.99

SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814102768
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info14-102-768.0.18)

1 year: $39.99
2 year: $82.99
-$40.00 Instant

$20.00 Mail-in Rebate $529.99
$489.99

PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817703005
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$95.00 Instant

$35.00 Mail-in Rebate $199.99
$104.99

Saitek PZ30AU Black USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16823175103
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info23-175-103.0.18)

1 year: $9.99
2 year: $14.99
-$15.00 Instant
$49.99
$34.99

Logitech SBF-96 Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Mouse - OEM
Item #: N82E16826104026
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info26-104-026.0.18)

1 year: $9.99
2 year: $14.99
-$2.00 Instant
$10.25
$8.25

Nippon Labs ICR-BB All-in-one USB +eSATA Card Reader - Retail
Item #: N82E16820816001
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$5.00 Instant
$24.99
$19.99

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Item #: N82E16835100007
Return Policy: Consumable Items Return Policy $5.99

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10664GK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227298
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy -$18.00 Instant

$30.00 Mail-in Rebate $82.99
$64.99

AMD Phenom 9950 2.6GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HD995ZXAGHBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103291
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info19-103-291.0.18)

1 year: $24.99
2 year: $39.99
$164.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116488
Return Policy: Software Return Policy $99.99

ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 120mm 2-ball UFO Bearing / Transparent CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835887011
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info35-887-011.0.18)

1 year: $9.99
2 year: $14.99
-$10.00 Instant

$10.00 Mail-in Rebate $59.99
$49.99
Subtotal: $1,359.13

You may have to loose the 610 watt power source and get the 750 watt It is $40 dollars more, or just keep the 610 watt and get a 4870 instead of the 4870X2
 

antiacid

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Oct 21, 2008
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medjognson77's idea is basically like taking a pinto and putting a nascar engine in it... It's ridiculous :p

For 1300$ USD, you are looking at something like this:

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price


SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151173

$28.99


Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129042
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

-$10.00 Instant


$69.95
$59.95

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136218


$74.99


SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814102801

-$25.00 Instant
$15.00 Mail-in Rebate

$264.99
$239.99



PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified (Dual 8800 GTX and below) CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817703009

-$115.00 Instant
$35.00 Mail-in Rebate

$249.99
$134.99


G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231122

-$10.00 Instant


$49.99
$39.99


ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131299

$15.00 Mail-in Rebate

$129.99


Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116488


$99.99


ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835186134

-$10.00 Instant


$36.99
$26.99


Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569Q9550 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115041


Intel Water Bottle Gift - OEM
Item #: N82E16800995063
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$24.99 Combo


$344.98
$319.99

Subtotal: $1,155.86


Add your choice of mouse/keyboard (g5 mouse, whatever keyboard suits your fancy?) for another 50-70$ and you hit your 1300$ limit with possibilities for upgrade later (such as a second video card for crossfire, more ram, more hdds, overclocking, etc).

To reiterate, it doesn't make sense to get a phenom (**** cpu) and a 4870x2 (top of the line gpu) because the cpu will limit the gpu and you are also moving away from the price/performance sweet spot.
 

medjohnson77

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Jan 5, 2008
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I don't think Its like putting a Pinto into anything, Its a matter of choice. The Intel build you just quoted is a very good build, I didn't think it could be built for that cheap to be honest, but it looks like it can be. Either way both are good builds and within his cost bugget.

How ever the coolmaster 590 case I believe, IMO is a better case for airflow and it is $10 cheaper on sale right now,

Not that its really important, but the hard drive on my build would have more space... Not sure if the one you listed has a 32mb cach on it, but it does make a speed difference, not much but 16mb cach is a little slower.

One other note if he builds that build which I am sure it will handle alot, the Q9550 is a very good processor, what can he upgrade it to if he wants bigger down the road? How much will it cost?

The MSI motherboard I picked, will handle the new Phenom II's, I have the 9850be oc to 3.2ghz, 2 4870's in crossfire, and no games I play are bottle necked by my 3.2 phenom processor. If it was a 9500 phenom at 2.3ghz with b2 stepping I would buy that it might bottle neck a 4870x2 in games.
However being on air he can aleast hit 3.0ghz with this setup, I don't see anything but smooth game play for him, should also be a nice build that can be upgraded with a phenom II down the road with out the cost of a new motherboard and DDR3 ram.

Hope this helps you out DKSE... enjoy building your new build, let us know how it turns out.
 

medjohnson77

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Jan 5, 2008
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And Antiacid,

To call the 9950be a (****CPU) just goes to show a very closed line of thinking. If the Phenom's with b3 stepping were a crapy CPU, believe me I would be the first to say it. Sure the Q9950 benchs better then the 9950be, however as long as they both play games with out any hickups or non smooth game play, multi task like crazy, which they both do, who cares about a name, AMD or Intel, I sure do not. Phenom IIs are not even out yet, so were they will fall against the Q9550, we will see when they are out in a few days. You never know they might just compete with the Q9550, either way atleast I can admit they are both sound choice's, instead of doggin the Q9950, because that would be very closed minded on my part.
 

cheepstuff

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Dec 13, 2008
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you arn't going to be able to be able to build a new generation computer with that money. stick with the last generation (eg intels core 2 series, dirt cheep ddr2...) last generation stuff is cheeper. remember you can overclock your stuff a little bit faster
 

DKSE

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Dec 29, 2008
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Um guys I see some of you getting cocky here, I do not mean ULTIMATE PERIOD I mean THE ULTIMATE POSSIBLE WITHIN MY PRICE RANGE.
 

antiacid

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Oct 21, 2008
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18,790
btw, a 2560x1600 monitor will be about as expensive as your whole computer.

Anyway, forget about upgrade capabilities with either a phenom or a quad, you'll end up having to switch the ram/mobo/cpu/video in your next build anyway. Chances are you'll be very much satisfied with the build I made up previously.