Building for a friend.

[Ahhzz]

Given: $1500
Needs: World of Warcraft
Assumed: WinXP ( vista)

Direction: SLI-NVIDIA, AMD.

Not Needed: OverClocking performance.

So. Any thoughts anyone?


Got a friend needs a new box, gonna get him squared away. Doesn't need a monster drive (200 probably max), gonna get away with a simple DVD reader, and a base 17-19" wide. The rest is a BASE case (hopefully I can snag a good Antec for him, maybe another 900, for under $100), solid P/S (Liking my Corsair right now), and wanting to go AMD and Dual SLI. Would like some input from you guys. I've built more than a couple, but I usually start looking about 2 months in advance when I go for my upgrades, and this needs to be a fast turnaround, so I've not done any research lately, and no time for it. So, I'm cheating Asking those who stay so far on top of the newest stuff developers ask THEM what they're supposed to be developing Thanks in advance

[Urbklr]

Phenom 9950
Nvidia Mobo(No idea, look around)
4GB Gskill Pi
2x9800GTX

And whatever else, to tired right now to go shopping

[ShadowFold]

CD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135174
RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820208283
HDD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148262
video card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130328
CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&Tpk=6000%252b
case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147114
mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131280
psu - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139004
OS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116511

about 710$ after shipping. Save your money for beer and energy drinks for late night raiding

[Urbklr]

Originally Posted by ShadowFold

CD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135174
RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820208283
HDD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148262
video card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130328
case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147114
mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138122
psu - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139004

about 620$ after shipping. Save your money for beer and energy drinks for late night raiding

But the buyer wants AMD and SLi.

[ShadowFold]

Edited.. Why would he need two GPU's for WoW tho? Apparently thats all he is playing

[WarEagleAU]

I think ID change that DVD Rom for a few bucks more and get an awesome DVD Burner from Samsung!

[farlex85]

If he's just playing wow sli is a complete waste of money, as is about half of that budget. You could max wow w/ a $500-700 or so machine, depending on the monitor. I maxed wow fairly comfortably w/ a x700 pro and a pentium d, which was part of a $400 system I built more than a year ago. So.......

[ktr]

This is completely over kill for WoW, but if your friend has a Budget, exploit it . Any ways, his comp will run pretty quick.

CPU - 9950 Black Retail(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103273) <---was cheaper than the non-black OEM...lol
Mobo - Gigabyte AM2+ 750a SLI (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128339) <---cannot go wrong with gigabyte
Memory - OCZ Reaper HPC 2GB 1066Mhz (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227239) <---2gb is good enough
GPU - two XFX 9600GT XXX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150306) <---they are cheap, and are the most efficient in SLI cards to date...very good scalers
HDD - two Western Digital Caviar SE16 640gb (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136218) <---raid 0 these suckers
Case - Antec 900 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021) <---your choice, I personally dont like it.
PSU - PC&C 610w (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703005) <---best in PSU
Sound - Creative XFI Fatal1ty (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102005) <---improves sound quality
CPU Cooler - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233003) <---the cpu will run cooler
Optical - Pioneer 20X dvd-rw (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827129018)
OS - Windows XP MCE (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116049) <---Its pro without pro cost.

Total = 1,441.88 w/o shipping or tax (if any)

There are many rebates, about $100+ worth. I think the XFX video card rebates will work for two cards. It doesn't say on the rebate for itself, but when I bought my card, it did.

[Ahhzz]

Excellent post KTR. Thanks. So, you don't like the 900? I like mine, tons of airflow, altho I still have a mess of cables inside . So, why don't you like the 900, and what would you recommend instead?

[Katanai]

Wait a minute. Don't even listen to these guys and see what I come up with.

[ShadowFold]

He needs a quad core and two 9600GT's for WoW? Did they update their graphics engine to the Cryengine or something? A single 9600GT is more than enough to run WoW with 16x AF and AA why would you need two?

[Ahhzz]

Alright, Katanai, I'm waiting....better hurry, I'm already checking my resources for deals on the RAM and P/S!!


Altho, honestly, I'll probably go Newegg all the way. Have always enjoyed doing business with them, and their shipping is superb.

[Ahhzz]

Shadow, thanks for the input, I appreciate you taking the time to respond...





you can stop now.

[Katanai]

Originally Posted by ShadowFold

He needs a quad core and two 9600GT's for WoW? Did they update their graphics engine to the Cryengine or something? A single 9600GT is more than enough to run WoW with 16x AF and AA why would you need two?

Of course he is going to need two video cards!
But not those puny 9600's...


How about this?

2X EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

ASUS M3N72-D AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HD985ZXAGHBOX - Retail

A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1B16K - Retail

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3750640AS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #:ST3750640AS

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DH-20A4P-04 - OEM

ZALMAN CNPS 7500 Cu LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2C for System Builders - OEM

All from newegg.


For a grand total of $1,527.90



I think this rig could handle WOW on medium settings
(whilst also playing Crysis on Highest settings and watching a movie or two)

[ShadowFold]

Originally Posted by Ahhzz

Shadow, thanks for the input, I appreciate you taking the time to respond...





you can stop now.

I sure as hell will

[Ahhzz]

Originally Posted by ShadowFold

I sure as hell will

Sorry man. But I stated pretty plainly what I wanted up front...posting "Why do you need that???" over and over really doesn't add anything to the discussion. It's what he wants to spend, he has it to spend...and really, come on. I see your gear listed. Why do you 'need' what you have? Why do ANY of us really 'need' what we have or want? None of us are saving anything but a virtual world, or virtual maindens. We have what we have for the bragging rights, just because we can, some of it is 'in case'..... He gave me the money, said 'Spend this, and make me a computer able to play WoW without any problems". I can do that. I know he's not going to play WoW the rest of his life, and $1500 will get him a computer with a longer life to it than if he bought a prebuilt.

I do appreciate the responses, just..if you're going to make one, try to color inside the lines It's his coloring book, and his crayons. He just let me choose the colors

[alexp999]

Originally Posted by Ahhzz

Sorry man. But I stated pretty plainly what I wanted up front...posting "Why do you need that???" over and over really doesn't add anything to the discussion. It's what he wants to spend, he has it to spend...and really, come on. I see your gear listed. Why do you 'need' what you have? Why do ANY of us really 'need' what we have or want? None of us are saving anything but a virtual world, or virtual maindens. We have what we have for the bragging rights, just because we can, some of it is 'in case'..... He gave me the money, said 'Spend this, and make me a computer able to play WoW without any problems". I can do that. I know he's not going to play WoW the rest of his life, and $1500 will get him a computer with a longer life to it than if he bought a prebuilt.

You did ask in your original post, "Any thoughts anyone?". That implies to me you want people's opinions, shadow has given his opinions, and tbqh I agree with him (but thats another story).
And his system isnt a bragging system, none of it is the "best" (no offence shadow), he has a good performing system, a no frills get the job done system, a braggin system would be something like a QX9650, ROG mobo, 16gb DDR3 ram, two 4870X2's or 3 GTX280's etc.

I think we are just trying to work out why you are effectively going to "waste" money on a computer that could probably run three instances of the game at once. Unless he wants it future proofed for the next warcraft game, in which case thats another matter...

Moral of the story, dont ask for people's thoughts and then knock em down when they give them.

[Urbklr]

Don't bother with the GTX260's, I think 2 9600's or 8800GT's will do fine. All the higher end cards would do for him is increase his power bill.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103273 -cpu 235$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227347 -ram 85$, $30 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021 -antec 900 120$, $40MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136075 -hdd 160gig- 42$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371009 850watt Antec PSU -140$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009127 19" acer 160$
i dont know about amd mobos so just say $150 for that
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151171 DVD- 25$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814134042 2x 9800GX2 - $560
get XP the good way
total with out rebates- $1557

Add in shipping - est. 30$ subtract rebates ($70)- est- $1477

that will be a kick ass comp

[Katanai]

Yeah I was thinking to go Quad-Sli with this WOW system too but after seeing some comments I thought I would be burned at the stake.


For real now man. The most sensible approach I see here is to listen to all of us and practically look at all components posted and choose the best ones. The system I've posted would probably be overkill even for WOW 3 and 99.99999999999999999999% percent of games out there. Yeah Crysis is exactly that 0.0000000000000000001% statistic. You could either get the video cards I've posted and be certain that he will be able to play all games for 3 years from now on. Or get something like the x2 9600Gt's or if you stretch it a bit even 2x9800GTX + a nice BluRay drive. That should future proof the system as a media machine if he is not so keen on gaming. But I for one given that amount of money to spend on a PC I would end up with something very similar to that system only with an Intel CPU instead and I wouldn't ever have second thoughts about it...

[Ahhzz]

Originally Posted by alexp999

You did ask in your original post, "Any thoughts anyone?". That implies to me you want people's opinions, shadow has given his opinions, and tbqh I agree with him (but thats another story).

...

Moral of the story, dont ask for people's thoughts and then knock em down when they give them.

Fair enough, altho the "thoughts?" question, you gotta admit, was pretty directly a request for thoughts on what would be the best way to spend the $1500. I guess I just expected people to jump on the "Build a wicked machine with a souped up budget!!" and not really grouse about why I was building it, or what he was going to use it for.

For the future? Let's pretend I'm hoping to beta test Crysis 2 with this, ok?

[alexp999]

Originally Posted by Ahhzz

... Let's pretend I'm hoping to beta test Crysis 2 with this, ok?

Well in that case... I dont suppose there is any chance of convincing him Intel is the far better option. With anyone asking for a new system spending a lot of money, I am recommending to wait for nehalem. And I would recommend it here too. But if there is no budging from AMD/nvidia...

[farlex85]

Even for the beta of Crysis 2, this is an extremely ineffective build w/ these restraints. What will your friend say when he starts getting micro-stuttering w/ these massively overpowered cards in a simple game like wow? SLI will likely end up being worse than a single card in many ways, not to mention that there is, again, absolutely no need or benefit he will see from it. He ends up paying about $300+ more for extra problems that way. AMD is also a poor choice if your going for anything speedy right now. I mean, I say KTR's build is probably the most solid, and sure he'll be happy w/ it. We benchmark on this forum and like new technology, which is why we go over what we "need." My rig is under what I want, and always a work in progress, like many here. Your friend isn't benching or going to be working on his rig (afaik) and is just throwing away money in more ways than one for simple lack of reason, he thinks he knows what he wants w/o really knowing anything about it. If you'd like to keep it that way fine, but I'd at least try to educate him and get him to do a intel/ non-sli build.

[Katanai]

Originally Posted by farlex85

Even for the beta of Crysis 2, this is an extremely ineffective build w/ these restraints. What will your friend say when he starts getting micro-stuttering w/ these massively overpowered cards in a simple game like wow? SLI will likely end up being worse than a single card in many ways, not to mention that there is, again, absolutely no need or benefit he will see from it. AMD is also a poor choice if your going for anything speedy right now. I mean, I say CD Dude's build is probably the most solid, and sure he'll be happy w/ it. We benchmark on this forum and like new technology, which is why we go over what we "need." My rig is under what I want, and always a work in progress, like many here. Your friend isn't benching or going to be working on his rig (afaik) and is just throwing away money in more ways than one for simple lack of reason, he thinks he knows what he wants w/o really knowing anything about it. If you'd like to keep it that way fine, but I'd at least try to educate him and get him to do a intel/ non-sli build.

That's exactly the reason, my friend that the system I've posted is the best. You get micro stuttering? Fine then, just shut down SLI and use the second card for PhysX. How about that? One of those cards can play any game at any setting. A single 9600GT can't.Some people throw away double that amount in one second at a gambling table. Who are we to judge? If the guy wants a 1500$ PC let's just make sure he gets the best parts. Someone at this exact moment (probably) is buying a 5000$ Alienware system. And we argue over what?

[FatForester]

Originally Posted by Ahhzz

Fair enough, altho the "thoughts?" question, you gotta admit, was pretty directly a request for thoughts on what would be the best way to spend the $1500.

Not really. Saying "Given: $1500, Needs: WoW" is pretty ambiguous, since a lot of people here are excellent at building exactly what you need without any overspending. Shooting down Shadow for helping you out and trying to save you hundreds of dollars is irrational on your part, not his.

I've got to agree with him, as I used to (ashamedly) play WoW on my old computer on max settings @1280x1024. That was over 2 1/2 years ago on an AMD 3500+, 1GB DDR, and an X800XT. If all your friend is going to play is WoW, you could definitely build him a cheaper system suited to his needs instead of how much he's willing to spend.

If he has money to burn, then look at what KTR built up for you. That is an excellent system with the only thing I would reconsider is the sound card.