$800 Gaming Desktop-- Any help appreciated!

congray

Distinguished
Apr 13, 2010
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18,510
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ASAP
BUDGET RANGE: $800 After Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Web Browsing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Most comfortable with www.newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: No preferences
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No
MONITOR RESOLUTION: I was thinking 1280x1024

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I'm not exactly a computer genius and any help you guys could provide I would appreciate :).
 

xrome

Distinguished
May 4, 2008
268
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18,795
What do you think of this?

1.) MONITOR: ASUS VH196T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236062

2.) CASE: NZXT BETA EVO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146059

3.) MOTHERBOARD: GIGABYTE GA-770TA-UD3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128419

4.) RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

5 + 6.) ***COMBO*** VIDEOCARD & CPU: MSI 5770 HAWK + AMD PHENOM II X4 955 BE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.364920

7 + 8.) ***COMBO*** PSU & HARD DRIVE: OCZ ModXstream pro 600w + Western Digital 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.362772

9.) CD/DVD BURNER DRIVE: Sony Optiarc Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

TOTAL BEFORE REBATES: $813
TOTAL AFTER REBATES: $743

And that includes all BRAND NAME components including a nice monitor well above your hoped for resolution. Very similar to the build I just made.

Reasons for certain parts:
1.) I own 2 ASUS VH series monitors they are wonderful, no dead pixels great color and clarity.

2.) Cheap case by a brand name that has a ton of features for only $30? Awesome deal. Cable management holes, CPU access, bottom mount outward facing PSU mount, black interior. just awesome.

3.) You don't want to SLI, so dont waste money on a MoBo with 2 video card slots. The gigabyte 770 has new tech right on board and is cheap to boot. Top end brand. Reliable.

4.) I use Ripjaws RAM and its solid. Good price, decent specs. Could toss an extra $15 in here and get higher end ripjaws ram with better timings but coming in under $750 is pretty slick for this rig.

5.) MSI 5770 Hawk. I haven't had good luck with MSi video cards, but this one specifically rates really well. I think the 5770 is the best choice for your budget. Pick whatever brand you want. Personally I like sapphire for ATI cards, but the hawk seems to have the best cooler for the 5770's. XFX 5770's come with batman Arkham asylum if that matters to you.

6.) AMD Phenom x4 955. Best CPU your budget can afford. Get it, and don't bother with getting triple core or Athlon II at this point. Get the best CPU your money can buy, and thats the 955

7.) OCZ ModXstream 600w PSU. Some say to stay clear of OCZ as it is a mid range brand for PSU's. I just bought this same unit and its running perfectly. The price of this PSU and the combo it comes with with the hard drive makes this build fit under your budget. I got this same PSu and its great. Plus its modular, huge bonus for case temps, cable management and ease of the build.

8.) Western Digital is the most reliable brand of hard drive. Some people might tell you to get a samsung spinpoint or seagate cause they're marginally faster. I'll take reliability over imperceptible speed increases every day of the week. Get a WD HDD. This one comes with a bonus combo with the PSU.

9.) Its a DVD drive, this one is not only the cheapest but also brand name. Win-Win.

Hope this helps you, it took me like an hour to write it...