First Build - $750 Budget

[tehfatkid]

Hi all. I've been mulling over building my first computer for months now and finally decided that no time is better than summer. I have an OEM copy of Windows 7 I purchased for Boot Camp use. Is it possible to reuse this after deleting the Win7 partition on my Mac?

Approximate Purchase Date: August 1st

Budget Range: $750 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, light browsing, Folding.

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: None.

Overclocking: Maybe in the future.

SLI or Crossfire: No.

Monitor Resolution: Currently 1440x900, will probably upgrade for Christmas.

Additional Comments: Power efficiency preferred, as is quietness.

 

[aznshinobi]

Check out my $600 build guide here.
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore
Change the i3 2100 for the i5 2400 +$65
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-2400-Processor-3-10GHz-LGA1155/dp/B004EBUXIA%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquid1240995-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB004EBUXIA
Then change the 5850 to the 6870. +$25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948&cm_re=6870-_-14-102-948-_-Product
Then add this cooler for quietness. +$48
http://www.amazon.com/Scythe-Mugen-rev-B-SCMG-2100-nickel-plating/dp/B002SCPH9W/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1310705081&sr=1-1
Total: $738

 

[tehfatkid]

Thanks. Unfortunately, that's $738 without Windows which, AFAIK, I need to repurchase. Plus, I'm fairly sure Amazon has sales tax, and Newegg doesn't.

 

[legendkiller]

Check out my $600 build guide here.
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore
Change the i3 2100 for the i5 2400 +$65
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-2400-Processor-3-10GHz-LGA1155/dp/B004EBUXIA%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquid1240995-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB004EBUXIA
Then change the 5850 to the 6870. +$25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948&cm_re=6870-_-14-102-948-_-Product
Then add this cooler for quietness. +$48
http://www.amazon.com/Scythe-Mugen-rev-B-SCMG-2100-nickel-plating/dp/B002SCPH9W/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1310705081&sr=1-1
Total: $738

Dont need cooler IF he ain't getting the K series... Stock cooler is fine for non K series... Either Get 2500k with heatsink or 2400 without heatsink...
Also, get this cool Clear Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811148001&cm_re=logosys-_-11-148-001-_-Product

 

[tehfatkid]

The case looks tacky and only has 80mm fans.

 

[reaper2794]

Wow, way to go, recommending a $90 drive when you can get the Spinpoint F3 for $55, yeah thats a great suggestion there bro

oh and that case, yeah thats pretty damn gay

 

[z_4]

Here a build similar to aznshinobi, that should do be great for gaming and folding :

CPU & Motherboard : $262-i5-2400 & Biostar H67MU3

HDD & Optical Drive : $53- Seagate Barracuda 500GB & Sony

OS: $100- Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64bit)

RAM : $32- GSkill NS 2x 2GB (lacks heat spreader though )

PSU : $55- Antec Neo ECo 520 (Cheap power)

GPU: $235- EVGA GTX 560 Ti (Will blow away any game at 1440X900, and when you upgrade monitor it will give added cushion when playing at HD resolution)

Case: $35- NZXT Gamma Classic

Total (Excluding Rebates) : 772 USD

Rebates : 20 USD

Possible downgrade would be to get Radeon 6870 With that money save get 1TB Samsung Spinpoint worth $55

 

[aznshinobi]

^ Almost exactly like my build.

Legend, if you look at what OP says, he says he wants a quiet system, Folding hikes up the temps pretty high on the CPU end which is why I suggest that he get the Mugen 2.

Also I just noticed you want to fold. In that case, in my build switch out the 5850 for a 550 Ti (I don't usually recommend but now a days it's cheaper than the 460), the CUDA will help during Folding and save you money, also just downgrade the case in my build which would save you some money.
(Downgrade to 550 Ti save $40 and $15 more after rebates). Also, drop down the case to the Smart One saving you $25, and just get the Hyper 212+ which would save you $20.
Total: $653 before rebates, that'll leave the $100 for the windows.

550 Ti
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500194
Smart One
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147120
Hyper 212+
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0315397