$1100.oo build

[falcon23]

Need ideas please..and reccomendations Thanks.
Would like to go ddr3 also..c2d system or i7?please stay within 1100.00

 Ok I got a little excited..I origianlly said 1400...need to keep it at 1200.00
                                                    Thanks.

[MonkGF]

Well TilDeath has a machine just a bit over your budget: http://tdcomputersystems.com/PC-Systems/Mage-2/prod_105.html

Or if you want to build your own: http://techreport.com/articles.x/19868/6

The Blu-Ray burner and Xonar soundcard I'd consider optional, you could go with a straight DVD drive and onboard audio depending on your needs, but the rest is a pretty good basic setup.

Note that I have a Xonar in my box, mostly to drive my Sennheisser HD-555 headphones which can use the amp on the card, and sound quality is fantastic. This is just not necessary if you don't really want the extra sound quality.

[Spikes]

For 1400 you can go i7. Talk with TilDeath and see what he can do for you.

[Tigger29]

Falcon, you can definitely go i7 if you're willing to make some compromises.

As far as your budget is concerned, is there any hardware you plan on reusing?  Do you need an operating system?  Do you plan on building this yourself?

If you build it yourself, and can reuse components such as your monitor, optical drive(s), and operating system, you can definitely build yourself a KICK-BUTT i7 system for under $1100...
If your new system is going to have to include all of that, then you can build yourself a KICK-BUTT C2D system for under $1100...

(Yes definitely plan on DDR3 ram.. it's actually about the same price as DDR2 now...)

[falcon23]

Thanks TIGGER...starting from scratch...Building it myself..around windows 7x64

 Want to use an antec900 case...

[Tigger29]

OK.. I made a quick build for you of which I'll post a screenshot of below.  It is for your Antec 900 case, an 800 watt Rosewill power supply (which actually has some really good reviews and is apparently a re-badged power supply of a better brand), ATI5850 Video Card, 6GB DDR3 (1600) ram, a decent ASUS motherboard, a decent 1TB hard drive, and basic DVD burner.  The price comes to just below $1100.

This does not include Windows or a Monitor.. or a keyboard/mouse, etc...

Now, you can go with a sweet C2D (or C2Q) setup and save a few hundred bucks in which you can put into a better video card... or two... but if you're dead-set on the Antec 900 case and an I7 processor, you're going to have to compromise with a lesser video card (not that the 5850 is bad...)

Of course, you're going to go overbudget if you want SSD/RAID, blu-ray, sound card, SLI/Crossfire, or anything else fancy in the I7 example with your budget.  Basically you're going to have to choose between an 'entry level' i7, or a 'maxed out' C2D...

[falcon23]

looks decent..but I am not dead set on an 17...heard it doesnt help the game much..BUT,I dont think c2d or c2q is going the way of the DODO at this point either..lol...would like a good SC,,dont care about raid or ssd at this time..BLU-RAY sounds possibly ok,but dont watch movies at desktop...
                                 

[MonkGF]

That's a good build above.

[guncrasher]

I always have fun looking at these sites.  Just to give you and idea, but I still would talk to TD first.

http://www.ibuypower.com/IbpPages/IntelLobby.aspx

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/category/intel_pc/

semp

[Tigger29]

OK this example is a C2D E8400 (tried and true) processor.. possibly the BEST C2D processor ever made that won't break the bank.  Also on the list is 8GB of DDR3 ram, a MUCH BETTER video card (GTX470 Fermi) and an Asus Xonar soundcard (I have no experience with modern sound cards, but I've heard it's a good one).  Also a 7200RPM 64MB cache 1TB hard drive, DVD burner, and a Free copy of Mafia2 (awesome game by the way).  All this and you're still $60 under budget.  Since you don't use it for movies, don't worry about blu-ray.  It's a waste of money right now (and can always be added later).  If you have to purchase Windows in that price, you can always do away with the Sound Card (this motherboard seems to have decent Audio... I personally have a different model ASRock motherboard and the sound on it is excellent).  Also this motherboard has 7.1 surround sound *AND* USB 3.0!

So as you see, but opting not to go i7, you can increase the Video and the Ram, and add a good Sound card to boot!

[guncrasher]

 Cpu fan a must.

Semp

[Tigger29]

Believe what you want, but if you're not overclocking, the stock C2D fan does just fine.  Heck mine is overclocked (a bit) and still has stock cooling.. does just fine.

Although a couple of case fans wouldn't hurt...

[TilDeath]

Although a couple of case fans wouldn't hurt...

Also depends on room temp.  If your builds above your showing a Rosewill PSU.  To me the single most important component in any build is the PSU.  I would not trust that PSU .  Prefer to see someone get a less power GPU or lesser provessor and get a know brand PSU.  IMHO

TD

[guncrasher]

Believe what you want, but if you're not overclocking, the stock C2D fan does just fine.  Heck mine is overclocked (a bit) and still has stock cooling.. does just fine.

Although a couple of case fans wouldn't hurt...

just suggestions.  me I got nervous to push pins into a mobo.  so i got one that uses brackets. 

my e8400 is oc to 3.9 (hopefully the right way, since i am a novice at that)  and it wont go above mid 50's full load after i bought a cooler suggested to me by TD. funny thing is if I close the door in my room it turns into a sweat lodge. but the cpu stays cool.  It dont help either that i have a evga 465 oc. which also produces a lot of heat.  but I use a tempest case and the temp inside are pretty cool. and it plays ah everything maxed out with textures at 4k with a 1920x1080 and my fps dont go below 50 even in large furballs/cv action. most of the time it stays at 60. the max for my monitor.

then again all are just suggestions to falcon.  which If I may suggest before you buy anything post here your items you select, just in case there are more suggestions.  either c2d or i7 puter you will play with everything on as long as you get the right components.

semp

[BaldEagl]

Also depends on room temp.  If your builds above your showing a Rosewill PSU.  To me the single most important component in any build is the PSU.  I would not trust that PSU .  Prefer to see someone get a less power GPU or lesser provessor and get a know brand PSU.  IMHO

TD

^ What he said.  I wouldn't touch that Rosewill PSU if it was given to me free.