Rate My $2000 Gaming PC

[captainjorge]

Planning to build two beefy $2000.00 gaming rigs. One for me, one for my brother. Want top of the line case,mobo,cpu with room to grow. Here's the spec with prices from newegg. Opinions welcome.


--Edited with thead suggestions--

Case
Cooler Master Cosmos 1000
199.99

Motherboard
EVGA LGA 775 NVIDIA 780i SLI Motherboard
239.99

PSU
[strike]OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI 700W ATX12V
124.99[/strike]
XIGMATEK HC NRP-HC1001 1000W
Certified for dual 9800GTX in SLI
269.99

CPU
Core2Duo E8500 w/Cooler
274.99

RAM
(2) Corsair XMS2 2GB
96.00

Video Card
[strike]BFG Tech 9800GX2 1GB (512MB per GPU)
524.99[/strike]
(2) EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB
600.00

Audio
X-Fi XTremeGamer Fatal1ty
135.99

HDD
Seagate ST3500630AS 500GB
79.99

Optical Drive
Lite-On LH-20A1L-06
37.99

Monitor
SAMSUNG 2253BW 22" WS
299.99

Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
14.99

Mouse
Logitech G5
49.99

Speakers
[strike]Creative Inspire T3100 2.1 Speakers
45.99[/strike]
Logitech Z-2300 200 watts RMS 2.1 Speaker System
105.99

New total = ~2400
(NewEgg only, will shop around)

 

[Waspy]

You are getting an SLI board...use your SLI and dump that **** two-PCB video card!

 

[aevm]

I would remove the sound card and use the money to replace the speakers with something serious. It just doesn't make sense to spend $136 on a sound card and then use it with crappy speakers. The onboard audio is already better than those speakers need. You can always add sound cards later if you feel they are needed.

The 780i motherboard is nice and it will let you add more video cards later. But, your PSU will not support TWO 9800GX2 cards. That is, your room to grow is lost right there. The list of certified PSUs for 9800GX2 SLI is somewhere on nVidia's site. Sorry I forgot where, Google it. The smallest thing there was the TurboCool 860W. The Corsair 1000HX and Toughpower 1000W were also on the list. If you want to add a second video card later get one of those PSUs instead. If not, keep your 700W OCZ PSu but you can save $100 or so by getting a non-SLI motherboard, e.g. GA-EP35-DS3R.

If you want to overclock get a Xigmatek HDT-S1283.

Read a few of the "dual vs quad" threads, then decide if you'd rather have a Q6600 instead of the E8500. I'm not saying you're better off with a quad, I'm just saying there's a 50% chance you'd be, and you should do some research before you buy.

 

[captainjorge]

You are getting an SLI board...use your SLI and dump that **** two-PCB video card!

I'm listening. What card(s) do you recommend I use to SLI?

 

[1971Rhino]

Save some money get an E8400 it will easily OC to the speed of an E8500 and it's only around $200.

 

[tato999]

Instead of a 9800gx2, Buy 2 9800gtx its way to much better than a single 9800gx2.

If you arent hurry wait 2 months maybe 1(I doubt it) when the 9900 will be released.

Sorry for my english but im from Venezuela.

 

[jerreece]

I would definitely be looking for an after-market CPU cooler if you really want a gaming rig. It'll help you run a lot cooler, especially if you want to do ANY OC'ing.

I'd splurge on the keyboard more myself. LOL Maybe look into an actual gaming keyboard that you can program Macros on and such. *shrugs*

Also, is that 2 x 2GB Corsair XMS2? With a system like you're building I'd definitely go for 4GB of RAM.

I'd be checking other sites for pricing on those parts too. NewEgg is great, but you can usually find individual parts for less on some other places. Just keep an eye on all your total shipping costs to be sure you're saving money.

I recommend searching for the items through www.pricegrabber.com

I agree with the above comment on the speakers. Seriously, a 2.1 speaker package? And those are the kind of speakers you buy at Staples or Office Depot. Skip the sound card and buy some decent 5.1+ speakers. Check reviews on them too, some a more bassy, some are more high/mid range. You need speakers that sound the way YOU like them to.

 

[captainjorge]

Aevm:

Thanks. I won't be building for a while so this is still in an early planning process. I had thought about the PSU issue, but thought I could get away with the 700W, I realize now it'll work for one but not two cards. I want to stick with SLI. I'll do some research and get a better PSU.

As for sound, I want the best sound I can get without spending over $500 on the sound system (sound card + speakers). You're right about the speakers - they need an upgrade. Do you have any recommendations? While we're on the topic of sound, do you have any headset recommendations?

Not planning on overclocking, but I won't rule it out just yet.

I've done some homework on the dual vs. quad issue. Without overclocking, I think I would be most pleased with an e8500 for now. I'll continue to research though before taking the plunge.

 

[aevm]

I'm listening. What card(s) do you recommend I use to SLI?

You can try this:
GA-EP35-DS3R $120 + $8 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=GA-EP35-DS3R&x=0&y=0
BFG 9800GX2 $480
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143128

or this:
eVGA 780i $240

XFX 8800GTS G92 512MB, ($230 + $7) * 2, includes Call of Duty
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150267

or

MSI 8800GTS G92 512MB, ($195 + $7) * 2, includes The Witcher
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325

Waspy's suggestion costs a bit more but it's a bit faster, and you get games too. You can give your brother a copy of CoD and get a copy of the Witcher instead. Just don't mix the cards if you go that way.

 

[aevm]

I won't comment on headphones because I have no idea.

Speakers: the best I could find in my price range last December was the Logitech Z-5500. I paid $220 with no shipping fees (Boxing Week sale at Best Buy). Newegg sells them now for $270 + $36 shipping. Keep an eye out for a sale, and shop around.

Edit: let me get this straight, you want eventually to have SLI with two 9800GX2 cards? That's enormous overkill for a 22" monitor (1680x1050). It makes sense if you guys are planning to use 24" monitors or larger (1920x1200, 2560x1600), or TVs with 1920x1080.

 

[captainjorge]

Thank you for the replies everyone!

1971Rhino
I'm also considering the E8400. That does look like a simple overclock.

tato999
Hmm...two 9800GTX cards sound good. I didn't know about the 9900. It could be up 6-12 months before I build this so I have no problem waiting for the 9900 and other improved or reduced price parts. Don't worry about the English, its fine.

jerreece
Yes we are going with 4GB of ram for the build. I had thought about whether an aftermarket cpu cooler was necessary. I have heard that most stock coolers weren't very good. I think I may go ahead and put one in - any recommendations?

If there's some money left over, I may grab a better keyboard - I'll look around.

NewEgg is simply there to get a general idea of the cost. I will be shopping around different places and won't necessarily order everything from newegg - haven't decided yet. I'll likely buy the monitor and whatever speakers I decide on in a physical store as I'd like to inspect them in person. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

Yeah, the speakers are the weak part of my build - I'm glad you guys pointed that out. I want bassy speakers. Lots of boom. As for a set of 5.1 speakers - how much would I have to spend on them you think? I've seen entry level ones around 80 bucks or so, but I'm leery of them being that cheap for 5.1. On the other hand I don't think I'd like to spend over $300.00 on a speaker system since both my brother and I use headphones a lot.

aevm
Nice picks. I'll study them a bit. I already have CoD so I could give it to my brother. The Witcher looks good.

 

[captainjorge]

aevm:
The Z-5500 for $220.00. Looks good - I'd buy that, under $300 is okay for me. How do you like them?

And no we are not planning on SLI'ing two 9800GX2's . That would indeed be overkill for our monitors. I just want to leave room to grow for future upgrades - including new cards to sli.

 

[aevm]

I like my speakers a lot, but I live in an apartment and that means the subwoofer takes more space than I'd like and I can't even use it properly. Condo rules, you know, you can't pump up the volume too much
Oh, and installation is a pain, there are a ton of wires. Well, I guess that's true for every 5.1 setup.

 

[captainjorge]

Are there speakers in a 5.1 setup that have to be placed behind you? That wouldn't be possible with my current furniture setup, but I have plenty of desk space to move speakers and wires around.

 

[aevm]

Yes, ideally you'd have two speakers behind you. If that's not possible they will still work, it's just less fun.

Maybe a 2.1 setup makes more sense for you then. Less expensive, less room needed, no holes to drill in the walls. My Dad uses these speakers and he's happy with them:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121122&Tpk=Z-2300
Logitech Z-2300 200 watts RMS 2.1, $132 at newegg including shipping

Klipsch also makes very good speakers for PCs. Check them out.

 

[captainjorge]

Thanks. We use our headsets more than anything, it would just be nice to have a good set of speakers to make the walls shake every once in a while. Good for showing off, you know.

 

[roadrunner197069]

If you wait 6-12 months like you said this whole thread is a waste of time. Come back then. Naehlem will be out then and the 9800 series will be junk by then.

 

[captainjorge]

Just getting a general idea of things. I had forgotten about Nehalem...

Hm, I didn't realize Nehalem was a completely different architecture. I just thought it was a faster core 2 / quad line of chips. You're right that would change most of this build.

Nevertheless I appreciate the insight you all have shared. I now have lots of things to keep my eyes on.

 

[xanthos]

i love my microsoft comfort curve very good key board- in fact the best ive ever had- and only 15 bucks!!!1

oh i also have the g5 - its imply amazing great combo for gaming!

 

[captainjorge]

i love my microsoft comfort curve very good key board- in fact the best ive ever had- and only 15 bucks!!!1

oh i also have the g5 - its imply amazing great combo for gaming!

Nice!

 

[captainjorge]

aevm

The Logitech Z-2300 speaker system looks like a winner - plus the colors match with the case well.