Best Computer for $3000?

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Miklebud

Miklebud

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 2002
2,459
1
81
My friend has been asking me to help him build a computer for a while now. He's got about $3000 to spend on a strictly gaming rig.
He knows he wants a DUAL CORE processor (Preferably AMD). SLI with 2 GTX's, about 300GB of storage, and 4GB of ram.

He will NOT be overclocking.
He does NOT need a monitor.
And Case will be his choice...

Any suggestions on:

CPU
Power Supply
RAM
MoBo

?
 
W

westihockey09

Member
Aug 3, 2006
94
0
0
Wow, he could make an incredible comp, first off, the best for gaming right now is core 2 duo @ 2.93ghz, 4 gigs of ram is unecessary but if he can spend it then sure. Get a 10000 rpm hardrive, will improve performance. Everything else sounds good.
 
A

alpha88

Senior member
Dec 29, 2000
877
0
76
Tell him to spend less, or just take a huge cut.

AM2 X2: ~300 bucks
AM2 SLi mobo: ~170
400 GB Seagate: ~120
Seasonic PSU: ~120
2x2GB DDR2: ~500
2x 7900GTO: ~500 (I'd get the GTOs from eVGA and then step up to 8800s soonish)

Looks like about $1500
 
C

crimson117

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2001
2,094
0
76
Originally posted by: alpha88
Tell him to spend less, or just take a huge cut.

AM2 X2: ~300 bucks
AM2 SLi mobo: ~170
400 GB Seagate: ~120
Seasonic PSU: ~120
2x2GB DDR2: ~500
2x 7900GTO: ~500 (I'd get the GTOs from eVGA and then step up to 8800s soonish)

Looks like about $1500
Click to expand...

That's $1700, but doesn't include a monitor or a case or a sound card.

First I'd replace the AMD parts and mobo with Intel C2D. At the same price points, C2D is faster than AMD's offerings (/cry).

Then I'd add an Antec P180 Case ($130) and a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty ($150) to the mix.

Maybe add a 10,000RPM raptor to use as the system and game files drive, with the 400GB as media storage.

Then add a nice big fast LCD for $500 or less, and save the last $500 for incidentals like games, keyboard/mouse, a good UPS, a legit Windows XP MCE 2005.
 
H

hardcandy2

Senior member
Feb 13, 2006
333
0
0
Wait a few weeks and get a quad Intel processor and a motherboard to handle it. Close to a $1000 on that probably.
Xi-fatality sound card, $400.
Logitech laser mouse.
One of those fancy keyboards with the backlight keys.
$500-600 on a good speaker system.
$300 headphones if he is married.
One of those WD drives with the window in the housing.
800 watt PSU, $300.
And $600 on a DX10 video card.
 
R

ryan256

Platinum Member
Jul 22, 2005
2,514
0
71
Well..... I was bored so here is my stab at the sub $3k gaming rig.
A quick rundown:
Intel Core2 6700
Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe
4GB Corsair DDR2-800
2x eVGA 7950GX2 Video Cards
PC P&C 750watt PSU
Seagate 320gb SATA Hard Drive
Creative X-Fi sound card
Arctic Freezer 7 Pro fan & heat sink

Comments? Opinions??
 
Y

YoungGun21

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2006
2,546
1
81
Originally posted by: hardcandy2
Wait a few weeks and get a quad Intel processor and a motherboard to handle it. Close to a $1000 on that probably.
Xi-fatality sound card, $400.
Logitech laser mouse.
One of those fancy keyboards with the backlight keys.
$500-600 on a good speaker system.
$300 headphones if he is married.
One of those WD drives with the window in the housing.
800 watt PSU, $300.
And $600 on a DX10 video card.
Click to expand...


I hope you're joking...

E6700 or X6800
X1950XTX (or a 8800GTX)
X1950 Crossfire mastercard or whatever (or another 8800GTX)
Gigabyte DQ6 or Asus P5B Deluxe
Name brand (Corsair, Mushkin, etc, : NOT OCZ) DDR2 800 RAM, 4GB like you said
Probably a 1KW PSU if you plan on the 8800GTX SLI but only like 750W if you don't

You don't need a $400 sound card, $300 headphones, or even a quad core processor...

 
N

Noema

Platinum Member
Feb 15, 2005
2,974
0
0
I love AMD, but I have to admit: the CD2 are simply superior from a price-performance ratio at this point. Tell that to your friend :) and suggest a E6700 or a X6800, and show him some benchies :)
 
Miklebud

Miklebud

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 2002
2,459
1
81
He was just graced with a new Credit Card, so there's no waiting for him. :p He wanted to bite the bullet NOW. :) He was adamant on AMD. :/ So in the end:

AMD 5200+
ASUS Crosshair
OCZ Gold 4GB DDR2 800
2x Seagate 7200.9 160GB
Fortron 700W PSU
1 eVGA 7950GX2 (he said he'd buy another when the driver is released for QuadSLI)
Soundblaster X-Fi 7.1
2 Samsung DVD burners
WinXP MCE

The case I left up to him. And this was well under the $3000. Around $2200. So I told him to buy a monster monitor. :)
 
C

CurseTheSky

Diamond Member
Oct 21, 2006
5,401
2
0
Originally posted by: Miklebud
He was just graced with a new Credit Card, so there's no waiting for him. :p He wanted to bite the bullet NOW. :) He was adamant on AMD. :/ So in the end:

AMD 5200+
ASUS Crosshair
OCZ Gold 4GB DDR2 800
2x Seagate 7200.9 160GB
Fortron 700W PSU
1 eVGA 7950GX2 (he said he'd buy another when the driver is released for QuadSLI)
Soundblaster X-Fi 7.1
2 Samsung DVD burners
WinXP MCE

The case I left up to him. And this was well under the $3000. Around $2200. So I told him to buy a monster monitor. :)
Click to expand...

All that, and still only half the performance he could have had for A) buying Intel, and B) waiting about 2-3 weeks for the new hardware to come out. Oh well, to each their own.

#1 2x Seagate 7200.9 160GB - I HIGHLY suggest reconsidering these. Get a 150GB Raptor and a 320GB 7200.10.

#2 Tell him not to buy another GX2. Instead, just use the Step-up program from eVGA to trade in the GX2 for an 8800GTX in a month or two.

#3 Why two DVD burners?

#4 Even though I'd definately go with Intel these days, if I was forced to buy AMD, that's the processor and motherboard I'd get. Good choice.

#5 Lastly, credit debt is bad. Be careful.
 
Miklebud

Miklebud

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 2002
2,459
1
81
Like I said, he wasnt about to wait. And he was adamant and sure he wanted AMD, I tried to sway him to no avail. :( And he did mention the Step-Up Program just a minute ago. :) Two DVD Burners for quicker copying?
 
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Nightmare225

Golden Member
May 20, 2006
1,661
0
0
Baaaad idea. Did you even show him the benchies of the Core 2 Duo? Buying an X2 for a $3000 system is a joke, and he'll be feeling the pain once more CPU-demanding games can stress it. Hell, my $2000 rig is better than that... :(
 
P

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
13,837
4
0
Originally posted by: Miklebud
Like I said, he wasnt about to wait. And he was adamant and sure he wanted AMD, I tried to sway him to no avail. :( And he did mention the Step-Up Program just a minute ago. :) Two DVD Burners for quicker copying?
Click to expand...

If he won't listen to what he should get for the best price/performance...then us and you should not help him...tell him to just go buy whatever he already had his heart set on and waste his money...
 
J

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Miklebud
Like I said, he wasnt about to wait. And he was adamant and sure he wanted AMD, I tried to sway him to no avail. :( And he did mention the Step-Up Program just a minute ago. :) Two DVD Burners for quicker copying?
Click to expand...

If he won't listen to what he should get for the best price/performance...then us and you should not help him...tell him to just go buy whatever he already had his heart set on and waste his money...
Click to expand...

No sh!t. If he is retarded enough to go with AMD for a gaming rig for $3000, he's not smart enough to make his own decisions. Point him to the Dell site and be done with him.
 
A

Atheus

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2005
7,313
2
0
Why 4GB? 4 will be slower than 2, and only about 1.5 will be used by games anyway.

And I'm a huge AMD fan - but get the Intel.

Originally posted by: YoungGun21
Name brand (Corsair, Mushkin, etc, : NOT OCZ) DDR2 800 RAM, 4GB like you said
Click to expand...

WTF is wrong with OCZ? They have some of the best memory in existance, I'd have OCZ over Corsair for an extreme rig any day.
 
D

dBTelos

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2006
1,858
0
0
For a PSU, tell him a Corsair HX620W. Then a FSP Booster X3 to add on if he needs more power.
 
D

dexvx

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2000
3,899
0
0
If he doesn't want advice, then tell him to buy an Alienware or FalconNW.
 
A

Atheus

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2005
7,313
2
0
Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: Atheus
Why 4GB? 4 will be slower than 2
Click to expand...
Can you prove that?
Click to expand...

2GB sticks are slower than 1GB sticks, and many systems have problems running 4 sticks, especially when overclocking. Besides, 4GB is almost definitely not needed, it would just be a waste of money.
 
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dBTelos

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2006
1,858
0
0
Everytime you buy something from Alienware a little kitten is killed, haven't you seen the pictures!
 
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