Building a new gaming pc

[master_andalf]

I'm looking to build a new gaming PC in a few weeks, and was wondering what you guys would suggest for parts. I prefer to use an intel cpu, but other than that its all fair game. I'm willing to spend $600-800. I already have a 22" 1680x1050 monitor, but likely everything else other than a disk drive i will need new.

Links would be awesome especially if the product can be found on newegg.

Thanks for the help

-Andalf

 

[cangelini]

Andalf,

If I may be so bold as to recommend our most recent $650 System Builder Marathon machine, which was re-tooled to enable better gaming from months prior. Check it out--it's a snappy little system: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-e5200-radeon,2144.html

 

[master_andalf]

Thanks! that is actually very helpful. Any other site reviews that anybody could think of? kinda want some stuff to compare specs

 

[megamanx00]

Sure go over to new egg and get

ASROCK A780FULLHD AM2+ 780G Retail $56.99

AMD 7750 BE 2.7G AM2 Retail $59.99

Along with suggestions from the 625 marathon, ie whatever decent 4GB Ram Kit and Radeon 4870 is on sale. For the PSU I'd say go for the Antec Earthwatts 500W unit as it's for a pretty good price over at new egg. With recent price drops that should get you started on a pretty low cost system. The 7750 is pretty comparable to the E5200 when you consider that with a stock cooler the E5200 usually doesn't go too far over 3.0Ghz, though there are some notable exceptions, and at 3.2GHz the 7750 will give you similar performance, albeit with more heat. You could also consider getting a tipple core AMD Phenom II 720 BE and perhaps spending a little more money on the board to get a crossfire capable board. It's up to you of course.

 

[master_andalf]

I am not exactly familiar with running crossfire video cards...i know it increases performance by a ton, but how does it work?

 

[Why_Me]

You should be able to safely punch that cpu to 3.5GHz @ 1333 FSB (10.5 x 333) with this build.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 $59.95
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022 $69.99 ($49.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380 $79.99
GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206 $119.99 Free Shipping*
Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale 2.8GHz 3MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233001 $24.99 ($19.99 after $5.00 Mail-In Rebate)
XIGMATEK HDT-S963 92mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019 $8.49
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801 $189.99
SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 $43.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 $79.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $99.99 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

Total: $784.35 *(not including shipping and rebates)

 

[xthekidx]

I am not exactly familiar with running crossfire video cards...i know it increases performance by a ton, but how does it work?

crossfire is running two ATI gpu's at the same time that are linked to create one video image, its the same thing as SLI for nvidia. You need a mobo that has two PCIEx16 slots to do it, but you most likely won't be able to afford it at your price point, since you will need a better PSU for two video cards and xfire mobo's cost more, so don't worry about it. You will be better served just buying a single GPU setup.

 

[Onus]

Anything can be tweaked to death (and will be, around here), but the $625 gamer is a good starting point. Particularly if you aren't going to overclock [high], and since your budget will allow it, get an e7400 CPU instead. A stock e5200 is sluggish. Also, although I like those cheap Rosewill cases, you will probably want to add the optional 120mm fan to the front. THG didn't, and you can read about their cooling problems.

 

[Onus]

Oh, and Chris, did you ever get a chance to add a front fan to that case, just to see how much difference it made in your temps?

 

[master_andalf]

Thanks everyone...

I was told by someone that http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801 may not be very effective since i'm only running a 1680x1050 22" monitor...should i get the next model down?

 

[xthekidx]

I think that is a good match for that resolution, in crysis you wouldn't be able to play if you had that GPU and settings set to highest, however crysis is the most demanding game out there. I wouldn't go cheaper on the GPU stay with the 4870 1gb.

 

[effel]

Do you need an OS Disk? And did you say you were going to be keeping your old hard drive?

 

[master_andalf]

I have OS disks, and yah im going to keep my old hard drive but i want another for backup as well so i can play around with other OS'es

 

[master_andalf]

I was thinking of staying with that GPU, but yah i will likely get Crysis just so I can enjoy the sheer awesomness of it

 

[master_andalf]

how would the 1GB 4870 compare to running 2 crossfire 750MB 4870's?

 

[effel]

Hey, I made a build on newegg last night, that had a biostar 790GX board, a Ph.II X3 720, 2 Powercolor 4830 for CF, antec 300, corsair 650tx, and uh, a 640GB caviar black. dvd burner too, oh and 4GB of G.Skill RAM. I didn't have an OS disk, but it came out to around 750ish if I recall.

I know the price/performance ratio on 4830 CF is pretty high. How would it suit your needs OP, and what do the rest of you guys think about it?

 

[master_andalf]

alright here's what im looking at as of now...

Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 2.8 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206
Sapphire Radeon 4870 1GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801
4 GB G.Skill PI Black DDR2 Memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209
OCZ GameXStream 700W PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002
WD Caviar 640 GB HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358
Sunbeam Transformer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811166004


Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 2.8 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206
Sapphire Radeon 4870 1GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801
4 GB G.Skill DDR2 Memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231226
OCZ Fatal1ty 550W PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022
WD Caviar 640 GB HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 ATX Intel Mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299
XION II XON-101 Case (I would swap out the stock PSU) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208005#spec


I'm pretty set on the CPU, which I will overclock to about 3.5 and GPU. Do you think the 550W PSU would be powerful enough to support Crossfire if I were to decide to be crazy and get two GPU's? or would I want to go with the 750W no matter what? or would running crossfire be pretty much useless? Does anyone know anything about either of these cases? I want something pretty sturdy with good airflow. Also if anyone knows of other sturdy, cold cases that have a side window links would be sweet. Needless to say I plan to use this for a gaming machine so it needs to run well and stay cool. I definitely want to get crysis and COD4, L4D, and will want to run Diablo III and Starcraft 2 if it ever comes out... I know crysis is impossible to run at max, but i'd like to run at least at high. Finally, did I forget anything important? IM going to take the 320 HDD and optical drive from my current desktop, and I'm running a 1680x1050 22" monitor already.

Thanks guys

 

[master_andalf]

O, aftermarket CPU fans, needed?

 

[Why_Me]

O, aftermarket CPU fans, needed?

550w won't cut it for Crossfire, and that OCZ is a little light also. Go with this one down below for Crossfire. I would go with that build up above...your first build with the gigabyte mobo. One other thing...I know cases are personal and all that, but if you want a superior case with great airflow, lots of room, etc... then take a look at the CM690 for a Crossfire rig. It's on sale right now. Take that cpu and punch it to 3.5GHz @ 1333 fsb (10.5 x 333) and your good to go.



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011 $109.99 ($99.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified (Dual 8800 GTX and below) CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 $79.99
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029 $39.99
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

 

[effel]

Any comment on my build suggestions at all?

 

[xthekidx]

Do you think the 550W PSU would be powerful enough to support Crossfire if I were to decide to be crazy and get two GPU's? or would I want to go with the 750W no matter what? or would running crossfire be pretty much useless?

You can xfire 2 4830's on that PSU, which will give you better performance than a 4870 1gb, but I wouldn't xfire anything over 4830's on it. That is a good option, sometimes you can get 2 4830's for cheaper than a 4870. Only problem is that it will consume more power than a single card and your other PCIE slot is taken up, so you will have to toss both cards if you want to upgrade again.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127420

 

[master_andalf]

not a bad build effel...i will take a look at running 2 4830's ...

 

[master_andalf]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011 $109.99 ($99.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified (Dual 8800 GTX and below) CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

I see this has only 2 connectors for pci-e...and many video cards need both of those from the psu, how would i go about running two video cards that need both connectors?

 

[xthekidx]

I see this has only 2 connectors for pci-e...and many video cards need both of those from the psu, how would i go about running two video cards that need both connectors?

No it has 2x6 pin connectors and 2x6+2 pin connectors. So 4 PCIE connectors.

 

[Why_Me]

I see this has only 2 connectors for pci-e...and many video cards need both of those from the psu, how would i go about running two video cards that need both connectors?

This PSU has 4 - 6 pin connectors. Read the specs on it... quote; PCI-E Connectors 2 x 6Pin, 2 x 6+2Pin