Gamer's build $1200< where to begin?

[spacekid]

Looking to build a new Gaming PC from the groundup. Would love feedback on how to begin the process. As of right now, i know that i am going to order via Newegg, I have a 28" Hanns G to game on and Vista Ultimate x64.

CPU:
CPU COOLER:
MOBO:
GPU:
RAM:
PSU:
HDD:

Regarding the CPU, i know that the i7 doesn't give much gains over the E84/85 in gaming, but is it worth building on that tech to future-proof the machine? Where does the Phenom X4 Deneb factor in? Most of the stuff i plan to run is of the Crysis, FarCry2, TotalWar Variety.

Lastly, i do plan on overclocking, so i assume this should be a factor in choosing the parts.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MykC]

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3512 Is a good reference to the match ups your looking for.

$800 Level AMD Box

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649 AM3 X3 720 $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387 Giga 790X $110 (xfire)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 G.Skill PI Black DDR2 800 $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=48&Description=&Type=&N=2010380048&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&OEMMark=0&PropertyCodeValue=679%3A40678&PropertyCodeValue=683%3A20729 1GB 4870 $200 - $30MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 LG DVD Burner $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 WD 640GB AALS $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 CORSAIR 650TX $95 - $25MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 CM 690 $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 Artic MX-2 Thermal Compound $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003 Xigma $37 - $10MIR (AMD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812887001 6pin adapters $3 x2

This is what IMO, is the best box for your money. The Phenom II 720 is a great overclocker. AMD Overdrive is a fantastic piece of software that makes overclocking easier than before. The platform is setup so you can crossfire 4870s when needed. The 720 has great combo deals on motherboards you might want to check out.

 

[spacekid]

Well how does this i7 build look? Comes to $1212.93 after shipping, 80$ in rebates.


CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz $279.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

CPU COOLER: XIGMATEK Dark Knight $39.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI $209.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128386

GPU: EVGA GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 $344.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130442

RAM: OCZ 6GB DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $101.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1682022738812800)

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

HDD: WD 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Optical: LG Black 22X $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152


I will probably be gaming at 1920 x 1200, hopefully maxed, should i downgrade the GPU or hold stead? Anything else i should change.

 

[spacekid]

..

Thanks Myk, would this build be a higher performer than a E8500 build? Im leaning more towards the i7/Phenom's due to future concerns, i hope for this system to be good to decent for at least a few years with minimal upgrades.

 

[Why_Me]

Thanks Myk, would this build be a higher performer than a E8500 build? Im leaning more towards the i7/Phenom's due to future concerns, i hope for this system to be good to decent for at least a few years with minimal upgrades.

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.buy.com/prod/corsair-750w-tx-series-80-plus-certified-power-supply-corsair-tx-cmpsu/q/loc/101/206178325.html $104.99 Price After Rebate(s): $79.99 Shipping: FREE
Corsair TX CMPSU-750TX ATX12V & EPS12V Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128386 $209.99
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-920 $265.99 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
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

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130370 $189.99 ($169.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Free Call of Duty: World at War w/ purchase, limited offer

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247 $99.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple 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=N82E16827136152 $24.99 Free Shipping*
LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) 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 - 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

Total: $1,202.89 *(not including shipping) $1,157.89 w/rebates

 

[ericvas]

if any microcenter is near your place check out their i7 920 its practically 60$ off than newegg...

For future proof you'll definitely want i7 920..uses ddr3 and if you read up on the overclockability of i7 920 you'll get the most bang for your buck

Go for AMD Build if you have a really tight budget but take note the AMD x3 and X4 was not meant to challenge the core i7 but rather the core quad series of intel..


Conclusion:

1200 Budget = Core i7 Budget

800 and below = AMD Build

 

[Why_Me]

if any microcenter is near your place check out their i7 920 its practically 60$ off than newegg...

For future proof you'll definitely want i7 920..uses ddr3 and if you read up on the overclockability of i7 920 you'll get the most bang for your buck

Go for AMD Build if you have a really tight budget but take note the AMD x3 and X4 was not meant to challenge the core i7 but rather the core quad series of intel..


Conclusion:

1200 Budget = Core i7 Budget

800 and below = AMD Build

+1 for that post.

 

[geofelt]

Well how does this i7 build look? Comes to $1212.93 after shipping, 80$ in rebates.


CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz $279.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

CPU COOLER: XIGMATEK Dark Knight $39.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI $209.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128386

GPU: EVGA GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 $344.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130442

RAM: OCZ 6GB DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $101.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1682022738812800)

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

HDD: WD 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Optical: LG Black 22X $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152


I will probably be gaming at 1920 x 1200, hopefully maxed, should i downgrade the GPU or hold stead? Anything else i should change.

I like your list, particularly the GTX285. Gaming performance is primarily determined by the vga card, and the GTX285 is near the top. If you should ever want more for a 30" 2560x1600 monitor, you have options. Either change the GTX285 out for the then next best card, or add another card for SLI.

 

[spacekid]

Thanks fellas!!

 

[tsd16]

I dont know about the gigabyte board but I can confirm the i7 is very easy to overclock on the asus p6t,

 

[MykC]

This is what a highend AM3 build would look like.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649 AM3 X3 720 $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128377 Gigabyte AM3 DDR3 790FX $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193 2x2GB G.Skill DDR3 1600 $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=48&Description=&Type=&N=2010380048&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&OEMMark=0&PropertyCodeValue=679%3A40679 2GB 4870x2 $400 - $20MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 LG DVD Burner $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 WD 640GB AALS $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009 CORSAIR 850TX PSU $140 - 25MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 CM 690 $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 Artic MX-2 Thermal Compound $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003 Xigma $37 - $10MIR (AMD)

$1177 - $55 MIR = $1118 AM3 DDR3 setup. There isn't any performance gain though.

This AM2+ with DDR2 setup saves you $145.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.165028 Phenom II 720 with Foxconn 790FX board $215
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 2x2GB G.Skill PI Black DDR2 800 $45

This is setup to take a second 2GB 4870x2 when the time comes. I don't think theres any game thats going to make Phenom II 720 a bottleneck and based on the benchmarks it doesn't look like there is much difference in gaming between the i7 and the Phenom IIs.

If you have go with the DDR2 setup you'll have money to play with such as consider getting 8GB of ram or upgrade to the Phenon II 940 (both upgrades are $75 each). Or you can consider yourself having about $200 towards another 4870x2. Looking at the i7 builds above, becaues this system can afford a much faster GPU it will certainly outperform the i7 in gaming benchmarks.