One gaming PC and one HTPC/Light Usage PC around $1000 overall

[Kirtaner]

I'm looking to buy two computers. One will be a gaming PC (dualbooting XP/Debian) and another will be a light usage computer mainly used for web browsing and openoffice (It will be running debian). My budget is around $1,000 and with my two builds below I am coming in at $1,131.34. Can somebody see where I can shave some of that $130 off without sacrificing too much in performance? I'd like to keep the hard drives if possible since the 1TB green drive is the optimum Price/Gigabyte and the Caviar Black is a bit faster. Thanks a bunch.

Gaming computer:

Secondary

Edit: And some more questions:

1) Will the two 120mm fans+air duct on the Gaming case be sufficient with the stock cooling the E8500 comes with? I might overclock it but nothing crazy.

2) Is Rosewill good for the HTPC? I primarily am getting it because it was a good deal.

 

[Proximon]

I think I can help you out some.

UPGRADE your MB to a good crossfire board:
Gigabyte UD3P

DOWNGRADE your video card to a 4850, so that you can add a second in the future:
ASUS EAH4850

Switch to this case, with better cooling, that comes with a combo deal on an Antec EA650:
Antec 300 combo

1066 memory does nothing for you unless you are going to overclock quite a bit. Get one of these kits:
G.Skill CL5
Mushkin

Drop to an E8400, and overclock to 3.6Ghz.

CPU cooler:
Xigmatek S1283
Optional bracket A good idea if you can afford it
MX-2 thermal grease

On the HTPC, Rosewill PSUs are not recommended. You'll have trouble fitting anything into that budget. About the best I can do for you is:
Antec case and PSU

 

[Kirtaner]

Thanks for the quick reply. I dropped the 1tb drive for a 640 (saved $30) and took most of your advice but have some questions about some of it before I act on it:

1) Will the 8400 overclock to the same point as the 8500? If not, how much of a difference would it be?
2) Will using a non-stock CPU Cooler/thermal grease void my Intel warranty?
3) What's a good brand for LCDs that aren't TOO expensive? I know I'll be spending up to around $200, but I just need something good enough to play games and watch movies on.
4) Are Best Buy or Circuit City good for any of these parts? I've checked a few but they seem to be really overpriced. Problem is, I have some gift cards and would like to use them before spending cash (but only if the price is at least equal to newegg), especially Circuit City (since they're going out of business).

 

[Proximon]

1. The CPUs are really identical except for the multipliers. You can hit 3.6Ghz very easily on the E8400 (FSB 400 x 9) and that's all you need. That would be 3.8Ghz on an E8500, but would be a bit warmer 😉

2. Possibly technically, but they would never even ask. Intel knows full well that the cooling solution they send in the package is mediocre. They sell OEM processors that they know will not have stock cooling.

Really, the only reason those C2Ds aren't rated for higher speeds is because Intel has no control over the ambient temps and the CPU cooling. If every C2D was going into a case with two or more 120MM fans and a P45 board, and was cooled by a good cooler such as the Xigmatek, they would all be rated much higher.

 

[Onus]

Proximon's suggestions look pretty good, but here's an alternative:

How far you can downgrade the video card will depend a lot on the games you play, the resolution, and how much eye candy you want. Can you drop as low as a 4830? 4670? If you've chosen a nicer mobo, you will have that crossfire option Proximon described.
The Antec Sonata III comes with an Antec Earthwatts 500 for $110. That's even lower, although would not be enough to crossfire two 4850s: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024
I definitely agree on the memory. That Mushkin is what I use a lot.
For the CPU, an E7400 is only $120. That's a big chunk off. Unless your desired games are CPU-heavy, this would be worthwhile if it lets you buy a better GPU.
Acer monitors are reasonable. I think they've come down in price since I got my 22". I would suggest looking for this from a local brick and mortar store (e.g. Staples or Best Buy) to avoid ANY dead pixels.
For parts in general, I'd avoid Best Buy. I browse in there sometimes just to get a laugh at their GPU prices. Also, their house-brand PSUs (Dynex and Rocketfish) have been tested and found to blow up well below their rated output.

 

[Onus]

Oh yeah...I also agree with Proximon about the Rosewill PSU. The older low-end ones are junk. The one Proximon linked should be decent; the PSU certainly is.
I'm not sure that mobo will be good enough. A 780G or 780V board will be a lot better for movies.
Did you need a DVD drive for your HTPC also?

 

[Kirtaner]

Oh yeah...I also agree with Proximon about the Rosewill PSU. The older low-end ones are junk. The one Proximon linked should be decent; the PSU certainly is.
I'm not sure that mobo will be good enough. A 780G or 780V board will be a lot better for movies.
Did you need a DVD drive for your HTPC also?

Is the mobo not good enough because of the onboard video chipset and is it good otherwise? The cheapest (good brand name) motherboard is more expensive than this motherboard and a cheap video card (I'm looking at a 2400 right now)
I've got a DVD drive lying around that I'll throw in there for the time being.

 

[theAnimal]

Thanks for the quick reply. I dropped the 1tb drive for a 640 (saved $30) and took most of your advice but have some questions about some of it before I act on it:

1) Will the 8400 overclock to the same point as the 8500? If not, how much of a difference would it be?
2) Will using a non-stock CPU Cooler/thermal grease void my Intel warranty?
3) What's a good brand for LCDs that aren't TOO expensive? I know I'll be spending up to around $200, but I just need something good enough to play games and watch movies on.
4) Are Best Buy or Circuit City good for any of these parts? I've checked a few but they seem to be really overpriced. Problem is, I have some gift cards and would like to use them before spending cash (but only if the price is at least equal to newegg), especially Circuit City (since they're going out of business).

2. No. But OCing will.

4. No, unless you price match.

 

[Onus]

If you threw in a cheap video card, it should be enough.

 

[geckoar]

For The HTPC

780G

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135075 69.99 -10.00 MIR

And a CPU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103255 55.99

HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073 64.99

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134114 12.49

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156182 44.99 - 15.00 MIR

Total=223.45
So use that 70 dollors to up your GPU on the Gaming build or to save for a better PSU later.

 

[Onus]

Ok until the last item. That case/PSU combo is not fit for use with a computer system. The "max" in Raidmax is a reference to the number of components it will take with it when it croaks.

 

[geckoar]

Ok so the raidmax case isnt good I was just looking for cheap.

I know that Rosewill isnt good so I guess that Raidmax is bad too.

I have a antec 900 and I love that case... In all of my build I use Antec cases. Good PSU too.

For a HTPC build heres a case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129034

But that means that an ATX MoBo wont fit so the ECS is out and this is in...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128379

So it will cost you a bit more but you get a great mobo and a Great Antec case with a soild 380W antec PSU


Thanks for the correction jtt283 your a good help.

 

[Onus]

That's a lot better, but the same Earthwatts PSU is available in this case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129032
Antec NSK4480B Black 0.8mm cold-rolled steel construction ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 380W Power Supply - $75
That's a full-sized case too, so either mobo will work.