Challenge my budget Price/Performance gaming system:

[Tempered81]

Anyone got a nicely priced rig that could top the performance level of this gem?

e8400 (~4ghz) $189.00 at Microcenter
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ord1=e8400+microcenter

9600GT SLI $249.98 AR at Newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814133216

Evga 650i socket 775 SLI $87.00 at MotherboardPro
http://www.motherboardpro.com/...-CK-NF66-T1-p-134.html

2gb ddr2
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2116041&enterthread=y

~$555

Comes very close in performance to this:

qx9770 @ stock for 1,500
9800gx2 @ stock for 600.00
asus striker extreme for 300.00
2gb ddr3 (stock) for 200.00

~2,600

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3234&p=3
Not saying the owner of the expensive system wouldnt OC the shit out it

 

[PingSpike]

Only one rebate per household on the 9600GT...plus SLI just isn't worth the PITA and mixed bag performance unless you're looking for "ultra high end" IMO.

 

[SolublePotash]

All you really need to beat this price/performance ratio is to be within driving distance of a Frys Electronics on a Friday with the 8 page ad in hand.

 

[Piuc2020]

SLI sounds a bit fishy, plus rebates (which like said before are limited to 1 anyways) take quite some time to arrive so that's $360 dollars out of your pocket instantly, you'll possibly earn a new paycheck before the rebate comes but whatever, the rest sounds good, I'd rather go with a single 8800GT and wait to SLI them later, in any case, if you are on such a budget you'll definitely be running a 1280x1024 or 1680x1050 (and that's stretching it for someone with this budget) monitor so you don't need SLI and a single 8800GT will satisfy your needs at that res and save you a lot of money.

Just what I think anyways.

 

[SolublePotash]

Originally posted by: Piuc2020
SLI sounds a bit fishy, plus rebates (which like said before are limited to 1 anyways) take quite some time to arrive so that's $360 dollars out of your pocket instantly, you'll possibly earn a new paycheck before the rebate comes but whatever, the rest sounds good, I'd rather go with a single 8800GT and wait to SLI them later, in any case, if you are on such a budget you'll definitely be running a 1280x1024 or 1680x1050 (and that's stretching it for someone with this budget) monitor so you don't need SLI and a single 8800GT will satisfy your needs at that res and save you a lot of money.

Just what I think anyways.

I agree. Rebates suck. SLI is finicky, not all its hyped to be, and usually only good at really high res. Its also gonna set you back a good $50+ more on the PSU.

 

[Arkaign]

Skip the SLI, get a better video card, get a better mobo, get 4gb ram, done.

 

[happy medium]

skip sli and add the 209.00$ shipped 8800gts

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2170580&enterthread=y


http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130325