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My current desktop is about 2 years old and in total I've spent about $1,500 (I bought most of the parts when they just came out, such as the $400 monitor).
Current..
- 19" Samsung 930BF
- 80gb & 250gb HDs (SATA, but forget specific speeds and such)
- AMD Athlon 64 Dual-core 3600+ at 1.9ghz a core
- 2gb RAM
- (1) NVIDIA 8600GTS 256mb
- 500w PSU
- 5.1 Logitech speaker system
- Plain black case, mid-ATX, with 4 fans in it
I'm looking to build a new one from complete scratch (inc. keyboard/mouse) after I sell this one for around $600. And to spend at most $1,200. The key things I was going for were dual monitors and SLI. Everything else I could care less for. I'd even downgrade from quad-core to dual-core.
The build I came up with is this..
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=8685065
What do you guys think? What can I afford to lose?
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Im looking to get something really similar, i just have no idea about pc's though :|
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What i love about starcraft is that it can run on a computer as powerful as a calculator.
its so cool
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SLI is useless. Too expensive and energy costs.
Just go for a better single card instead of two crappy cards which don't give you any advantages.
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Cheap solution: Why not just stick a 4870, another 2GB of RAM and a large HDD into your old computer and keep it for yourself?
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Don't waste your money and energy on SLI, what could you possibly need it for.
Just get a 3ghz duo core, 4870 radeon card and 4gb ram, rest is not important so just pick a motherboard that is compatible with this and get cheap stuff for the rest.
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8gigs ram wut imo avoid running 4 ram slots in dual channel like the plague also you even 64bit? imo unless you are doing like extreme graphics editing 4 gigs suffices most ppls needs.
Also that power supply why get sli if you're going to have to buy the 2nd card with a new power supply parts of the build doesn't make too much sense
Sli power comes from large screen resolutions also you need an = powerful cpu for sli to work well
I would just get a P43 or P45 with 1 PCIe slot and just run a 280 or 260 216cores or 4870
i would have gone with the set up your aiming at with just a 260 216cored and used a P43 set up with 1 PCIe
with only 2 19" screens that will handle it easily.
2 screens doesn't need 2 gpus and esp at lower resolutions 1 powerful gpu can handle 2 monitors just fine.
If you feel like you need sli in which you don't i would buy a combo card IE like 9800GX2, 285, 295 or an X2 from ATI
What games you plan on playing because you can keep the 9800 and just run 2 monitors off that just fine and run most games just fine at reasonable settings med to high ie not x16 af x8 aa
again games and regular use along with what os you have will matter to if you should use the old quad core Q6600 or use a dual core E8400 or higher with more success
Also I'd swap out the creative speakers for Logitech Z-4 40 watts 2.1 Speaker very good cheap speakers
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if u want to play sc2, don't buy 8600, it is a shitty 8000 series, get 8800gt.
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On January 20 2009 23:45 IzzyCraft wrote:
8gigs ram wut imo avoid running 4 ram slots in dual channel like the plague also you even 64bit? imo unless you are doing like extreme graphics editing 4 gigs suffices most ppls needs.
Also that power supply why get sli if you're going to have to buy the 2nd card with a new power supply parts of the build doesn't make too much sense
Sli power comes from large screen resolutions also you need an = powerful cpu for sli to work well
I would just get a P43 or P45 with 1 PCIe slot and just run a 280 or 260 216cores or 4870
i would have gone with the set up your aiming at with just a 260 216cored and used a P43 set up with 1 PCIe
with only 2 19" screens that will handle it easily.
2 screens doesn't need 2 gpus and esp at lower resolutions 1 powerful gpu can handle 2 monitors just fine.
If you feel like you need sli in which you don't i would buy a combo card IE like 9800GX2, 285, 295 or an X2 from ATI
What games you plan on playing because you can keep the 9800 and just run 2 monitors off that just fine and run most games just fine at reasonable settings med to high ie not x16 af x8 aa
again games and regular use along with what os you have will matter to if you should use the old quad core Q6600 or use a dual core E8400 or higher with more success
Also I'd swap out the creative speakers for Logitech Z-4 40 watts 2.1 Speaker very good cheap speakers
This.
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On January 20 2009 23:45 IzzyCraft wrote:
Also that power supply why get sli if you're going to have to buy the 2nd card with a new power supply parts of the build doesn't make too much sense
Maybe I am misreading this, but just so you know you need an SLI rated psu for the 9800GTX. It requires 2x 6pin connectors for the card to run. Don't ask me why...
My specs are : ASUS p5n-d mobo, 4 gigs mushkin redline 4-5-4-11 timings, 250 & 500 gb SATA 3 hd's, 1 sata 22x dvd burner, 2 LG 8164b hd dvd roms (For copying Wii discs), E8400 overclocked from 3.0ghz to 3.4ghz, Articool freezer pro 7 heatsink, thermaltake soprano case w/ 4x 120mm 85cfm fans, 9800GTX+, and 750W psu. I am thinking about putting another one together as well.
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Hum maybe you didn't read the op. He wants SLI eventually i guess since he not going to buy it now although i say it's pointless with his monitor's size.
If he went sli that psu would be useless and he would have to get a new one is what i was trying to point out.
Also any psu made in the past like 2 years has atlest 2 6pin connectors as long as they are over about 550w
I basically meant that it was a waste of money to buy that psu spend 10-30 dollars more get a better psu that you could carry over although i still advise against 2 card solutions for his monitor size.
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something like this
https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=10599786
+ Show Spoiler + Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151173
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info27-151-173.0.18)
1 year: $9.99
2 year: $14.99
$29.99
LIAN LI PC-7B plus II Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811112099
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$20.00 Instant
$109.99
$89.99
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136075
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info22-136-075.0.18)
1 year: $9.99
2 year: $14.99
$41.99
SAMSUNG 920WM Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Item #: N82E16824001245
Return Policy: LCD Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info24-001-245.0.18)
1 year: $24.99
2 year: $39.99
-$20.00 Instant
$319.98
$279.98
($139.99 each)
EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130434
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy $20.00 Mail-in Rebate $269.99
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139005
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info17-139-005.0.18)
1 year: $14.99
2 year: $19.99
-$60.00 Instant
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate $159.99
$99.99
Logitech Z-4 40 watts 2.1 Speaker - Retail
Item #: N82E16836121130
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info36-121-130.0.18)
1 year: $14.99
2 year: $19.99
$69.99
Microsoft K96-00001 Gray/White PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard & Mouse - OEM
Item #: N82E16823109118
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info23-109-118.0.18)
1 year: $9.99
2 year: $14.99
$24.99
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231122
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy -$10.00 Instant
$49.99
$39.99
GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813128347
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info13-128-347.0.18)
1 year: $14.99
2 year: $19.99
$79.99
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115037
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options|hide options)
Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan
The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info19-115-037.0.18)
1 year: $24.99
2 year: $39.99
$164.99
Subtotal: $1,191.88
It's not perfect 1200 the case has free shipping and i wasn't looking at bundles to cut cost but i'm sure you could hit the 1100 mark with some tweaking and that should be about 1200 after tax and standard shipping.
Like a dvd player that doesn't do light scribe or one that doesnt burn at all cheaper for like 19.99 and a cheaper power supply which still good amps etc long with along with a bundle deal or two to lower the price.
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so much money.....
I just bought a new computer for $485 after shipping/taxes and everything.
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.00Ghz 1333FSB 6MB L2 cache (I can overclock this to 4Ghz if I want to)
4GB 800Mhz DDR2 ram
400GB serial ATA 7200rpm 16MB cache
20X DVD +- R/RW dual internal drive
Midtower ATX case with power supply
ECS G31T-M QUAD CORE 1333FSB DDR2 SATA2 (some ppl would have upgraded this but I was going for value rather than perfection)
Windows XP (my choice)
I also added in an extra case fan and upgraded the processor heat sink.
Add in $140 for this card with free shipping:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130420
And my new computer costs me $625.
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Only get that card if you want the game. Otherwise get the one I am getting above which is $10 cheaper and a bit faster.
EDIT: Also, the quad cores are better than the dual cores in some areas but they are a lot more expensive and in some games get outperformed by the duals. I personally recommend going dual although there are ppl who will disagree with me.
I just think dual cores give you more bang for your buck (aka better value)
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You are missing a case 2 monitors for him little thing like he wanted new mouse and keyboard where is the power supply and graphics card i assume he plays games. He should really say what his explicit uses will be to effetely cut costs.
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I don't know about the ram, but the E8400, E8500 and E8600 are simply awesome processors. Read reviews on them. They are identical specs but with 3.0Ghz, 3.16Ghz, and 3.33Ghz speeds respectively but all 3 are awesome overclockers so it almost doesn't even matter which one you get.
E8400 and E8500 are significantly cheaper than the E8600 which has only a tiny increase in speed so I would get one of the first 2 (as you can see I got the E8400 but my brother got the E8500).
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But it really comes down to what you're going to be doing he could easly save 70 dollars and just get a E7200 it really just depends on his needs. Balance of CPU go GPU is about 30cpu 70gpu or just about if you buy a gpu you should spend about atlest half of that cost to a cpu so you don't get a very early cap in performance, for gaming balance is a little more when you get multi gpu and scaling you'll need more to boost everything. Alot of ppl can live with lower end processors.
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I need to throw this out there. Get a soundcard. It's obvious that you want a good computer and if you've never had a good soundcard before, look into it. I'm not an audiophile by any means and even I noticed a huge difference with a $50 headset. I haven't tried it with my 5.1 system but I can't imagine the awesomeness.
P.S. I've only tried the ASUS Xonar DX but I'm sure other ones are good too.
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EPT
