$1200 gaming DRAGON!

[daidalas]

Here it is, let me know what ya think!

MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130223

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801

Lite-On 24x dvd burner x 2 $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106291

ASUS Xonar DX7.1 Sound Card $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006

Corsair 850TX PSU &145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

AMD Phenom II X4 955 3.2ghz $245
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

OCZ Reaper DDR3 1333 mhz ram 4gb $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227293

WD Caviar Black 640GB HD $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound $8
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

XIGMATEK Dark Knight CPU COOLER $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

Subtotal: $1,092.90 WITHOUT SHIPPING/REBATES



Didn't include case b/c i am planning on getting CM Storm Scout once released in early May. will cost another $110
http://www.cmstorm.com/en/products/chassis/scout/

Also planning on using Windows 7 & playing games such as CSS, TF2, COD4/5, L4D, Bioshock, Crysis

 

[daidalas]

Also, will be running dual monitor setup.gaming on 1680x1050 22" monitor and 19" monitor for web browsing.

planning on running crossfire when necessary, probably around 6-12 months from now.

if you know how to save me money without sacrificing performance thank you in advance!!!

 

[batuchka]

Yes to save more:

1. Ditch multi GPU ideas as 22" 1650 x 1050 does not justify it IMO
2. AM2+ mobo with DDR2?
3. Suggested config:

$683.88
$ 0.00 ship
$ 20.00 MIR
$663.88 total expenses

 

[daidalas]

that config is much cheaper. can anyone tell me how much difference there is between these 2? for almost 1/2 the price i would guess maybe 20% slower which is ok with me.

 

[batuchka]

Err at most that 0.2ghz and DDR3 are giving ya 2-5% gain? This would be *at best*

 

[sharken]

amd is soooo fast! love the names, Phenom + Dragon = (insert insult here)

 

[JTP709]

Batuchka's config is half as much because he also cut out your sound card, CPU cooler, cheaper case, and a 770 northbridge motherboard. I would stick with your build, much better performance, overclock ability, and stability. But if you did downgrade to DDR2 and AM2 you'd save maybe $50 to $100.

IMO keep the DDR3, its phasing out DDR2 and is becoming the standard. So if you wanted to drop in two more sticks of memory you could. Otherwise, if you have DDR2 you'll have to toss out your old mobo and memory and buy new ones, costing the upside of $250 most likely. Going DDR3 now will save money in the long run IMO, but there is no difference in game performance between DDR2 and DDR3.

Also the sound card is up to you. Most mobos have very good 8 channel audio that will suit most, so if you wanted to save money thats where I would start.

 

[batuchka]

While the points are valid with my sticking to onboard sound solutions and the fact that it has been determined the gains from pumping almost 2x more are nil to negligible my honest opinion for a gaming rig is: you would more likely upgrade the GPU department more often than anything else logically so the smart money for me isn't on your pure AM3/DDR3 $1.2k idea How DDR3 is going to save you money with zilch to minimal gains at an obscene amount more i have no idea really! That and the 770-UD3 having far more reviews compared to the AM3/790GX u picked out (241 vs 18) makes it comes across as even more stable for me The only way an AM2+ mobo is a dead end is when AMD announces the IMC on AM3 chips would no longer 'talk' to DDR2! Future proofing has it limits but i think with my analysis of cost-to-performance the pitfalls are pretty obvious? Lastly check out the Phenom 2 OC records: peeps have been playing with multi + V core with P2X4 940BE on even older SB600 mobos and getting fine results

 

[JTP709]

I completely agree that it is more economical to buy DDR2 as DDR3 offers no additional performance increase. Its just my preference to have the option to upgrade in the future mostly because of a bad experience with my first system build in 2004. I figured if he is going to upgrade to an i7 in one year anyway, buy DDR3 now because its only $20 more for the bored and the memory cost the same. Otherwise, when we builds an i7, he'll have to upgrade to DDR3 anyway and he'll already have the memory from this build. Otherwise he can save $20 now and get a AM2+ mobo and DDR2 memory that cost $60, but then have to toss it out and buy another $60 worth of memory. Save $20 now or $40 later is how I see it.

Its just my opinion though and the option I would take personally.

 

[daidalas]

THX for all the advice friends. I've tweaked my purchase for more bang for buck while keeping the items i really like, here's where i'm at.
Decided to go with DDR2 RAM so i can be cheap and get a 940 instead of more expensive 955 phenom.

Also, i'm a bit of an audiophile so i gots to have that sound card and good speakers as i use my computer for my main stereo system.

GSKILL 4GB DDR2 @ 1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

SAPPHIRE 48701GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801

GIGABYTE UD4P MOBO 790X AM3/AM2+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

PHENOM II X4 940 3.0 GHZ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471

CORSAIR 750TX PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

WD CAVIAR BLACK 640GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

LITEON DVD BURNER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106291

ASUS XONAR SOUND CARD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006

XIGMATEK DARK KNIGHT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

Subtotal: $910.90

Also going to get......
CM Storm Scout case for $110
http://www.cmstorm.com/en/products/chassis/scout/

Audioengine 5 Speakers for $325
http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-multimedia-speakers-total-2-way/dp/B000OABTPQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1240762900&sr=8-1

New Gaming Mouse for $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104178

Gaming Keyboard for $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109069

GRAND TOTAL OF ABOUT $1450 AFTER REBATES/SHIPPING!

 

[Guest]

the above looks good but if you decide to go crossfire in the future, you'll want a larger psu. 750 won't be enough. you'll probably want to step up to 850 to be safe.

 

[nerrawg]

Nice choice on the case - much better to invest the money there on one you like - as for the GPU its very good, but 2 x 4830 are 10% stronger or even better at 1680x1050: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/radeon-hd4830-crossfire.html
and cost less $75 x 2= $150 total. Just of course take into consideration the extra heat and power issues - scaling however is no longer a big problem.
You might also make more money back on selling these 4830s on Ebay in a years time to unwitting noobs (could be harder than the 4870 1 GB though) and buying a DX 11 5800 series, than buying a 4870 1 GB and planning on upgrading in a year to what will then be an outdated CF 4870 solution...

 

[daidalas]

Nice choice on the case - much better to invest the money there on one you like - as for the GPU its very good, but 2 x 4830 are 10% stronger or even better at 1680x1050: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/radeon-hd4830-crossfire.html
and cost less $75 x 2= $150 total. Just of course take into consideration the extra heat and power issues - scaling however is no longer a big problem.
You might also make more money back on selling these 4830s on Ebay in a years time to unwitting noobs (could be harder than the 4870 1 GB though) and buying a DX 11 5800 series, than buying a 4870 1 GB and planning on upgrading in a year to what will then be an outdated CF 4870 solution...

Done and Done. I read your article on best bang for buck and it was wellll done nerrawg. def. gonna take your advice on the video cards. only 1 question, will my 750w corsair psu i have planned be ok w/ those crossfired?

 

[JTP709]

Nice choice on the case - much better to invest the money there on one you like - as for the GPU its very good, but 2 x 4830 are 10% stronger or even better at 1680x1050: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/radeon-hd4830-crossfire.html
and cost less $75 x 2= $150 total. Just of course take into consideration the extra heat and power issues - scaling however is no longer a big problem.
You might also make more money back on selling these 4830s on Ebay in a years time to unwitting noobs (could be harder than the 4870 1 GB though) and buying a DX 11 5800 series, than buying a 4870 1 GB and planning on upgrading in a year to what will then be an outdated CF 4870 solution...

I've read several reviews that have shown just how great the 4830 CF is, but I've also read a lot about the screen jitter and other artifacts associated with it. While it achieves really great performance over the 4870 in frame rate, IMO its negated by the other issues it has. However you will save some $$$, and if ATI can get their catalyst drivers to work more effectively for crossfire then this is definately away to go. I, however, like the piece of mind of a single GPU solution. While I may not get the same frame rate, I won't have nearly as many video issues and a whole lot less power consumption. Besides, most people CANNOT tell the difference in frame rate above 30fps, and the trained eye can only tell up to 60fps. After 60 it is impossible for the human brain to distinguish the difference between, say, 60fps and 600fps. So while the 4830 CF gets more fps in certain games, its not even noticeable if its over 60 already. Honestly in most cases I would just stick with a 4830, its all you'll really need.