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Make me the best gaming rig I can get for $1200.

T

Tavyn

Member
So I started another thread asking for advice on a setup I had picked out myself. I got some good advice, but I got more of an idea of how little I know. I am not sure how to prioritize how much to spend on each part to get the best possible system for the money, so I am asking you guys to give me your picks for the best $1200 setup. I would like something that might have some longevity (3 years?) before being replaced. I dont need a monitor, harddrive, keyboard, mouse, speakers, or DVD burner. Everything else I need, so amaze me with your know how and your shopping prowess and hook me up with a badass machine.
 
if you look even within the next 4 pages, you will see about 5 or 6 other threads with people looking for build advice on a $1200 budget
 
Okay so I looked around and found this. Now am I missing it or is there no soundcard included in this build? Is there onboard audio on the mobo? Is onboard audio good enough for gaming if its there? 500 watts psu? I am assuming thats enough or he wouldnt have put it in there. I could spend another 200 dollars over the recommendations he has made here so where should I spend it?

Posted by Hoofan in another thread.

"some more suggestions

some of my links are old and have died
one of my favorite cases the Performance X1050 has disappeared from Newegg and zipzoomfly so I had to redo that
Case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/...=N82E16811129024Sonata III with 500W Earthwatts PSU-$130

PSU-Included with case

Mobo-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128059 Gigabye GA-P35-DS3-$100

CPU-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115030 Intel Core 2 Duo E6550-$176

Memory-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145167 2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 667-$70

GPU- http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...?ProductCode=321113XFX 320MB 8800GTS-$280

Harddrive-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...N82E16822148262Seagate Barracuda SATA 250GB-$70

Optical-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827106073]Light-On 20X burner with Lightscribe SATA-$37

OS-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16832116202]Windows Vista Home Premium OEM-$112

Total-$975

-------------------------
Ipsa scientia potestas est"
 
Well I couldn't tell you because all of your links were copied and pasted wrong. But most motherboards come with onboard sound and most of them are pretty good. Definitely enough for gaming.
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128050

that's the mobo you want, or the ds3l, which costs 100$. Personaly I'd go with a e6750, and a 500gb samsung spinpoint for 100$. And go with this ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145034

The case is okay, and the PSU that comes with it is pretty good too. If you don't like the case though, pick anything you like and suits your needs and buy the PSU seperately. A system like that will easily run on this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...E16817139003&Tpk=450vx

Might wanna look around on clubit.com, frys.com etc to see if there are any hot deals.
 
Well since I can edit my posts and get the code out of it correctly here it is

Case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129024Sonata III with 500W Earthwatts PSU-$130

PSU-Included with case

Mobo-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128059 Gigabye GA-P35-DS3-$100

CPU-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115030 Intel Core 2 Duo E6550-$176

Memory-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145167 2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 667-$70

GPU- http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...jsp?ProductCode=321113XFX 320MB 8800GTS-$280

Harddrive-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148262Seagate Barracuda SATA 250GB-$70

Optical-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827106073]Light-On 20X burner with Lightscribe SATA-$37

OS-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16832116202]Windows Vista Home Premium OEM-$112

Total-$975

but if you stretch your budget to $1200...then you can get this stuff

Case-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811112025 Lian-Li PC-61-$100

PSU-http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...jsp?ProductCode=373100 Corsair HX520 520W-$98

Mobo-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128048 Giagbyte GA-P35C-DS3R $150

CPU-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115030 Intel Core 2 Duo E6550-$175

Memory-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820144062 2GB Geil DDR2 800 CAS4-$95

GPU-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130038 Evga 320MB 8800GTS $295

Harddrive-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148140 Seagate Barracuda SATA 320GB-$80

Soundcard-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16829102006 Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Game-$80

Optical-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827106073 Light-On 20X burner with Lightscribe SATA-$36

OS-http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16832116202 Windows Vista Home Premium OEM-$112

Total-$1221

you could easily get a cheaper case...ditch the soundcard and get a 640MB 8800GTS and an E6750
 
A little more expensive than I was originally planning but that just means I put it off another paycheck and save some extra. Hows this look? Almost the same as what Hoofan reccomended I just upgraded things a bit more. Probably supreme overkill for what I do but who knows what I'll be doing in a year. Maybe by christmas I'll have saved the money for some more ram.

LIAN LI PC-61 USB Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: PC-61 USB
Item #: N82E16811112025

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
$119.99 -$20.00 Instant $99.99

Update
GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: GA-P35C-DS3R
Item #: N82E16813128048

Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

In Stock
$159.99 -$10.00 Instant $149.99

Update
EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: 640-P2-N821-AR
Item #: N82E16814130071

Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

In Stock
Mail-in Rebate
$379.99 -$10.00 Instant $369.99

Update
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: CMPSU-520HX
Item #: N82E16817139001

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
Mail-in Rebate
$139.99 -$10.00 Instant $129.99

Update
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6850 - Retail
Model #: BX80557E6850
Item #: N82E16819115028

Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

In Stock
$299.99 $299.99

Update
GeIL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model GX22GB6400UDCA= - Retail
Model #: GX22GB6400UDCA=
Item #: N82E16820144062

Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy

In Stock
Mail-in Rebate
$94.99 $94.99

Update
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3320620AS
Item #: N82E16822148140

Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

In Stock
$79.99 $79.99

Update
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-05 - OEM
Model #: LH-20A1L-05
Item #: N82E16827106073

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
$36.99 $36.99

Update
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail
Model #: 70SB073A00000
Item #: N82E16829102006

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
$79.99 $79.99

Update
Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
Model #: 66I-00715
Item #: N82E16832116202
 
Keeping longevity in mind would it be better to get a motherboard with 2 pci x16 slots so that in the future I could sli a second video card? Would that give me the ability to get another year or so out of this rig before I have to build a new one? I might not understand things perfectly but if one video card is good for now, then in the future when one card might not be enough to meet the demands of some of the newer games I could just get a second and the two of them together could tackle it?
 
Originally posted by: Tavyn
Keeping longevity in mind would it be better to get a motherboard with 2 pci x16 slots so that in the future I could sli a second video card?
Click to expand...

SLI is a horrible upgrade path.

A single new card will be faster than two of your older ones, and may offer newer features.

I have looked through this thread, and people are killing your budget by doing all of your shopping at NewEgg.

I'll see what I can come up with, for $1200, and edit this post.

I dont need a monitor, harddrive, keyboard, mouse, speakers, or DVD burner.
Click to expand...

Did people miss this? 😕


ANTEC Sonata III Mini Case Retail w/ Earthwatts 500W PSU
$110.00 + free ship
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...p?ProductCode=10005323

GIGABYTE Intel® P35 + ICH9 Chipset DDR2 1066 ATX GA-P35-DS3L
$98.31 + free ship
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...p?ProductCode=10006307

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad-Core Processor
$277.50 + free ship
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/....jsp?ProductCode=80864

Quantity: 2 - STT DDR2-667 1GB/64x8 S-RIGID Memory
$52.00 + ship
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php...ed47e5f20e97640e80b6d4

EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB GDDR3
$530.00 + free ship - $20 MIR
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...jsp?ProductCode=322843

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Single-Pack DVD OEM
$110.00 + free ship
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...jsp?ProductCode=604698

Total Price: $1,177.81 + ~$8 shipping - $20 MIR

 
Cool Thanks for the advice. I really am not a guru when it comes to this kind of stuff. All I know is that I can get more computer for less money if I build it myself. I am also technical enough to think this is fun so....

Sure and thanks cheaper is always better. More computer for less money is the ultimate goal.
 
Thanks that looks great. Just one question is a core 2 quad 2.44 going to be faster than the 3ghz I had picked out? And is all of this going to fit in a mini case?
 
Originally posted by: Tavyn
Thanks that looks great. Just one question is a core 2 quad 2.44 going to be faster than the 3ghz I had picked out?
Click to expand...

When multitasking, and when running apps that are multi-threaded, yes, the Q6600 will be faster than the E6850. When running a single-threaded app, the E6850 will be faster. Just remember that we are headed in a multi-threaded direction. Crysis, for example, will run better with the Q6600.

And is all of this going to fit in a mini case?
Click to expand...

Yup. I hear the GTX card is a tight squeeze, but it fits.
 
Cool all that looks great, with the extra money you're saving me I might just go ahead and get a bigger hard drive than the 120g seagate barracuda 7200 rpm I have, although I haven't used but 30g of the 120. Hmm maybe I wont. Theres nothing wrong with my hard drive so I might keep it. So the audio on the motherboard is good enough that I don't need a sound card? Sorry I am thinking in type. I am just running my thoughts past you guys since you know better than I do.

Hmm or maybe another chip of ram, for 26 bucks thats something I might do no matter what.
 
Okay I am liking the build that Bamacre has suggested, I think for now I am going to stick with my 120g hard drive and for 26 bucks each I might get at least one more maybe 2 more ram chips. Only question I still have is the sound card one. The on-board audio is good enough that I don't need a sound card for gaming and listening to mp3s? Ok I lied one more question, will the version of vista I am getting upgrade from XP without erasing my music and video games or will it be a clean install (meaning I have to put all my music on a DVD so I can then copy it back to the hard drive after the comp is up and running)
 
In my limited PC building experience, onboard sound is frequently favored for sound cards. The two arguements is that th card will offload enough CPU cycles to give you a few more FPS. The second is that onboard sound often has electrical noise. You can get a 5.1 card for $50 or less if you look around.
 
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