Under $1000 gaming rig

[aalkema]

Hi everyone

I'm a university student from Canada (so newegg.ca) looking for a gaming rig. I hope to spend less than $1000 on it, considering I have no money :O

I've got a potential build made up. I've been reading Toms Hardware for years, and am a Computer Science student so I think this is an educated build. But I couldn't do anything without consulting the experts here at Toms.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, I have a keyboard, mouse and a 22" monitor. This is for the PC only.

Any feedback on this build would be helpful. It's still quite tentative at the moment, I'd be willing to change a few things around.

Hard drive space is something I can buy later/get for my birthday. Right now I'm just looking for a primary drive, I have 2TB of external drives kicking around to hold stuff for now. This looked like a solid drive.

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

For the case I've heard nothing but good things about the Antec Three Hundred. I am just curious if it has enough room. I've never built a rig before, and want to fit a large graphics card with room to add a second in crossfire/sli later.

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

I want a motherboard that I will be able to use for a while. I would like to add a second graphics card in the future, and maybe some RAM. This new one from Gigabyte seems perfect.

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4 AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128381

I want a good graphics card. I'm used to gaming on the lowest or medium settings on my Asus G2P. I'd like to be able to play modern and future games on high settings.

SAPPHIRE 100259L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102810

The processor is the thing I'm the most iffy on. I'm not sure how powerful of a processor I need to game. This one I have chosen at the moment is quite tentative, and I only chose it because there's a combo deal with it and the 4870 going on right now. Feedback on this would be great!

AMD Phenom 9600 Agena 2.3GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103244

For RAM I'm not sure exactly what speed I'm looking for. Would I want 1066 over 800?

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

This seems like a solid PSU, and I know how important it is to get a quality one.

Antec EA650 650W ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

I also got 2 more 120mm fans for the case, and a CD/DVD burner, together they come to ~$40. I figured they didn't really need to be changed.

Thank you for your feedback!

 

[aevm]

For RAM I recommend DDR2-800. No need for 1066 if you don't overclock.

Get this PSU:
PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011
Same price as the Earthwatts 650W, more power, better reviews, and it has the 4 connectors you need for HD 4870 Crossfire. The Antec has only 2.

If possible, get this combo instead of the one you found. It's about $50 more, same video card, Phenom 9850 Black Edition instead of Phenom 9600.
http://secure.newegg.ca/Shopping/AddToCart.aspx?Submit=ADD&ItemList=Combo.160210

 

[fullmetall]

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
PSU change.


cpu, if it was possible, phenom II 920.

If your gonna get western digital, get the WD Black 640gb.

 

[aevm]

Here's some really good DDR2-800:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209

 

[aevm]

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
PSU change.


cpu, if it was possible, phenom II 920.

If your gonna get western digital, get the WD Black 640gb.

I'd prefer the 650TX to the Eartwatts 650W too, but it still has only 2 connectors. That's enough for one HD 4870, but not for two.

The WD Black 640GB (WD6401AALS, C$99.49) is about 10% faster than the WD6400AAKS (C$ 87). Yeah, it's worth upgrading, if the budget allows.

 

[Helloworld_98]

don't go for the 9600 phenom, go for a 710 or 720 phenom II

 

[fullmetall]

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815001
Would say this then, but, has 4 rails at 18a. hmm

Pc Power cooling 750w is your best bet.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009
12v rail single at 60A.

 

[aalkema]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

I like that packaged deal with the 9850 black edition instead of the 9600. I'll also look to see if there are any combos with the Phenom II when I buy this (in about a month)

I also switched to that 800 RAM, thanks aevm.

I've gotten a lot of suggestions on PSU's now. I'm not sure which one to consider. I would like to be able to eventually Crossfire another 4870. Would any of these suggestions be good? I like this one: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011

Since I've never built a computer before my biggest worry is compatibility. I'm not sure how concerned I should be. I guess my question is will this CPU work this this mobo with this graphics card and this RAM, etc. Do I need to worry about that?

 

[fullmetall]

Same as the Pc power cooling i picked but, the red has a certified crossfire for the hd2900tx.

both show certified for 8800gtx sli or below.

the one i picked doesnt show i certified crossfire, just crossfire ready. might want to get the one i picked but, there both about the same.

if your going to go DDR2 800, look at the G.Skills PI Black DDR2 800, tighter timings, faster.

 

[aalkema]

Thanks for the reply FullMetall

The Xigmatech fits in my budget (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815001)

This is a general question, what are rails in a PSU? Also, what does the ampere rating mean? This is the piece of the computer I know the least about, and I realize it's one of the most important.

aevm recommended the same RAM, I added it to the build. Thanks!

 

[fullmetall]

multiple +12V rails are actually just a single +12V rails just split up into multiple +12V outputs each with a limited output capability.

Here's something i've been reading on about, sure proximon has read it aswell.

But some people claim they can overclock better, etc. with a single +12V rail PSU

B.S. It's a placebo effect. The reality is that their previous PSU was defective or just wasn't as good as their current unit. If the old PSU was a cheap-o unit with four +12V rails and the new one is a PCP&C with one +12V rail, the new one isn't overclocking better because it's a single +12V rail unit. It's overclocking better because the old PSU was crap. It's only coincidental if the old PSU had multiple +12V rails and the current one has just one.

The only "problem" the occurs with multiple +12V rails is that when a +12V rail is overloaded (for example: more than 20A is being demanded from a rail set to only deliver up to 20A), the PSU shuts down. Since there are no "limits" on single +12V rail PSU's, you can not overload the rails and cause them to shut down..... unless you're using a "too-small" PSU in the first place. Single +12V rails do not have better voltage regulation, do not have better ripple filtering, etc. unless the PSU is better to begin with.

 

[fullmetall]

Multiple +12V rail "enthusiast" PSU's today have a +12V rail just for PCIe connectors or may even split four or six PCIe connectors up across two different +12V rails. The rails themselves are capable of far more power output than any PCIe graphics card would ever need. In fact, Nvidia SLI certification these days REQUIRE that the PCIe connectors be on their own +12V rail to avoid any problems from running high end graphics cards on split +12V rail PSU's.

 

[fullmetall]

http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3990

Read here about your psu's learn.. goes to everyone.

got it from proximons guide. really helped me understand.

 

[aevm]

What are rails: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_supply_rail

 

[fullmetall]

Xigmatek should do you just fine

 

[aalkema]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I'll probably buy this in late March/early April. By then I hope a few prices will have dropped a little bit.

 

[MykC]

I'd bought a Phenom 9500 and it isn't great for gaming. In addition you'll have to deal with disabling the TLB patch on the 9600 (which increases its performance signifcantly in games).

Phenom 710 is definieltly a better option, but even still the AMD64X2 6000+ outperforms a 9600.

 

[aalkema]

Thanks for the advice MykC! It's good to hear from someone who has personal experience with the hardware. I'll avoid the 9500/9600.

 

[fullmetall]

6000+ and the AMD2 x2 Black 7750+ i think? pretty good prices.

 

[aevm]

Maybe save a little more, while prices drop, and then go for the Phenom II 920. That would be more future-proof.

Actually, what kind of things will you do with this PC? Some activities work very well on quads (Flight Simulator X, GTA4, compressing videos, Photoshop, Visual Studio, IIS, various databases, etc.). Others would work just fine on a dual-core, especially if it has a higher clock.

 

[aalkema]

I'll be using this as my primary computer. The most demanding thing I'll be doing is video gaming. I love my fps's (GOW, Crysis, COD4/5, etc.) and rts's (World in Conflict, Red Alert 3, etc.). Other than that, a lot of internet browsing, movie watching, and coding (VS, Java). I don't do movie/photo editing.

What kind of processor would I be looking at for that?

 

[fullmetall]

Quad. Heres some other guided specs.


AMD dual core CPUs can not compete in any way. They are just plain slow by todays standards, but some of them are so cheap that they are sometimes considered still for very low budget builds, or builds that do not require much processing power.

Both makers are switching to a new CPU socket design in the future, so you need to look at the viability of the socket you buy today.


- Intel CPUs overclock better than AMD. Some Intel CPUs almost seem underclocked. For example, an E8400 runs at a stock speed of 333mhz x9, or 3.0Ghz. By simply bumping the core speed, called Front Side bus (FSB) to 400mhz, most E8400s shipped will run stabily at 3.6Ghz.

If your able to, switching over isn't a problem but, E8400 is best for any of those games with a UD3P or ASUS P5Q PRO.

Dual AMD's aren't for today's gaming, You'll have to go with the Phenom II 920.

 

[theAnimal]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I'll probably buy this in late March/early April. By then I hope a few prices will have dropped a little bit.

By then the recommendations may change.

You're better off buying from ncix.com, no PST unless you're in BC, plus they will price match.

 

[aevm]

That's good advice. A little shopping around can save you money.

Also try www.memoryexpress.com. That one is in Alberta.