$979 Home Build LAN Party Box = $2000+ FragBox

[r_manic]

Has anyone looked at Falcon Northwest's new FragBox kits lately? The most basic one costs $2072.90. Using the specs as a guide, I put together a build by searching through NewEgg. Didn't bother using the same brands, chose what were top-rated parts instead.

Case: Thermaltake VF1000BWS Black Aluminum Front Panel/ SECC Chassis MicroATX Desktop Computer Case ($130) <-- It actually looks similar to FN's box!
Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply ($150)
CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor ($280)
Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory ($92)
Video Card: EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card ($130)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive ($70)
Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive ($27)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit ($100)

[strike]And we have a grand total of... $979! A total difference of $1093.90![/strike] Thoughts?

EDIT: Do'h! As some of you have pointed out, no mobo, so let's throw in this one (thanks yoyojam55):

Motherboard: DFI LANPARTY JR X58-T3H6 LGA 1366 Intel X58 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Which brings to the total to around $1200.

 

[n3f0ur]

The gpu is so last gen I am not even gonna bother to tell what it actually is. Go with GTX 260 for about $190. The rest are good.

 

[jjbtexas]

you can buy the actual frag box case on newegg from time to time

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163071&Tpk=fragbox

 

[yoyojam55]

You forgot a motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136066&Tpk=micro%20atx

 

[cokenbeer]

I read through it a few times to make sure I'm not going crazy, I believe you're missing a motherboard.

 

[r_manic]

*face to palm*

Yes, I did forget a motherboard. But that's a good thing, because I would've an Asus microATX mobo that wasn't fully compatible with the i7 (LGA 775). Thanks yoyojam55 and cokenbeer.

Yep, saw that as well jjbtexas, but it's $100 more expensive. In any case, this build now costs around $1260. Still better than $2000+ IMO, and thanks to n3four, more powerful than the actual base FragBox.

Say we didn't have to follow Falcon's specs then... how could we cut costs? Perhaps we can use AMD and ATI?

 

[batuchka]

Yes but AMD+ Nvidia actually hehe and this would be suggestion

Power savings via Hybrid Power + Vista

 

[dmv915]

I'd rather go with an overclocked c2d to 4 ghz, and then use the money saved from not going with i7, x58, and ddr3 to invest in better a better videocard a gtx285. There really isn't any point in going i7 unless you are going to sli or crossfirex. A single gpu system will be fine on the c2d.

 

[photonboy]

I played around designing a similar system based on this case, although I prefer the Silver version.

I found it difficult to find an AM2/2+ or AM3 mATX boards with all the outputs I wanted. I chose one that only had 2 USB ports at the back but did have eSATA.

I would've got a quad-core AMD CPU, 4GB DDR2 or DDR3, a single NVidia GTX 275 and a good Auzentech audio card.

I gave up looking as it wasn't something I needed. I was a little disappointed in how hard it was to meed my checklist for the motherboard though.

What I'm hoping for is external graphics. The ATI XGP is a great concept and should take off. My idea of a portable gaming rig is a fully functional PC about 6.5" x 13" x 2" (including PSU). It would have good basic graphics, a high-end CPU then the graphics "card" would simply lay on top; the graphics box would be 6.5" x13" 1" (including PSU).

 

[r_manic]

Hmmm... interesting AMD-based build batuchka... very affordable as well. Dropping the i7 really saves you money. The list is from NewEgg too, right? I'd opt for a 3.5" bay card reader tough... it'll keep things neat 😀

I'd also like the 285 dmv915, but it might be too much for my 22" 1680 x 1050 HP w2228h. I really should get a more powerful display 🙁

photonboy, that XGP concept would be great if it was ever made real. Not only would moving the graphics outside make it easier to keep the case small, imagine the cooling benefits!

 

[batuchka]

Yes list compiled from good ole Egg 😛