Quick Question

[TheStu]

My current desktop has been pretty good to me. I run OS X and Windows on it, and spend most of my time in OS X, but still want to game quite a bit, and it handles games pretty well, but I don't like rebooting.

So I am bouncing around the idea of building a Windows only system, a complete ground up build. I don't need the extra horsepower in OS X, and cherrypicking components for Mac compatibility limits my options. I am not able to pull the trigger for at least a couple of months, but I just want to get an idea of how much to save up.

I game at 1920*1080, and I want to get the highest possible settings out of games. I play racers (NFS games), shooters (BF games), RTSs (almost any of them), and some RPGs (Fallout 3, Mass Effect 1&2, New Vegas).

What is the ballpark budget I should set for myself for a completely new system? Mouse/Keyboard I would get elsewhere, but everything else would need to be new. Nothing is being re-used, and I prefer Intel over AMD.

If I were to buy 'tomorrow' I was thinking:

Core i5-750
Gigabyte P55A-UD3
2*2GB AData DDR3-1600
64GB SSD (not sure here)
WD Green 2TB
Coolermaster 690 II Advanced
Gateway 21.5" LED backlit (I used to have an FHD2400 and it was gorgeous)
OCZ Modstream 700W
MSI GTX 460

With SSD at around $150 and Windows for $110, I am looking at about $1400 shipped for the whole thing.

And I am not looking for specific critiques about the parts I have chosen, except for stuff that isn't going to change significantly (like if you say that X monitor is better because, or Y GPU) just if there is anyway to trim some costs, and if my current price range is accurate.

 

[Davidh373]

Get Ripjaws at 1333Mhz, you'll never see the difference.

 

[TheStu]

Get Ripjaws at 1333Mhz, you'll never see the difference.

Yea, that is exactly the advice I am looking for.

 

[Davidh373]

I would also get something bigger than 21.5" if you have space for it... something that isn't gateway.

 

[TheStu]

I would also get something bigger than 21.5" if you have space for it... something that isn't gateway.

I already have a 21.5" and really like it, I prefer the pixel density over 23".

As for Gateway... like I said, I had an FHD2400 (1920*1200 gateway) for a while and thought it was great. I had a Sceptre for a couple of months, but the reds were crazy overblown, and the contrast was crap, blacks all muddled together. I have an Acer or an Asus now, and the colors and blacks are better, but it has backlight bleed on all edges.

My buddy got a MAG 21.5" LED and it looked really good when it was adjusted (out of the box was bad).

Do you have another LED that is in the same price bracket, at 21.5" that I should be looking at instead?

 

[Davidh373]

As for Gateway... like I said, I had an FHD2400 (1920*1200 gateway) for a while and thought it was great. I had a Sceptre for a couple of months, but the reds were crazy overblown, and the contrast was crap, blacks all muddled together. I have an Acer or an Asus now, and the colors and blacks are better, but it has backlight bleed on all edges.

If you're looking to eliminate light bleed look at LED.

Do you have another LED that is in the same price bracket, at 21.5" that I should be looking at instead?

What is the price of that monitor?

 

[TheStu]

If you're looking to eliminate light bleed look at LED.



What is the price of that monitor?

On the Gateway, I think $170 or $180. I can't tell you if that was the cheapest 21.5" 1080p LED on newegg, every time I clicked anything it kept reverting back to 'Featured Items' sort instead of 'Lowest Price' sort.

 

[Davidh373]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...e=&srchInDesc=

all 21.5" led backlit monitors

 

[TheStu]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...e=&srchInDesc=

all 21.5" led backlit monitors

Yea, I was more wondering if you, or anyone else that might want to comment, had any more specific recommendations. If Gateway is a no-no, then what would be a yes-yes? (as it were)

 

[Davidh373]

oh, well to tell you the truth I'm not very picky (or rather as picky) about how my screen looks. ASUS is supposed to be great though. That gets recommended a lot around here.

 

[mfenn]

And I am not looking for specific critiques about the parts I have chosen, except for stuff that isn't going to change significantly (like if you say that X monitor is better because, or Y GPU) just if there is anyway to trim some costs, and if my current price range is accurate.

I'd probably forget OCZ PSU's and go with a Corsair or Seasonic. OCZ's just don't live up to their overblown wattage numbers. Call me old-fashioned, but I like my PSU's to be able to actually output what they say on the sticker.

Also, a GTX 460 is not going to run shooters very smoothly at the highest details and at 1920x1080. You'll likely want to spend more.

Beyond that, a lot depends on your time horizon.

• Today I'd be looking at Sandforce SF-1200 based SSDs, but next year, it'll be SF-2000 or Intel G3.
• Today, I'd go with the i5 750/760, but next month, you're talking Sandy Bridge.
• Today, I'd go with a GTX 570, but next week the Radeon 6900s might be a better option.

 

[TheStu]

Thanks for the advice on the OCZ, and yea I know that tech is always changing but my main issue is... if I start saving up $1200-1500 now, once that I have that much, will I be able to buy a system that will play games at 1080p, full settings? The SSD is icing on the cake, but I really want to join... the revolution.

 

[mfenn]

Yes, $1200 will buy you a nice rig with an SSD now or a year from now. Obviously the rig a year from now would be faster, but today's rig would be no slouch!

Viva La Revolución!

 

[TheStu]

Yes, $1200 will buy you a nice rig with an SSD now or a year from now. Obviously the rig a year from now would be faster, but today's rig would be no slouch!

Viva La Revolución!

Alright, then next time I have $1200 and don't need a new laptop (that comes first) then I think I will be set. Good to know that amount of money can go a long way.

I just think back to my first custom built system, I spent almost $300 on 1GB RAM, but only $100 each on the mobo and CPU (2500+ XP-M & and AN7). My buddy just got a Core i7-950 for $200. Crazy.