$800 Gaming/Editing Build

[itschang]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within the next week or two.

BUDGET RANGE: Around $800.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Image/Photo Editing, Gaming; both are about even as far as importance.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, keyboard, mouse, dvd drive

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, unless there's a reliable store that doesn't charge sales tax to ship to California.

PARTS PREFERENCES: None

OVERCLOCKING: Most likely not

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: None.

Here's a build that I've been looking at.

 

[Outlander_04]

I cant work out the mb in the combo

Hopefully its got a 790 series nb and a 750 series south bridge chipset .
If thats the case its a geat built and will be a good gamer .

If it has two pci-e x 16 slots Id probably use an ati gfx card . That opens up some crossfire options . A pair of 4770's is around $200 andis a fair bit more powerful that the gtx 260 .

Even a single 4870 1 gig would match the gtx 260 and can be extended by adding a second card

 

[itschang]

Oh shoot sorry, the mb got cut off.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.190732 That's the combo I chose.

I was debating between the the gtx 260 and 4870. I guess I'll be going with the 4870 1 gig. I don't plan on crossfiring so I want to choose a gfx card that will last me for a year or so on its own.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

That's a nice CPU/motherboard combo. +1 to going with the 4870 to leave your crossfire options open. I know you said you don't want to do crossfire, but you never know. You also might want to step up to a 750W PSU to have plenty of headroom for possible crossfire in the future.

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750tx $109.99 - $10 MIR

PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011 $109.99 - $20 MIR

 

[itschang]

Thanks a bunch outlander and shortstuff, I guess I'll be switching to a 4870 1gb and and 750W Psu in case I ever choose to crossfire. Should I also switch my case? Or will it have enough room if I ever do choose to crossfire. Also, what would be the best brand for the 4870? Again, thanks a bunch

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The Antec 300 will work fine for crossfire 4870's. You could step up to something like the Cooler Master RC-690 if you want a little more room, but it's not necessary.

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 $74.99

I, personally, like the coolers on the Sapphire 4870's.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=sapphire+4870+1gb&x=0&y=0

 

[Outlander_04]

I'd stick with the 650 watt psu

and use the $ you would have spent on the bigger psu to go towards 2 x 4770's

These cards are very low power consumption .
Heres the results
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-4770-crossfire,2288-5.html

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I would much rather get the 4870 1GB GPU and leave my crossfire options open. It seems silly to me to fill both PCI-E slots right off the bat, eliminating any upgrade options.

 

[itschang]

As shortstuff_mt said, I still would like to be open for any possible upgrades in the future. Also if I also choose to get a COOLER MASTER RC-690, crossfiring two 4770's would push me out of my price range.