$1000 Gaming Rig - Hardware & Software

Does not need: Monitor Speaker system Mouse Keyboard Peripherals [editline]11:43AM[/editline] Account for OS prices, I plan on buying Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade (I'm using XP currently) [editline]11:45AM[/editline] Current Specs, let me know what I can salvage: [code]Operating System MS Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3 CPU AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 47 °C ClawHammer 0.13um Technology RAM 2.0GB Dual-Channel DDR @ 201MHz 2.5-4-4-6 Motherboard ASUSTeK Computer INC. A8N-SLI (Socket 939) Graphics IBML150/L150p @ 1024x768 IBM T84H @ 1280x1024 256MB RADEON X800 Series (ATI) Hard Drives 195.36GB Western Digital WDC WD2000JD-00HBB0 (IDE) 39 °C 488.40GB NVIDIA STRIPE 465.77G (SCSI) Optical Drives SONY DVD RW DW-D26A Audio USB Audio Device[/code]

OS - [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116713[/URL] RAM - [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260[/URL] Motherboard - [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131604[/URL] Video Card - [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150494[/URL] Processor + Case - [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.416435[/URL] Power Supply + HDD - [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.425516[/URL] Reuse your DVD drive. Comes to $1010.92

I figured so. [editline]12:16PM[/editline] Any other builds? I noticed you put in a Core i5, but the PSU says its compatible with Core i7 only. Explanation would be nice.

It just means that it will work with an i7. Its a marketing gimmick.

[QUOTE=Undomian;22800588]It just means that it will work with an i7. Its a marketing gimmick.[/QUOTE] Ah okay. What would you rate this build? (Yes I got it from someone else but I changed a few things.) I'm not putting yours off completely, I'm just trying to find the best possible build for gaming in $1000 dollars. [url]http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=14973166[/url]

That power supply seems to be very prone to failure and doesn't put out what its rated at, the corsair RAM is cheaper and has the same performance, and that motherboard is a bit expensive for a budget AMD build.

[QUOTE=Undomian;22801112]That power supply seems to be very prone to failure and doesn't put out what its rated at, the corsair RAM is cheaper and has the same performance, and that motherboard is a bit expensive for a budget AMD build.[/QUOTE] Ah okay. How is your build 10 dollars more expensive though? Confusing if you ask me. Found out why its more expensive. The motherboard you suggested is more expensive then what I had.

Intel motherboards and processors are generally more expensive than their AMD counterparts.

[QUOTE=Undomian;22801324]Intel motherboards and processors are generally more expensive than their AMD counterparts.[/QUOTE] As well as better. Generally.

[QUOTE=Undomian;22801112]That power supply seems to be very prone to failure and doesn't put out what its rated at, the corsair RAM is cheaper and has the same performance, and that motherboard is a bit expensive for a budget AMD build.[/QUOTE] You mean that OCZ PSU? OCZ PSUs aren't prone to failure.

Actually some of their 'gamer' PSUs have a high failure rate Kiwi

Get G.Skill Ripjaw ram

It seems to me that Intel is better for gaming now?

You should go with an AMD build. Cheaper MOBO and processor might allow for an HD5830 crossfire. *Edit Phenom II and Core i5 perform the same for games, with Core i7 being the same on average but slightly better.

Alright. Can you make a list of the build?

[QUOTE=ferrus;22801386]Actually some of their 'gamer' PSUs have a high failure rate Kiwi[/QUOTE] I guess my computer's screwed then? I have a 600W ModXStream. :saddowns:

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGMBOX MSI 870A-G54 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.397502[/url] Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $229.98 OCZ Gold Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G10664GK POWERCOLOR PCS+ AX5770 1GBD5-PPG Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 CrossFireX Support Video Card [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.416722[/url] Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $212.98 CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 ... SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.425516[/url] Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $129.98 $580..buy another powercolor PCS+ HD5770..$730...OS $120..$850..Antec 900 for $80..[url]http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16811129021[/url] $930.

Which is better: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198[/url] or [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130275[/url]

[QUOTE=GamerKiwi;22801688]I guess my computer's screwed then? I have a 600W ModXStream. :saddowns:[/QUOTE] I said failure rate not guaranteed failure, and besides OCZ will replace it if it does go.

Oh come on I got ninja'd with the mother board

I'd probably go with the ASrock because of the 8x/8x crossfire. But 16x/4x doesn't bottleneck cards...maybe 1% or 2%.

Auto merge broken again. Okay, let me put this all into a wishlist and see what it comes out to, then I'll show you guys. [editline]01:31PM[/editline] Stop

[QUOTE=supergiff8;22801925]Which is better: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198[/url] or [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130275[/url][/QUOTE] I would avoid Asrock because of their terrible warranty policy. Most will agree that there are three main motherboard brands to buy from: Gigabyte, Asus, and MSI In terms of specs the Asrock has better crossfire ability, but crossfire is usually best avoided anyway.

Awesome guys. I love the help. Shadow, that looks like a really good build so I am going with it. One question, isn't putting dual video cards in your computer crossfiring?

[QUOTE]One question, isn't putting dual video cards in your computer crossfiring? [/QUOTE] Yes. But it is almost always better to buy a faster single card, because unfortunately the second card isn't a 100% performance boost, i.e you don't get 2X the performance. If you choose to take my advice here and ignore crossfire, you do not need anywhere near a TX 650W PSU to power one 5770. A good 500W PSU would be suitable.

[QUOTE=ferrus;22802461]Yes. But it is almost always better to buy a faster single card, because unfortunately the second card isn't a 100% performance boost, i.e you don't get 2X the performance.[/QUOTE] Oh. Crossfiring the 5770's was cheaper than buying a single 5850 anyways. But by the looks of it, I'm going to get more power than a single 5850.

Okay. Get this RAM though because the kit Shadow chose is crap: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260&cm_re=4gb_ddr3_1600-_-20-145-260-_-Product[/url]

The 5770's will allow my dual monitor setup correct? [editline]01:59PM[/editline] Thats gonna make my price go up a little bit, but okay, I'd rather have a quality product that will actually work.

[QUOTE=GamerKiwi;22801688]I guess my computer's screwed then? I have a 600W ModXStream. :saddowns:[/QUOTE] the stealthxstreams and modxstreams are fine it's the fatal1ties that people tend to have problems with

[QUOTE=NecroTitan;22801337]As well as better. Generally.[/QUOTE] Not necessarily [I]better[/I] in that way of thinking. It depends on how you look at it. Intel/NVIDIA are usually more powerful parts, while they - funny enough - tend to consume more power and produce more heat. AMD/ATi tend to be the preferred [I]bang for the buck[/I] component. The price:performance ratio tend to be more budget-friendly.