What kind of gaming rig can I get for $1000?

[ltjad]

Hi everyone. First off I'd like to thank you for taking the time to give me any advice you can. I am not "new" to upgrading computers, I have swapped every part at least once, I've just never done a ground up build before.

The challenge that I have is getting started learning how to determine what motherboard is good to buy now with an eye to the future for cpu upgrades, gpu upgrades and so on. I also find it hard to keep up with all the changes in the graphics cards because it seems each vendor leap frogs the others pretty rapidly.

I would like to build a gaming box that can render the highest graphics settings in games like EQ2 and Lord of the Rings online without stuttering.

I would also like to get a pretty decent sound out of it. This is not critical and if need be I can get along with the speakers that I have now.

Also is there a way to get "almost there" and then in a few weeks or months get the rest of the way there?

Again thanks for your time and patience because I am sure you guys get asked these kinds of wide open questions all the time.

John

[DaMulta]

2 x GeForce 9800GTX 399.98

ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Your Price:$134.99

OCZ Reaper HPC 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR1066A2GK - Retail# Your Price:$54.99

PC Power & Cooling PPCS750QBL Silencer 750W Quad Blue ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS - Retail Your Price:$159.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3750640AS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Your Price:$119.99

868.99


Still need case/DVD Rom/Os

[TheGoat Eater]

I would go for the EVGA 750i FTW edition as it is a solid performer and for HDD - a SAMSUNG F1 variant would suit you well

[Conti027]

so you looking for everything down to new speakers and monitor for $1000?

[ltjad]

Thanks for the replies so far guys, I am looking over those suggestions.

Originally Posted by Conti027

so you looking for everything down to new speakers and monitor for $1000?

Well I don't have to get new speakers and a monitor, I can use the ones I have for now.

If I went with 2 GPUs, is there a monitor that can take better advantage of that?

[MoeDaKilla]

Here are my suggestions may go over by about 50 dollars with shipping costs, but total comes to around $930 and there is about $40 in rebates. If you already have a monitor here is what I recommend and this mobo is a good overclocker and leaves room for another 4850 in the future. Plus, you can flash the Rampage Formula BIOS to it if you want. And although I don't like cases that come with PSU's the Coolermaster line of cases and PSU's are excellent. I left the OS off because I don't know what you want to use. And I didn't mention the optical drives either even though I would personally recommend anything made by Samsung.

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119142

Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148288

Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814103060

Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227239

Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131317

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037

Cooler and bracket
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233003

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233019

[MoeDaKilla]

BTW the only resolutions that will truly take advantage of two cards would have to be over 1920x1200, ie. 24" monitor or bigger.

[DaMulta]

Originally Posted by MoeDaKilla

BTW the only resolutions that will truly take advantage of two cards would have to be over 1920x1200, ie. 24" monitor or bigger.

For 1920x1200 you would really like two cards.

[BarbaricSoul]

here's a suggestion, plenty on money left over for a case and any periferals you may want. You can add a 2nd 4850 for crossfire in the future.

http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vbvwy0.jpg

[DaMulta]

lol i forgot to add a cpu

[Cold Storm]

Originally Posted by DaMulta

lol i forgot to add a cpu

Plus the Zipzoomfly link doesn't work because of it being in a shopping cart!

After looking at what has been going on with Sneeky's E7200.. I'd suggest the E7200 with what Damulta has said...

[DaMulta]

Cold it's better when I order a machine to put together at work and I forget to order the ram with it haha or HDD lol

[Cold Storm]

Originally Posted by DaMulta

Cold it's better when I order a machine to put together at work and I forget to order the ram with it haha or HDD lol

Man, its all good! I don't know how many times I built a system up and then later looking at it in newegg's wish list that I forgot an important thing.. Plus, I never build a wishlist with a CPU... You never know whats going to come out, or when a botched batch will happen

[ltjad]

Originally Posted by MoeDaKilla

Here are my suggestions may go over by about 50 dollars with shipping costs, but total comes to around $930 and there is about $40 in rebates. If you already have a monitor here is what I recommend and this mobo is a good overclocker and leaves room for another 4850 in the future. Plus, you can flash the Rampage Formula BIOS to it if you want. And although I don't like cases that come with PSU's the Coolermaster line of cases and PSU's are excellent. I left the OS off because I don't know what you want to use. And I didn't mention the optical drives either even though I would personally recommend anything made by Samsung.

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119142

I know its right in the name but does this case offer good cooling? And is the 550w power supply adequate for the possibility of a second gpu in the future?

[MoeDaKilla]

Yes this is one of the best midtower cases on the market. The PSU is 80 Plus certified and more than capable of handling two 4850's as it has two PCI-Express power connectors. I think the others will agree that case + PSU combo is one of the few that people should even consider.

[calvary1980]

I like the Centurion 590 better it's cheaper and has front intake, speaker. but no eSata or Reset button (690)

- Christine

[p_o_s_pc]

Originally Posted by DaMulta

2 x GeForce 9800GTX 399.98

ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Your Price:$134.99

OCZ Reaper HPC 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR1066A2GK - Retail# Your Price:$54.99

PC Power & Cooling PPCS750QBL Silencer 750W Quad Blue ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS - Retail Your Price:$159.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3750640AS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Your Price:$119.99

868.99


Still need case/DVD Rom/Os

good list but i would pay alittle more for the OCZ reapers that have the Micron D9s

[ltjad]

I just wanted to thank everyone that gave me some ideas on what to put together for a new system. I wound up with;

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037

motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131317

case & psu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119142

memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227191

video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121253

cpu cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233003

Hard drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148288

MoeDaKilla mentioned flashing the bios to Rampage, what exactly would this give me and is it worth doing. From what I read, It looks like that is to take advantage of the x48 chips but this board already has those chips. Maybe I am not understanding something.

[Cold Storm]

Flashing to the rampage gives you the ability to have a good ocing bios. It has more tweaks and turns to oc it better... I like it over the Max. bios.. Pretty nice set up man!

[p_o_s_pc]

nice rig. I wouldn't use that PSU vary long. i don't trust any PSU that comes with a case

[timta2]

Originally Posted by calvary1980

I like the Centurion 590 better it's cheaper and has front intake, speaker. but no eSata or Reset button (690)

- Christine

The 690 has a front intake also. It is at the bottom front and blows into the hard drive bays. Removing extra trays allows for better airflow (which is already restricted by the dust screen and poor airflow CM fan).

[MoeDaKilla]

Originally Posted by p_o_s_pc

nice rig. I wouldn't use that PSU vary long. i don't trust any PSU that comes with a case

Unlike many other PSU's that come bundled with cases that one i a quality PSU and is 80 Plus certified, Im sure there are better ones in its range, but you can't get a better deal on an excellent PSU and case. Do u know something about that CM Real Power Pro that I don't know, cuz that whole line has quality PSU's from the 550 Watt model (that comes with this case) all the way to the high end 1250 Watt model.