Need help cutting price on new i5 build to $1k

[bmuell]

I'm building a new budget gaming desktop for my roommate, and I'm borrowing heavily from the "budget" i5 build in the stickied thread. The total budget for the tower/LCD/accessories is roughly $1,000.

SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model SH-S222A - OEM
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
GIGABYTE GN-WP01GS PCI Wireless Adapter - Retail
HIS H577FN1GD Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
Logitech 967740-0403 Black USB Standard Internet 350 USB Keyboard - OEM
Microsoft N71-00007S Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Mouse - OEM
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH - Retail
ASRock P55M Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
Antec Three Hundred +
Antec earthwatts 500W Combo

TOTAL = $820.22 after tax and shipping

add in $165~ for the i5 at microcenter and that doesn't leave much for a monitor. Though, I can find an LCD cheap on Craigslist: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/ele/1536320713.html.

I still need to cut about $100. Where??? I could have him install the Windows 7 RC instead of the retail version but that will be a hassle to reformat in a couple months when it expires. Another option is to trim the Video Card/LCD but that seems harsh. He's mostly interested in playing Starcraft 2 when that comes out, so nothing extreme.

Any thoughts?

 

[p55ibexpeak]

$1200-1500 is the best i5 gaming budget. $1000 is not enough for high-end gaming unless you go AMD which is what I recommend for this budget.

You don't need Ripjaws cuz there's cheaper ram with that speed. You can get a cheaper same GPU. This GB board is full size ATX. More room to work with.

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quantity of item 1


LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04

LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM
Item #: N82E16827106289
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy



$26.99

select item 2 quantity of item 2


SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822152181
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy



$54.99

select item 3 quantity of item 3


GIGABYTE GN-WP01GS PCI Wireless Adapter

GIGABYTE GN-WP01GS PCI Wireless Adapter - Retail
Item #: N82E16839121008
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options39-121-008|hide options39-121-008)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info39-121-008.0.18)

* 1 year: $6.99
* 2 year: $11.99

-$3.00 Instant


$19.99
$16.99

select item 4 quantity of item 4


POWERCOLOR AX5770 1GBD5-PPG Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 CrossFireX Support Video Card

POWERCOLOR AX5770 1GBD5-PPG Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814131327
Return Policy: VGA Replacement Only Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options14-131-327|hide options14-131-327)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info14-131-327.0.18)

* 1 year: $19.99
* 2 year: $35.99

-$5.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate14-131-327

$159.99
$154.99

select item 5 quantity of item 5


Logitech 967740-0403 Black USB Standard Internet 350 USB Keyboard

Logitech 967740-0403 Black USB Standard Internet 350 USB Keyboard - OEM
Item #: N82E16823126012
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy



$17.32

select item 6 quantity of item 6


Microsoft N71-00007S Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Mouse

Microsoft N71-00007S Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Mouse - OEM
Item #: N82E16826105026
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy



$9.99

select item 7 quantity of item 7


OCZ Gold Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G10664GK

OCZ Gold Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G10664GK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227346
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy

-$10.00 Instant


$89.99
$79.99

select item 8 quantity of item 8


GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD3L LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard

GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD3L LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813128406
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$20.00 Instant


$124.99
$104.99

select item 9 quantity of item 9


Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116754
Return Policy: Software Return Policy



$104.99

select item 10 quantity of item 10

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

*

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "Compatible ... - Retail
Item #: N82E16817371007
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

*

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129042
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy

-$25.00 Instant
-$15.00 Combo


$159.94
$119.94

Subtotal: $691.18
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You can even save more money if you go AMD. All you gotta do is swap the mobo & cpu out for these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103724
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131603

Or even grab a X4 if you can justify it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103656

 

[bmuell]

Purchased the parts last night before I saw your post. It's going to come out under $1100, which I think is pretty good for i5. I would've switched out the motherboard for the Gigabyte one that I didn't know existed, but I don't think it will matter that much. Thanks though!