Need advice for a <= $1000 build for general use and moderate gaming

[irishScott]

I'm still in college (read: no stable income) and over my laptop's 3.5 years I've shelled out close to $400 just to keep the thing running for basic tasks (and it was $2000 to start with). Thankfully I've got enough saved up to afford this stuff, but now the DVD-RW drive is fucked (apparently on the hardware level, messes up under Ubuntu and Windows despite my various efforts), and I refuse to shell out another $90+ for a PCMCIA external DVD burner. :| Acer doesn't offer replacement internal drives outside of warranty. Suffice to say I'm never buying Acer again.

Now that I've vented that, I'm looking for something that's relatively basic but upgradeable. I should be able to get Windows 7 for free via the University (advantages of being an upperclassman Engineer), so that cuts out a good bit of the cost. I also have all the peripherals I need, so the only costs to consider TMK are those for the hardware itself.

This will be my first build, but I researched components hardcore back in '06. I know most of the jargon. 😛

As for my (slightly more) specific requirements, the only real resource-intensive use will be gaming, and I'm not looking to play Crysis anytime soon, so no real worries there. Most graphically intensive games I currently play are Left4Dead and Company of Heroes. Only current game I plan to buy is Empire: Total War. Other requirements are on par with current usage (what you'd expect of a $2000 laptop from '06). I imagine any modern desktop component I get will be an upgrade, so as long as whatever I get can run Windows 7 smoothly I'll be happy.

I suppose my only real requirement is upgradability. I don't wan't to have to shell out for a completely new rig in another 3.5 years. 😛 I don't require much in the way of HD space. 500 GB will be more than enough for the foreseeable future.

I know I'm not being very specific, but all I need are some general pointers as to what I should look into (ie: Chipsets, AMD vs Intel, NVidia vs AMD/ATI, etc). Thanks in advance.



Update: Spent a few hours on Newegg. Largely using JayDee's recommendations as a base, I've come up with the following. I ditched the SSD in favor of Blu-ray support, an upgraded PSU, as well as a Phenom II X3 710 and Radeon 4850.

IN WIN X-FIGHTER Black 0.8mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$119.99, $89.99 after MIR

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
$74.99, free shipping

ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers - Retail
$199.99, $189.99 after MIR, free shipping

ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$99.99, free shipping

SAPPHIRE 100245HDMI Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$94.99, $84.99 after MIR, free shipping

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
$89.99, $79.99 after MIR, free shipping

CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 - Retail
$80.99, free shipping

AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor - Retail
$109.00, free shipping

LG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Reader & 16x DVD Burner - Bulk Model UH08LS10K LightScribe Support - OEM
$114.99, free shipping

$15.99 shipping


Grand Total: $1000.91 shipped, $940.91 after MIRs

 

[jaydee]

If I were you (looking not to upgrade for 3-4 years), I'd consider the mobo/cpu/video to be "disposable" and go higher quality with other components, because I don't think either AMD or Intel plan on keeping the current cpu sockets for that long. Maybe a $200 AMD combo for that, and go for a really good case/psu, SSD and monitor, because those will be able to carry over. Possibly the RAM and video card as well as long as your video gaming tastes don't change drastically.

This assumes you're starting from scratch, no keyboard, mouse, monitor, optical drive. Just operating system.


LIAN LI Lancool PC-K56 Black 0.8 mm SECC, Plastic + Mesh ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$60 + shipping

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
$50 -$20 rebate, free ship

ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$100, free ship

AMD Athlon II X2 245 Regor 2.9GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX245OCGQBOX - Retail
$66, free ship

CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
$81, free ship

SAPPHIRE 100253HDMI Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16
$55 -$12 combo w/CPU, free ship

Intel X25M 80GB Mainstream Solid State Drive Retail Boxed SSDSA2MH080G2R5
$244, free ship

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache
$75, free ship

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - OEM
$30 + shipping

ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
$200 -$10 rebate, free ship

Logitech 967973-0403 Black PS/2 Standard Deluxe 250 Desktop - OEM
$17 + shipping

Combined shipping for non-free shipped items: $28


Grand totals: $994 shipped, $964 after 2 rebates


If you want to upgrade the video card, areas to pinch pennies would be the case (can save ~$30 there) and WD hard drive (lower performing 500GB for ~$25 less). That can put you in the range of an ATI Radeon HD 4770 or 4850

Contrary, if you can deal with the on-board graphics, ditch the video card altogether, keep the case and HD. Overclock the on-board video card core to 700Mhz, and spend the $43 to upgrade the CPU to a Phenom II X3 710.

 

[brblx]

if it's for ETW, don't forget the goat's blood and/or lucky rabbit's foot. might also wanna have a priest bless it.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: jaydee
If I were you (looking not to upgrade for 3-4 years), I'd consider the mobo/cpu/video to be "disposable" and go higher quality with other components, because I don't think either AMD or Intel plan on keeping the current cpu sockets for that long. Maybe a $200 AMD combo for that, and go for a really good case/psu, SSD and monitor, because those will be able to carry over. Possibly the RAM and video card as well as long as your video gaming tastes don't change drastically.

This assumes you're starting from scratch, no keyboard, mouse, monitor, optical drive. Just operating system.


LIAN LI Lancool PC-K56 Black 0.8 mm SECC, Plastic + Mesh ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$60 + shipping

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
$50 -$20 rebate, free ship

ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$100, free ship

AMD Athlon II X2 245 Regor 2.9GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX245OCGQBOX - Retail
$66, free ship

CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
$81, free ship

SAPPHIRE 100253HDMI Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16
$55 -$12 combo w/CPU, free ship

Intel X25M 80GB Mainstream Solid State Drive Retail Boxed SSDSA2MH080G2R5
$244, free ship

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache
$75, free ship

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - OEM
$30 + shipping

ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
$200 -$10 rebate, free ship

Logitech 967973-0403 Black PS/2 Standard Deluxe 250 Desktop - OEM
$17 + shipping

Combined shipping for non-free shipped items: $28


Grand totals: $994 shipped, $964 after 2 rebates


If you want to upgrade the video card, areas to pinch pennies would be the case (can save ~$30 there) and WD hard drive (lower performing 500GB for ~$25 less). That can put you in the range of an ATI Radeon HD 4770 or 4850

Contrary, if you can deal with the on-board graphics, ditch the video card altogether, keep the case and HD. Overclock the on-board video card core to 700Mhz, and spend the $43 to upgrade the CPU to a Phenom II X3 710.

Sweet. Thanks. 🙂

Well I've got the keyboard/monitor/mouse taken care of, so that gives me some leeway. Although upgrading to 1080p and maybe throwing in a Blu-ray drive is extremely tempting. 😛

I also suppose I could ditch the SSD and just go with a standard HDD, are there any real advantages to the SSD? Heard they slow down over time, although I admittedly haven't read Anand's renowned Anthology yet. 😛

Good to know about the CPU sockets.

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: irishScott
are there any real advantages to the SSD?

How about speed? Or were you expecting something else?

But do make sure you read Anand's article on SSD for the full picture.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: betasub

Originally posted by: irishScott
are there any real advantages to the SSD?

How about speed? Or were you expecting something else?

But do make sure you read Anand's article on SSD for the full picture.

Well obviously, but is the speed increase over a regular HDD worth an extra $150?

 

[irishScott]

bump for update

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: irishScott
Well obviously, but is the speed increase over a regular HDD worth an extra $150?

I'm still in college (read: no stable income)

Probably not, as $150 is a big part of your budget. But the performance difference is so great that many ATF builds are finding the extra $ to include SSD. As prices are falling steadily, you can build without SSD now, and then add one as an upgrade when they suit your budget.

 

[jaydee]

Personally, with a $1,000 budget, I would not sacrifice the SSD. I would find a less expensive Case/PSU. There will be much more noticable diff between SSD and HD, than what you'll find between a 400W/$60 case and a 650W/$90 case, I promise you that 🙂


Today only on Newegg until 4pm EDT, the Intel X25-M G2R5 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid state disk (SSD) is on shell shocker for $240, free shipping, about the same as Amazon as I mentioned before, BUT, you can have a combo with a $120 ThermalTake Element S mid-tower, bottom-mount psu case for $270 total with $30 rebate.http://www.newegg.com/Special/ShellShocker.aspx

So with your previous configuration, add the SSD and replace the Inwin case with Tt case (which I would consider an upgrade). Then swap the psu with the Corsair 400W and wait for this Asus 21.5" 1080p LCD to come in stock and replace the other monitor with it.

That puts you in the ballpark of $1,060 before rebates and just under $1,000 after. Come to think of it, you don't really need a WD Black drive for a secondary drive, save $25 with Western Digital Caviar Green WD5000AADS 500GB 32MB Cache


Edit: Actually, that is a pretty power hungry video card, you should probably stick with >550W psu. mushkin 550250 580W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail for $40 after rebate looks good.