Need to build Gaming Rig for around $1k - suggestions?

[Baasha]

So a good friend of mine wants to build a gaming rig for BF3.

His budget is around $1000 (not more).

He plans to use his HDTV to play and already has a controller (so no mouse/keyboard needed).

I convinced him to build this rig because BF3 for consoles is for n00bs.

Time frame is about one month so any parts that may be released soon can be considered.

So, what is the best gaming rig possible for under $1000 (no monitor/mouse/keyboard)?

Would love suggestions for the following components:

1.) CPU
2.) PSU
3.) RAM
4.) MoBo
5.) GPU
6.) HDD/SSD
7.) CPU Cooler
8.) Case
9.) Fans
10.) Peripherals (fan controller etc.)

He is planning to use this rig just for gaming and surfing the web. No work going to be done on it.

So far, I've suggested to him that he get a really good SSD (Gen 3) and plenty of RAM (at least 6-8GB) and a good MoBo with USB 3.0.

He might already have a graphics card but suggestions are welcome.

Anyway, please build the best sub-$1k rig and let the arguments commence!


Moved to General Hardware.

Super Moderator BFG10K.

 

[Arkaign]

Hmm, TV = 1080p max, so how about :

i5 2500k (2600 unnecessary for gaming)
8gb ddr3 1333 or 1600
asus p67 pro
xfx 6970 2gb
good brand 750w psu
~120gb ssd + 1.5TB 7200rpm sata drives
bluray drive / dvdrw (so cheap why not)
tower heatpipe cooler with push/pull 120mm quiet fans

given that the stock 2500k with turbo enabled will pretty much peg even the 6970 to the limit in any game, i wouldn't worry over extreme overclocking or unneccesary/complex cooling setup. just load it up and let her rip, 1080p will be a breeze for that setup. The rig above might actually come in a bit less than 1k, but the savings could always be put towards faster/larger SSD (they run into the thousands easily even as single drives).

 

[MangoX]

This should go under the "General Hardware" forum.

Anyhow, arkaign build looks good but I don't see how it will be under $1K, unless you drop the SSD. If this rig is for gaming only and no productivity then I don't see why you even need a SSD. Just a regular fast HDD like a WD Black will suffice.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you drop the SSD, you could make a mini-ITX build with i5-2500 (not -K), H67 chipset and nvidia 560 ti for under $1K, in a smaller Silverstone SG-05 (450 watt version) case.

That might fit in better in a home theater setting than a mini-tower case.

 

[Termie]

Hmm, TV = 1080p max, so how about :

i5 2500k (2600 unnecessary for gaming)
8gb ddr3 1333 or 1600
asus p67 pro
xfx 6970 2gb
good brand 750w psu
~120gb ssd + 1.5TB 7200rpm sata drives
bluray drive / dvdrw (so cheap why not)
tower heatpipe cooler with push/pull 120mm quiet fans

given that the stock 2500k with turbo enabled will pretty much peg even the 6970 to the limit in any game, i wouldn't worry over extreme overclocking or unneccesary/complex cooling setup. just load it up and let her rip, 1080p will be a breeze for that setup. The rig above might actually come in a bit less than 1k, but the savings could always be put towards faster/larger SSD (they run into the thousands easily even as single drives).

This should go under the "General Hardware" forum.

Anyhow, arkaign build looks good but I don't see how it will be under $1K, unless you drop the SSD. If this rig is for gaming only and no productivity then I don't see why you even need a SSD. Just a regular fast HDD like a WD Black will suffice.

Yup, that's closer to $1200. And that's without a case (oops!).

Does the OP need an OS? That's another ~$100 we have to factor in.

I'd drop the PSU down to 650w to save a few dollars, and I'd go for a 60GB SSD instead of a 120GB. 120 is too small for games anyway, but an OS SSD is really a no-brainer at this point. I'd also go for a 6950 over 6970 to save about $70.

I personally would go with the mini-ITX suggestion - but that's a more complicated build, so if the OP doesn't care about space savings, it's probably just going to end up increasing the cost/complexity of the build.

Here's what I'd do:
1.) CPU - 2500k - $219 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-072-_-Product
2.) PSU - Corsair/Seasonic/Antec 620/650w PSU - $60-$80 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005
3.) RAM - 8GB of DDR3-1600 - $75 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231428
4.) MoBo - Asrock Z68 - $120: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157251
5.) GPU - HIS HD6950 - $240AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161368
6.) HDD/SSD - Crucial C300 64GB & Samsung F3 1GB - $190: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...357&cm_re=crucial_c300-_-20-148-357-_-Product
and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=samsung f3
7.) CPU Cooler - Xigmatek Gaia - $28: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-082-_-Product
8.) Case - Antec 300 - $60: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042
9.) Fans - stock?
10.) Peripherals (fan controller etc.) - none?
11.) Windows 7 - $100 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-986-_-Product

Total: $1012, or $1112 with OS. Cut Crucial C300 to bring it down to under $1000 with OS.

 

[BFG10K]

Moved to General Hardware.

Super Moderator BFG10K.

 

[mfenn]

Here's what I'd do:
1.) CPU - 2500k - $219 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-072-_-Product
2.) PSU - Corsair/Seasonic/Antec 620/650w PSU - $60-$80 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005
3.) RAM - 8GB of DDR3-1600 - $75 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231428
4.) MoBo - Asrock Z68 - $120: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157251
5.) GPU - HIS HD6950 - $240AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161368
6.) HDD/SSD - Crucial C300 64GB & Samsung F3 1GB - $190: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-357-_-Product
and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...k=samsung%20f3
7.) CPU Cooler - Xigmatek Gaia - $28: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-082-_-Product
8.) Case - Antec 300 - $60: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042
9.) Fans - stock?
10.) Peripherals (fan controller etc.) - none?
11.) Windows 7 - $100 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-986-_-Product

Total: $1012, or $1112 with OS. Cut Crucial C300 to bring it down to under $1000 with OS.

This looks like a pretty good base. There are a few parts that are a bit overkill, so a few more bucks can be shaved off:
- Swap the PSU to the XFX Core 550W (plenty for a 6950) -$30 AR
- Swap the RAM to this Mushkin DDR3 1333 8GB (you won't notice the difference) -$6