Building Ultimate $799 gaming rig... can you beat it?

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Just wanted to update you guys on the state of the build...

I am sorry I diddn't post an update yesterday, I had to go to the hospital due to a high fever and an inability to breathe (bronchitis; I should be fine). Needless to say, you can expect me to make a build post in the next few hours.

Also, Newegg's rotation of deals has had both benefits and really bad costs... the MOBO + CPU now cost $30 more, there isn't free shipping on the case in my build (+$20), the PSU went up in price... I am basically rebuilding the whole thing. Thus, if anyone had advice for anything, really, PLEASE post it!


Thanks, VGM10000.
 


Will do!

THE BUILD, TAKE 3:


CPU/PROCESSOR: AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail, $139.99, Free Shipping.


CPU/PROCESSOR COOLER: Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - Retail, $31.99, Free Shipping, $10.00 Mail-In Rebate.


GPU/VIDEO CARD: SAPPHIRE 100270SR Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail, $249.99, Free Shipping, $10.00 Mail-In Rebate.


MOTHERBOARD: GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail, $109.99.


RAM: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail, $60.99, Free Shipping, $20.00 Mail-In Rebate.


HARD DRIVE: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM, $74.99, Free Shipping.


CD/DVD DRIVE: SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM, $26.99.


CASE: Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail, $58.95.


PSU: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail, $79.99, $20.00 Mail-In Rebate.


SHIPPING: $30.98

MAIL-INS: -$60.00

TOTAL: $799.86

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's a squeaker... 14 cents underbudget! But underbudget nonetheless.

So what do you think? It will probably change... I put this together just trying to get it to fit in my budget.
 
It seems like the build is pretty solid, at least from both my point of view and others. There isn't much else to do other than wait until I can order (first week of July) and see if I can make any improvements until then; who knows? Maybe some great deal will pop up.

Thanks goes out to everyone who offered up their expertise; specifically Proximon and drunknmunkys. All of the advice was very helpful.

I will update as I find or bump into better computer parts. By the end of June I expect to make a final thread for last-minute suggestions before I (gladly) take the plunge... and as Prox has requested, I will take pictures and comment as I build, hopefully including benchmarks at the end of it all (THAT will be the best part).

If anyone has suggestions, please post them! I will be checking as often as I have been.

Thanks, once again

VGM10000
 
Just an update:

Right now I am looking at other possible cases... I am not sure I want to stick with the Antec 300 because it isn't a good value choice (basically half my shipping cost is derived from it), and I could theoretically get a "better" case that costs more with free shipping, or, better yet, save money by getting one for the same cost that comes with free shipping.

The only specific case I have run into is the Rosewill Conquerer, which has more fans and looks pretty good. My big concern with it is that installation with it will not be fun.

*EDIT*: The cost of my chosen CPU cooler has gone up, so now I have changed my case to the Rosewill Conquerer as mentioned above (more of a placeholder than anything else at the moment). I now have $9 left in my budget. I will post an updated build soon.
 


Before July one of the better cases will have free shipping again, just wait it out. Buying a case without free shipping is never worth it unless you live in Poland and have no other option.
 
Err, it's likely that this has been covered a million times in other topics, but I'm a first time builder, so I hope I'll get away with asking. Is the Radeon 4850 x2 supposed to fit in an Antec 300? It sure looks to me like it's about an 1/8th of an inch short of working...
 


You are mad about my build?

It is very probable that I will have to take some tin cutters to the HD trays, and do a little "trimming" (The initial plan was to get a case with removeable HD cages like the Antec 900). That doesn't really matter too much because I only have 1 HD, and expect to put in only 1 more at the most. Thus, it isn't really that much of an issue either way.
 


Nice to know. I am looking at cases right now... will update pretty soon. I guess I will be looking at CM.
 
I was angry because the minute I tried to put the 4850 into the case, it wouldn't quite fit in. However, after a little rejiggering of the motherboard, I've managed to just barely stick it in there. It's extremely tight, but it worked without any "trimming."
 


OH! You actually had the card + mobo, like I do in the build.

Well, I diddn't expect it to fit in, but it seems like you found a slightly better solution (I hope by "little rejiggering" you don't mean bending the mobo, case or video card). I am actually surprised it fits in an Antec 300... plesantly surprised.

I will have a fresh new build tomorrow morning. Goodnight.

VGM10000
 
THE BUILD, TAKE 4:


CPU/PROCESSOR: AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail, $139.99, Free Shipping.


CPU/PROCESSOR COOLER: Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - Retail, $31.99, Free Shipping, $10.00 Mail-In Rebate.


GPU/VIDEO CARD: SAPPHIRE 100270SR Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail, $249.99, Free Shipping, $10.00 Mail-In Rebate.


MOTHERBOARD: GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail, $109.99.


RAM: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail, $60.99, Free Shipping, $20.00 Mail-In Rebate.


HARD DRIVE: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM, $74.99, Free Shipping.


CD/DVD DRIVE: SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM, $26.99.


CASE: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail, $59.99, Free Shipping, $10.00 Mail-In Rebate.


PSU: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail, $79.99, $20.00 Mail-In Rebate.


SHIPPING: $15.79

MAIL-INS: -$70.00

TOTAL: $783.21

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am now underbudget by about $16. I would prefer a different case though... I am hoping a good one comes up at a good price, because I wouldn't exactly be excited to get this one in the mail. I chose it, though, because it's a complete steal at the price, AND comes with Free Shipping, which is a plus for a 15-20 pound object.

 
Just a random question: what thermal compound do you guys use (for the CPU cooler)? Just wondering... I have used Arctic Silver and Turniq's TX-2, and both seemed to get the job done. I am probably going to use TX-2 for this job.
 


either one will suffice
 
Speaking of thermal compounds...

I am thinking of changing the CPU cooler only because it is $10 more now, and I chose it only because it was a steal at the price before. I have room in my budget to upgrade, or at least change it. Any recommendations?
 
I am also looking at this MOBO... in a combo with the cpu it is the same cost as the mobo I have chosen now, but seems to be the better choice (not to mention it has DDR3 support). I currently have this MOBO, and I am looking at this one.
 


go for xigmatek, it is slightly silent
 
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