• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Build Advice $1,000 for major items

TwinsenTacquito

TwinsenTacquito

Senior member
Yep, I registered just to post this. I'm sure I'll stick around, when my system gets a bit slow I end up spending tens of hours on this site anyway.

Anyway, a friend's computer just went down. I spent a few minutes looking it over until I saw some big capacitors blown wide open on his mobo. Rut roes! He's got no backup. I haven't been keeping up, because my rock solid totally average system of 2 years ago is still holding me strong. So I'm clueless right now. DDR3 happened?! Boy am I out of it.

~Gaming computer, to be future proof for 5 years or so. We're replacing a 7800GT here.
~$1,000 for major components, not including PSU
~Got an Antec Neo Power Blue 650 PSU, that should work I hope.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371010
~Got a floppy drive, an IDE DVD/RW, and an IDE 80gb seagate drive, it looks like new motherboards only have one IDE, so I guess bye bye DVD, floppy too?
~In the USA, probably buying from NewEgg
~No brand preference. Prefer big names though, for continued support. I bought a Chaintech motherboard once... once.
~I am not overclocking, he's not that crazy about this stuff and I'm not gonna wrench for him all day.
~He's got a big old CRT @1900x1440 (or whatever) and a new $1200 projector that's 1080p, and it sits next to a new receiver with some nice speakers
~In a hurry to build it, he's got nothing but good weather for a few days.

1. Power supply - that 650 should be good, right?

2. Case - looking to spend around $50 on this. He has one with a tiny fan, but I'm probably gonna replace it on him. I've used the case in the below link for 4 builds just because of the 120mm front and rear fans. Looks don't matter at all. Just want it to run cold. This case isn't available anymore, and I'm sure somebody knows why it was a bad choice even though I love it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147113

3. Motherboard

4. CPU

5. Heatsink/fan for the CPU - I have a liquid cool block on his current system. I forget the model, but the proc was an AMD 939 dual core

6. Memory

7. Primary hard drive - I figure a 250gb for system and a 750gb SATA, no raid or anything... but crap what has changed?

8. Primary optical drive - $50 BluRay drive

9. Video card - new tech, good performance (not crazy), dx11 if possible

10. Operating System - gonna be 64bit, dunno vista or 7. I'm running vista myself, because I know I won't have to screw around with anything, just have the thing work.

11. Snacks - twizzlers, 2lb bag. Manual laborer, kid goes through candy.

Nothing else needed that I can think of. Got bad speakers, bad keyboard, $2 mouse, all that business covered. No sound card, no tv tuner, nothing special.

Thanks for any help you guys can give me, my friend Nick is in a tight spot and I haven't been keeping up enough to just put together anything without a ton of research. And now that it is 7am, I am going to bed.
 
Nope, never heard of it until now. Looks like the closest one is 2 hours away. There's a couple computer places in town. One's a fix it type place that always has the right cables, and the other you go and they help you... pick out a Dell.

.....SDD in desktops?! Apparently I've spent too much time at the range. No wait, that's impossible.

Found what I think is a good starting point, 5770. 1GB! I'm all giddy.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102858

I had $250 planned out for a videocard, $200 for the processor. I was thinking since he does a lot of RPG stuff like Torchlight/Diablo 2/Diablo 3, to go heavier on the processor than I would for a build for myself. I haven't even glanced at new procs... sigh.
 
Last edited:
5770 looks alright, you could probably go even faster. Take your pick on a case around 50 bucks, I think the antec 300 or 900 is around there right now, which is a very solid performer.

Core i5 or an AMD quad core would both be solid for that build.

Theres tons of good MB's for those chips. Throw 4-6gb of DDR3 in there and call it good.


I'm a little lazy to get links right now, sorry I just downed 3 pieces of glorious chicago style pizza and am in no mood to do anything right now 😀.


Just thinking about it, for 1000 bucks.


250 vid
200 ram
200 processor
150 MB

thats 800

HDD's, case, and any other funtimes and you're set.

Alternatively, if you want an SSD, cut down on a couple things (like maybe a tad less on ram and video/mainboard) and get an SSD as a boot drive.
 
TwinsenTacquito said:
~Gaming computer, to be future proof for 5 years or so. We're replacing a 7800GT here.
~$1,000 for major components, not including PSU
~Got an Antec Neo Power Blue 650 PSU, that should work I hope.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371010
~Got a floppy drive, an IDE DVD/RW, and an IDE 80gb seagate drive, it looks like new motherboards only have one IDE, so I guess bye bye DVD, floppy too?
Click to expand...

5 years is too optimistic. Things change rapidly especially when it comes to gaming.

The PSU should be fine even for a 5870.

I say keep the DVD/RW and dump/sell/donate floppy, HDD

~He's got a big old CRT @1900x1440 (or whatever) and a new $1200 projector that's 1080p
Click to expand...

A Radeon 5850 is his bet at that resolution.
 
I updated the list. Um... now I'm having trouble with the price. I'm thinking the RPGing he does would benefit from SSD, RAM, and CPU more than video card. What makes Torchlight and D3 tick? Just CPU?

He's gonna want this $50 BluRay player. He just spent $1200 on that projector. So I'll just ask him if he wants 2 optics drives or the extra 80gb of storage.

nickcart.jpg


I think I might have to cut back to a 5770. "Dangit!"
 
TwinsenTacquito said:
Nope, never heard of it until now. Looks like the closest one is 2 hours away. There's a couple computer places in town. One's a fix it type place that always has the right cables, and the other you go and they help you... pick out a Dell.

.....SDD in desktops?! Apparently I've spent too much time at the range. No wait, that's impossible.

Found what I think is a good starting point, 5770. 1GB! I'm all giddy.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102858

I had $250 planned out for a videocard, $200 for the processor. I was thinking since he does a lot of RPG stuff like Torchlight/Diablo 2/Diablo 3, to go heavier on the processor than I would for a build for myself. I haven't even glanced at new procs... sigh.
Click to expand...

Microcenter might be worth the drive, as they have ridiculous deals on CPUs. They've recently had the I7 920 for $170 ($100 less than newegg) and the 930 for $190 (also around $100 less than newegg). Both are powerful CPUs.

You can get a 5850 for the 1920 monitor, but it's not necessary. It would just run the most baller FPS games at good settings. Stuff like Diablo 3, SC 2 won't challenge a 5770 too much at that res.
 
I'm not gonna drive 4 hours to get my bud a deal on a CPU. TY for the idea though. I'll keep my eye out for one if it opens closer. Like... in my state.


nickcartiyt.jpg


Everything but case, I believe.


SDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167023

HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148395

MOBO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128416

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103727

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227365

VC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102858

BluRay
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106325

I make any stupid mistakes? Something I'm spending way too much on for no reason?
 
Last edited:
Go for this video card instead.. it runs cooler and quieter than the reference model

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102868

I prefer phenom II 955 instead of a 965.. for a savings of $20 and use an aftermarket cooler. A cooler master hyper 212+

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-065-_-Product

EDIT: If you can get by using a 40 GB SSD newegg has a stunning deal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-025-_-Product

Also there is SSD super sale tomorrow on newegg so wait for tomorrow before buying an 80 GB SSD
 
Last edited:
I <3 you guys already. I gotta go to the range ASAP, beat this sun from setting. When I get back I'll look at the replacement suggestions and take them. That's the exact type of help I needed, guys!

All I gotta do then is randomly pick out a case that looks like it has 2 nice big fans on it.

Thanks again, my bud was in a jam!
 
Power supply on the bowwttom?! Dern kids and yer newfangled case design. Back in my day you'd get tarred and feathered for even suggesting such a thing.

I'll do it just because it looks fun.:awe:
 
Oh yeah, that's the new thing. I like it better, actually. Makes cable management easier.
 
I figured that was the purpose. So you don't have PSU cables hanging down over stuff. Can't wait till the stuff shows up and I can slap her togedder.
 
NICKYCARTOMG.jpg


Turns out he was up for everything. I explained the difference between the two vid cards, he said he wanted the 58... ok! $1400 is the new $1000?


Thanks for everything, guys. Now starts the countdown until I ask about RAM settings! 1600mhz?! Whut? They run that fast now?
 
Last edited:
Not sure if this will be an issue but the GSkill DDR3 1600 2Gb sticks approved for that Gigabyte motherboard would be either the CL9D-BNQ or CL7D-ECO.




--
 
Also you bought a triple channel kit, whereas AMD processors support dual channel memory. I don't think this will be an issue but generally we use 2 or 4 DIMM's.

Why don't you suggest your friend to go for gigabyte's 890 GX motherboard, It has sata 6Gbps, USB 3 a better southbridge, northbridge and on board video in case your video card messes up all this and for the same price.
 
TwinsenTacquito said:
How important would it be to have 7lat over the 9lat? I'm used to looking at 800mhz 5lats..
Click to expand...

Unless you're running SuperPI all day long, save the money and get the CAS 9 stuff.

EDIT: Also remember that CAS latency is given in terms of clock cycles. So, 1600MHz CAS 9 is equivalent to 800MHz CAS 4.5 in terms of actual latency (i.e. nanoseconds between memory operations).
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top