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Building a gaming computer


trix994

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Hi, I'm planing on building a gaming computer and would like some suggestions as to what hardware to buy to build it.

my budget is $1200 USD and that has to cover everything including keyboard, mouse, monitor, OS, taxes, and shipping.

I do not have any parts that I am reusing from an older computer.

Thanks for any help.

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I'm thinking 1TB HDD, i7 970 or 960/950 (I don't know how good hexcore tech is), 6GB DDR3, hence a socket 1366+ddr3ram motherboard. I'll have a look for speific parts in the morning.

Meanwhile, some advice on what sort of monitor/keyboard/mouse you want - we can give suggestions, but not pick for you, because it really is personal preference.

RIP TET

 

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"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche

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I'm thinking 1TB HDD, i7 970 or 960/950 (I don't know how good hexcore tech is), 6GB DDR3, hence a socket 1366+ddr3ram motherboard. I'll have a look for speific parts in the morning.

Meanwhile, some advice on what sort of monitor/keyboard/mouse you want - we can give suggestions, but not pick for you, because it really is personal preference.

 

Not for $1200.

 

Firstly, we should know how seriously you want to game with this pc. Do you want something massive that can play the games of the future faster than your brain (high-end)? Or do you want something that's pretty mindblowing for a newbie, but defintely can upgrade (midrange). Because you won't get high end for $1200. Midrange will be fine to play everything you want to play without any real problems, even if it's not at the absolute max settings.

 

I had around the same budget, and got something like this (I can get specifics later, for parts and price, if you really want them). It's a midrange pc, and the most effort I've put on it so far is Bad Company 2 - which it handles quite smoothly and quietly:

 

(From Newegg:)

GIGABYTE MOBO $120

AMD 4-core Phenom II (3.4ghz) $130

RADEON HD 5770 $150

650W PSU $80

4GB DDR3 RAM $100

Case $20

500gb HDD $60?

Optical Drive $20

 

(From local Bestbuy:)

21.5in Monitor $180

Logitech K120 keyboard (Bestbuy didn't have this, actually - Office Max) $20

Game and Headset $40

 

I came close to $1200 (I forget my actual total and I prefer not to think about it. And I didn't add the above numbers.) - and I didn't pay for Windows (another $100) or a mouse or speakers.

 

 

Here's my tips:

Buy what you can locally - monitors and keyboards will usually be cheaper and just as good.

Don't go for an i7 processor unless you want to seriously up your budget. AMD is fine for midrange, unless you want to stretch a little for an i5.

4gb of RAM is enough. If you need more, get more.

Get a surplus of Power in your PSU. If you calculate 500W necesary, get 600W (I think Newegg's calculator said I would need maybe 400W).

 

That's all I can think of atm.... I may have forgotten something, I'm not an expert =P

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Intel processors are hardcore for overclocking but a bit overkill for your budget. However as i have experienced lately with my 5870, AMD graphic cards do really suck... Whatever you do, get yourself a stable Nvidia card ;-)

My lame drops:
6 Effigys
1 D Med - 1 D Dagger
1 Verac's Helmet - 1 Guthan's Platebody

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Intel processors are hardcore for overclocking but a bit overkill for your budget. However as i have experienced lately with my 5870, AMD graphic cards do really suck... Whatever you do, get yourself a stable Nvidia card ;-)

 

Not true for both statements, and this is coming from an owner of an X2 555 and GTX 460.

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I'm thinking 1TB HDD, i7 970 or 960/950 (I don't know how good hexcore tech is), 6GB DDR3, hence a socket 1366+ddr3ram motherboard. I'll have a look for speific parts in the morning.

Meanwhile, some advice on what sort of monitor/keyboard/mouse you want - we can give suggestions, but not pick for you, because it really is personal preference.

 

Not for $1200.

 

 

MOTHERBOARD: MSI X58 Pro-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - $179.99

 

GFX: DIAMOND 5770PE51G Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $149.99

 

RAM: G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ $66.99

CPU: Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950 $294.99

 

PSU: Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - $69.99

CASE: This is really up to you, but hers an Antec 900 for you -$99.99

 

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $39.99

 

Total comes to $901.93.

 

I have to say, I don't really know the difference between AMD and Intel Processors. i7-950 is 3.06GHz quad core, whereas you can get an AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz for $99.99...?

But yeah, that give you $300 to play around with for monitor+keyboard+mouse+os.

Do forgive me if I've missd anything from the list... :P

RIP TET

 

original.png

 

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche

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I'm thinking 1TB HDD, i7 970 or 960/950 (I don't know how good hexcore tech is), 6GB DDR3, hence a socket 1366+ddr3ram motherboard. I'll have a look for speific parts in the morning.

Meanwhile, some advice on what sort of monitor/keyboard/mouse you want - we can give suggestions, but not pick for you, because it really is personal preference.

 

Not for $1200.

 

 

MOTHERBOARD: MSI X58 Pro-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - $179.99

 

GFX: DIAMOND 5770PE51G Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $149.99

 

RAM: G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ $66.99

CPU: Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950 $294.99

 

PSU: Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - $69.99

CASE: This is really up to you, but hers an Antec 900 for you -$99.99

 

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $39.99

 

Total comes to $901.93.

 

I have to say, I don't really know the difference between AMD and Intel Processors. i7-950 is 3.06GHz quad core, whereas you can get an AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz for $99.99...?

But yeah, that give you $300 to play around with for monitor+keyboard+mouse+os.

Do forgive me if I've missd anything from the list... :P

 

Hiss.

 

Intel is generally higher quality. There may be specific things that lead to such, but that's the generality of it.

For a medium sized budget (say, $1200), AMD is good because you'll get the power for cheaper, even if it's slightly less reliable. For something really high-end, you'd best be shooting for an i7. I use an AMD Phenom II x4 (Black Edition), and I haven't had any problems (at least, nothing seemingly related to my processor).

 

Oh, and an OS (Windows) and monitor will probably sum up to close or past $300.

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I'm thinking 1TB HDD, i7 970 or 960/950 (I don't know how good hexcore tech is), 6GB DDR3, hence a socket 1366+ddr3ram motherboard. I'll have a look for speific parts in the morning.

Meanwhile, some advice on what sort of monitor/keyboard/mouse you want - we can give suggestions, but not pick for you, because it really is personal preference.

 

Not for $1200.

 

 

 

MOTHERBOARD: MSI X58 Pro-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - $179.99

 

GFX: DIAMOND 5770PE51G Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $149.99

 

RAM: G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ $66.99

CPU: Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950 $294.99

 

PSU: Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - $69.99

CASE: This is really up to you, but hers an Antec 900 for you -$99.99

 

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $39.99

 

Total comes to $901.93.

 

I have to say, I don't really know the difference between AMD and Intel Processors. i7-950 is 3.06GHz quad core, whereas you can get an AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz for $99.99...?

But yeah, that give you $300 to play around with for monitor+keyboard+mouse+os.

Do forgive me if I've missd anything from the list... :P

 

 

Hiss.

 

Intel is generally higher quality. There may be specific things that lead to such, but that's the generality of it.

For a medium sized budget (say, $1200), AMD is good because you'll get the power for cheaper, even if it's slightly less reliable. For something really high-end, you'd best be shooting for an i7. I use an AMD Phenom II x4 (Black Edition), and I haven't had any problems (at least, nothing seemingly related to my processor).

 

Oh, and an OS (Windows) and monitor will probably sum up to close or past $300.

Windows Home Premium x64 is $120 max. Monitors are going for ~$100 too. I'd say he's within budget. The i7 has 8MB of L2 though :s and overclockable.

RIP TET

 

original.png

 

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche

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I'm thinking 1TB HDD, i7 970 or 960/950 (I don't know how good hexcore tech is), 6GB DDR3, hence a socket 1366+ddr3ram motherboard. I'll have a look for speific parts in the morning.

Meanwhile, some advice on what sort of monitor/keyboard/mouse you want - we can give suggestions, but not pick for you, because it really is personal preference.

 

Not for $1200.

 

 

MOTHERBOARD: MSI X58 Pro-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - $179.99

 

GFX: DIAMOND 5770PE51G Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $149.99

 

RAM: G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ $66.99

CPU: Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950 $294.99

 

PSU: Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - $69.99

CASE: This is really up to you, but hers an Antec 900 for you -$99.99

 

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $39.99

 

Total comes to $901.93.

 

I have to say, I don't really know the difference between AMD and Intel Processors. i7-950 is 3.06GHz quad core, whereas you can get an AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz for $99.99...?

But yeah, that give you $300 to play around with for monitor+keyboard+mouse+os.

Do forgive me if I've missd anything from the list... :P

 

Hiss.

 

Intel is generally higher quality. There may be specific things that lead to such, but that's the generality of it.

For a medium sized budget (say, $1200), AMD is good because you'll get the power for cheaper, even if it's slightly less reliable. For something really high-end, you'd best be shooting for an i7. I use an AMD Phenom II x4 (Black Edition), and I haven't had any problems (at least, nothing seemingly related to my processor).

 

Oh, and an OS (Windows) and monitor will probably sum up to close or past $300.

AMD processors are as reliable as Intel processors. The difference is in the specs.

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