~$1000 Gaming Rig- need help on Mobo and Graphics Card

[HawkeyeRecon]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for taking a look at this. I've pulled the trigger on most of my parts but still need to decide on the motherboard and graphics card.

I have already ordered or received:
i5 2500k $205
Kingston SSDNow V100 Series SV100S2/64GZ 2.5" 64GB SATA II $65 after rebate
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4EG HD155UI 1.5TB 5400 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s $50
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) $45
LIAN LI PC-7FN Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower $70
Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-750 750W ATX12V v2.3 $65 after rebate

1. The PC will be for BF3 and general multimedia centerpiece.

2. I think the machine will be about $900-$1000 including OS. I've been buying parts over the past 2 months when they were on sale. I think I'd like to keep the mobo in the $100-$150 range and the graphics card in the $150-$220 range. I just ordered the processor so I need to build soon so I can return it within 30 days if there is an issue. Edit: I am looking for a Z68 chipset on the mobo.

3. I am in the US (FL).

4. No mobo brand preference although I have built with gigabyte before. For graphics I prefer Nvidia but wouldn't rule out ATI if they offered a much better value. My past 2 cards were MSI and EVGA

5. I'd like to have the ability to overclock in the future.

6. Gaming at 1920 x 1080. I want to run BF3 on high (I know the specs for that are up in the air) I just pre ordered BF3 on newegg for $48 yesterday.

7. Will be building once I pull the trigger on the last 2 parts and the OS (some type of Windows 7).

Any suggestions on what I should get for mobo and graphics card? Any hot deals on those parts or the OS? What do you think of the parts I have already ordered?

Thank you for any input you might have! I really appreciate it!

 

[lehtv]

Best rated p67 board on newegg, $150: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157265

At 1080p, I wouldn't recommend a 1GB card at this point. I can sort of see it coming that more and more games start using more memory than that... Some games already do. And the next generation of GPUs will have 2GB as standard. To get a 2GB card you'll need to either up the budget so you can afford a 6950 2GB, or wait.

What about sound card? Xonar DG is $21 at the moment, though it is out of stock...

 

[Ken g6]

Mobo's easy, unless you want to SLI/Xfire: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157251

Edit: If you want to SLI/Xfire or like Gigabyte: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502

With that, can you afford a $250 AR 6950 2GB?

 

[HawkeyeRecon]

Mobo's easy, unless you want to SLI/Xfire: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157251

Edit: If you want to SLI/Xfire or like Gigabyte: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128502

With that, can you afford a $250 AR 6950 2GB?

Interesting. I'm at $500 now so after OS I would be done for about $950. Any tips on where to get Windows 7 at a good price? My friend is a student and has a student #. Which version of Windows 7 is "good enough?" Thanks!

 

[T_Yamamoto]

HOME. 64 bit
home premium

 

[mfenn]

Mobo's easy, unless you want to SLI/Xfire: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157251

Edit: If you want to SLI/Xfire or like Gigabyte: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128502

With that, can you afford a $250 AR 6950 2GB?

:thumbsup: That fits within his $250-$370 total budget for the parts.

 

[mfenn]

Interesting. I'm at $500 now so after OS I would be done for about $950. Any tips on where to get Windows 7 at a good price? My friend is a student and has a student #. Which version of Windows 7 is "good enough?" Thanks!

Your friend's college should sell him a copy of Windows for very cheap. You will be breaking the rules though by using a copy that he bought, but I will leave that up your your own ethics.

 

[JorgeOlivera]

There's always http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/us/windows/buynow/default.aspx

You do need a .edu email though

 

[HawkeyeRecon]

There's always http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/us/windows/buynow/default.aspx

You do need a .edu email though

This is a new build. Would the upgrade disc work?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

well it should work. if not, go find an old copy of XP from a dell or something, install that, then upgrade.

 

[mfenn]

This is a new build. Would the upgrade disc work?

You can do a clean install of OS with the upgrade media, but if you don't have an old copy of Windows to "upgrade," you are breaking the EULA.

 

[HawkeyeRecon]

You can do a clean install of OS with the upgrade media, but if you don't have an old copy of Windows to "upgrade," you are breaking the EULA.

Thanks

 

[T_Yamamoto]

:O mfenn copied what i said xD

 

[mfenn]

:O mfenn copied what i said xD

Well, not really. You suggested installing XP and then upgrading. It's actually not possible to do an in-place upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7.