Build me a gaming PC for $600-800 plz

[ManBearPig]

Damn! HDD prices are back up again?!

 

[Skott]

I don't think we'll see pre flood hard drive prices again until next year sometime. From everything I have heard it is pretty much messed up over there in Thailand. You'll just need to figure out what you want before hand and then look for the deals when they come if they come. My guess the deals will not be often or much of a price difference even with the holiday sales. Unfortunately due to nature the consumer is screwed on hard drive pricing for a while. Just me speculating based on what I hear and see on the Net and tv.

 

[Subyman]

Damn! HDD prices are back up again?!

Go around to your local brick and mortar stores like Walmart, Best Buy, Staples, etc. Sometimes you can find HDDs in those stores for normal prices. They don't last long as people are hitting up those stores and reselling.

 

[ManBearPig]

So...i will go with the 2500K per your advice.

As for GPU, is there a favorite between AMD/ATI and Nvidia? Which card would you suggest that I start saving for/looking for deals on?

I'm looking for concrete info so I can piece the rest of the system together within my budget.

 

[mfenn]

So...i will go with the 2500K per your advice.

As for GPU, is there a favorite between AMD/ATI and Nvidia? Which card would you suggest that I start saving for/looking for deals on?

The best "high-end" bang for the buck is the 6950 2GB. If you can't afford that, the 6870 is a stellar deal at $150.

I'm looking for concrete info so I can piece the rest of the system together within my budget.

Lehtv's build in post #7 with my Amazon links in the next post is solid.

 

[ManBearPig]

Alright, so i've come up with a couple things that if you guys ok, i will be able to get this put together much faster.

1)I can get Win7 for cheap, but i KNOW this build will go over budget, so im trying to save every penny. Can I use Vista 64 bit in the interim?

2)Can I just use my 52" Samsung HDTV as my monitor until i can afford a decent real monitor?

3)Can I use a PS3 controller to play PC games? If i could, omfg that would be sweet and that way I could play with my nephews too.

Approve/disapprove?

 

[lehtv]

Approve (1) if u already own Vista, approve (2) as well. Wouldn't do (3) myself because one of the advantages of PC gaming is that you don't have to use a controller... but to each his own; not all games support controllers though (at least not directly, there may be some 3rd party software to do it).

 

[ManBearPig]

Yessss! Thanks man!

I asked in the skyrim thread if on my tv skyrim would look better than ps3 and someone said they doubt it since its the same resolution. But I thought it would look a ton better since it has more effects like AA and it would run smoother.

 

[lehtv]

With antialiasing, texture mods and post-processing mods (bloom, sharpening, color correction etc) it will look better on PC.

And framerate will be better. I'm not entirely sure but isn't Skyrim on consoles capped to 30fps? On PC you will get 60fps most of the time on Ultra with a 2500K and 6950.

 

[ManBearPig]

I'm gonna need to start finding deals on the GPU and CPU. That'll be the bulk of my money. The ram, hdd, mobo and case shouldn't cost too much.

 

[Skott]

MC has the 2500k on sale for $150 on Black Friday. You'd have to go early though since supplies will be limited. Great price though if you can snag one.

 

[ManBearPig]

MC has the 2500k on sale for $150 on Black Friday. You'd have to go early though since supplies will be limited. Great price though if you can snag one.

Ughhhh I live in indy though! I have a frys near me though. I'd soooo take a MC over frys.

 

[ManBearPig]

Oh yeah, can I use some AS5 that's like 6/7 months old?

 

[sm625]

I use old paste all the time. I recently found a tube that's like 8 years old.

 

[ManBearPig]

1)if I can buy a i5-2500k for $180, should i do it now? Or will it drop soon?

2)Is it imperative I get 1.5V ram or is 1.8V ram better?

 

[hondaf17]

You said you already have the monitor, mouse and keyboard.

AMD isn't anywhere near Intel's quad-core performance. Compare: fastest AMD quad vs i5-2500K. It's not wise on your budget to spend on anything less than an i5-2400. If you're concerned about budget, the SSD would be the first thing to drop, you can always add it later. I think a sub-$1000 gaming build is fine without an SSD. It takes such a large chunk of the budget that it's debatable if it's worth it for a gamer, even though it'll make the OS more responsive.

Just been following this thread. Wow, intel really does destroy AMD. The 2500k even knocks out AMD's Thuban 6-core chips. As a long-time AMD fan (and current AMD shareholder) I go AMD whenever I can but as a rational buyer that values price/performance the 2500k seems to be the better option...

 

[fffblackmage]

Oh yeah, can I use some AS5 that's like 6/7 months old?

Old should be fine still, but just don't 're-use.' There might be some separation with old paste, but I've heard people just mix it back together and it works just fine.

1)if I can buy a i5-2500k for $180, should i do it now? Or will it drop soon?

2)Is it imperative I get 1.5V ram or is 1.8V ram better?

1. I am not sure if I would expect a price drop, but Microcenter usually has a good deal or combo with a mobo for the i5-2500K.

2. 1.8V is the standard voltage for DDR2.

1.5V is the standard voltage for DDR3, and while it's not required, it's strongly recommended. Higher voltage has no advantages and several cons (possibly lower quality ram chips, bad for CPU's memory controller, higher power consumption/dissipation, etc).

 

[ManBearPig]

Thank you sir. What do you mean don't re-use though?

 

[fffblackmage]

If you apply AS5, install the heatsink, but then decided to remove the heatsink, don't re-use that AS5. You need to clean it off and reapply fresh AS5.

 

[ManBearPig]

oh yeah, no arguments there.

you guys think i can get away with OCing with the stock cooler? or maybe just not OCing and using the stock cooler? also, is there any reason i should wait for ivy bridge? its it gonna be OMG better/coming out anytime soon?

 

[Skott]

Yeah, I dont think the normal price of the 2500k will drop prior to IB's release but you will see some sales for it dipping for a short time like MC does with their $150 sale. MC will probably offer it again during December Xmas sales I imagine. I hear they do this sale every month or so. Somebody is bound to match them this holiday I'm thinking. Watch NE and Amazon. They'd be the most likely to offer a one day special I'm thinking. I don't see anyone going lower than MC though. Just my own opinions anyway. Time will tell.

 

[mfenn]

oh yeah, no arguments there.

you guys think i can get away with OCing with the stock cooler? or maybe just not OCing and using the stock cooler? also, is there any reason i should wait for ivy bridge? its it gonna be OMG better/coming out anytime soon?

Ivy Bridge will be about 20% faster than Sandy Bridge at any given price point. It's looking like Q2/Q3 2012 for the launch though, so don't hold your breath for too long!

 

[ManBearPig]

damn, my problem is that i dont live near a microcenter (everywhere around here EXCEPT indiana, go figure). do they ship with those prices?

 

[mfenn]

damn, my problem is that i dont live near a microcenter (everywhere around here EXCEPT indiana, go figure). do they ship with those prices?

Nope.

 

[ManBearPig]

guess thats out then. if i end up using my GCs to purchase, at amazon, the freakin CPU/GPU (prolly could add a mobo in there too) will eat up like 3/4 of the budget lol. Though i suppose those are the most important and the other stuff shouldnt cost THAT much anyway. A PSU+RAM+HDD+case really doesnt cost a ton depending on what i get.

OMFG i'm excited. i think theres a special feeling all nerds get when they build computers lol.