Computer Build- $1200 limit

[remix3211]

Hey, I'm building a new computer, and I have a very minimal knowledge of what I actually need for what I'm looking for.
What I do know is that I have a limit of $1200 limit, although less would be nice.
I'm looking to play current-generation games, as they may come out over the next year or two.
I'm also looking for relatively upgradable graphics cards ( I'm thinking of getting 2 of them )
Can you give me some advice or some examples of builds as to what I may be able to obtain with these specifications?

Here's what I was thinking, but now that I look at it, it isn't the best system.

Motherboard ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
Processor/RAM Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Processor
Video Card nVidia GeForce 9800 GTX +
Hard Drive Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1TB
Case Apevia Black X-Plorer ATX
Power Supply Antec Neo Power
OS Vista Home Premium x64
DVD Burner Lite On IHAS222-06 DVD Burner
Fan Ultra X-Wind Aluminum Socket K8/AM2 CPU Cooling Fa
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound

 

[dannyboy33]

You are right in thinking that is not the best system for your money. For your budget, you should be looking at an i7 build or if you want to cut down on the price a bit, an x4 955 build.

CPU: core i7
mobo: asus p6t
graphics: xfx 4890 (but im biased towards ati)
hard drive: wd caviar black 1TB
case: coolermaster rc-690
psu: 750tx
ram: g.skill 6gb 1600mhz triple channel

That's some of the parts you should switch out for, just look them up on newegg.

 

[gkay09]

^ Well that system is certainly looking out of place...

Just add replies to these so that we can suggest the best components for your...
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: (example: tomorrow -- the closer the better) BUDGET RANGE: (example: US$500-750)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (example: Folding@Home, gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: (examples: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS) **Include Power Supply Make & Model If Re-using**

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: (examples: newegg.com, ncix.com, ebuyer.com -- this is to help others see available options and prices)

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type (example: I would like to use an AMD CPU & Biostar mobo with a 24" LCD and full tower case)

OVERCLOCKING: Yes / No / Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes / No / Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: (examples: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: (examples: Need to have a window and lots of bling, I would like a quiet PC)

 

[Why_Me]

Here's a build that includes a factory over clocked gtx 260 with the ability to add another one in the future for SLI if you so choose.

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

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 $119.99 ($99.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-EX58U3R $179.99 | $164.99 after rebate
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R Core i7/ Intel X58/ DDR3/ CrossFireX/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-920 $264.99 Free Ground Shipping
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, OEM

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

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154003 $4.99
Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127430 $174.99 ($154.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
MSI N260GTX-T2D896-OCv4 GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.193835 Combo Discount: -$5.00 Combo Price: $164.98 $20.00 Mail-In Rebate
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK - Retail
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171 $24.99 Free Shipping*
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 Burner - OEM

Total: $1,040.91 | $974.91 w/mail in rebates

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/gigabyte-nvidia-sli-motherboard,7463.html <--- Gigabyte: Enable SLI On X58 Boards

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx?ITPID=mscomsc <---Save some money on an o/s and dl the 64 bit version of Windows 7

*Here's a decent monitor worth looking at if your in need of one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236050 $169.99 ($149.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
ASUS VW224U Black 22" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ HDCP Support 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 5000:1) Built in Speakers - Retail

 

[gkay09]

^ +1
But changing that mobo to the UD4P would be better
$30 more but you get SLI certified mobo, right out of the box, and with 6 RAM slots

 

[Why_Me]

^ +1
But changing that mobo to the UD4P would be better
$30 more but you get SLI certified mobo, right out of the box, and with 6 RAM slots

Agreed.

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-EX58U4P $219.99 | $204.99 after rebate | Free Ground Shipping
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P Core i7/ Intel X58/ DDR3/ CorssFireX & 3-Way SLI/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard


http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Motherboard/BIOS_Model.aspx?ProductID=2991#anchor_os <--- Gigabyte has that bios update listed now as; Support nVidia SLI.

 

[gkay09]

^ Well done

 

[remix3211]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231189

I don't know if I absolutely need 6gb so I've decided to stick with 4.
This one is 4gb and and seems too good to be true.
Is this one good?
Also, do you have any other ideas for ram within that price range if you think this one is inadequate?

 

[gkay09]

The i7 has tri-channel memory controller inbuilt...So why not put it to good use ? and you should stick with tri-channel RAMs...
So either go with 3x1GB kit or better 3x2GB kits...
And here at Toms, they had checked these 2 memory configs and have come to a conclusion that i7 better utilizes the 6GB configuration...
But if you are tight on budget, then get 3x1GB kit for now and add one more kit later...
But can you give the max budget, so that we can see if we can do some cost cutting...

 

[gkay09]

My suggestion would be to save some cash by going with the Antec 300 - Saves you about $25...So invest that money on the RAM...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300

 

[remix3211]

On newegg for the Antec 300 they have a combo deal for a power supply that is 650W instead of my initial 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015
instead of
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
assuming that most of the parts include those which you gave in an above comment, would it be beneficial to switch to the 650, or would it not be?
My build is currently consisting of an nVidia GTX 260 as well as an i7 processor.