System for gaming and HDTV

[highkftj]

Hi,
I need a pd desktop around 600-900 bucks which is able to handle entry level/old games (old car simulators) but mostly which is able to output any video I have on my hd to my HDTV via hdmi. Thus I am looking for a video card with at least 1) DVI for connecting the monitor and 2) HDMI with audio support for sending the video+audio to my hdtv

I read that ge force need to have the audio hooked up via spdif with the mobo or audio card in order to have audio over hdmi output. that's why I was thinking to move more to a radeon system which seems to handle better the problem. I saw that 4350 or 4550 have good gaming entry level with a good hdmi support, up to 1080p.

at the moment, after reading all the possible combination I found two system which satisfy my needs, but I am not sure if they would really work and if there is any better possibility:

a) pc: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229117 with monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009157

this system sounds pretty good and it would be perfect if it had a firewire support...(needed to edit some video). is there any possibility to have a front panel multi card reader/usb/firewire to connect to the pc (also with pci connection to the mobo if the mobo does not support directly the connections)



b) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883113106

this also look a pretty nice system but I am not sure if the g210 worked for streaming audio + video over hdmi. why gateway is not more specific about this point and doen't say if the system has the audio connection via spdif.



Any helps, comment or advice on above or other system would be really appreciated!

Thanks

 

[lunyone]

Interesting that you started at $800 and ended up spending $1300 on a pre-built. Guess all of the suggestions were really not used much. Had you started out with a ~$1200 budget you would've had about 20 i7 builds to work with, but that was your choice.

 

[psycho sykes]

Well, Then it isn't really a better deal as you don't know the brands of 1.Main-Board 2. RAM 3. PSU 4. HDD (even if it's RAID)
I am not saying that Dell are bad, In fact I'm currently using a Dell Inpiron 9400 right now and i am impressed (bought Nov., 2006) But still i never recommend anyone to purchase PCs from them for a simple reason which you already know.
And as "lunyone" said from the beginning if you said you a PC for a budget range of $1200 right you'd be trying to choose from like 20 systems (lunyone said) so we could make you even cheaper one.

 

[highkftj]

well, Guys, I can tell you that I don't want to know the brand of my motherboard or cpu, neither I will even touch voltage or multiplier or stuff like that because I believe a product to last has to work with the design specifications. So I prefer a system which doesn't run as crazy just because I impose to work at a temperature which is much more higher than the nominal one (noise is a key factor for me, especially when you work long ours on a pc or you watch a movie)

for the sake of argument, if you want to build a system and show me as it going to cost with exact the same specifications, try. I am sure you are going to spend much more.

keep in mind that it should be:

i7
6gigs three channel
1t in raid 0
23'' monitor
bluray
same video card 4350
OS system...
and all the same specifications


try, I am sure your system will me around 1600. it may work better, but it will be not as nice as this one (estetically speaking, and front ports, upper ports available). As I told you, I don't do games that much so for me are really important other factors...

As for the budget, I want always make a deal. if this system cost 1800 and I get at a special offer for 1300, that is a deal, while I wouldn't ever pay 1800 for the same system. As well I would have found not satisfying for me paying 800 for a AMD... if you could have built me let's say the same AMD which lunyone did for 500 bucks all included, that would have been a deal and I would have get it. but honestly your proposals were around 800, 1000 and as i told you i don't go to spend 1000 for a assembled (I had in the past and highly regret...)
I am always for extreme positions in life: or I really pay nothing (say 500 all included with the first amd config) or i prefer spend 1300 for a 1800 dollar system

anyway, if you want to try to build a system read carefull the specification of the one I got and let's see. I am curious to see how your price will be
(including everything, front panel ports, nice case, bla bla bla). btw this dell has chipset x58 and 475w psu.

You should also forgetting one important factor: if I will not be ok, I will return it. Usually, when I buy something, I keep the product after the 4th return time and you can do easily that one just if you buy something assembled from a big chain. I am a really pain in the ass for any dealer of supplier and I exploit the return policy till the last day, so I need this path! with buying parts, you would loose everytime the 20% and you should pay the shipment anytime. now, how much would cost my system for 8 parts shipping returning cost, for let's say four times, and loosing anytime the 20% of the initial cost??? I would quite move from 800 bucks to 1200 just for returning merchandise and never completely happy.

last year I bought a notebook: i returned 3 times the same product to hp, after using them for 2 months (the three times completely) everytime with a different config till I was happy (at the 4th time) of my choice. Could I do easily it with an assembled and without loosing much money

my last dvd player, I returned it 5th times to amazon without loosing a penny (I was buying from amazon so no restoking fees...), but I had the advantage to try 4 different player and then I reordered the second one.

Now, tell me, how could I do with your assembled systems??? can you believe the mess or assembling and disassembling 8 times the same computer??? LOL. you would just give up and you would keep your initial one, trying to see the good in that

Anyway this is my point of view, maybe different from yours but thanks for the advices anyway

 

[lunyone]

First off we can't get the exact same specifications, because we don't have Dell parts. Plus the 1 TB in RAID 0 is only 2 x 500 gb HD's, so your only going to have 500 gb's of space before formatting. Also the DVD BluRay player is just that, A BluRay ROM and a DVD Burner.

So with that said, here is something I just threw together to make a comparison. Mind you, you will know what parts your getting and you can run all of the these parts at STOCK speeds and no voltage tweaking needed.

$388 - $20 MIRc = $268!!!
i7 920 w/6 gb's OCZ 1600 mHz DDR3 (which is faster than the 1066 mHz stuff Dell is selling you)

$140 shipped!
Cooler Master Scout Case w/600w Silent PSU. <-- 125w more than Dell!!

$178 shipped! I'm sure it's a better mobo than what Dell ships in their system, plus you'll have full control of the BIOS settings, if you need to make any changes.
ASRock X58 Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

$35 - $10 MIRc = $25!!
ASUS EAH4350 SILENT/DI/512MD2(LP) Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 CrossFire Supported Low Profile Ready Video Card - Retail

2 x $50 = $100 shipped! 2 x 500 gb HD's for RAID 0 configuration.
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

$105 shipped! BluRay ROM and DVD burner combo!
LG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-ROM SATA Internal Combo LG Blu-ray Reader & 16X LightScribe DVD±R DVD Burner - Retail

$190 - $20 MIRc = $170!! 23" and HDMI connections!
ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 20000 :1 (ASCR) Built in Speakers - Retail

$110 shipped! Your Dell doesn't even mention if you get the free upgrade to Windows 7. This package does!
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM

Total $1255 - $50 MIRc = $1205!!! Now that isn't too bad for a custom build. I would do some other changes to this build, but that is me. There are almost endless options when you build your system, which doesn't tie you down to pre-configured systems.

Other recommended cases/PSU's:
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

PSU's that you could use:
Corsair PSU's that will work just fine.
Antec PSU's that will/would work just fine for your build!

Edit: forgot to mention that if you live near a Microcenter that you could get the i7 920 for $199. This could drop the price down to $1125!!

 

[psycho sykes]

As you said it's a point of view so no need to get angry! I was just expressing my opinion!
So, You got it or just ordered??
About assembling the system you forgot some things:

i7 9(20/50/75)
6gigs three channel 1???MHz Cas?
1t in raid 0 5,400/7,200/10,000/SSD(MLC/SLC)
23'' monitor Res ??x?? ?ms response
bluray +/-RW\Read
same video card 4350 (OC/HDMI/Warranty etc.)
OS system... Vista Home Premium.

So overall it's a good system for someone like you who like to stay stock (no offense!) and such beside the warranty (till when???) ensures it'll last till it ends. But this time all parts not each one with a separate life-span insurance
So if you're satisfied with it no problem at all as the being satisfied is the least to most important thing

So i hope you good luck and post here when you get it.

Medo

 

[highkftj]

Are we doing the same calcultions or not???

I saw some discrepancy from your previous setup, because this time you picked up some peripherals to stay inside the dell budget (hd and monitor)

Also your ram is faster, but is not three channel and for some video application you have more bandwidth with a three-channel less mhz memory than dualchannel with higher mhz.

You then forgot from dell config the followings:

Norton Internet security
logitehc keyboard and mouse wireless
my OS also give me upgrade for w7
does it has your system any firewire and e-sata connectio, as dell xps 9000???

Anyway if you add all the previous stuff you get 1400 at newegg without taxes which becomes 1500 with taxes (remeber dell is 1300 all included)
and the system is not complete, I would like to make sure about the firewire and e-sata connection on the front or real pannel


DETAILS:

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
select item 1 quantity of item 1


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 - OEM
Item #: N82E16822152181
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options22-152-181|hide options22-152-181)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info22-152-181.0.18)

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

-$5.00 Instant


$109.98
$99.98
($49.99 each)

select item 2 quantity of item 2


ASUS VH236H Black 23

ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor - Retail
Item #: N82E16824236059
Return Policy: Monitor Replacement Only Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options24-236-059|hide options24-236-059)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info24-236-059.0.18)

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

-$30.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card24-236-059

$219.99
$189.99

select item 3 quantity of item 3


ASUS EAH4350 SILENT/DI/512MD2(LP) Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 CrossFire Supported Low Profile Ready Video Card

ASUS EAH4350 SILENT/DI/512MD2(LP) Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 CrossFire Supported Low Profile Ready ... - Retail
Item #: N82E16814121310
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy

-$3.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card14-121-310

$37.99
$34.99

select item 4 quantity of item 4


Logitech S 510 Silver/Black USB or PS/2 RF Wireless Slim Cordless Desktop

Logitech S 510 Silver/Black USB or PS/2 RF Wireless Slim Cordless Desktop - Retail
Item #: N82E16823126180
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$5.00 Instant


$57.99
$52.99

select item 5 quantity of item 5


ASRock X58 Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

ASRock X58 Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813157163
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options13-157-163|hide options13-157-163)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info13-157-163.0.18)

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



$169.99

select item 6 quantity of item 6


Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116677
Return Policy: Software Return Policy



$109.99

select item 7 quantity of item 7


Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 Premier Edition - 1 USER 3PC

Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 Premier Edition - 1 USER 3PC - Retail
Item #: N82E16832108418
Return Policy: Software Return Policy



$86.99

select item 8 quantity of item 8


LG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-ROM SATA Internal Combo LG Blu-ray Reader & 16X LightScribe DVD±R DVD Burner

LG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-ROM SATA Internal Combo LG Blu-ray Reader & 16X LightScribe DVD±R DVD Burner - Retail
Item #: N82E16827136162
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options27-136-162|hide options27-136-162)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info27-136-162.0.18)

* 1 year: $16.99
* 2 year: $25.99

-$20.00 Instant


$124.99
$104.99

select item 9 quantity of item 9

COOLER MASTER Silent Pro 600 RS-600-AMBA-D3 600W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

*

COOLER MASTER Silent Pro 600 RS-600-AMBA-D3 600W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active ... - Retail
Item #: N82E16817171036
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options17-171-03620|hide options17-171-03620)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info17-171-0362.0.18)
o 1 year: $10.99
o 2 year: $16.99

*

COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811119196
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$50.00 Instant
-$30.00 Combo


$219.98
$139.98

select item 10 quantity of item 10

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920
OCZ Obsidian 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3OB1600LV6GK

*

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115202
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy

*

OCZ Obsidian 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3OB1600LV6GK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227477
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$29.00 Instant
-$12.00 Combo
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card20-227-477

$428.98
$387.98

Subtotal: $1,377.87
Calculate Shipping Zip Code: . GO
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Grand Total: $1,398.03



then I have two years of warranty from dell on this system, to answer to psycho.

now, let's consider the return policy??? ok 1500-20% is 1200 bucks, so the first time I am going to return and disassemble your system i loose immediately 300 bucks, so my initial budget becomes 1800 (and I am not considering the shipping cost, which for dell is free!)
the second time, i loose other 300 bucks and go ahead so far...
my system is going to cost me more than 2k

for the mobo setting and stuff, I will never use them. as I told you if an engineer design a system to run to a certain temperature, why should I rise that? I hate when the noise in the room become so high that just a gaming sound can make it imperceptible... I don't want a pc which sounds like a blender...

I mean we have just different philosophies. I would have bout an apple imac, the difference is that is less powerful and I cannot open the case and add some stuff, besides the fact that it's a core2 duo. but have you ever tryed to use it? it never crasches, because the hardware is optimized. it's not the single component power which is important but how you mix them together.

Also I don't like that case at all. what i need for 650w when my has 475w??? it support everything I need. remember I will never put some strange tools on which makes my desktop sounds as an helicopter

So, if I were lucky I could have spent around 1500 for a system which I don't like the same and which can give me a lot of troubles... As I told you I would have never bought the same system for 1800$, starting price, but I used the offer which dell is giving out these days.
After the third round of returning merchandise, your system will cost me double than the price I payed right now. this is why I took this path.

But I totally thank you guys to give me other options and make me understand what i need. I would never have bought such system if it wasn't for your advices. Unfortunately I ask advices usually to challenge my ideas and see if they hold or not, and at the end I follow my ideas unless it's not proved that I can find better deals. if you had proposed me the initial AMD with the same specifications (not with lower performances peripherals) at 500 bucks with all the stuff I need (I know it's impossible) I would have get it
I swear it

 

[highkftj]

As you said it's a point of view so no need to get angry! I was just expressing my opinion!
So, You got it or just ordered??
About assembling the system you forgot some things:

i7 9(20/50/75)
6gigs three channel 1???MHz Cas?
1t in raid 0 5,400/7,200/10,000/SSD(MLC/SLC)
23'' monitor Res ??x?? ?ms response
bluray +/-RW\Read
same video card 4350 (OC/HDMI/Warranty etc.)
OS system... Vista Home Premium.

So overall it's a good system for someone like you who like to stay stock (no offense!) and such beside the warranty (till when???) ensures it'll last till it ends. But this time all parts not each one with a separate life-span insurance
So if you're satisfied with it no problem at all as the being satisfied is the least to most important thing

So i hope you good luck and post here when you get it.

Medo

it's a 920 i7, 7200 hd, vista premium with upgrade, 2ms 1080p 23" blu ray reader (i need just to view movies on my tv), 4350 with hdmi and dvi.
I will change the video card around christmas, but I will stay on radeon.
I ordered, but this is just the first run. I guess they know me enough at dell to expect me to return the system at least three times and get always a better config LOL
But I will let you updated. I will tell you my impression about the system as soon as i get it, in two weeks i guess.
I never kept an electronic device at the first round, as I told you about my using the return policy, so if this will be the case that means that it's an awesome product for my taste. the only other time when I kept something at the first round was for my iphone 3g (and I never felt so much satisfied by a device as the phone did with me)
As I told you for this price I would have gotten an imac 20inches, but the only problem is that I cannot use to play movie on a tv (doesn't come with a hdmi) and I cannot open to add hd, stuff....
but for sure I was tempted
I am telling you this because I am on the apple philosophy. I always used pc assembled, and overclocked and I have always have problems and to be honest not really impressed... probably because I am not an extreme gamer. Instead, I have always been impressed by apple (it never crashes, never never never, also if you run windows over it) and by dell, which I consider a good product for the price.
I don't like instead hp, but the reason I am saying that it's because we have probably just different philosophy...
It was very nice anyway exchange opinions with you guys! And I never got angry btw LOL