So, if I wanted to build a new computer for, say, less than $1200

[CPA]

give me some ideas/tips on what I should use.

I haven't built a computer in about a year and a half and haven't been keeping up with the new technology. And because this is the PC Gaming board, I want it to be able to handle the upcoming game crop.

Moving over to General Hardware, you should get a few more responses there. Oak-PC Gaming Mod

 

[Aharami]

my build from couple monts ago
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/aharami/build.jpg

Id get the 8800 GT instead of the GTS since it's proven to be just as good as, if not better than, the GTS for $100 less

 

[Fenixgoon]

wait till christmas-ish when all of the new cards and/or refreshes have come out. quad core pricing should drop further, AMD's phenom will be out (hopefully compeitive with C2Q)

ram is pretty cheap - $120 can get you 4gigs of DDR2. $100 will get you 500gigs of hdd.

that'd be my suggestion for an overhaul, anyway. others may have deeper/more precise insights than me though

 

[techgamer]

also these type of posts belong in general hardware or computer help. Thanks!

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: techgamer
also these type of posts belong in general hardware or computer help. Thanks!

Well, he does mention a gaming PC.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

This is actually a pretty good time to build. You can get a Core 2 Duo and socket LGA 775 mobo which will be able to support Penryn when you see fit to upgrade (and can fit Core 2 duo/quad now for a fair price). The 8800 GT is also the best bang-for-buck video card in years - it kills the 8800 GTS and is on-par with the GTX, while doubling the performance of the last generation's high end. Wait a couple weeks on it, though; prices will fall a lot. Along with a hard drive, a ROM drive, and a case (~$200 there) you just need a PSU to power it. A 500W Earthwatts would do the trick for $70-80.

All of that comes out to around $800-900 if my math is anywhere close to correct - which is what my computer cost 2 years ago. Damn tech advances fast!

 

[Oakenfold]

Let's help out CPA here, he does quite a bit for this community. The least we can do is give'm some guidance on building a smoking rig!:thumbsup:

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
This is actually a pretty good time to build. You can get a Core 2 Duo and socket LGA 775 mobo which will be able to support Penryn when you see fit to upgrade (and can fit Core 2 duo/quad now for a fair price). The 8800 GT is also the best bang-for-buck video card in years - it kills the 8800 GTS and is on-par with the GTX, while doubling the performance of the last generation's high end. Wait a couple weeks on it, though; prices will fall a lot. Along with a hard drive, a ROM drive, and a case (~$200 there) you just need a PSU to power it. A 500W Earthwatts would do the trick for $70-80.

All of that comes out to around $800-900 if my math is anywhere close to correct - which is what my computer cost 2 years ago. Damn tech advances fast!

Intel, I haven't used them in about 15 years. I'm scared.......

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: CPA
Intel, I haven't used them in about 15 years. I'm scared.......

Don't be. I hadn't used an Intel processor since my dual Celeron 366@550's, and recently built a new system around a Q6600. It's already faster at everything, at stock speed, than the Opteron 170-based system it replaced, which was running @ 2.8 Ghz.

 

[Oakenfold]

Another thumbs up for a C2D setup, pair it with a NVIDIA 6 series board with quad core/penryn support, (future upgrade) an 8800GT and you will be good to go for a while.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I too am a long time AMD guy, but the performance of the Intel chips brought me to the dark side with my last build and I haven't regretted it one bit. Intel truly has the upper hand ever since they introduced the core 2.


Here is one I spec'd out at newegg recently, like someone else said the 8800gt will probably drop $50 in the next few weeks.


Update GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS4 Rev. 2.0 LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: GA-P35-DS4 Rev. 2.0
Item #: N82E16813128064

In Stock
$187.99 -$10.00 Instant $177.99

Update EVGA 512-P3-N802-A1 GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: 512-P3-N802-A1
Item #: N82E16814130303

Out Of Stock
ETA: 11/5/2007 2:22:00 PM
$289.99 $289.99

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

In Stock
Mail-in Rebate
$139.99 -$15.00 Instant $124.99

Update Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
Model #: BX80562Q6600
Item #: N82E16819115017

In Stock
$279.99 $279.99

Update G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
Model #: F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ
Item #: N82E16820231122

In Stock
$179.99 -$30.00 Instant $149.99

Update HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000 HDS721075KLA330 (0A35154) 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: HDS721075KLA330
Item #: N82E16822145166

In Stock
$199.99 $199.99
Subtotal: $1,222.94