Hey Kids,
I'm totally confused. Like a kid in a huge candy store who's told he can buy whatever he wants for up to $10. The agony of choice!
So I've read articles and gone through endless searches on Newegg looking for the good hardware at decent prices. I just don't know enough about computers to feel comfortable with my choices or to know what I'm missing so I'm turning to you all.
This is what I want: To build an i5 system that will have enough power and integrity to handle the latest game (with a future GPU), surfing, playing movies, music, maybe Photoshoping and last me about 3 years before replacing much. I have all of the peripherals already (including DVD).
I figured I'd start with a good but not top of the line GPU. In the future I could run a SLI or Crossfire configuration. Does that make sense? I'm about 3-5 years behind in gaming. I still have to play Half-Life 2 for crying out loud! Can I go with a lower card given how I need to catch-up with games?
Anyway, I'm completely open to any suggestions/upgrades. Here's what I've come up with for about $650:
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Umm... any day now. The case combo price ends 10/31.
BUDGET RANGE: $600 up to $800
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: moderate gaming, surfing, movies, music, photo editing, Photoshoping
PREFERRED WEBSITE FOR PARTS: newegg.com
PARTS PREFERENCES: What's good?
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 7 home premium 64bit
Combos:
AZZA Solano 1000 Black/Black Japanese SECC Steel/Metal mesh in front ATX Full Tower Computer Case
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.276573
Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $139.98 (Free shipping)
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory
OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.276942
Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $144.98 (Shipping $9.65)
CPU:
Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0317379
Price: $150.00
GPU:
MSI R4850-2D1G OC Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127435
Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $104.99 (Shipping $6.98)
or
ZOTAC ZT-98GEY3G-FSL GeForce 9800 GT 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500115
Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $98.99 (Shipping $6.98)
Heatsink: Suggestions?
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007
Price: $6.99
HD: Suggestions?
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152100
Price: $64.99 (Free shipping)
So there it is. What am I missing? What's crap that needs to be replaced? I'm willing to spend more if it will increase performance or extend the computers life.
Thanks all in advance.
I'm totally confused. Like a kid in a huge candy store who's told he can buy whatever he wants for up to $10. The agony of choice!
So I've read articles and gone through endless searches on Newegg looking for the good hardware at decent prices. I just don't know enough about computers to feel comfortable with my choices or to know what I'm missing so I'm turning to you all.
This is what I want: To build an i5 system that will have enough power and integrity to handle the latest game (with a future GPU), surfing, playing movies, music, maybe Photoshoping and last me about 3 years before replacing much. I have all of the peripherals already (including DVD).
I figured I'd start with a good but not top of the line GPU. In the future I could run a SLI or Crossfire configuration. Does that make sense? I'm about 3-5 years behind in gaming. I still have to play Half-Life 2 for crying out loud! Can I go with a lower card given how I need to catch-up with games?
Anyway, I'm completely open to any suggestions/upgrades. Here's what I've come up with for about $650:
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Umm... any day now. The case combo price ends 10/31.
BUDGET RANGE: $600 up to $800
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: moderate gaming, surfing, movies, music, photo editing, Photoshoping
PREFERRED WEBSITE FOR PARTS: newegg.com
PARTS PREFERENCES: What's good?
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 7 home premium 64bit
Combos:
AZZA Solano 1000 Black/Black Japanese SECC Steel/Metal mesh in front ATX Full Tower Computer Case
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.276573
Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $139.98 (Free shipping)
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory
OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.276942
Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $144.98 (Shipping $9.65)
CPU:
Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0317379
Price: $150.00
GPU:
MSI R4850-2D1G OC Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127435
Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $104.99 (Shipping $6.98)
or
ZOTAC ZT-98GEY3G-FSL GeForce 9800 GT 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500115
Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $98.99 (Shipping $6.98)
Heatsink: Suggestions?
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007
Price: $6.99
HD: Suggestions?
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152100
Price: $64.99 (Free shipping)
So there it is. What am I missing? What's crap that needs to be replaced? I'm willing to spend more if it will increase performance or extend the computers life.
Thanks all in advance.