Best $1000 Gaming Build

[d1rk]

Hello Tom's Hardware Community,

I have no parts preference and want the best I can get for my $1000 or close to it. I've been looking around for myself, but can't really decide. Please HELP!

What I need is everything from the case up. Don't need to worry about accessories. I want to do the best I can for the money I have.

Thanks so much,

An Avid Tom's Reader

So here we go!

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next 2 weeks.

Budget Range: $1000 plus or minus 200.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Movies, Internet

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Peripherals

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg. com or tigerdirect.com

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: None, want the best for my money!

Overclocking: Not right away.

SLI or Crossfire: Down the line.

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: None.

 

[danraies]

Fill this out so we can help more effectively.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

$1000 including Windows and a monitor is much different than $1000 without those things.

Basically, though, I would start with an i5-2500K, the cheapest Z68 motherboard that supports two PCIe 2.0 x16 in an x8/x8 configuration, and an nvidia 560 or 560ti video card. That might help get you started.

 

[jeremy1183]

General starting point...Close to $1000 can start to work your way cheaper if you would like us to...NON Crossfire configuration

Case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216 CM 690II Advanced (up to 10 fans) $89

Mobo- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128512 GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3 $149

CPU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 i5-2500k $219

GPU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102949 HD 6950 (out performs GTX560ti) $239

HDD- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=spinpoint%20f3 Spinpoint 1TB $60

RAM- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314&Tpk=F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL GSKILL 8GB 1600 $45

PSU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010 Corsair HX750 Modular CF certified $149

Heat sink- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 Hyper 212+ $29

Optical- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118031 Sony DVD R-RW$17

Total-$996

You don't need a PSU of the size i listed...i just listed a larger one in case of future upgrades like a bigger graphics card or doing a crossfire config....

This is just a tower without monitor...if you want monitor included then your going to have to take a hit on the GPU, PSU, or CPU and get something cheaper

 

[d1rk]

Thanks for the help so far. I filled out the template, so I hope that helps a little.

 

[jeremy1183]

If you go down to $800 then you will take a major hit somewhere and loose performance...not saying the system would not be good but if you have the 1000 I would suggest staying around that ball park for a higher quality build...

non modular PSU's are cheaper but you have to deal with all the extra cables. I am glad that I went with modular for my first build as it made it a lot easier when it came to managing the cables.

For the GPU you could drop from the HD6950 and go to the HD6870 which would not be to bad to begin with. What games are you mostly playing and what do you want to get out of them performance wise? The 6950 i listed gets you a Dues Ex game coupon with purchase of the card

With the mobo its going to be hard to find a quality one even in P67 chipset that it cheaper than $129. The one I listed is the new z68 chipset and it's at a good $149 and also a toms hardware recommended buy.

here is the link for the case from the manufacturer ...scroll down a little and look at the good cooling it provides
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=2970

 

[d1rk]

I want to spend at least 1000, but no more than 1200 is what I meant. Sorry.

 

[jeremy1183]

what games are you playing?

Cause if your ok to Crossfire then scratch the 6950 and get some crossfire 6870's.

If not then put that money to a monitor if you need one. I hate suggesting them because it's a personal thing to me. Your the one who will have to look at it


cheapest 23" I could find though without HDMI is this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009266

DVI connection is just as good if not better

 

[danraies]

If you're willing to take jeremy1183's build and add $200, you can significantly upgrade your graphics. It is my understanding that a gtx 570 outperforms anything in the $325 range, although I am not a graphics expert. Obviously the games you plan to play make a big impact on that decision, though.

 

[jeremy1183]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-performance-radeon-geforce,2997.html

Take a look at the article...its the best graphics cards for the prices and tells you how they perform

 

[d1rk]

I want a single gpu to start with. I'll add a second in time. As for the games I play. I play bf2, crysis2, wow, sc2, and a few others. Will play gears 3 when it comes out. Lot's of time on my hands. I work weird hours!

 

[jeremy1183]

HD 6950 is the best for that price right now

 

[danraies]

HD 6950 is the best for that price right now

Which price range? From the article you linked: "The GeForce GTX 570 offers unmatched performance for $320, competing with the Radeon HD 6970 at $350." However it puts the 6950 in a different category.

 

[jeremy1183]

for $239 range.....a single card solution....if you want to go more expensive then look at a diff price range in the article and see whats best